Madonna takes a jab at McCain

An advert for Madonna's concert in Cardiff (from http://madonnalicious.typepad.com)

Never one to keep shy of controversy, Madonna raised something of a storm as she kicked off her latest international tour on Saturday. In a video aired during the show, Republican White House candidate John McCain appeared alongside images of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, while Democrat rival Barack Obama enjoyed the company of Mahatma Gandhi.

McCain’s spokesperson was quick to issue a statement slamming the “disgraceful” and “inacceptable”’ comparisons made by Madonna. Meanwhile, conservative bloggers are having a whale of a time lashing out at the pop star.

Posted on Youtube by MadonnaWyat

This video interlude was shown on Saturday during Madonna’s concert in Cardiff, where she kicked off her “Sticky and Sweet” international tour. It was designed to accompany the track “Get stupid”.

"Republicans are trying everything to draw attention away from the Democratic convention in Denver"

California-based Wayne Phillips is an Obama supporter and one of our Observers for the US presidential campaign.

This kind of debate is counterproductive for Obama. Republicans are trying everything to draw attention away from the Democratic convention in Denver and the election’s real issues, including the Iraq War and the economy. They would do anything to avoid talking about the last eight years they were in power. They’ve been repeating from the start of the campaign that Obama is just a shallow celebrity, on a par with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. This kind of scandal seems to strengthen their argument, as Madonna has no credibility to talk about these topics. "

"Madonna has every right to give her take on the presidential campaign"

Ed Jones, 33, is a student in Chester (UK) and a Madonna fan.

"I’d say Madonna has every right to give her take on the presidential campaign. She’s a well-read and articulate person, keeping abreast of current affairs. She’s got more to say than most, and her words get picked up all over the world.

However, I doubt the video will have much of an impact on John McCain’s followers. The test may be her gig in Houston, Texas; we’ll see what welcome she gets there.

As for Obama – his positive portrayal alongside Mahatma Gandhi may just strike a chord with a Madonna following that is now predominantly made up of people in their 30s and 40s, with families, jobs and a genuine interest in politics."

"This is an amazing miscarriage of the way voting is supposed to work"

Conservative blogger Popgun posted this on 24 Aug. 2008.

Madonna is just an entertainer, who has no more knowledge or experience of politics than you or I do, and whose opinion is no better than yours or mine. It’s amazing that she has so much power to push her own agenda on her fans - and most of them probably don’t even realise that they’re being manipulated.

Undoubtedly, some people will make their decision on who to vote for on the basis of the opinion of an entertainer. This is an amazing miscarriage of the way voting is supposed to work. And it’s a tragedy. (...)

Allowing someone like Madonna to make your decision for you would be an act of idiocy. Many, many people have died to give you the right to choose your own elected officials. Don’t waste it. Study the issues and the people, try to separate fact from baseless accusation and fiction (such as Madonna’s implication was) and make your own mind up. (...)"

"I challenge you to come up with a better example of mindlessly conformist leftist nonconformity"

Republican blogger Allah Pundit posted the following on his blog, ‘Hot Air', on Aug. 25, 2008

(...) I challenge you to come up with a better example of mindlessly conformist leftist nonconformity than Madonna lazily belching up yet another “conservatives = Nazis” meme. I think you’ll agree, it’s even more shocking and transgressive in its eighth thousandth permutation.

(...) This’ll barely raise an eyebrow nationally, partly because her act is staler than Marilyn Manson’s was when the Onion dropped this on him but also for the same reason Howard Dean’s insinuations about Republicans never seem to get much buzz. Some smears are simply more equal than others, a fact that would become instantly apparent if some country star dared show a clip juxtaposing Obama with, oh say, the Weather Underground. Exit question: Does a person who says of ritualized rape, “It’s not my place to judge that tradition,” really want to start a who’s-more-like-Hitler contest?"