Bono on poverty, AIDS and the American soul

On his way to pick up the Liberty Medal at the Constitution Center, U2 singer Bono met with the editorial boards of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News today in publisher Brian Tierney's 12th-floor office.

The loquacious Irishman buttered up his questioners for starters. "If I wasn't doing what I'm doing, this is what I'd be doing," said the celebrity activist, who once said that he'd have been a "Catholic journalist" if he weren't a rock star. "So if you're going to kiss my ass, here's one right back at you."

The cofounder of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), the advocacy group with whom he's sharing the medal, then held forth for an hour's worth of questions. He said it is in America's best interests to amp up assistance for Africa - "Brand U.S.A. has never been in such a vulnerable state."

Bono pumped his anti-poverty One campaign and anti-AIDS product (Red), displaying an impressive command of the differences in African crises in Nigeria, Uganda and the Sudan, among other nations. He also explained his alliance with former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum ("I like tough guys") and did an imitation of Jesse Helms, who, after attending a U2 concert, described the fans as "waving in the wind like a field of corn."

The musician born Paul Hewson showed off a crucifix he wears around his neck given to him by Pope John Paul II in a trade for a pair of tinted glasses. And he accepted the gift of a miniature Liberty Bell from Tierney that he considered wearing as an earring. Bono was dressed all in black, except for green socks, and wore shoes that were each decorated with a cross.

What he's trying to do, Bono said, is help instigate a compassionate social movement among Americans that politicians can't ignore.

"When you have a social movement that gives the candidates the muscle to spend money on your cause, that's when you can't lose," he said. "There are critical benefits if we do this for peace and safety. But it's for our own moral well-being as well. We're living in a time of unimaginable prosperity. It's unacceptable for a child to die for lack of food in its belly."