NBC's Lauer Invites Elton John to Bash Reagan as 'Overrated,' Cheer Clinton as 'Fantastic'
In an interview with singer Elton John on Tuesday's NBC Today that focused on the performer's AIDS awareness activism, co-host Matt Lauer teed him up to rate recent presidents on combating the disease: "Elton champions those he feels made a positive impact on the AIDS epidemic, but he also takes to task those he believes caused harm. And he doesn't hold back." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Lauer declared: "Let's play a little game of political word association. Give me the brief answer to each of the names that I'm going to throw out, just your first reaction. Ronald Reagan." John sniffed: "Overrated." Lauer continued: "Bill Clinton." John gushed: "Fantastic. Made some big mistakes but, God, he's a fantastic man."
When Lauer brought up George W. Bush, John initially had praise: "I have a kind of soft spot for him in a way because he was very – what he did for AIDS was fantastic." Then John quickly added: "But I'm glad he's not in power anymore."
Moments later, Lauer turned to President Obama announcing his support for gay marriage and wondered: "As a gay man, how did you feel about it?" John proclaimed: "I think it's wonderful that he did that. You know, he's done a lot, he got rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And you know, you just can't do things overnight and I really appreciate what he's done."
When Lauer brought up the possibility of Obama doing it for political reasons and to boost campaign fundraising, John dismissed such concerns: "Well, it's the right thing to do. It's ratification of our rights."
Wrapping up the segment, Lauer concluded: "Elton John is incredibly outspoken."
Here is a portion of the July 17 exchange:
8:23AM ET
(...)
MATT LAUER: Elton [John] champions those he feels made a positive impact on the AIDS epidemic, but he also takes to task those he believes caused harm. And he doesn't hold back. Let's play a little game of political word association. Give me the brief answer to each of the names that I'm going to throw out, just your first reaction. Ronald Reagan.
ELTON JOHN: Overrated.
LAUER: Bill Clinton.
JOHN: Fantastic. Made some big mistakes but, God, he's a fantastic man.
LAUER: George W. Bush.
JOHN: I have a kind of soft spot for him in a way because he was very – what he did for AIDS was fantastic. But I'm glad he's not in power anymore.
LAUER: So for one issue...
JOHN: He was brilliant on this.
LAUER: ...he was the guy-
JOHN: Yeah, he was fantastic with AIDS.
LAUER: Not long ago, President Obama in an interview said he supports gay marriage. As a gay man, how did you feel about it?
JOHN: I think it's wonderful that he did that. You know, he's done a lot, he got rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And you know, you just can't do things overnight and I really appreciate what he's done.
LAUER: But do you think he said it for political reasons? That he was forced into a corner where he had to say it.
JOHN: By Joe Biden?
LAUER: Well, not only by Joe Biden, by some who were holding back financing and fundraising money until he came out and made that comment?
JOHN: Well, it's the right thing to do. It's ratification of our rights.
LAUER: Elton John is incredibly outspoken.
(...)
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Comments
So, goodbye yellow brick toad . . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 4:50pm.
Do Americans really care what this guy likes or dislikes?
He peaked creatively with his Tumbleweed Connection album in the early '70s, and it's been downhill artistically ever since, though he made a fortune on pop junk.
And isn't about time that Lauer came out of the closet like his colleague Anderson Cooper.
So, goodbye yellow brick toad.......
Submitted by Herbster on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:48pm.
Maybe little Mattie prefers it in the closet.........?
In the magical world of Matt
Submitted by celator on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 4:50pm.
In the magical world of Matt Lauer and his little friends, Elton John is a political genius and Ronald Reagan is fish bait.
Seeing how Elton John thinks Clinton is "fantastic . ." and he's
Submitted by Gary Hall on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:37pm.
Seeing how Elton John thinks Clinton is "fantastic . ." and that he's focused on the HIV/Aids issue in regards to leadership, how does he overlook what the general consensus from the left was regarding President Clinton's lack of leadership there?
David Corn, then national editor of the liberal magazine "The Nation." In his July 2002 piece, "Too little, too late - How many times is Bill Clinton going to apologize to Africa?," laid it out:
When Clinton arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania, the U.S. government knew that an AIDS pandemic was coming in Africa. A 1991 classified study produced by the CIA predicted that by 2000 there would be 45 million people infected with AIDS virus, most in Africa. The following year, an unclassified version of the report, which was released by the State Department, foresaw infection rates of up to 30 percent for the sub-Saharan African population. For the next seven years -- while Clinton was in office -- the budget for combating AIDS overseas remained flat. (It was $124.5 million in 1992.)
As Kenneth Brown, the main author of the 1991 intelligence study, told The Washington Post in 2000, "Indifference -- that’s the right word." A 1995 National Intelligence Estimate confirmed the earlier predictions, but that prompted no change in Clinton policy.
The prevailing view was, these people should die quietly.
Indeed - Clinton screwed around, and millions died. I'm talking millions.
And that is "fantastic?"
Yikes,
(;~/ gary
So, irrelevant Brit Elton John is the authority
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:49pm.
on American Presidents? What about our Constitutuon? Our laws? Our customs? Who the hell decided he was to be the judge, judy, and executioner of all things American? As long as hes a lib, right, Louser?
True statement
Submitted by Cappmann1962 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:55am.
Concerning Elton John, and several months ago Paul McCartney. They are MUSICIANS. BRITISH musicians. Their opinions on American politicians and politics are beyond irrelevant. They have absolutely no business opining on America's issues as public statements. ESPECIALLY when they deride American presidents with whom they disagree politically. They can save their trash talk for their own elected officials, who BTW, have put THEIR country in the toilet both economically and morally. Glass houses and thrown stones Elton. Think about it. Clean your own house before telling us how dirty ours is...
I am confused. Does Mr. John
Submitted by Charlie2Base on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:38pm.
I am confused. Does Mr. John think that the President of the United States can bestow rights on subjects of the British Crown? When did we take them over? And when can we give them back, starting with the Queer One himself?
And does he have any thoughts on why Mr. Obama sent the Winston Churchill bust back to jolly old England?
What a dumbass.
Word association ok I'll
Submitted by pilgrim4jc on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:47pm.
Word association ok I'll play....
Elton John - "Sell Out."
Call Rush and ask him about Elton
Submitted by gopcongress on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 12:16am.
He had him play at his wedding. Of course, he had to dole out a cool mil for the gig.
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