REPUBLICANS MAY BE AGAINST EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THEY STILL LIKE BONO

"Don't worry, W., we'll find someplace that'll take you in"

While hard core Republican obstructionists and reactionaries vote against ethics reform and against health care for needy children, the RNC is embracing... Bono. The U2 frontman has been careful to never tell Republicans-- or his audience-- what he really thinks of them. The strategy is to keep the doors open so he can work with them. And he has. Bono actually has credibility with extreme right wing loons like Rick Santorum and some of the other maniacs. Today's Moonie Times is reporting that "the Republican National Committee yesterday took the first step toward endorsing a proposal by Irish rock star Bono to spend an estimated $30 billion in U.S. taxes to eliminate global poverty-- a move some unhappy conservative RNC members labeled a step toward socialism."

In a move that some conservative members said astonished them, the resolutions committee did not rescind the RNC's earlier endorsement of a plan to designate 1 percent of the federal budget for the "One" global anti-poverty program.

Opponents of the proposal had complained that without seeking their advice or consent, RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan on June 11 unilaterally put the RNC on record as supporting the movement.

"It's hard to believe my party would vote for something like this, which sounds like a do-gooder program," said John H. Hager, the new Virginia Republican Party chairman.

Mr. Pullen [an extremist from Arizona] also opposed the Bono-initiated program "One," which is co-chaired by Jack Oliver, a Bush 2000 campaign fundraiser and Washington-based lobbyist. RNC members said Mr. Oliver sent two persons to the Minneapolis meeting to lobby members in favor of the "One" program, and its offshoot "One Vote '08," which aims to make global poverty and health a key issue in the 2008 presidential election.

"I don't think we should be allocating 1 percent of the U.S. budget for relief around the world," Mr. Pullen said. "That's not the business of government. The private sector gives billions of dollars to supporting worthy causes. That's always been the American way. Donating money to countries that don't live by the rule of law or who have warlords killing people is feeding, not fixing, the problem."

Mr. Duncan, who was the choice of the Bush White House to run the day-to-day affairs of the RNC, said in June, "One Vote '08 is doing an amazing, compassionate thing, and I am proud to say the RNC supports their efforts completely."

North Dakota rancher and RNC member Curly Haugland took exception to the Duncan statement, proposing his own resolution. He said the U.S. has an $8.8 trillion debt and that "One Vote '08" will force Americans to support global socialism with their tax dollars."