Madonna kicks off 'Sticky and Sweet' tour in UK (Mixes images of McCain, Hitler)

[DuaneBidoux]

Source: AP

CARDIFF, Wales - Even at 50, the queen of pop just can't stop courting controversy.

As Madonna kicked off her international "Sticky and Sweet" tour Saturday night, she took a none-too subtle swipe at the presumptive Republican nominee for U.S. president.

Amid a four-act show at Cardiff's packed Millennium Stadium, a video interlude carried images of destruction, global warming, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Zimbabwe's authoritarian President Robert Mugabe — and U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Another sequence, shown later, pictured slain Beatle John Lennon, followed by climate activist Al Gore, Mahatma Gandhi and finally McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26369350/

---

Not sure this helps Obama, but there it is.

[AzDar]

1. Sounds about right to me.

;-)

[Hawaii Hiker]

9. I agree

Madonna has First Amendment rights to, not just the conservative shits...

I've always liked Madonna since "Holiday" (which was one of her first hits back in 1983 or so)...

[RetroLounge]

14. First Amendment rights?

While in ENGLAND???

:wtf:

RL

[Hawaii Hiker]

37. Whoops, First Amendment in UK, yeah I get the

:dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce:

for the day, LOL...

[tbyg52]

42. Uh, the Welsh would probably not appreciate being called "English".... ;->

Edited to add a friendly wink. ;)

[RetroLounge]

50. Ah, you are correct.

Great Britain...

:hi:

RL

[MindMatter]

25. Exactly. Is she supposed to joiin the MSM lie?

These guys value human life about the same as Hitler. A million Iraqi deaths mean nothing to them. Just bitness, you understand.

She should be commended for not being blind in a world where so many are.

Seriously, it is a gutsy move when artists like Madonna and the Dixie Chicks say what the MSM are afraid to say. Artists have a little more wiggle room under the concept of artistic license. Maybe we'll see a whole bunch of musicians and actors weighing in between now and November.

[marmar]

2. We got tix for her Detroit show today!

Can't wait!

[flamingdem]

3. good for her... no matter what people say Madonna is a good soul nt

[Coventina]

4. That's my girl!

Just wish she was coming here to Phoenix.

:cry:

[FreeState]

5. we have tickets to see her on election night in San Diego

should be a huge party here with Obama winning and prop 8 going down in flames...

[Hissyspit]

6. She is still hitting the Top Forty 25 years later. Impressive.

[DuaneBidoux]

7. Anybody know if she has any cities in swing states?

[nytemare]

8. She will be "Dixie Chicked"

No question in my mind.

[mzmolly]

10. She'd embrace it. But, her audience is a different one than the Chicks had on "hick" radio,

so she can afford it, so to speak.

[nytemare]

15. True

Whatever happens, good for her.

[Trajan]

53. Wont work ...

Madonna plays to an audience that is not typically swayed by RW hype ...

On the other hand; The Dixie Chicks were accepted by the 'graces' of a population that normally rails against Liberals/Democrats .... It wasn't difficult to turn that population against the 'Bush Hater' Dixie Chicks ....

[Barack_America]

11. Using images of Hitler isn't helpful to anybody. nt

[Hardrada]

16. Well....there are those folks at Stormfront...

[mckara]

19. Fascists Are Fascists Are Fascists

Economically speaking, they are identical.

Is McCain's penchant for killing innocent Arabs less of a war crime than Hitler killing Jews?

Please explain the difference.

[heliarc]

27. If he's willing and able to joke by singing...

"Bomb bomb bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" or quip that exporting cigarettes to Iran is one way to kill all of them than I would have to agree with you. It wouldn't surprise me if he really believed in wiping them out.

And then there is the blatant disregard for social welfare in favor of imperialistic hegemony and conflict abroad. The rhetoric is more subdued, but all the symptoms of the disease are there.

[heliarc]

28. Using images of Hitler in a context that elucidates history

is helpful and possibly even necessary. We've killed almost a million Iraqi people by now and the number keeps climbing. McCain for all intents and purposes comes off as a guy that would kill millions more Iranians, Afghanistanis, and Iraqis without so much as batting an eyelash, and for what has clearly proven to be a baldfaced lie... sounds a lot like Hitler to me.

[JonLP24]

61. I completely agree

But the mainstream isn't going to understand the comparison and immediately the likes of Fox News will immediately marginalize her and classify her as a Hollywood loony lib. Even mainstream democrats won't get behind this.

[heliarc]

72. You're right...

we need to continue to let Fox News (and CNN for that matter) dictate our national symbolism and discourse instead of shutting down their backwards logic. :sarcasm:

Little by little democrats are seeing the truth about the Oligarchs and war profiteers on the right. If Madonna has started an argument that has legs, than now more than ever people are ready to hear the truth.

[Warren Stupidity]

45. How many millions of dead Iraqis does it take? nt.

[Javaman]

70. some people will never get it...

it's actions not amounts.

even if one person is killed due to their ethnicity, religion or just not being a W.A.S.P., then the equation of our current administrations* policy to the motives and political theology of adolf hitler is perfectly apt.

or as someone else in this thread put it, "fascism is fascism is fascism".

[Tutankhamun]

12. She's a master at working the media.

She knows exactly what she's doing.

[Maestro]

13. Good for her!

:thumbsup:

[bigwillq]

17. Kick

:bounce:

Thanks, Madonna!

[Maryland Liberal]

18. Lets see..Madonna is trying to link Hitler to Mccain....

Oh yeah -like thats gonna fly = get real!!! Shouldn't we be trying to link McCain to Methuselah????

[defendandprotect]

20. I remember the night they put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court . . . .

WBAI was playing her song --- "A man can lie a thousand times . . . "

over and over again ---

I think McCain looks exactly like Charlie Chaplin dressed up as Hitler ---

[progressiveforever]

21. Always liked that material girl

Go Madonna! That's going p*ss off Bill O'dildo.
I think I'll look for tickets for her US dates.

[onehandle]

22. I remember her getting off a plane in late '92 saying, "Vote Clinton. Vote Clinton," to the cameras

I remember saying, "Shut up! Shut up!," to the TV.

But we all remember how that came out, so let her have her say.

[CitizenPatriot]

23. so now it's mainstream:-)

I think this connection has been made in the hearts and minds of those paying attention -- and now Madonna (note her name in this context -- interesting) is bringing it into the light, the awareness of the populace.

Good for you girl!

[Qutzupalotl]

24. Does that mean she loses the debate?

[MikeE]

26. Totally cool

And Cardiff is where Torchwood is located, so they can capture the reanimated zombie of Hitler, (ie. McSame)

[Malidictus Maximus]

29. ".....Adolf Hitler, Zimbabwe's authoritarian President Robert Mugabe — and U.S. Sen. John McCain."

Mugabe should sue.

[Divine Discontent]

30. she's not my fave (like her a lot, but I love Cyndi), but this was great to hear

everyone should voice their opinions, esp. from a stage if they feel strongly.

and on a musical note - I read that she and Lauper are trying to get a duet done at some point, and timing has never worked out. That'd make me happy. Cyndi is atop the dance charts, with her second #1 dance hit in 3 months "Into the nightlife", while Madonna has stalled with, "Give it to me" at #7.


more at www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[Ex Lurker]

31. and Madonna is relevant how?

The people in the middle whom Obama needs to reach don't give two shits about what Madonna, Clooney, or any other celebrity thinks. Nor do I, for that matter. I would go so far as to call it counterproductive. It plays into the GOP's meme that Democrats are elitist limousine liberals. Of course she has the right to say whatever she wants to. It just irks me that these people think their opinion somehow matters simply because they're stars. That goes for both liberals and conservatives, of whom there are more in show business than you might think.

[Webster Green]

32. She fucking rocks, that's how!

Why shouldn't she be allowed to have opinions?

That is such bullshit! Performers have every right to speak their minds. :smoke:

[Ex Lurker]

33. good grief, didn't I just say she has a right to speak her mind?

My issue is whether her opinion is worth listening to, and 2, whether it has a net positive effect. Most of these Hollywood types are nitwits, and I have little use for them, whether they happen to agree with me or not.

[LiberalLovinLug]

39. Like a virgin

"It just irks me that these people think their opinion somehow matters simply because they're stars."

Behind all "stars" are average people who simply had talent and luck and hard work. I don't think the vast majority of these "Hollywood types" are self deluded enough to think that by expressing their opinion publicly, that their opinion is automatically regarded higher than other average people.
Well maybe it will for a small celebrity fixated minority, but not for most.
What these "Hollywood types" do realize is that they have been blessed with a stage, because of their celebrity status, created and sustained by others. And they realize that they might as well take advantage of it, and do their part as a citizen and speak up, because they know they have a voice to use. I wouldn't say they are nitwits either. I think the ones that you don't hear much from like Julia Roberts, or Harrison Ford are the nitwits that are either to afraid for their careers or just too ignorant to discuss politics. I admire any artist, musician, actor, or any other average person equally that speaks out in this scary time we live in.

[Warren Stupidity]

43. funny how refuglican celebrities are ok though

A dumb as a rock b movie actor can become president, if he is a reknucklian. A dope smoking steroid enhanced habitual groper can get elected governor of Californication, if he is a repuke. But one of the biggest music stars of our lifetime shares her political views with her audience and that is just wrong.

It plays into the meme in your mind because you have let it run free there.

[Ex Lurker]

59. I don't like either one

one more time, she's free to say whatever she wants. But I think it's ridiculous to pay any attention to what these people think, be they right or left. Hollywood is irrelevant to me.

[girl gone mad]

65. Can't be that irrelevant..

seeing as how you clicked on the topic and entered into the discussion.

[LanternWaste]

75. Almost as much as....

"It just irks me that these people think their opinion somehow matters simply because they're stars."

It's almost as bad as people who think their opinion somehow matters simply because they post on an internet board. Six of one, half a dozen of the other...

For my part, I like to think everyone's opinion somehow matters-- some people have a microphone, some people have a keyboard :shrug:

[Scooter24]

34. We got tickets to see her in Houston

this November. She's an incredible entertainer and always puts on a great concert.

We got lucky and got great seats, around $1100 for the two of us.

It will be two weeks after the election when we get to see her so I'm anxious to see how well this is received by then.

[madrchsod]

35. john=adolf...ok that`s stupid

[olddad56]

38. really, what did Hitler ever do to deserve that comparison.

just being sarcastic.

[jeff30997]

36. K&R

[tomreedtoon]

40. So her tour is still Amateur Hour, eh?

Making political comments on the cheap like that is what I'd expect of an LA garage band, like the kind of hack bands that play on Jimmy Kimmel's show. Not someone who is supposed to be a top-draw target. If she had done political music before now - at a time when she really needs to remind people how great she is supposed to be - it would be a different matter. But Louise Cicone is no Joan Baez.

[RetroLounge]

41. So what

then according to you she should just shut up and entertain you?

:shrug:

RL

[tomreedtoon]

57. Well, her shutting up would entertain EVERYBODY.

That's the end result of a pretentious, value-free, surface-only career. As I said elsewhere, she's just Paris Hilton's skanky mom these days.

[RetroLounge]

58. Actually, no, it would not...

But you go right ahead and keep looking the way you do.

I for one am entertained.

RL

[Warren Stupidity]

44. Yes we should leave political commentary to the corporate media.

For example this morning the local nbc outlet played an entire mccondo attack ad against Obama as a way of informing us that Clinton supporters were signing up by the millions to vote for the wrinkly white haired old guy who would abolish reproductive health care rights while continuing the failed bush policies of the last 8 years. Let the professionals handle it. They are doing an excellent job.

[tomreedtoon]

55. A star for the megacorporate media ISN'T corporate media?

You really think she would say anything that would end her record contract? Something like, say, what the Dixie Chicks would say?

[Warren Stupidity]

67. Actually people like Madonna are so wealthy

and their star power draw is such a huge cash cow, that they have that odd thing called freedom. She can do whatever she wants without fear of the economic consequences. So to answer your question, far more so than any corporate media shill, Madonna can in fact use her stage to say whatever she wants. We might not like what she has to say, we might sneer at her attempts to promote her political viewpoints, after all she is just Madonna, but she is not promoting the corporate party line by what she is doing as reported by the OP. No, she is not corporate media.

[fascisthunter]

46. Yeah... If Only You Were There to Orchestrate it FOr Her

it must really burn you up too...

[tomreedtoon]

56. My "orchestration" - telling her to STFU.

And go back to studying singing and acting. Maybe if she created something with a message and meaning (not the same thing, by the way) she might be respected. As it stands, she's just Paris Hilton's skanky mom.

[girl gone mad]

66. So judgmental.

She's well respected in the music industry and her shows sell out instantly.

And who the fuck are you?

[Toucano]

74. Skanky mom! LOL

Message and meaning are subjective.

Madonna's music has always spoken to her audience.

If it doesn't speak to you, change the channel. But you are engaged in intellectual deceit if you want to convince anyone that one of the most successful artists of her generation doesn't have a message and meaning for her audience.

What good is it having a "message" like Baez if no one is listening?

[LanternWaste]

76. Very subjective though, yes?

"Maybe if she created something with a message and meaning"

Very subjective though, yes? What may have message and meaning to one person, may be nothing more than paint thrown against the wall to someone else.

[Coventina]

49. Madonna's done political stuff many times before, this is not new for her.

And how is it "on the cheap"?

[closeupready]

69. She absolutely has made political messages before. She's a political person, as are we all.

And she has used the Hitler motif before, in her previous tour for Confessions.

I think what it is, is that some people here have hemhorroids this morning. :rofl:

[mdmc]

68. She got an official response from a major candidate for president

she is a celebrity and she got publicity

[fascisthunter]

47. All the Better.... kick

we have a corporate media, like Russia had Pravda, so more the better.

[applegrove]

48. Nothing wrong with speaking your mind.

[Nikki Stone1]

51. Good thing she's not a country singer

They'd be burning her albums this morning.

[bunkerbuster1]

52. Obama must DENOUNCE this!

I am so very concerned, it makes me clutch my pearls!

[Trajan]

54. LMFAO ....

.... Perhaps I should be more concerned about the concern .... but, just like me, I rarely care about anything ....

Keep an eye on those pearls ....

[JonLP24]

60. Any comparisons to Hitler won't help - Mugabe as well

As McCain hasn't done anything as devastating of those 2 and she will immediately be marginalized for this even though she may be using the comparison in reference to idealogy, policies, slow removal of general civil rights. People won't understand that and automatically assume she is a 'nut' even though a better comparison would be to Bush who isn't Hitler but is like a step in that direction.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

62. Fighting fire with fire...

Fuck that.

If ever democrat can be compared to Stalin (and Rupert Murdoch has made a lot of money doing just that), then ever Republican, and that would include McCain, can be compared to Hitler.

We ain't playing soft-ball, friends.

We are playing for keeps.

[JonLP24]

63. I agree completely

I was just saying while we and others all ready know others aren't going to understand and the right and media will use this as an attempt to marginalize and discredit her. Not saying she shouldn't do this, she has the right to make all the comparisons she wants to I was just responding to the OP when he/she stated 'not sure if this helps Obama' Although speaking out against the current administration, McCain or for any politician is great and everyone should be encouraged to do so. As far as helping Obama I don't think it will very much.

[heliarc]

73. Hear hear...

Let him have it.

[truthisfreedom]

64. Hey Madonna!

*waves* :hi:

[katty]

71. o,that madge,like a trannie version of Marlene Dietrich & BetteDavis

this is not new for her-she has done her political spin quite a few times. Another controversial kick-off for the tour--it is just what she does.

[DaDeacon]

77. Sorry man SO not cool!

I know many of you seem to think this is ok to some degree or other BUT i don't like Obama/Jesus or Anti Christ jokes and I don't find McCain &Bush /Hitler connections acceptable either. The Hitler thing just makes me very wherry as we have watered down Adolf to a back end Bogey Man not the very real mass murderer he was. BTW McCain is a DICK, not an antisemitic mass murderer .....just saying.

[Nihil]

80. Wake up in the wrong forum did you?

Just saying ... :eyes:

[DaDeacon]

82. no, can't say that I am.

"Amid a four-act show at Cardiff's packed Millennium Stadium, a video interlude carried images of destruction, global warming, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Zimbabwe's authoritarian President Robert Mugabe — and U.S. Sen. John McCain."

what are you asking ?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

78. Two things:

1) Madonna rocks.
2) This thread = barrel.

That will be all. Have a nice day.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

79. You can watch....

On my anti-war website, I have YouTube footage of Madonna, in Cardiff, England, letting McCain have it.

Go to www.shockedandawful.com, and scroll about half way down.

Additionally, I have an anti-war jukebox (contemporary anti-war songs) at the very bottom of the page, which has 50+ songs (do your speakers work?), including one from Madonna.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/08/25/madonna1_narrowweb__300x523,0.jpg

Peace.

[Dorian Gray]

81. Do those pictures

show when she's dressed in shorts and a hoody, ala Hannah Montanna?

Sorry... I can't take Madonna seriously anymore. And I am not sure that this is a good thing for the our party, though she is reflecting what the world things about them. Which is good, I suppose. But it's Madonna. (Sorry, I can't stand Madonna.)

[wvbygod]

83. Yeah, too bad my Jewish family members thinks she is a complete moron

An intelligent person would find a more fitting comparison rather than implying what
hitler did was trivial and in any way related to a seated US senator.

Maybe an image of bush or other war monger would fit better than comparing him to the holocaust.