U2 lead singer Bono has appealed to the US not to become the political version of "a disco band" and lose its voice for equality around the world. Accepting a humanitarian award at the $1,000 a person American Ireland Fund gala event in Washington early yesterday, Bono said the US was like a band that he loved.
"When I'm in Washington, I'm afraid someone is going to tell me I'm not with the band but that hasn't happened," he said.
He told the 1,000 guests at the gala that he was "like an annoying fan" who read the sleeve notes and criticised the band.
"Those sleeve notes are the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, they are a force for equality and justice," he said.
He also paid tribute to US politicians who had helped secure $15 billion in funding for AIDS programmes in Africa, including President Bush and former Treasury Secretary, Mr Paul O'Neill, who toured Africa with Bono before he was dropped by the Bush administration.
Bono shied away from mentioning President Bush's US address announcing the Iraq war, which was broadcast only two hours before. Instead, he appealed to the US to launch a war on poverty after the war on terrorism has ended.
The event generated about $1 million dollars for the Special Olympics in Dublin this summer.
Accepting the 2003 International Humanitarian Award, Bono paid tribute to John F Kennedy's sister, Ms Eunice Shriver, for bringing the Special Olympics to Ireland.