Offical statement from Elton John

[hlthe2b]

I assume that this was posted today on his site, though written earlier, obviously and that it is in reference to his participation in the Limbaugh wedding. I could be wrong, but I don't know what other context it would make sense. Take it for what it is worth, I suppose.

May 28, 2010
A statement from Elton John
Elton issued the following statement today
By the Editor/eltonjohn.com

"I have always believed that music inhabits a world set apart from politics, religious differences or prejudice of any kind.

"Throughout my career I have made a point of playing concerts in challenging places, such as the USSR and Northern Ireland in the 1970s, Israel in the 1990s and very recently Morocco. Every concert was an enjoyable event for us all and, as I found in Morocco just this last Wednesday, it is always a great experience playing to a new audience in a new country, getting a wonderful warm reception, and hearing the 30,000-strong audience singing along to lyrics that are not in their native tongue.

"Music is, and always will be, a universal language, free from boundaries. It can and does inspire unity and builds bridges between people, and I will continue to play concerts anywhere in the world where I can encourage that unity."
Elton John, May 28, 2010


http://web.eltonjohn.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100528&contentid=10526672

[MindandSoul]

1. I guess. . .Elton would share his music even with the devil!. .

[Cleita]

84. Apparently he would and maybe that's not a bad thing.

The man isn't a politician. If he has some art to share with other worlds, I'm okay with it.

[MinneapolisMatt]

2. Spare me, Elton.

I suppose he'd play for Stalin and Hitler, too. Well, if they paid him $1 million.

There are some lines you DO NOT cross. Disgusting.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren Stupidity]

30. Goebbels

same category

[Maru Kitteh]

58. Yeah. OK. "We" all do.

[girl gone mad]

13. So Rush to give a million dollars..

presumably funneled up from his pinhead knuckle-dragging listeners, to a die-hard liberal who supports the "gay agenda".

Why am I supposed to be mad at Elton John, again?

[proud2BlibKansan]

46. +1

[Control-Z]

53. It would be really great

if Elton were to make a very public million dollar donation in Rush's name, to one of Rush's most hated charities.

[lib_wit_it]

88. How do we get this suggestion to him? It would be fantastic if he did it..

[Control-Z]

94. If I had a clue how,

I would do it. I would guess there are no direct addresses available to the public, though.

[msanthrope]

54. Thank you!!! Why didn't Rush have Ted Nugent is the better question!! n/t

[WCGreen]

65. Good point!

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katandmoon]

4. "PS. And earn a cool million."

[liberalmuse]

6. I guess the million Rush paid him didn't hurt.

I'm sorry, but this statement is dishonest. Substitute 'music' for '$' and it would be closer to the truth.

On edit: I needed to add - The million Limbaugh made from whoring himself out to the lowest possible common denominator of human "thought", telling lies, inciting hatred, racism, dividing and in the end, probably destroying this nation. Sorry, Elton, don't pretend this is about values or music or anything more than fucking money.

[Forkboy]

7. I'm sure Rush will get the whole unity thing.

[RKP5637]

8. Follow the money trail. One million dollars, yep, that is the framework for

the rationalizations...

[countingbluecars]

9. I think this statement

was made in reference to his concert in Morocco.

[blondeatlast]

41. Since it is dated 5/28 I think you are correct. nt

[prolesunited]

49. I think he needs to donate that money

to a charity or foundation that Rush really hates and make sure Rush and the public knows about it. That's the only thing he can do to make amends for this.

[johnnie]

10. I think this had to do with his Morocco show

Not the wedding.

[lisa58]

11. why encourage hating? Money....it's a disease.

[foxfeet]

12. Elton John's Charity Work, Events and Causes

Sir Elton John has seen many of his close friends die from HIV/AIDS over the years, and established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) in 1992 to try to stem the destruction the disease causes around the world.

SNIP

“I have lost many dear friends to this terrible disease,” he said on the EJAF website. “In the mid-1980s, I began channeling my grief into efforts to help raise money for the pioneering charitable organizations that formed during those dark, grim years to fund AIDS research and provide vital services to people with HIV/AIDS.”

Since its founding, EJAF has raised over $125 million to support programs in 55 countries around the globe through prevention and education, elimination of prejudice and discrimination, and providing services to people living with the disease.

The singer also gives large amounts of his personal wealth to charity. In 2004 he donated over $43 million to organizations around the world, making him the most generous person in music for that year – a title he retains year after year. Earlier this year he donated 120 motorcycles to the African nation of Lesotho, to be used by doctors and nurses to visit patients in remote areas, and in 1997 he raised $40 million for charity through sales of Candle In The Wind, the single released following the death of Princess Diana.



Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/62-elton-john#ixzz0q7htPy16

[jimlup]

14. Yeah but were talking Rush Limbaugh here...

There are people who are so fascist as to not warrant normal civility.

[Phentex]

26. That's how I see it...

sometimes you really do have to draw a line.

[stuntcat]

93. for real

the effects of his influence over the years are part of what's killing the entire planet.

Sorry everyone :hi: if that sounds over-dramatic, but this is how I see the world- F_CKED because of a few rich old men, men like Rush Limbaugh and every single individual who's ever voted with him/shared a stage/performed for :puke:

[Birthmark]

15. Why didn't Elton just invoke...

..the Krusty the Klown Defense: "They drove a dump truck full of money up to my house! What was I supposed to do? I'm not made of stone." (From memory. Actual quote may vary in detail but is the same in substance.)

Enjoy your douche money, Sir Elton!

[JanusAscending]

16. I'm sure it is....

and right now I agree with him whole heartedly. There is a spirit of forgiveness in the air today. Life is too short to carry around all of this hate that I have had welled up inside of me!! Maybe that's what being on a 24 hour tornado watch and warning does to a person. Life is too short folks! Who knows who might have been "touched" by Elton's music at that wedding???? Does our hate towards Limpballs do one thing to hurt him? or ourselves? I think our remarkable President has the right idea. Anger and hate will get us NOWHERE!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

42. you're right, Janus

this is gonna take some practice!

[JanusAscending]

108. WORD!!

[msongs]

17. when obama has homophobes campaign for him...well that's ok. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

32. no that was wrong too

[Bluebear]

50. Thank you, 90% of people said it "was just one song!!!1"

[Touchdown]

71. Actually, Obama's action waas worse.

Obama is an American, and with McClurkin, he was trolling for the Christian vote.

Elton is British, and probably not to up on US Political discourse, much less a fan of AM talk radio.

[mitchum]

18. Not buying it Fat Boy

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. My husband, a musician, made exactly this same point

And after being married to him for 35 years I can testify that it's about the music, not the politics.

Elton John's audience doesn't take his talent away. He is also more than likely to take that million bucks Rush paid him and donate it to a very worthy and very liberal cause. :)

[KansasVoter]

57. If he does that then I will not think he is a asshole.

[REP]

85. Elton John doesn't need the money as badly, though, does he?

[The Gunslinger]

20. in other words

"I got paid!!"

[WeDidIt]

21. He certainly is free to hold that opinion

just as I am free to never spend another penny on anything from Elton John ever again.

[Hannah Bell]

22. "money -- that's what i want (that's - what i want), just give me money...

[donco6]

23. I have always believed that money . . . er, MUSIC inhabits a world set apart

blah blah blah.

Fuck you, Elton. Maybe Rush Limpballs will buy your next shitty album.

[Mr Generic Other]

24. it would be difficult for any artist to perform or share their art

exclusively with people who shared the same value systems and employ the same life philosophies as they subscribe to themselves.
evidently both limbaugh and the wife like elton john's music.
john should have left it with that sort of statement.
what he said sounded like an apology.

[Raineyb]

99. No, an apology includes the words, "I'm sorry" or some other phrase of regret

What this sounded like was "I got mine fuck you and your ethics"

There's a difference between not sharing the values of people who like your music (as you have no control over that) and taking time out of your schedule to go over and play at their wedding.

Apparently going over to play at the wedding of a bigot is just fine.

[Better Believe It]

25. So Elton, why are you so anxious to build a bridge to Limbaugh and the right-wing anti-gay fanatics?

And why do you think we should unite with Limbaugh, Palin, Beck, etc.,? Is there just a misunderstanding on our part about what these right-wing reactionaries stand for .... they are just regular good people who want to do no harm?


"It can and does inspire unity and builds bridges between people, and I will continue to play concerts anywhere in the world where I can encourage that unity."

Elton should have added: "And especially if I can get paid a million bucks for bridge building!"

[Warren Stupidity]

27. Did he need the money?

This was indefensible.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

28. So I guess if the Klan or Fred Phelps writes a check, Elton will be there

pathetic

as I said in the other thread:

the first time I heard Limbaugh was back in 1993 (I was 16). Jurassic park was the big film of the year, and some conservative rag had a cartoon where a group of dinosaurs were carrying gay rights signs. The caption read "The real reson the dinosaurs died out." Limbaugh was chortling on the air for a half hour about how funny he thought this cartoon was.

Limbaugh has always been a homophobic bigot. He may be a little more slick about his delivery as times change, but he's never apologized for all the remarks he made about AIDS in the 80s and 90s. And he still demonizes advocates for marriage equality.

And his hate doesn't end with gays. Asl any minority, or women for that matter, what they think of him.

Elton may do good work, but by celebrating Limbaugh he's legitimizing a bigot with one of the biggest public platforms in the U.S. Such a person deserves to be shunned - as is the case with Phelps.

They certainly don't deserve their own personal, private concert.

But it's easy for Sir Elton, from his gazillion-dollar home with security and celeb friends to see this as a harmless matter. He no longer has to deal with this hatred in every day life and feel its effects. He doesn't have to worry about losing a job because of anti-gay views of a an employer. He doesn't have to fear assault or beating due to his orientation. Matthew Sheppard's fate is something he only reads about in the news. It doesn't hit home with him.

The views of Limbaugh and his ilk have a long way to go before they work their way up the ladder to affect him, And he think that makes it OK. To those in the lowly masses who have to deal with continuing hate and discrimination, Sir Elton has basically said (for $1 million in pieces of silver), "I've got mine. Fuck you."

[Better Believe It]

31. Just building bridges to hell!

[moondust]

29. Naive.

Some of the bastards he associates with will turn around and use the association as proof that they are not the bastards people say they are. He's providing them with cover--for a handsome fee.

[Canuckistanian]

33. Sorry. That doesn't cut it.

Elton John is dealing with someone who would have him locked up in a conservative "ideal world".

Rush is actively and purposefully trying to create a world where gays are marginalized, imprisoned, harassed and discriminated against.

This isn't "just politics". It's personal. And it's AGAINST YOU, Sir John.

[sendero]

34. P.S.

.. for a million dollars that is.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

35. Does he need the money?

I mean, really?

[mitchum]

36. If a Pope can sell indulgences, I guess there is no stopping a queen from doing so

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

37. this statement is actually quite insulting and self-serving

comparing his shows for those who felt the oppression of the iron curtain to giving a private serenade to an blatantly racist, anti-gay activist, is just despicable-or naive

Face it, Elton. you're now officially a $1 million whore.

[BolivarianHero]

38. Morocco?

You think a country where hashish consumption among adults approaches 90% and that has been exposed to more cosmopolitan influences than the rest of the Arab world combined is going to have an issue with a powerful gay celebrity holding a concert or two?

[johnnie]

39. They did

That's why he wrote this on his site. Of course that doesn't stop all these people here on DU to blow off that fact and continue to reply to this as if he wrote it yesterday.

[TacticalPeek]

40. Fuck off.

Bastard.

[KonaKane]

43. Actually music can be one of the most powerful agents of political change

I am surprised to hear that Sir John is unaware of that fact, given practically the entire Madman Across The Water album.

[awoke_in_2003]

44. In 1985...

a lot of big name acts boycotted performing at Sun City Casino in South Africa due to apartheid- Elton John wasn't one of them

[Seneca]

114. And neither was Queen

Yet not a peep from the Queen fans on DU, who would be the FIRST to post that they are boycotting Arizona, because of their racist immigration law. They ignore their own hypocrisy, because hey, Freddie Mercury was soooooo cooooool and talented... and they miss him so much. :puke:

[Froward69]

45. "AND the check cleared" ~~~Elton John

Elton John certainly did not do the gig for free. Music is all that he said. I do not disagree...

However I am sure the Moroccan check cleared too.

[JI7]

47. how can he compare places to playing for a specific bigot ?

[killbotfactory]

48. $$$

Countries, which represent a diverse segment of people, are different from a single radio personality.

[avaistheone1]

89. The million dollar check did not hurt Elton's feelings at all.

[GeorgeGist]

51. Did you coin the word 'Offical' ...

as a hybrid of the words 'official' and 'offal'? Regardless, I like it.

[hlthe2b]

52. just lazy typing fingers, I suppose (or that evil subconscious)

who knows? :evilgrin:

[msanthrope]

55. Why didn't RUSH hire Ted Nugent is the better question....n/t

[KansasVoter]

56. Translation "I would play for Satan for money"!

[ladjf]

59. Rubbish. A gig is a gig. Take the money and at least have the

decency to not try to weasel out with that "music is a universal language" crap.

[WinkyDink]

60. He hugged Eminem. The rest is just haggling over the price.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

61. commentary from Michael Jones of change.org

Excerpt:

David Badash (a writer here at Change.org, and the creator and writer of The New Civil Rights Project) has a laundry list of anti-gay commentary courtesy of Limbaugh and his vast media empire. There's Limbaugh calling Rep. Barney Frank a "banking queen." There's Limbaugh's political metaphor that Democrats bend over and let gay populations and African Americans rape them. There's Limbaugh's line that LGBT students should just stay in the closet and keep quiet, instead of trumpeting their sexuality and inviting dissent. And of course, who can forget his rant about how if scientists ever discovered a gay gene that could be identified in fetuses, abortion rates would skyrocket because conservative parents wouldn't want to give birth to homo children.

Repulsive, right? So it's no wonder why queer folks around the globe are scratching their heads this morning, wondering why Sir Elton legitimized Limbaugh's rhetoric by playing at his wedding.

<...>

Limbaugh's politics, at least as they're articulated on his radio show, aren't so far off from these entities. He doesn't make it his life's work to trash the LGBT community, but he certainly has in the past with his comments, and he's certainly in the business of supporting political candidates and political movements that would like to further marginalize America's LGBT population.

<...>
But unfortunately for now, the whole story feels like a bit of a gross business transaction, as if all it takes for Elton John to overlook someone's anti-gay politics is a cool, crisp $1 million. That may help Elton John's pocket book. But it certainly doesn't help his reputation among activists in this country who are working day in and day out for LGBT equality.

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/elton_john_and_rush_limbaugh_sitting_in_a_tree

[joeybee12]

112. I want to rec your post!!!! n/t

[krispos42]

62. So.... would he play Uganda after they passed that "hang the gays" law? n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

63. He is a true musician and artist. Good for him.

I don't like Limbaugh but I agree that music is for everybody and does cross all boundaries and can bring people together. So can sports. The children of war torn countries often play soccer with their enemies and all of a sudden the enemy becomes a human just like them. That is how war is ended. The whole attitude of "I won't play with you unless you think exactly like I do." is childish and needs to be ended. When we exhibit this behavior we are just as childish as the other side and you better belive the children can see it too. They see when we are just as rediculous and childish as the so called enemy. Thankfully children are often smarter than adults. It is the children who act like grown ups who will change this world not the adults who act like children. I would love to see a musical concert with children who come from democratic families playing alongside children who come from a republican family. In all reality anytime you attend your child's music concert at school your child is probably singing alongside children that come from a republican family. My son is in the choir and I don't doubt for a second that some of the children come from a republican family. That doesn't make them or their families our enemy. It gives us common ground. Sir Elton John is setting a good example for all of us.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

64. My wedding gift--sung to the tune of "I guess that's why they call it the blues"

Humping like Pig-fucks, lying like liars
Shitting on people like ass-sucking shit-bags
And I guess that's why you're kind of a whore.

***Copyright pending. You must get permission to use these lyrics on Hallmark cards and/or all other Disney/Nickelodeon products.

[Touchdown]

66. Oh' fer Christ's sake People! He's a Brit! Do any of you know the name of a British Radio Douchebag?

Then why do you expect Elton to know The Pigman as well as Americans do? He lives in England. He pays attention to current events that affect ENGLAND! Rush Limbaugh is not on England's radios. One of his copycats has been banned from the country. The Pigman, and his daily bloviating do not affect British life, political discourse, or public policy. How is Elton John to know how bad he is?

Typical Americans! Blame the world for not knowing who is who in America!

[hlthe2b]

69. Actually, John has owned a home in Atlanta since the early 2000s

He gave a tour of it to Matt Lauer in 2004: http://popdirt.com/a-tour-of-elton-johns-atlanta-home/34298/
and still owns it.

While he does have a total of 4 homes, I am told that he is not infrequently seen in Atlanta.

[Touchdown]

70. So what? Does that mean he hangs out in Atlanta listening to AM talk radio all year?

It's still ridiculous! When we have 40% of our own countrymen still believing Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, John Kerry didn't earn his purple hearts, and Al Gore actually said he invented the internet, we shouldn't be so quick to judge other people of the world who don't know about some asshole on the radio.

[hlthe2b]

74. No way that Elton John does not know who Rush Limbaugh is...

Elton John actually lives in Atlanta and doesn't just drop his bags like a hotel in between tours. He met his partner in Atlanta. And, having lived in Atlanta myself on three separate occasions I can tell you that there is no escape from Limbots and their ilck. For the record, I've never once listened to Lard Rushbo either, but there is no escaping hearing about him, even as you flip through tv channels, magazines, or any other media-- not to mention the moronic discussions about him you will encounter in public places.

And while it is obvious we have some very ignorant people in this country, I don't know too many who would suggest Elton John to be stupid or ignorant, no matter what they may think of him personally or musically.

[Touchdown]

75. So you blame him for ignoring what you project he MUST know,

Instead of what he might actually know... like he comes to Atlanta because that makes his husband happy, then they get to fuck in Atlanta and don't have time to mix it up with the mouth breathing Atlantans who see a gay rock star, who most likely rarely goes out in public with his husband, and instead of asking for his autograph and yelling "Hey Hey Johnny!" like anybody would do to any rock star, they try to strike up a conversation on what Rush said this afternoon.:eyes:

[hlthe2b]

76. Don't project. I have offered no opinion whatsoever...

Your assumptions and accusations are both off base and inappropriate. I have only tried to understand why he elected to perform and the statement on his website--whether related to this performance or more generic is all there is right now to suggest what he is thinking. I do believe he knows who Rush Limbaugh is and that is why I was all the more curious why he chose to perform. That is ALL.

Btw, your understanding of what Atlanta is like is really off base. If you watch that video clip interview with Elton, I think you might have a better understanding of why he feels comfortable in Atlanta and what his life is like there. Just something I found by googling as I knew that he had lived there for some time, but wasn't sure if he still did.... :shrug:

[Touchdown]

79. Well, it sounds to me like he's getting shit from his liberal fans for doing it.

That part is obvious to me at least.

Ok, so my understanding of Atlanta is off base.
I see now. Atlanta is not a city where a rock star gets bothered for autographs and silly requests to belt out a couple of lyrics. Atlanta is not like any other city in the world! Atlanta is unique and special, where rock stars are not accosted for autographs, but engaged in political discourse by the listeners of a 3 hour hate monger... and that he's comfortable with that.
I stand corrected.

EDIT: And... you took me to task for stating the obvious... that he's a Brit who may not pay that much attention to US political discourse... and chose to ignore that and bring up his love nest in Atlanta instead. Yeah, I made an assumption about you, because you are evading my point by using a distracting argument you'd rather engage in. How could I not?

[hlthe2b]

80. why so overtly antagonistic/sarcastic towards me?

As a fellow Denverite, it just seems so unnecessarily rude, especially since we are not really at odds. Whatever. Have a good night.

[Touchdown]

81. Because you chose to answer me by ignoring everything I said.

Just so you can bring up "He has a house in Atlanta!" WTFC? I would like, just once in my life (especially here in Denver... A city so full of flakes, it's a wonder Kellog's hasn't moved here) to someone just answer or debate something I actually said!

[hlthe2b]

82. You stated he is "a Brit who may not pay that much attention to

US political discourse" and I answered that by disagreeing that it is likely he would be so distanced from US political discourse, given that he lives (and has lived for more than a decade in Atlanta. That is an answer to your point. Whether you like that answer or not, I did not ignore it. I answered it by disagreeing with you. And as to being a "flake in Denver," you apparently really just want to insult, so I will leave it at that.

[Touchdown]

83. Again. Ignoring what I actually say

I say.. Denver is full of flakes. You hear... TD says hlthe2 is a flake. If you really think that's what I said, then I can't help you.

Yes you disagreed. My trying to engage in further discussion in taking issue with the Atlanta residency argument results in accusations of insults.
Do you want to start over?

60% of the people I work with, all of which are Americans, know very little about politics or pay attention to what some radio blowhard says. Having a house in the US does not automatically make anyone privy to US political discourse. Now yes, those 60% I speak of do know Rush, and most will also know he's at least right wing. But do they know he's an asshole? Only some do, and even fewer can cite why. Many still think Drudge is "just a gossip site".

If this were Bruce Springsteen, Madonna or Billy Joel, then I can see the outrage. Elton John, Morrissey, Johnny Rotten, or David Gilmour I can cut a little slack for not being Americans. Not everybody is Bono.

[hlthe2b]

86. Fine... we'll try again

I don't know why Elton chose to perform. You offer the possibility that he does not know who Limbaugh is, given that he is a Brit and possibly politically unaware. Is that possible? Yes. Is it probable? IMO, no, but you could be right. Maybe I just give non-Americans more credit for being culturally and socially aware. Having worked overseas quite a bit, I have always been amazed (and sometimes overwhelmed) by the sophistication and level of global awareness-- even among everyday people and even in third world countries. In the US, that is the exception, I agree, where apathy and lack of interest in learning things beyond ones everyday world or entertainment pursuits seems to win out.

Nonetheless, if it is the case that John didn't know what he was getting into and his social or business contacts didn't enlighten him, I would guess he will have gotten an earful by now. Perhaps he will release another statement soon.

Yes, he has certainly angered one heck of a lot of his followers as is seen on this thread and I can certainly understand the sense of betrayal that the GLBT community feel if they are convinced he knew exactly what Limbaugh was all about before hand, but performed only for the money. Others believe as a performer, he should simply "perform" independent of any politics or other issues and aren't bothered. He might still win over his critics by donating the money towards a liberal/progressive cause--especially one that would not endear him to the Limbaugh crowd. Who knows? As has been pointed out in posts here, he has a very generous record of charitable donations towards some extremely worthwhile causes. It wouldn't surprise me if he added to that, even in the absence of controversy.

[Touchdown]

87. You do have a point about European awareness.

but in my experience, having had cafe conversations in France and Germany as well, that the US's nuance kind of escapes many of them. I've had to explain the electoral college to many europeans, because it's just assumed we are a democracy and George Bush lost.

And to disclose the Atlanta riff. You were the third respondent to me to use Atlanta as a rebuttal. I questioned the vilification in 2 other threads, and all the responses were "House in Atlanta". I was beginning to think the Atlanta house was a prior agreed upon as the catch all trump card for any doubters out there. I should know you probably didn't frequent the other dozen threads on John/Limbaugh, so the rancor was my reaction.

If he gave that money to AIDS charity/Ryan White Foundation or some other good cause, then it wouldn't be the first time. Chrissy Hynde's "My City Is Gone" is Rush's theme song, and she give every dime he pays her for it to an animal activist organization she believes in.

I guess I never saw John as an activist rock star, in the same vein as Bono or Springsteen. He seemed to be interested in charities that affected friends of his, such as Ryan White and Dionne Warwick. His histrionics in Chinese airports, and his general need for creating drama scenes everywhere by slapping hotel workers etc., just struck me as somebody who is a little too shallow to care about the world around him, much less who's influencing it.

[Greyhound]

102. He owned the other penthouse of an acquaintance of mine there in Atlanta,

at least as far back as 1991.

[Warren Stupidity]

90. You are seriously proposing that John doesn't know who Limbaugh is?

So he gets an idiot defense?

Pathetic.

[Touchdown]

91. As well as you and I do? No.

What's pathetic is that you think he's Bono.

[CBGLuthier]

111. Jonathon Ross and Russell Brand a couple of real douches

[donheld]

67. This has NOTHING to do with the Rush wedding.

[FarLeftFist]

68. I'll play anywhere for a million dollars. ANYWHERE!

[immoderate]

72. I'm not a fan, but let the man sing.

Remember Rush is a comedian -- a show biz personality. He is the Liberace of politics, a showman. Not unfitting.

--imm

[and-justice-for-all]

73. Uh, that is a lame ass excuse.....and pathetic too...nt

[Ramulux]

77. Bullshit

Hes a fucking sell out and everyone knows it. Rush Limbaugh hates gay people and makes no attempt to hide it, so there is no reason for a gay man to sing for him at his wedding.

Its called not supporting people who hate you and actively attempt to fuck over others like you.

[wordpix]

78. Elton, ask Rush what he was doing in the DominicanRepublic with illegal Viagra

(prescribed to his doctor). I would like to know if DrugRush was raping children.

No wonder DrugRush doesn't want media at his wedding.

[Ichingcarpenter]

92. Lame and out of touch just like E;lton Playing Sun City during Apartheid

I do miss Taupin's lyrics...Elton lost it when he lost Taupin.

There was no excuse for the apartheid tour.

[nichomachus]

95. So Elton's appearances "in support" of something are just meaningless -- he'll go anywhere

His playing at Diana's funeral was just another gig. That's pretty much what he just said. Nothing special. He would have done the same if it had been Eva Braun. No biggie. That kind of takes away the "specialness" of his appearing places.

[WinkyDink]

96. His message would sound sweeter minus the paycheck.

[joeybee12]

97. What a POS, what a whore...

Anythign to justify getting that money. He's scum.

[Raineyb]

98. In other words, being a known racist has very little consequence in this country

if you're in the media. You won't go broke, or be shunned hating black and brown people in this country. And you'll not only be able to afford famous musicians to play at your wedding but you won't have to worry about being shunned for being a racist asshole.

Lovely.

I guess we know who counts in this country.

[LanternWaste]

100. Luckily for me, I can separate the art from the artist

Luckily for me, I can separate the art from the artist-- and see the them as two, wholly separate entities.

Were I unable to do that, I imagine I'd be a lot less stimulated by art than I currently am; and would be compelled to ask myself what petulance of mine compels me to perceive the greater collective of art through the lesser prism of politics?

[Iggo]

103. Me, too.

I can despise Ted Nugent and still listen to "Stranglehold" all damn day.

Separation of art and artist rules!

[Romulox]

101. Elton John is a towering talent. Do you remember when he reconciled with Eminem?

What a brave and talented man.

[UTUSN]

104. I don't want or need no steenkin' bridge to LIMBOsevic, thanks for nothing!1 n/t

[Stevenmarc]

105. Well Elton, if you were to come in on a flying piano and drop it on Rush, that would be a show

[AnArmyVeteran]

106. If he feels so strongly about music bring people together, why does he charge so much!

If Elton John really believed what he said in that statement he would play for free. He would be sharing his music instead of charging for it. Sorry Elton, but your excuse is lame. And you didn't even mention selling out to that right wing hatemonger. There is no excuse that will suffice for playing for the devil.

And while you were serenading the evil Limbaugh you could have played a concert giving all of the money to the BP victims or to help clean up the beaches. I know you have done benefit concerts and that is admirable, but to choose to play for Limbaugh is inexcusable. Goodbye yellow brick road. Goodbye Elton John...

[hlthe2b]

107. You know, I never really care about what gets rec/unrecced...

but I honestly have to laugh at the pattern on this thread. My best estimate is that it has been recommended/unrecommended in a pretty bizarre pattern, with at least a couple dozen unrecs cycling it on and off the "greatest" page.

I always thought recs were for posts we feel important for others to see and discuss, rather than to signal our personal positive or negative feelings towards the topic (or subject of the topic). Given how many Elton John-Limbaugh threads have appeared on DU the past day or so, I would have thought others would think it important to see and let others see (and discuss) what EJ has actually provided in terms of his viewpoints--whether one agrees with them or not.

But, it appears more DUers see recs/unrecs as a means of signaling their feelings on the issue. Go figure... :shrug:

[CBGLuthier]

109. Fortunately, not all musicians agree

Here is a blast from the past

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjWENNe29qc

[MellowDem]

110. Heh.

"Music is, and always will be, a universal language, free from boundaries. It can and does inspire unity and builds bridges between people, and I will continue to play concerts anywhere in the world where I can encourage that unity."

Or where you can make an easy million.

[rvablue]

113. This isn't about Rush. Still trying to determine if he sank that low. This is for the heat he took

for playing in Morroco.