Ricky Martin defends giving a picture of Bush the finger during concert

[sabra]

Ricky Martin ?!?

http://www.casperstartribune.net/ap/headlines/d8nar5881.txt


Ricky Martin Defends Obscene Gesture

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Ricky Martin, who was a headliner at the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush, has a message for the American commander in chief about war.

At a recent concert, the 35-year-old singer stuck up his middle finger when he sang the president's name in his song "Asignatura Pendiente," which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." The gesture last Friday prompted cheers from thousands of fans in the San Juan stadium.

On Thursday, the Puerto Rican heartthrob repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his changed position on Bush.

"My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," Martin said about his action in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press via a spokesman.

Martin, like other artists, has been highly critical of the war in Iraq.

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Promulgate. A $20.00 word.

[Greeby]

2. That guy still gets booked into stadiums?

:puke:

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Yeah it seems that he is still a huge star.

Of course his popularity is primarily over on the spanish speaking side of american culture, so us spanish challenged folks wouldn't know about that. It turns out that there are way more of 'them' than there are of 'us', so one can be huge star, pack stadiums, and we will never know about it.

But like he is putting himself out there, at some risk to his career, to speak out against the criminal bush administration, so why knock him?

[WinkyDink]

9. He sells out in Non-Iberian Europe and the Middle and Far East, as well. Trust me on this.

And he sells out here.

[Connie_Corleone]

4. Cuz he's cute and he's still popular in other places in the world.

[VenusRising]

5. Dayum,

Does that mean I have to like Ricky Martin now? Ok, well, I dislike him a little less.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

6. He's Playing San Diego

When I saw the top ticket price of $175, I almost fell out of my chair.

I know the Police are charging $250, but $175 for Ricky Martin?

[WinkyDink]

7. Don't you be dissing my Ricky! I've been a fan for muchos anos (sorry about the missing tilda),

and he is AWESOME in concert.
How many entertainers would turn down an invite to a Presidential Inauguration? (At least, the first one)?

Ricky PERSONALLY spoke to Bush about stopping the Naval exercises on Vieques.
He has PERSONALLY appeared before Congress and the U.N. to testify about his most important cause: Child Trafficking.
He has PERSONALLY gone to the tsunami-ravaged areas, and his RM Foundation has re-built close to 200 homes.
He has PERSONALLY rescued Indian street-children, adopting 3 of them.

Yes, he fills stadia, world-wide, in every hemisphere. Not everything is US-centric. I thought if anyone would recognize that fact, it would be DU'ers.

His latest CD is dedicated to "los ninos que viven en conflicto".

God bless Ricky Martin.

[suffragette]

11. Didn't know he was so active.

I knew Mana has been active on important issues - :loveya: Mana - but didn't realize Ricky was as well.
Still enjoy "Maria" even after all these years.
Go Ricky.

And thanks to you, Winkydink, for bringing this to our attention.

[WinkyDink]

15. OT: Mana will be part of Al Gore's 7/07/07 Concert!

[suffragette]

18. I'm glad about that

That makes sense since they've been so active for so long.

As this article says: " 'Good energy' at work"
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/10/mana/

Go Mana :yourock:

[Mad_Dem_X]

8. Wow, good for him!

My opinion of him went down when he played the 2001 Inauguration, but it's gone back up now.

[blogslut]

10. Good for Ricky

:)

[CatWoman]

12. Living La Vida Loca

Chris Rock: "That's a catchy ass tune. Sorta like the Puerto Rican 'Whoops, there it is'".

:rofl:

Rock On, Rick. Rock on.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

13. "You wanna dance on tables when you hear that shit."

:rofl:

[CatWoman]

14. ROFL!!!

:rofl:

[AspenRose]

17. Bwahaha

:rofl:

[WinkyDink]

16. More info on Ricky Martin's values:

http://www.rickymartinfoundation.org/english/default.aspx