By Tim Saunders on
Elton John has hit the campaign trail for AIDS… and a new President of the United States.
The 61-year-old singer performed a concert in Missoula, Montana, on Friday, in return for $75,000 raised by the University of Montana for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And $20,000 of the money will stay in the local community as part of a pledge to the Missoula AIDS Council.
The concert followed a benefit show earlier in the week that the Rocket Man played for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The performance, which took place on Wednesday at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, raised over $2.6 million for Clinton.
Former President Bill Clinton took to the stage at the start of the concert – minus his saxophone – to introduce the singer, who was facing criticism for donating the proceeds of the show when he is not an American citizen. Questions had been raised beforehand regarding whether John’s fundraiser contravened the Federal Election Campaign Act, which seeks to minimize foreign intervention in US elections and “prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating, or spending funds in connection with any… election in the United States.”
Clinton’s office was quick to respond to the claims: “Foreign nationals may volunteer their time for campaigns on an uncompensated basis,” they said in a statement. “Elton John is simply volunteering his uncompensated time to appear at the concert.”
John made his support for the Clinton campaign clear from the outset.
“There is no one more qualified to lead America,” he said during the show. “I’m amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country… I love you, Hillary, I’ll be there for you.”
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
