New DEM / REP Fundraising Attraction - Come See U2!!!

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ouizy

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From Brietbart.com:

Rock giants U2 unhappy to be politicians' cash cows
Oct 12 11:55 AM US/Eastern


Rock giants U2 have expressed outrage that US politicians from both main parties, including Hillary Clinton, are using their concerts to fill campaign coffers.



"The U2 concerts are categorically not fundraisers for any politician. They are rock concerts for U2 fans," a statement from the group's publicist said.

Senator Clinton has "invited" 18 people to join her on October 19 in a luxury suite at Washington's MCI Center to see U2 play during their sold-out Vertigo tour, as long as they contribute 2,500 dollars to the Democratic Party.

Luxury suites at the center cost 7,000 dollars and offer a close-up view of the stage.

"We do a meet-and-greet with the senator, and then go in and listen to music," said Ann Lewis, the former first lady's spokeswoman.

Pennsylvania Republican Senator Rick Santorum is holding a 1,000-dollar-a-head fundraiser at U2's show in Philadelphia this weekend.
 
I know original articles implied that U2 was more actively involved in these fundraisers, but it has become apparent now that these politicians are doing it completely independently of the band.

As long as U2 is not involved at all in putting together these political events, I guess I'm not offended.

Melon
 
No - but props to U2 for making a comment about this.

Thusly disavowing any connection to ANY US politician.

:up:

From the NY Daily News:

Hil books Bono-fide fund-raiser

BY MICHAEL McAULIFF
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - New York's junior senator can dub herself Hillary Rockin' Clinton, at least for one night next week.
Clinton, star of the Democratic Party, is holding a $2,500-a-head fund-raiser but giving herself second-billing to even bigger stars: U2.

The high-priced event is for Clinton's political action committee, Hill PAC, which has "cordially invited" 18 people to catch U2's soldout Vertigo show from a luxury suite in Washington's MCI Center next Wednesday night.

According to the stadium, those 18 backers can expect to rock in comfort with a wet bar, private bathroom and plush chairs in Clinton's suite, which a source said costs $7,000.

"Executive suites offer the ultimate in personalized service, privacy and convenience, combined with a panoramic view," the MCI Center says on it Web site.

They're also fine spots for a bit of arm twisting to get donors to pony up the maximum $5,000 annual contribution.

"Our suites are luxury 'apartments' that provide a dazzling way to entertain in a captive but relaxed environment," the stadium site says.

Campaign spokeswoman Ann Lewis said a rock show was a "considerably more fun" way to fill the coffers. "We do a meet-and-greet with the senator, and then go in and listen to music," she said.

Hillary's camp isn't the first to book a Bono box.

Her nemesis in the Senate, Pennsylvania's Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, had the same idea. But he's only getting $1,000 a head for U2's show in Philadelphia on Sunday.

U2 was so irked by being linked to fund-raisers - particularly media reports that mistakenly said the band was working with Santorum - that their publicist sent out a release yesterday swearing off any connections.

"Throughout the U2 tour, politicians from both sides have been organizing fund-raisers at the venues or around specific shows," the statement said. "The U2 concerts are categorically not fund-raisers for any politician - they are rock concerts for U2 fans."

Hill PAC is a "leadership PAC" that also raises money for other candidates and committees.
 
Kinda bullshit that anyone can make any money at a show, aside from the band or vendors - methinks.



and of course the NY Post:

ROCK-A-BUY HILLARY

By IAN BISHOP

October 12, 2005 -- WASHINGTON — Forget the money tree. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is banking on the "Joshua Tree" being even better than the real thing.
Clinton is offering her closest fat-cat friends a chance to boogie down with her and Bono during U2's "Vertigo 2005" tour stop at Washington's MCI Center next Wednesday.


It doesn't cost all the riches, just $2,500 per person, according to an invitation obtained by The Post.

Seats are limited — there's room for only 18 high rollers to sit with the former first lady during the show, the invite says.

Concertgoers who fork over the cash will meet up with Hillary at 7 p.m. to find a decent melody in warm-up act Daniel Marley — son of reggae titan Bob — before grooving to U2 classics.

The megastar Irish rockers are set to punch a hole right through the night with fan faves like "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "One."



Among the band's smash albums are "Joshua Tree," "Zooropa," and "War."

With an expected take of $45,000 from the rock 'n' roll fund-raiser, the goal is elevation of Clinton's financially strapped political action committee, HillPAC — which has just $55,000 in its piggybank, according to its most recent federal financial report.

Money from HillPAC is used to support Clinton's political operation and to fund Democratic candidates around the country. She also maintains a separate committee, Friends of Hillary, which raises cash for her 2006 Senate re-election effort. It has more than $12 million in the bank, according to its last report.

Clinton and other Dems have often run to Bono and his bandmates to score political points with music-savvy voters.

Failed president wannabe Sen. John Kerry relied on "Beautiful Day" as a campaign theme song.

Clinton recycled the tune as she strolled onstage for a speech to seniors in Washington last month.

Likewise, Bono is a bona-fide political schmoozer, whether it's talking African AIDS relief with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, weighing in at world economic forum in Switzerland, or working the crowd at the Democratic convention in Boston in July 2004.

He's always had a soft spot for former President Bill Clinton — who presented him with the 2003 "MusiCares Person of the Year" award during a tribute in Midtown.
 
Political fundraising, in general, makes me sick. But, aside from doing a very large crackdown on campaign financing and the amount of money that can be spent on a campaign, I guess I'm going to have to continue to get sick. It's a part of the game of politics, and there's a lot of pressure to come up with the megabucks needed to win a megacampaign.

Melon
 
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