Bono gets snubbed by Canadian Prime Minister; 'meeting Bono not a priority'

**Grimmlok** · June 7th, 2007, 03:41 PM

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany (Reuters) - You can stop staring hopefully at that phone, Bono. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not be calling.

The Irish rock star turned poverty activist met U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit but was told Harper was too busy to talk to him.

Harper, a somewhat wooden figure regularly mocked for his lack of flair, told reporters on Thursday that meeting Bono was not a priority.

"I've got to say that meeting celebrities isn't kind of my shtick, that was the shtick of the previous guy," said Harper in a dig at his Liberal predecessor Paul Martin, who met Bono regularly.

"I hope we do it at some point but my principle focus in public policies is not kind of to meet celebrities," added the prime minister, a Conservative.

Activists say Canada is trying to block a deal to ensure that western nations live up to promises to boost aid to Africa.

For the record, though, Harper said he liked the music of Bono's band U2.

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HAH, god i hate that guy. Or both of them.

**Lily** · June 7th, 2007, 04:47 PM

Bono's okay in my book, but I do applaud the Canadian PM for putting celebrities in their place.

**pacific breeze** · June 7th, 2007, 05:05 PM

You wouldn't be applauding this guy if you knew what he stood for. He's got his head so far up George Bush's butt his eyes are brown.

**Lily** · June 7th, 2007, 05:07 PM

I'm not applauding "everything he stands for." I'm applauding this one thing. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

**AliceInWonderland** · June 7th, 2007, 05:09 PM

well its true, he's just a singer/songwriter "activist" - according to him, who does he think he is meeting w/ politicians and bill gates all the time

**pacific breeze** · June 7th, 2007, 05:15 PM

He is very full of himself, but then, so is Harper.

**HWBL** · June 7th, 2007, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

Bono's okay in my book, but I do applaud the Canadian PM for putting celebrities in their place.

Agreed. Bono does a lot of good, but he isn't God.

**Anne2007** · June 7th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Maybe the Canadian PM was too busy running the country. I applaud him for having better things to do with his time.

Just becasue George Bush is star struck doesn't mean other country's leaders are.

Our Prime Minister wouldn't meet him either when Bono was in Australia earlier this year. Apparently Bono made a comment that unless John Howard committed to certain things, then there was no point in Bono meeting with him. Here is the Bono quote:

"Bono said he would only meet Mr Howard if he was serious about bringing Australia's contribution from 0.3 per cent of GDP to 0.7 per cent."

So John Howard called his bluff. Bono needs to learn some people skills, our PM is a very stubborn man who does not respond to ultimatums, he just gets stubborn.

In the end Bono apolgized for being arrogant.

I don't like John Howard but for once I applauded him.

If you want to meet with a country's leader how about you exercise manners and humility? After all they are democratically elected representatives of the people, you are just a rock star. Albeit you are a rock star that is trying to make a difference.

**celeb_2006** · June 7th, 2007, 07:57 PM

I agree he just a freaking rock star not god, geez.

**cataroo** · June 7th, 2007, 08:00 PM

^^^Yeah, but I still wouldn't kick him outta bed!!

**Yoko Ono** · June 8th, 2007, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by Lily

I'm not applauding "everything he stands for." I'm applauding this one thing. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Classic!!

Rock stars who want to be politicians remind me of grandparents who come over every now and again, give out lollies, be very popular and then go home. While politicians are like the parents who have to do the unpopular day to day things that keep a home running. Rules,budget etc.

I'd have a lot more respect for the likes of Bono, Geldoff etc if they put their balls where their mouth is and actually entered politics. Anything else is just for show and ego massaging IMO.

**A*O** · June 8th, 2007, 01:39 AM

I'd have a lot more respect for these wanky multi-millionaire rockstars if they donated their own damn money to the poor instead of bullying everyone else to put their hands in their pockets.

**SVZ** · June 8th, 2007, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by Anne2007

Maybe the Canadian PM was too busy running the country.

Oh DEAR LORD IM DYING OVER HERE!!!!

**Chilly Willy** · June 8th, 2007, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by Yoko Ono

Rock stars who want to be politicians remind me of grandparents who come over every now and again, give out lollies, be very popular and then go home. While politicians are like the parents who have to do the unpopular day to day things that keep a home running. Rules,budget etc.

Excellent comparison! You nailed it, yoko!