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Bono Earned Obama's Praise by Avoiding Bush's Hug

  • Posted on Jul 20th 2009 12:00PM by Dan Reilly
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Bono doesn't want to hug President George W. Bush. Well, that was the U2 frontman's latest political admission.

The Irish Central reports that during Jonathan Ross' BBC talk show over the weekend, Bono revealed that after giving the keynote address at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., then-President Bush went to give him a hug for a quick photo op. Since they disagree on many political issues, such as the war in Iraq -- though Bono notes that Bush did triple aid to countries in need -- Bono said he decided to "dodge the hug" and try to "hide behind the podium."

The tactic worked and Bono managed to get by with only an awkward-looking handshake. The incident seemingly went unnoticed by those in attendance -- everyone, that is, except for then-Senator Barack Obama. "When I sat down I was sitting beside Senator Obama," Bono told Ross. "And he just said 'nice work with the hug dodge.'"

Unfortunately, Bono's ability to dodge presidential hugs is much better than his skill at avoiding punches from the Edge, who also appeared on the show. The pair revealed that during an early gig, Bono yelled at drummer Larry Mullen for having a problem with his kit, angering the Edge to the point where, according to Bono, the guitarist "caught me with one." The Edge also admits that sometimes Bono's activism can be a "real pain in the arse" but he notes the band is behind their signer in all his pursuits. And yes, even Bono has some self-awareness: "I can be pretty annoying."

To see the video of the BBC interview, via the Irish Central, click here.
  • Filed under: News, Holy Hell
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1/21/13 Freedom from the racist President.

August 02 2009 at 2:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
awopeacefrog

He tripled aid to countries in need. Bono said it. Clinton did nothing. Some people just like to complain, it validates their exsistence. I have lost respect for Bono(good tunes though)...just remember kids;socialism doesn't work, eventually you run out of other people's money.

July 29 2009 at 9:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Becky

This was not a war rally it was a Christian event (Prayer Breakfast)and Bono claims to be just that a Christian. Hugs are common between Christians so this was no different.
Bono has worked alot with President Bush and this man, who he was running from gave more money to his cause than most. That is why he should have shown some RESPECT.
Bono might want to review some history. He could have had Hiltor as a King if it wasn't for a war.
If his freedoms were being taken away he would beg for the US to get involved, Please.
Bono needs to step down from his high horse and wake up.
Bono is not half the man our US miltary men are.

July 25 2009 at 5:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
johnykmwa

How can you respect Bush when he took the country into an illegal war running the deficit high just to pay for a war--not to mention killing a lot of Americans and Iraqui citizens. A small portion of all the money that we spent on the Iraqui war could have been used for social programs. It could only come from the party of Bush, Palin, Ensign and Sanford. Linclon would turn over in his grave.

July 25 2009 at 4:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
bill911sc

Bono wants to be an American so bad it pathetic.

July 25 2009 at 2:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Ya Big Stud

SHUT UP CARLOS

July 25 2009 at 12:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
martynmelissa

SHUT THE F UP, BONO! iF SOMEONE HAD SHOWN THAT DISREPECT TO THE QUEEN, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO !!!!!

July 25 2009 at 12:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Dan\'s Girl

Just because Obama said "good dodge" (or along the lines) doesn't mean he was egging Bono to keep avoding Bush's hugs. You have to admire the slyness some people have, whether is good or bad, and it was all Obama (IMO) meant. It's like, I can tell someone illegally racing "nicely done", but it doesn't mean I support street racing; I'm just admiring the skill.

Respect is a two-way street, and GWB lost his privilege for respect a long time ago. The first post (as far as page 1 goes) says Bush deserves respect because he was the President. So is it OK to give respect to people like Chavez and Castro, whom all they do is disrespect their own people by abusing their power? I don't think so.

July 25 2009 at 7:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Pac Man

the only people bush was for was himself an his big oil republican pals the war in irag was to stop sadam selling iol throigh a pipeline that wet to the syrein coast 3 big pipe lines sadam done this cause of un sanctions he was only allowed to send so much a week from his ports an bush was pissed cause it was keeping the price of oil down it was sold to germany russia france india china an lots more our first troops landed on that pumping station on the border with seria to stop the flow another thing is his company halburton in texas they feed every troop cloth make bradley fighting vehicals he get such an such amount a day for every troop we got all over the world ever bill he past help him make billions even with the healthcare of th us he makes millions off hmos why we the people get screwed hell he didnt even win the first election his dads bubbyies he set on the supreme court had no right picking a looser or a winner if any thing we should have had a revote //// an as for binladen hes laid up on bushes ranch in texas he didnt want to find him if he did he wouldnt have sent the very few 1800 10th moutain div he would sent marines delta force rangers in at the start of the afgan warbut oh no he helped him get in pakistan cause binladens dad has gave the bushes more than 30 billion since 1970 to ivest in our american companys .....i heard him say for 6 years he was personaly look to see why our gas prices was so hi and he did made them higher every time ///isnt it funny 1 week before the election the prices of gas dropped from 420 a gallon hear to less than 2 bucks over night nothing had changed the republicans gave obomma millions under the table so he could beat clinton they new mcaine couldnt beat her lmao it back fired on them caused they thought a black man could never beat a war hero they new it on the last polls taken he was gonna loose thats why the price of gas fell i week before the election i think he will be investigated for abuse of power dirty kick backs an waginging an agressive war in irag they were no womd weopones of mass destruction he knew the iraqies would fight a long drawn out guerilla war with who ever envaded them he ruined this country letting trillions of dollars leave here to over seas banks for the high price of gas it wrecked our econamy this man will be investigated he cant hide in his new ranch he bought last 6 months of his last term he will get his im sure and now if you people that vote republican cant see what they are about i feel so sorry for you all can you even cross a street without getting run over??id say we have saw our last repulican pres democrats on the house an senate an 4 new states that has never went to demacrates but never mind that its the new road a head but i know bush will get his he lied more than hitler to start a war he will get his in sure ty all and enjoy the road ahead

July 25 2009 at 6:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Eric Turpening

Man in the Arena
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

July 25 2009 at 6:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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