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Democrats have Bono leave, hat in hand

By Stone Martindale Dec 19, 2006, 15:11 GMT

Rocker Bono is known for his excellent music and tireless crusades to raise money for Africa. But the Irish anti-poverty activist got no promise of new funds from the cash strapped Democrats of Washington. Bono should hit up the ultra rich and secretive Oppenheimer family that owns the diamond business in Africa-according to their Diamond council-they have lots of monies for helping Africans improve the qualitiy of their lives... EPA/Toshiyuki Aizawa/Pool 0

Bono should hit up the ultra rich and secretive Oppenheimer family that owns the diamond business in Africa-according to their Diamond council-they have lots of monies for helping Africans improve the qualitiy of their lives... EPA/Toshiyuki Aizawa/Pool 0The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that meetings in Washington last week between Bono and Senate leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other profile Democrats bore no monetary fruit, just a nice photo-op according to Bono.Bono was on Capitol Hill to secure $1 billion in planned U.S. spending to fight AIDS and malaria in Africa, and that the money would not be "lost" if anticpated budgetary freezes occur.The Review-Journal reported that Bono was seeking to close a "commitment gap" between what President Bush has requested and what Congress has agreed to spend for anti-poverty measures in the past.Bono said he came away from his meeting empty-handed."I'm alarmed we could not get a commitment from the Democratic leadership to prevent the loss of $1 billion in the continuing resolution," Bono said Thursday in a released press statement."I don't know who to blame. Democrats are blaming Republicans. Republicans are blaming Democrats. But the million people who were expecting (mosquito) bed nets don't know who to blame. They just know that a promise made by the United States to keep their families safe is in danger of being broken next year."Bono later softened and re-phrased his harsh words.The Review-Journal reported that Bono had kind words for Senator Reid, who he said "acknowledged a difficult situation" with the congressional budget "but he sincerely pledged his best efforts to improve the situation."Bono said Reid "made my day taking me onto the Senate floor and leading me through the history of that great room."http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Dec-18-Mon-2006/news/11460940.html

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LesDec 19th, 2006 - 20:34:58

Perhaps old Bono might want to give some of his vast fortune to these causes that he's always talking about, 'Talk is cheap' as they say.

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Bono is a toolDec 20th, 2006 - 04:29:09

he doesn't know that the same diseases in Africa that were there before they called them all AIDS are still there now. AIDS is a political definition.

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AnonDec 21st, 2006 - 00:31:09

Bono could give every penny he has and it wouldn't begin to make a dent in Africa's needs. Something that major has to be carried out on a large scale over many years. You may or may not like the guy, but I don't knock what he's doing.

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