As Dems meet, Madonna endorses John McCain, among others?

Normally The Ticket doesn't write much about M. Louise Ciccone. A native of some tank town in Michigan, the 50-year-old woman has never accomplished anything politically. Never run for elective office. And shows no interest in doing so.

Although if she was as successful getting votes as she is selling her music and a few of her movies, Madonna could no doubt win any electoral runoff.

Our momentary interest in this ironically named personality stems from her new music tour, not the "Confessions" tour and not the "Give It To Me" tour.

We're talking about her new "Sticky and Sweet" tour, which launched this past weekend before 40,000 adoring fans in Cardiff, Wales. The concert, the first of 50 scheduled so far for this trip, goes on for two entire hours with eight costume changes, 250 crew members and 24 songs, including some new tunes and reworked old ones.

If we hadn't still been awaiting the "Joe Biden is VP" text message on our cellphone, we'd have been there for certain.

However, during a musical interlude in the song "Get Stupid," news reports say the show has a rapid-fire video presentation on large screens to keep the audience from leaving. In the course of this video melange there are pictures of destruction and global warming, obviously a kind of symbolic audience reminder of how lucky they are to have paid a fortune for their ticket and to be there safe and healthy on a noisy summer's night.

But then, get this, the successful pop star appears to endorse for president of the United States Arizona Sen. John McCain. He is about to accept the Republican Party's presidential nomination in St. Paul, which is not in Michigan.

McCain's picture (not the one of him as a war POW) is flashed up on the screen, much larger than life, certainly bigger than any TV commercial image of the 71-year-old former pilot on this side of the Atlantic where people can actually vote for him.

Such publicity for and political endorsement of a conservative Republican by Madonna is somewhat surprising, even for a pop star who works so hard so successfully to engender controversies and stay in the public eye.

So many other show biz personalities seem to lean more on the liberal side. You might instead expect them and her to predictably favor liberal Democrat Barack Obama, if they do follow American politics.

Trust good old Madonna to shatter everyone's expectations by endorsing a conservative.

But wait! There's more.

The Material Girl appears to be even more conservative than that. Because along with McCain's photo, her video show also flashes up pictures of Robert Mugabe, the tough-guy president of Zimbabwe, and Adolf Hitler, who was chancellor of Nazi Germany for some years during McCain's childhood and even before the aging Madonna Louise Ciccone was born.

Who'd have expected the pop star to endorse three such different figures from three different continents in her new show? But there you have it. That's international show biz for ya. There just doesn't seem to be any other credible explanation.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[mgultch]

I do not think Madonna is going to like this one. I heard she also flashes pictures that put Obama in a group that includes Gandhi and Al Gore. So my guess is that she leans more to the Obama side of things wouldn't you say. Well the Biden Bounce clearly has not happend in the polls. the new CNN poll shows a tie. So does the Daily Gallup. http://www.gallup.com/poll/109753/Gallup-Daily-McCain-Obama-Tied-45.aspx But what gives at http://www.bop-o-rama.com. This real-time poll suggest the "Hillary Effect" may be a serious issue during the convention.

[dave]

the cynical gist of your suggestive concoction seems to be - you cannot NOT endorse someone who is a self-professed ex-detainee of ancient times, shot down on a killing spree in far-away unknown lands, in the twilight of civilization, to eat with the enemy, his dish of bloody stew; and who's at least as worthy or NOT, of endorsement as any fake madonna or money and power whore, axelrod and all his maverick ideological look-alikes, on whichever side of whichever political, ideological or religious aisle.
but there are those who are aware, and clearly capable of this feat. it's like one of those simple mind games to test or train right-brain or left-brain dominance or balance, where an animated image of a spinning figure will be perceived as going one way or the other, depending on predisposition and focus; sometimes just to squint your eyes and take a peripheral second look at an image, can be a real eye-opener, and turn things around, and put them into perspective; and put into perspective your own. more generally applied, a change in focus and awareness, can spin the world the other way for you, if so you choose.
as much as the legitimate constitutional republican candidate for president, RON PAUL, was hidden from common perception in these elections, and massive media spin was used to suppress his vital message, millions of people now wake up, to reset the course of destiny; from treason to their conscience and destructive self-deprecation, to freedom, peace of mind and truthful reason.
he won all the debates before the total propaganda war waged on his campaign and on his message, of liberty, prosperity and peace, shifted into top gear. he is the legitimate republican candidate, most qualified by far, and the only one in these elections to uphold integrity, the constitution, and the sovereignty of the american republic. he has viable solutions to america's most fundamental problems. and didn't even get the floor in the neocon-hijacked republican convention; he did not cynically despair, but organized the REAL republican convention, to represent the peace and freedom loving core, of a self respecting nation.
now it is up to the delegates, not in a comical farce to crown another corrupt puppet of the crime syndicate, but to vote their conscience only. then we will see a great visionary acknowledged a great statesman, in minnesota-st. paul. a fitting place for that.

[vistaprime]

who the heck is louise ciccone. shotty journalism at it's worst. do some research next time. Louise her middle name. for the last time: Her real name is MADONNA.

[Bill G]

What a piece of bird doo doo crap.

Madonna showing McCain with Hitler is an ENDORSEMENT in your demented twisted mind?

And showing Obama with Gandhi is, what some kind of dismissal?

Either this is a joke column in infinitely bad taste, or your office ought to be busted by the DEA.

The Top of the Ticket is the Bottom of Barrel.

You have destroyed my trust in your ability to be objective, so there's no point returning.

What will you ever do if Obama wins?

[plankbob]

You'd have to be beyond stupid to think she'd endorse the likes of McCain.

DENVER, COLORADO (AFP) — John McCain's campaign hit back at Madonna on Sunday after the pop diva kicked off her world tour with a concert that bracketed the US presidential candidate with Adolf Hitler.

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds angrily condemned the segment of Madonna's concert in Cardiff on Saturday that appeared to draw a comparison between McCain, Hitler and Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe.

"The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time," Bounds said in a statement reported by Fox News.

"It clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits."

Madonna's apparent swipe at McCain came during a performance of the song "Get Stupid" when the Republican contender's image was flashed up alongside images of destruction and global warming as well as Hitler and Mugabe.

[BlueMonday]

This articale doesn't seem to know what it's talking about-- Surprise!

Firstly, there is no song called "get stupid" -- it's a lyric from the song Give It to Me -- which part of the song is used as an interlude. Number two, her middle name is Louise, her first name really is Madonna .. why call someone by their middle name if they have never used it?

And lastly, it was VERY clear and obvious that she was not "endorsing" McCain or Hitler but rather trying to make a statement about them. Anyone who took this as favoring or endorsement has to be a complete moron! Where do you get your journalists from? Madonna has clearly spoken out against the Republican party in her previous tours and does not support Hitler. Get real.

[Danielle]

Would not normal follow up such a comment but it seems to be serious so: If anyone should come to the same conclusions as mgultch, I think perhaps a second reading of the article, with tongue as firmly in cheek as the author's must be, is in order.

[Ron Oster]

If this is tongue in cheek its pathetic, if you're serious then I just don't know what to say. Such blather.

[Rico Bach]

Crack a history book. Adolph Hitler was a leftist. It may serve your political interests to paint Nazis, or Robert Mugabe as conservatives, but the revisionist history lesson is embarassing for a supposed bastion of journalism like the LA Times to be foisting upon us. Kudos for not mentioning the fact that Obama's image is part of the concert video montage in question. Is this the kind of fair-handed political covergae we should expect from your publication for the next few months? Pathetic.

(Oh, Rico. It's you who needs some book work. The Nazis were extremely on the right, not the left. Maybe you're thinking of Stalin.)

[matt]

Oops! You're only reporting on part of the political montage here! It would make sense if this was all you were seeing.

Following the Mugabe/Hitler/McCain images there are also sequences with John Lennon, Al Gore, Mahatma Gandi and finally Barack Obama.

Of course I have no idea who she's endorsing but to conclude it's McCain from a video montage doesn't quite seem quite right, especially since you didn't report on the entire presentation..

[Robert Dale]

Come on Malcolm,

That wasn't funny. Instead of lame irony why don't you try reporting accurately?,

[John]

I think someone has to go back to school. What an innacurate report! i find it highly amusing that appearing alongside characters such as Hitler and Mugabe is regarded as an endorsement. Are the republicans really that desperate. Everyone knows Madonna is a Democrat. Obviously the message is lost on the LAT.

[miguel los felis]

Madonna about presidental candidate(s)? Someone cares about her position?

[Matt]

The name of the song is "Get Stupid"! This is obviously not an endorsement, but a strong opinion opposing McCain. So much for investigative journalism!

[JPH]

Perhaps it's just too early in the morning and I'm missing some sort of irony in this article, but what you didn't report, that changes the entire tone of your point, is that following the images you mention, she then displays images of John Lennon, Mahatma Ghandi and Al Gore, followed by an image of Barack Obama.

While we're correcting facts, there was no "Give It To Me Tour," and there is no song called "Get Stupid."

[Jonathan Larkin]

Are you people idiots? Were you at the show? Did you see the video in full? You'll notice McCain was lumped in with Hitler and then Obama came towards the end amidst visions of hope like Mother Teresa and Oprah Winfrey. Get your facts straight, Madonna plays for the good guys.

[scootmandubious]

First, in response to the Gallup Poll posted above, I suspect that as soon as we focus on McCain, and his string of bad decisions and judgements, the POW defense will stop being able to be used as a band-aid for every mis-statement and error. America will see a man who has a notorious temper and enough prior bad judgements to show he is not fit to command. Unless, of course, membership in the 'Keating 5' now becomes a plus. Most don't know that McCain adopted the 'bipartisan' strategy as a way to survive the scandal that almost destroyed his political career.

Obama and crew won't even need to delve into the issues of character and how he treated his first wife. However, if McCain continues his personal assault on Obama, I do hope other Democratic-aligned interest groups make the case.

As for Madonna. I cannot stand to even listen to George Bush, but it plays into the hands of the GOP when he is compared to Adolf Hitler. That is an unfortunate part of Madonna's show that she should remove.

[kschaff]

This blog is a joke right? It misses the forest for the trees. By putting up McCain's picture with Hitler, Mugabe, and scenes of destruction from wars and climate change, isn't the more obvious (and likely) inference that the so called Queen of Pop wants her audience to associate these evils with the faces of individuals who perpetuate them. At a KCRW Hollywood Bowl concert two summers ago, The Flaming Lips covered Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" for an encore, and on the giant LCD screens flashed images of war, Bush, Cheney, Condie Rice and other perpetuators of suffering and conflict. The audience hardly took this to be an endorsement of the Bush Doctrine or the War in Iraq!

If you are going to make random guesses about the meaning of Madonna's video-coreographed montages, at least make them educated guesses, Mr. Malcolm.

What a joke!

[Tom]

Malcolm, are you seriously a legitimate journalist? I cannot believe how many articles you write misinterpreting facts and happenings. Quite a sad representation for the LA Times. Although, something tells me you're just all about getting the web clicks to this page and figure falsifying is the best way to do this.

[Doug Lanterman]

Some people will never understand cynicism, it's quite obvious that the writer's intentions are to make Madonna look like a fool by making such ridiculous comparisons. Although John McCain may follow in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt imperialism in the 21st century, which could be quite unilateral and Churchill like in this day and age the comparisons are outlandish, childish, and poor taste by Madonna.

Peace out.

[Susan]

These comments are very funny! People taking your satire seriously and getting angry. Thanks for a laugh today.

[JJ Flash]

Okay, I got it - it's irony. But, as a Brit, the one thing we always learn about Americans is that "they don't get irony".
So that was a pretty stupid article Andrew Malcolm - not clever.

[T Grailer]

These guys are just lost. They have no idea how to write about substance, and no control of their tone or rhetoric.

[Jack Henry]

Your test to see how stupid and gullible your blog readers are has revealed a situation more dire than you probably imagined. This is your audience. Read them and weep.

[scootmandubious]

I love the comment from Tucker Bounds, McCain campaign spokesman, attributed above: "The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time."

I think he just described the entire McCain campaign to this point.

What's the matter Tucker, no sense of humor?

(actually, I have spoken out against this already. I don't think it is wise to be using Hitler analogies. However, it is fun to watch the hypocrites go red in the face.)

[MaryJ]

Mugabe is a right-wing dictator? Umm, he's a hard-core Communist, whose blood-stained career was greatly assisted by Western liberal do-gooders like Madonna -- and B. Hussein Obama.

[Mark E.]

I cannot believe the type of journalism I have seen from this paper of late. These may be opinions, however to flat out say that Madonna is endorsing McCain is a flat out lie. This goes beyond fredom of speech and should be categorized as a junk tabloid. I have reduced my subscriptions with your paper in the past and I am close to the point of completely not supporting the Times all together for allowing a headline and story such as this.

[bill jacobs]

The L.A. times of today is not the paper it was twenty or thirty years ago. This poor excuse of satire should be put on the front page and let the readers use this paper for what it has become, potty training paper

[Court Hanlon]

This is a satirical piece, right? No one could actually be so dense as to draw your conclusions.

[Mike]

Have any of you ever heard of sarcasm? I'm guessing none of you watch Daily Show or Colbert Report.

[MichaelRyerson]

shoot lower. they're riding shetlands. (note to self: satire needs to be well structured and very, very obvious when aimed at general audiences)

[Rob]

Wow, Dave. Your post shows why Ron Paul never gathered any support. Looking at these posts, I feel like I am on safari. To the FAR LEFT, you will see all of the raging liberals who are so angry but aren't quite sure why. Also, they can't spot a joke so their only possible reaction is outrage or dumbfoundedness. Towards nowhere in particular, you will see the Ron Paul supporters categorized by their lack of appropriate punctuation and coherent thought. They use big words to make themselves sound intelligent but it all comes out AMBIGUOUS and without substance just like their fearless leader (or lack thereof).

[Steven]

I'd like to think this article was sarcasm, but A: It isn't funny or witty in the least (this is about as 180 degrees from The Daily Show as you can get), and B: If you look to the right at Andrew Malcolm's bio and photo, the guy is at least 65-70 years old, and was press secretary for Laura Bush for a short while. I guarantee you he got the Madonna info second-hand, and simply had a "senior moment" with his retelling. Very lame regardless.

[dave]

rob,
yes, i am glad you did not let my sorry punctuation and words too big for my stumbling incoherent train of thought, keep you from reading.
i understand your frustration and agony, as you feel you've been cheated and robbed, by so many people, for so unworthy reasons. and you have so much invested in this false and empty delusion. trapped in your submissive allegiance and misplaced loyalties you have been taught to confuse with patriotism, you feel there's no easy way out, and fear to see your convenient world implode and come apart in tiny pieces, which it will. and although you'll never be alone, you can only wake up on your own. and yes, it can hurt as hell. but if there's anything worth anything, it is your liberty. anything you do, you do for - or against - yourself.

'be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.'
- dr. seuss

[Deedeedeee]

Well, first of all i believe this article is full of bull.
It's obious that maddona supports obama...
but would he really want an ugly 50 yr old dancer/ singer that thinks she still "has it" to endorse him...
thats not for me to say.

[steve]

jonathan, how is she playing for the good guys if she is a lib? you libs try to take money from the true hard working people in this country.

[Lauren Gallo]

I cannot believe all of the people asking if this is a tongue-in-cheek article. Nor can I believe that said people are so rabidly pissed off about said article. When the U.S. should be concentrating on debt, homelessness, unemployment, and a myriad of other issues, instead we have massively pissed off Obama supporters (sorry, I've yet to make up my mind either way) raging because of a fluff piece about freaking ancient Madonna (who will do ANYTHING for the kind of press she used to garner). Way to embarrass yourselves, Folks.

[Lauren Gallo]

Why why WHY are so many people asking if this is a tongue-in-cheek piece? Please lighten up, folks. What has ancient Madonna done to garner such loyalty and WHY is everyone so upset? And WHO CARES what the song was?? Jeez, Madonna doesn't even live in the U.S. anymore. Why does ANYONE care what she thinks? What has John McCain actually done to deserve being compared to Hitler?? Do any of you know what Hitler did? Seriously. He convinced an entire country to kill six million Jews. And John McCain? He fought for his country in a horrible war that he had no control over. He was shot down and was a POW. Fast forward.....yes, he voted for the war in Iraq. So did Hillary Clinton. Obama did not vote for the war as he was not in the Senate until 2004, but he DID vote to FUND the war. As someone who has yet to make up her mind on a candidate, I'm a little put off by the extreme hatred that this amusing yet misguided article has generated.

[Natalie]

Dear Lord, why are so many people here so confused? He's being sarcastic, duh! And frankly, Madonna didn't help Obama in any ways by doing this. If you wanna help Madonna, just shut up and just do more yoga.

[Aviles]

LA Times: can you remove this super STUPID article, this "journalist" Andrew Malcolm, has NO COMMON SENSE at all. I mean, this is an embarrassment for the LA Times. This Andrew person is either stupid or was drunk!

What a joke of a writer, didn't he see the truth?
OMG!!!!!! i hope that if this is a joke form the LA Times you guys got some good out of it.

[Russ]

Wow, how IRONIC. This Article was a waste of my time. The person who wrote this thinks their Ironic Tongue in Cheek banter is Witty. I will tell you what it is, A DAMN WASTE. Get a life !

[James Dodson]

IT WAS IRONY...YOU KNOW A FARCE...A PARODY!! Let me dumb this down for you, it was a joke! And a darn good one at that, I laughed...a lot!