SANTORUM GETS CAUGHT LYING ABOUT U2. CAN ANYONE NAME ONE INSTANCE WHEN SANTORUM HAS EVER BEEN TRUTHFUL ABOUT ANYTHING ?

When U2's first album, BOY, was released in the U.S., it was sent out with a review I had done of the advance. I've known them a long, long time. They used to put some of the bands that were signed to my tiny indie label on tour with them. COOL guys. Last year when I asked them for a signed thingie for an auction I was helping put together for People For the American Way, Bono said he can't get tangled up in partisan politics. (Even though People For the American Way is a non-partisan educational and public service organization-- an argument that I've been successful using when persuading right-wing celebrities to donate stuff, like Johnny Ramone-- I let it go with Bono. He's doing his own important work and if he thought even a tangential association with PFAW would harm his prospects for helping needy, desperately needy, Africans, I could easily respect that.)

So this week when Pennsylvania neo-fascist Rick Santorum announced U2 was doing a benefit concert for him in Philly, it never for one second crossed my mind that Santorum wasn't lying his ass off, as he does as reflexively as he breathes. There was no way U2 was getting involved with any grubby American pols, let alone a fascist grubby American pol. But he's the press release Santorum released: "Teaming up with the legendary rock group U2 for a one-night only appearance will be Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.). The thousand-dollar-a-seat concert has been put together by Sean and Ana Wolfington and will take place at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia in support of Santorum’s re-election." One of the extreme rightist Wolfingtons added, wishfully: "It's truly appropriate for U2, a band with a purpose, to be involved in a fund-raiser with Senator Rick Santorum, a politician with a purpose. Both men are passionate about what they believe and their faith is very important to them.”

Although U2 couldn't exactly say that Santorum is a delusional lying sack of shit, Bono had the organization he founded and actually does fundraising for, DATA (debt AIDS trade Africa) release a statement to the press for Jamie Drummond, DATA's Executive Director: "It is not uncommon for politicians, from both parties, to organize events at all kinds of music concerts. If any such events take place at a U2 concert, it is without the involvement or knowledge of Data, U2 or Bono. U2 concerts are categorically not fundraisers for any politician-- they are rock concerts for U2 fans."

You may recall that the Gropenfuehrer tried the same thing with the Rolling Stones concerts-- and got badly burned for his efforts. Schwarzenegger was made to look like a craven asshole a clown and a fool by Jagger from stage. I doubt Bono will be as aggressive but I think all Pennsylvania U2 fans are already aware that Santorum's $1,000/head luxury box shenanigans is not connected to or condoned by U2 in any way shape or form. Shouldn't Santorum be trying to hook up with Clint Black and ZZ Top and leave socially aware artists alone? I hope he tries to pull a stunt like that with Green Day.