Bono Admits He Dodged Hug From President Bush - Then-Sen. Obama congratulated singer on the duck-out

nbcphiladelphia ^

[Sub-Driver]

Bono Admits He Dodged Hug From President BushThen-Sen. Obama congratulated singer on the duck-out

By EMILY FELDMAN

Updated 1:13 PM EDT, Sun, Jul 19, 2009

U2 frontman Bono admitted he dodged a hug from President George W. Bush -- and was praised by then-Sen. Barack Obama for the skillful sidestep.

In an interview on BBC's "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross," Bono said he sidestepped an embrace from President Bush during a photo op at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2006, according to Irish Central.

"What I was doing there," Bono said, motioning to a photo showing the singer shaking hands with a grinning President Bush, "I was dodging the hug and trying to hide behind the podium."

The event was attended by thousands -- including then-Sen. Barack Obama.

"When I sat down, I was sitting besides Sen. Obama, soon to be President," Bono recalled, "and he just said, 'Nice work with the hug dodge.'"

[Sub-Driver]

Acting like grown ups I see...........

[SeanOGuano]

What a jackass.

[ilgipper]

There goes the little respect I had for Bono. I thought he had done a pretty good job over the Bush years to stay focused on the issues he believed in and not politics. He had at times been complementary of Bush for his actions in Africa. Now, I see he is just a jerk-off like most other lefties.

[Menehune56]

Both of them!

[Yorlik803]

Lets see....Bush gave more money than anyother President, including the REAL first black President< Clinton< to help Africa with AIDS. Even Bob Geldoff said that Bush did more than anyone.
Bono, like all libs, are a class act.

[My Favorite Headache]

He needs to make up his mind: This is U2's Bono on Meet the Press yesterday: Well, I think [President Bush has] done an incredible job, his administration, on AIDS. And 250,000 Africans are on antiviral drugs. They literally owe their lives to America. In one year that's being done. � Yes, there's a lot of pressure on President Bush. If he, though, in his second term, is as bold in his commitments to Africa as he was in the first term, he indeed deserves a place in history in turning the fate of that continent around. http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2005/06/010705.php ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS REDS BENGALS LOCAL GUIDE MULTIMEDIA ARCHIVES SEARCH TODAY'S ENQUIRER Front Page Local News Sports Business Editorials Tempo Home Style Travel Health Technology Weather Back Issues Search Subscribe SPORTS Bearcats Bengals High School Reds Xavier VIEWPOINTS Jim Borgman Columnists Readers' views ENTERTAINMENT Movies Dining Horoscopes Lottery Results Local Events Video Games CINCINNATI.COM Giveaways Maps/Directions Send an E-Postcard Coupons Visitor's Guide CLASSIFIEDS Jobs Cars Homes Obituaries General Place an ad HELP Feedback Subscribe Search Newsroom Directory Tuesday, July 8, 2003 Rock star Bono praises Bush for AIDS plans -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But concerned Congress will delay money By Tim Bonfield The Cincinnati Enquirer The rock star Bono offered high praise for President Bush on Monday as the president prepared to leave for a tour of Africa - and a pointed message to Congress. "This is not just about Africa. It's about America and what Americans want their country to be," said Bono, the star of U2, who spoke from Dublin, Ireland, in a telephone press conference. "This is the defining moment of our generation," Bono said. "Fifty years from now people will be asking, did you really let millions die while you had medicines you could easily distribute?" President Bush has endorsed spending $15 billion over five years for AIDS relief in Africa, where an estimated 7,000 people a day are dying from the immune-system destroying disease. He also supports spending $10 billion over three years in economic aid to reduce poverty and corruption in several African nations. On Monday, Bush left for a tour of Senegal, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana. In Washington this week, Congress is expected to debate whether to reduce plans to allocate about $4.3 billion in combined AIDS and trade support for Africa that Bush proposed for 2004. Today, members of DATA - the AIDS organization co-founded by Bono - will return to Cincinnati as part of a national campaign to urge Congress to back Bush's promise. DATA stands for Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa. "If President Bush can deliver on his promise, I'm ready to trumpet that and give him the applause he deserves," Bono said. "There will be few things that he will do in his administration that will touch more lives." In December, Bono and actor Chris Tucker visited Cincinnati as part of a multi-state "Heart of America" tour to raise awareness about the AIDS crisis in Africa. In January, President Bush announced his $15 billion proposal for AIDS relief as part of his State of the Union address. Bono said his recent visit to Africa fundamentally changed his life. He predicted that President Bush also will be moved by what he sees. "If they let him see people queuing up to die three in a bed, he will be moved," Bono said. Actress Ashley Judd, who had joined Bono on several parts of the Heart of America tour, also spoke Monday. She said she was impressed by Bush's statements about Africa during the State of the Union address. "I thought, 'They get it. They really get it. We're going to stop the bubonic plague of our time,'" Judd said. Bono largely dismissed debates among opposing political and religious groups about whether AIDS relief money should be used more for treatment or prevention, or whether AIDS prevention programs in Africa should stress abstinence or condoms. He said his tour of the Midwest gave him new faith that all but the most radical Christians are willing to look past differences in doctrine to focus on the health and humanitarian crisis in Africa. "I'm more amused than annoyed by all the little groups that think they have their own portal to God," Bono said. But Bono said he remains concerned that - despite approving the overall $15 billion spending plan in May - Congress will delay allocating the money, which in turn would slow any progress hoped for in Africa. "I believe the president is serious in his commitment to put America out front in a way that hasn't been done before," Bono said. "But we're watching the process and we're not fooled by photo opps. It's not the check-signing that impresses, it's the check cashed." http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/07/08/loc_wwwloc1triafrib8.html

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

Ok. I am going to run the risk of sounding like my 70 something Grandfather...

but... what is it with hugs anyways ?

Whatever happened to a pat on the back or a handshake ?

Why the touchy feely stuff ?

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Yep, both of them.

[My Favorite Headache]

Sorry about that...I have no idea why it posted it out that way

[DryFly]

That is too bad, because Bono’s speech at the prayer breakfast was actually quite good.

[New Girl]

Bono? Is this the same human rights advocate who bought a seat for his HAT on a flight a few years ago?

[mimaw]

President Bush was the winner , I hear Bono doesn't bath or brush his teeth much and has an odor to him.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Stay classy, Obama! As a candidate for POTUS, that was so unbelievably cool of you to verbalize your personal contempt for the current POTUS. Way to inspire and be an example. You’re every bit the man I thought you were. /s

But hey, you’re a celebrity, so I keep my expectations low where you’re concerned. No harm done.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I’d dodge a hug from Obama.

[Sub-Driver]

Hippies smell..........

[Lizavetta]

Bono? Is this the same human rights advocate who bought a seat for his HAT on a flight a few years ago?

And the same Bono who lectures the United States on how piddly its aid to Africa is at the same time transferring his wealth from Ireland to the lower-taxing Netherlands?

That Bono??

[Pining_4_TX]

Bono has always been a typical limo-lib. He has never offered to give away his own fortune; he wants US taxpayers to cough up the money for his “compassion”.

On the other hand, why are US presidents so huggy? I wish we would go back to expecting the president to be less chummy and folksy, and more dignified.

[New Girl]

Yep, the same SOB. :-)

[linn37]

Linn admits she doesn’t listen to Bono or Obama. Nice dodge linn.

[Hildy]

Before you all go mouthing off, just know that bono has repeatedly praised President Bush even wrote a book about all the good thing Bush has done for Africa and third world poverty.