04/10/2008
Hillary Clinton Gets Big Love from Elton John at Radio City
Last night's Elton John fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at New York's Radio City Music Hall raised $2.5 million for Clinton.
Elton told the crowd: "The reason I'm here tonight is to play music, but more importantly as someone who comes from abroad, and is in America quite a lot of the time (and) is extremely interested in the political process because it effects the whole world...I've always been a Hillary supporter. I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country. And I say to hell with them .... I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you."
Said Clinton: "What I want you to know, is I'm still standing, and I believe this country is worth fighting for."
Posted 8:11 AM EST by Andy Towle in Election 2008, Elton John, Hillary Clinton, New York, News | Permalink
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Wow. Were they both reading cue cards or something? That didn't sound scripted at all...
Posted by: seeldee | Apr 10, 2008 8:30:15 AM
Isn't Elton the same man who embraced and defended Eminem several years ago at the MTV awards? Yet Eminem sings some of the most misogynistic lyrics you can find anywhere. Perhaps Elton's brain fails to see the irony or perhaps he's being wilfully selective in his criticism.
Posted by: jason | Apr 10, 2008 8:33:00 AM
Why should we care what some foreigner thinks of our political process. He is absolutely irrelevant and should mind his own damn business. I agree with Jason, this old windbag threw his own people under the bus (very Clintonesque) to make nice with a flash in the pan rapper who contributed to homophobia worldwide. For what? For a photo op, that's what-another Clinton tactic.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Apr 10, 2008 8:40:50 AM
Both Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama are going to be taking part in a discussion on compassion at messiah university
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-reitan/speaking-of-compassion_b_95970.html
A place where being openly gay is reason for expulsion.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Apr 10, 2008 8:42:47 AM
How dare he get into American politics calling us misogynist Maybe Elton we can't take another Clinton in the White House. But one can understand as he does come from the land of royalty. How people can not understand that Obama is so very much what america needs in beyond me.
Posted by: OneManComotion | Apr 10, 2008 8:49:19 AM
he may be a 61 year old queen but that lord's got class, and quite an arse.
Posted by: cd | Apr 10, 2008 8:50:12 AM
Like Hillary, I think foreign relations and how non Americans view America is very important. Good for Elton coming down and supporting her. With all the money The Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised for our community and for people abroad, I think he is a wonderful man. The fundraiser last night for Hillary shows us that he has a brain just as big as his heart. Hillary '08!!!
Posted by: daveynyc | Apr 10, 2008 9:05:40 AM
no love for elton since his involvement with eminem.
Posted by: sergio | Apr 10, 2008 9:23:50 AM
Good on you DAVEYNYC for standing up for Elton - admittedly the Elton/Eminem connection is a thorny one but personally I find Eminem's homo-related lyrics pretty tame and certainly not rabid or hate-filled compared to most other American (or Jamaican) rap/dance-hall musicians - as for those of you criticising a foreigner for involving himself in your domestic politics, your government has no qualms about involving itself in the politics of other countries (eg Cuba, Nicaragua, (in fact practically every Central- and South-American country), Israel, Iraq, etc, etc, etc) so you're hardly in a position to resent a private individual from showing an interest in your tortuous political circuses. And who are these high-and-mighty faggots dissing Elton's politics anyway? Once you've raised tens of millions for AIDS research, personally endorsed gay "marriage" in the UK and been an inspiration to million of young homos, then maybe you'll be in a position to criticise the man. Sheesh, you hypocritical tragic whingers!
Posted by: johnnzboy | Apr 10, 2008 10:18:28 AM
OK, I know that no-one loves a constant whiner but I've gotta respond to ONEMANCOMOTION's inane comment about royalty - the United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, ie Parliament governs the country and the Queen/Head of State has purely symbolic/administrative powers, but certainly no direct influence upon government - comparing a political dynasty like the Bush/Clinton families with the British royal family is totally flawed - you should inform yourself a bit better about other political systems mate, although you Americans rarely show much interest in the rest of the world except when it suits your empire-building interests...
And what's your name supposed to mean anyway? Do you not realise "commotion" is spelt with two ms, or have I missed something?
Posted by: johnnzboy | Apr 10, 2008 10:31:11 AM
"admittedly the Elton/Eminem connection is a thorny one but personally I find Eminem's homo-related lyrics pretty tame and certainly not rabid or hate-filled compared to most other American (or Jamaican) rap/dance-hall musicians"
Yeah, I get more upset when a black guy throws homophobic epithets at me too. But when a white guy does it, it's OK-there's some artistic reason behind it and he can't really mean it.
Posted by: Chaz | Apr 10, 2008 10:47:55 AM
Misogyny? Oh, Mary - please. She's not losing because she's a woman. In fact, if anything, her base votes for her BECAUSE she's a woman. This duplicitous brand of feminism must die.
Besides, she's still gonna lose. I hope Elton John and the donors there last night are happy knowing that their presence merely helped Hillary get back the $5m she loaned her campaign.
Posted by: GM | Apr 10, 2008 11:04:41 AM
if i had any of elton's records, i'd toss them in the trash. first he publicly supports the criminal conrad black, now he is in the clinton camp. guess he's just part of a multi-millionaire's club that hangs with and protects its own.
Posted by: james | Apr 10, 2008 11:17:34 AM
Why is it legal for a foreign national to raise money for a U.S. Presidential candidate?
Posted by: Miles | Apr 10, 2008 11:40:27 AM
Whatever his faults, Elton is not a "poster boy for 'ex-gay' ministries" nor has he ever claimed that "gays are trying to kill our children" any more than he ever screeched "God DELIVERED ME from homosexuality" as Donnie McClurkin did just six months ago upon the stage and into the microphone PAID FOR by Barack "I will never compromise about gays" Obama. He won South Carolina for Obama. What will he sing at his Inauguration?
When Sen. Clinton pays for a concert starring Eminem, call me!
Posted by: Leland Frances | Apr 10, 2008 11:41:22 AM
Waouw, so a "little" bit of homophobia from Eminem is absolutely fine as opposed to a lot of it from rappers and RB artists?
P.S: just to refresh your memories,here are the lyrics:
"... New Kids on the Block, sucked a lot of dick Boy-girl groups make me sick
And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public..."
"....raping lesbians, while there screaming at me "lets just be friends..."
"...But if we can hump dead animals and antelopes
then there's no reason that a man and another man can't elope
[*EWWW!*]"
Posted by: OH PLZ | Apr 10, 2008 1:36:51 PM
Wasn't Elton John defending our freedom of speech in the U.S. and trying to bridge a gap. Obama's spiritual leader that he defends is so hate filled as well McClurkin. Obama could care less about gays. He allows his children to listen to this sh!t each Sunday. They'll make the Bush sisters look like saints someday. I wouldn't even vote for a Clinton/Obama ticket. He reeks of racism and homophobia.
Posted by: z | Apr 10, 2008 10:06:27 PM
First of all, the Elton John AIDS Foundation does do some good work.
Second, Elton John's concerts, record sales, property taxes and probably just the sales tax from his Versace bills dwarf the economic contribution to the US in one year than most of the queens around here will do in a lifetime. So if he wants to come do a concert to raise money for a candidate, so be it. I don't like his choice of candidate, but as has been raised, Obama's involvement with McClurkin still lingers with stink. Whatever the case may be, don't get your knickers in a twist over Elton John, perhaps foreign national but very large US taxpayer, saying what he has to say.
Posted by: So Left I'm Right | Apr 10, 2008 11:36:22 PM
Good for Elton.... Someone standing up for what he believes in and attempting to make a difference, as opposed to the pathetic almost 49% of Americans that were too busy, too ignorant or too out-to-lunch to bother to vote? Get THEM in line before criticizing someone who is actually trying to make a difference.
I am a through and through Democrat (I swear I would probably spontaneously combust at a GOP hate-rally!) however I do find the hate-level from Obama supporters to Hillary very disconcerting... it's almost as virulent as that of the right. I would support either of the Democrat candidates because both have good ideas in their own right. McCain on the other hand is just another Bush-rimmer (I bet W has been feeling very good from the action McCain has been giving him!)
Looking forward to sweeping the hellish regime of Bush aside in November! Woo hoo!
Posted by: CK | Apr 12, 2008 6:53:24 PM
Elton can spend his money and his time however the hell he wants. If you don't support Hillary, get over it.
Posted by: julian | Apr 13, 2008 11:45:05 PM