Posted by Mike Dorning at 11:35 am CST, updated at 1:10 pm CST
Spotted, waiting to meet with presidential candidate Barack Obama, at the Illinois senator's office in the Hart Senate Office Building: Bono of the band U2.
Update: Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama, said the two met for about a half hour in the senator's personal office to discuss the ONE Campaign, a non-profit organization that the Irish rock star helped form to combat AIDS and global poverty.
"Bono was making rounds on the Hill to build support for the ONE campaign. He particularly wanted to meet with Senator Obama since he’s a member of the Foreign Relations Committee – and has been active on international poverty and global health issues," LaBolt said.
LaBolt said the two did not discuss particular programs or legislation but "had a general discussion about how foreign assistance to the right programs (anti-poverty, global health) can boost our security and the standing of the U.S. around the world."




Comments
If Bono married John Lennon's widow, she'd be Yoko Ono Bono.
Posted by: Bleu | February 27, 2007 1:06 PM
Wow, "he who walks on water" talks to some musician. Wow.
Must be a slow news day for even the Tribune "Obama for president club" to publicize this....
Posted by: bruce | February 27, 2007 1:32 PM
That should have been an awesome meeting - Bono thinks he's God and Obama keeps getting told he's the second coming. They probably spent the time telling each other how wonderful they are.
Posted by: Linda | February 27, 2007 1:33 PM
Wow, a rock star on Capitol Hill?!?! And Bono wanted to meet him. Cool!
Posted by: Za | February 27, 2007 2:35 PM
If you're for Bono's little crusades does that make you Pro-Bono?
When Bono shook Obama's hand did the media go into a fawning overland and cease to exist?
Posted by: Jeff | February 27, 2007 2:44 PM
Then if she divorced him and married the Cowboy's quarterback she'd be Yoko Ono Bono Romo.
Posted by: joe | February 27, 2007 2:58 PM
The U2 music Obama used for his announcement in Springfield this month was SPOT ON!
OBAMA '08
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE
Posted by: Larry Stevens | February 27, 2007 3:26 PM
"It's a beautiful day"
Posted by: skip edwards | February 27, 2007 3:47 PM
Obamaphobics...Where art thou's arsenical spin? Please...Enlighten us Obamaphilic sycophants: Why are more humanitarians knocking on Obama'a door? Could it be their Equine Excrement radar has identified him as the real McCoy, as opposed to another politico decoy?
Posted by: Rus Styles | February 27, 2007 3:52 PM
Jeff,
Are you referring to the same fawning media that doesn't let America know Sleepy McCain's extreme positions. He's friendly w/ the press, and in exchange they call him a moderate and a maverick.
Posted by: john | February 27, 2007 3:57 PM
Serious matters aside, I'm loving the name algorithm of Joe's post.-)
Posted by: ProfSM | February 27, 2007 4:04 PM
Wow.
Two people who want to do something to improve peoples' lives.
How odd.
(Sorry. I wanted to post some pithy comment like all the other "Christians", but the irony escaped me.)
Posted by: Blaine | February 27, 2007 4:29 PM
Here's some great theme song ideas for the Republic candidates;
♬ Brownback - The End (The Doors)
♪ McCain - I'm so Tired (The Beatles)
♭ Giuliani - Theme from 'Dressed to Kill'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IrE6FMpai8
♫ Mitt Romney - Theme from 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'
Posted by: C.Morris | February 27, 2007 4:40 PM
Gee, could we have a little more cynicism? There's just not enough here yet. Yes, yes, the damn Presidential campaign is has started Way Too Early, and Barack's just Too Good To Be True.
I can't help but wonder how JFK or RFK would be skewered in today's political environment. In fairness, their assassinations are part of the foundation of the political pessimism I'm referring to.
I guess I'm no different, I find the posturing and the mainstream-media-cum-paparazzi chasing anything that looks remotely like a story about a candidate, candidate's associate, candidate's pet ...
Posted by: Brad Eleven | February 27, 2007 4:48 PM
PS;
How could I miss this one?
♪ Mike Huckabee - Theme from 'I ♡ Huckabee'
Posted by: C.Morris | February 27, 2007 4:49 PM
If Bono is such a saint why does he and his U2 buddies hide his money outside of Ireland so they don't pay taxes on all the royalties they make? Seems like another example of do as I say not as I do. Why should the US spend our tax dollars on his cause when he doesn't even pay taxes in his country?
Posted by: RtWngTexican | February 27, 2007 4:58 PM
Yes, there is one Republican in Chicago that loves Bono!
Posted by: Mary | February 27, 2007 5:02 PM
"If Bono married John Lennon's widow, she'd be Yoko Ono Bono"
xDDDDDDD
Posted by: Sebring | February 27, 2007 5:09 PM
You people are so jaded. Bono has the balls to use his celebrity to do the right thing, and he has the smarts to see the right people in order to do so.
Posted by: Damoneki | February 27, 2007 5:19 PM
Larry ...
I love it!
BARACK THE VOTE!!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
Posted by: TJFRMLA | February 27, 2007 5:24 PM
Larry ...
I love it!
BARACK THE VOTE!!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
Posted by: TJFRMLA | February 27, 2007 5:24 PM
Two cool dudes with positive vibes. Cynicism is so 90s.
Posted by: Vaughan | February 27, 2007 5:29 PM
You say you remove comments do to "irrelevancies" and yet all of the comments I've read here amount to little more.
Posted by: George Migash | February 27, 2007 5:40 PM
That should have been an awesome meeting - Bono thinks he's God and Obama keeps getting told he's the second coming. They probably spent the time telling each other how wonderful they are.
Posted by: Linda | Feb 27, 2007 1:33:27 PM
Well, how silly of Bono. George the Lesser has a direct line to God, and he knows it ain't Bono he's talking to.
Posted by: Brendan | February 27, 2007 5:43 PM
C.Morris,
Welcome back, good to have you here.
George Migash,
"You say you remove comments do to "irrelevancies" and yet all of the comments I've read here amount to little more."
One man's irrelevancy is another man's story. I've never seen the Swamp staff agree to weed out "irrelevancies" and rightfully so. Some of the best conversations emerge from tangents.
Posted by: Bryan | February 27, 2007 6:55 PM
fourth marriage and she could be
Yoko Ono Bono Romo Bon Jovi.
Posted by: smidge | February 27, 2007 6:56 PM
and of course if Yoko then divorces the Cowboys quarterback and marries Mario Cuomo ...
Posted by: D | February 27, 2007 7:55 PM
Why is it that republicans have such a problem with celebrities not named Dennis Miller? Bono is a humanitarian, a term Bush doesn't understand. Unlike the war-monger Bush, he also gets it. Witness the lyrics below.
Bullet The Blue Sky----U2
In the howling wind comes a stinging rain
See it driving nails
Into the souls on the tree of pain
From the firefly, a red orange glow
See the face of fear
Running scared in the valley below
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue
Bullet the blue
In the locust wind comes a rattle and hum
Jacob wrestled the angel
And the angel was overcome
You plant a demon seed
You raise a flower of fire
See them burning crosses
See the flames higher and higher
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue
Bullet the blue
This guy comes up to me
His face red like a rose on a thorn bush
Like the colors of a royal flush
And he's peeling off those dollar bills
Slapping them down
One hundred, two hundred
And I can see those fighter planes
And I can see those fighter planes
Across the mud huts where the children sleep
Through the alleys of a quiet city street
You take the staircase to the first floor
Turn the key and slowly unlock the door
As a man breathes into a saxophone
And though the walls you hear the city groan
Outside is America
Outside is America
Across the field you see the sky ripped open
See the rain through a gaping wound
Pounding on the women and children
Who run
Into the arms
Of America
Posted by: dt | February 27, 2007 8:31 PM
To you Obama cynics, I have two and a half words: it's happening.
Posted by: michael boehm | February 27, 2007 9:10 PM
dt,
Don't forget that the Republicans not only have Dennis Miller as a "celebrity" endorser but also Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family "fame".
No wonder they hate Hollywood..hhahahhhaaahaha!!
Posted by: John E. | February 27, 2007 9:20 PM
Bono is neither a secular saint, nor a humanitarian. He is the worst kind of self agrandising publicity whore. Living in Ireland under the media yoke of U2 for the last nigh on 30 years has been bad enough, but frankly Bono and his band pay not one cent to the upkeep of the health, security, education or even artistic elements of the country and yet can swan around the Globe like Ghandi in leather pants. At best it's hipocracy at worse exploitation. Wasn't so long ago he was posing with Dubya in photo ops and keeping schtum about Iraq unlike other musicians. Shame America never gets to see that side of him.
Posted by: God not Him Again | February 27, 2007 9:34 PM
Bryan,
It's good to be back. I still have no clue what happened.
I agree; irrelevancies / irreleshmancies. These things go where they go.
dt,
Nice U2. I like those guys.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 27, 2007 9:50 PM
Yep, sure was a slow news day at the Chicago
Tribune,as the only other Barack Obama Story
that they haven't reported on yet,just has to
be "Covering Obama's Trip To The Mensroom!"....
OMG isn't obession with Conmen like Obama just
the greast journalism ever folks?
Posted by: Ralph | February 28, 2007 12:10 AM
GNHA,
Speaking for myself, I don't worship Bono as a "secular saint", but I do think he qualifies as a humanitarian on some level, as he's raised large amounts of money for some worthy causes. If he is a "publicity whore", as you say, so what?, if it still translates into something good.
As for his contributions, or lack thereof, to his homeland, I'm not one to judge. But your assessment of the guy seems rather harsh. At least he's not a celebrity in the mold of Paris Hilton, who's only contribution to society is providing fodder for the gossip mags. Are you sure you and Bono don't have some kind of history? He can't be all that bad of a bloke, can he?
Posted by: dt | February 28, 2007 12:38 AM
OMG, the stench of cynicsism on this posting reaks all the way to the coast!!! That's the smell we voted out of Congress last year!!!
If these trolls spent as half as much time offering any kind of public service as they spend throwing boogers at public figures, they might realize that there are people out there who really do care.
Yes, there are people who actually work to make good things happen. Usually it's the "liberals" who are actually the ones getting things done when progress needs to be made.
Obama is for real. Get used to it. He'll do more for America in an hour than the last Congress did in 5 years.
Posted by: Davie Crockett | February 28, 2007 12:49 AM
What a crack-up, you guys are! Hee-hee! ;D
Posted by: Marie | February 28, 2007 1:18 AM
Wow! Such venom...what's the matter with you guys? Bono has raised millions of dollars to help those in need. What have you done? He is a great humanitarian. Are you just jealous or what? Bono could sit back with his millions and enjoy life like many other people do but instead travels the globe trying to make other people's lives better. That's a great thing! And, meeting with Barack Obama was indeed the right thing to do since he is going to be our next president. :) Obama '08!
Posted by: Donn Cook | February 28, 2007 3:16 AM
Donn, you are spot on--the Republicans are shaking in their shorts over Obama's campaign--and that's why they keep trying sooooo hard to pretend that Hillary is relevant. They KNOW that the baggage she comes with is the best thing they have going for them--they think that the boobs (we, the voters) will somehow forget that THEY (led by GW Bush) HAVE INITIATED THE RUIN OF OUR COUNTRY once we start talking about thongs and cigars again....which is inevitable if Hillary were to somehow get the nomination.
I really don't think that the public will NOT go for that again, and I think that THEY KNOW that Obama is the real thing.
Smart move on Bono's part.
Posted by: loretta | February 28, 2007 6:09 AM
Dear "Posters"
Please listen if you "have ears to hear".Obama does.
Thanks kids.
Jesus (H)Christ
Posted by: Ray Daub | February 28, 2007 9:58 AM
Barack is going to win the poverty vote. He's got Bono and Borgen singing his praises.
Posted by: bebe | February 28, 2007 10:11 AM
I agree with Donn Cook..What have any of US done to make a difference? Bono has the money to do WHATEVER he wants..He has his own family, he could choose to do anything, live anywhere, yet he is OUT there trying to make a GLOBAL difference..He helped promote the Belfast peace agreement,he has made a difference in his country through "Trocaire" and in many other ways. RESEARCH and obtain KNOWLEDGE before you spit out unsupported nonsense. Have YOU gone out to meet any of the candidates and voice YOUR opinion? Not that they will listen---but at least Bono will be in the news and we all know he's trying to influence Obama into making some positive changes. Obama can't ignore Bono.
Posted by: melovechocolate | February 28, 2007 11:17 AM
Those of you quick to criticize the intentions of people trying to improve this world should try to rise above your jadedness, take a breath, put your political leanings aside and ask yourself..."How can I be a part of solution building?" rather than being "Ann Colter-esque grip it and rip it whiners for the sake of whining" blowhards. If not, pick up the remote and continue to enjoy your "opinion based" news program already in progress.
Posted by: rational | February 28, 2007 12:00 PM
I think Barack Obama has something really good behind him and that's his WIFE! This maybe a man's world, BUT it would be nothing without a woman or a girl. True words indeed.
Posted by: Anissa | February 28, 2007 12:09 PM
Actually she'd be Yoko Ono HEWSON. His real name is Paul Hewson. (geez get it right)
Posted by: JJ | February 28, 2007 12:15 PM
Wait until Billy Corgan gets together with B. Hussein Obama. The Tribune newsroom will go (nuts). One has-been and one soon-to-be.
Posted by: Bob | February 28, 2007 12:17 PM
Hear/read great interview with Sen. Obama on NPR this am, just before he met with Bono, at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7630250
worth listening to.
Posted by: S. Orange | February 28, 2007 2:04 PM
You'll love this. Check it out:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0702110381feb11,1,5923457.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Posted by: Gloria | February 28, 2007 2:23 PM
Yoko Ono Bono Romo Bon Jovi Cuomo Blagojevich
Posted by: Bubba | February 28, 2007 2:40 PM
Actually she'd be Yoko Ono HEWSON. His real name is Paul Hewson. (geez get it right)
Posted by: JJ | Feb 28, 2007 12:15:46 PM
Finally...Thank you I was going to say the same thing! I'm glad to know someone on here has there facts straight
Posted by: suzyq | February 28, 2007 2:45 PM
Uh-Oh: Something is rotten in Denmark, just read where Mr. Obamas' father was a drunk and a wife beater, but no mention about it in his book. You'd think he would of mentioned it, I hope it's not true and just some monkey biz. from Carville and Begala
Posted by: Don B | February 28, 2007 6:39 PM
Jeez people. Before you criticize Bono learn a bit about what he's done. Not only does the ONE Campaign have one of the largest mailing addresses in the country thanks to close to 2.5 MILLION people signing the ONE Declaration, but Bono and the other celebrities/politicians/activists have inspired countless others to take action for global poverty. Shame on them for caring about the world's poor.
Posted by: alyssa | March 5, 2007 7:33 PM
Bono should be stabbed
Posted by: Toby | July 29, 2008 8:40 PM