Bono’s ‘One’ gets preliminary RNC nod

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (UPI) — U2 frontman and humanitarian Bono received support for his global anti-poverty initiative from an unusual source — the U.S. Republican National Committee.

In taking a first step toward endorsing the “One” program, the RNC’s Resolution Committee did not rescind the full body’s previous endorsement to spend an estimated $30 billion in U.S. taxes on the program, prompting conservative members to question the priorities of their national committee, The Washington Times reported Friday.

“It’s hard to believe my party would vote for something like this, which sounds like a do-gooder program,” said John H. Hager, the new Virginia Republican Party chairman.

Randy Pullen, Arizona GOP chair, also opposed the Bono-initiated program “One,” saying, “I don’t think we should be allocating 1 percent of the U.S. budget for relief around the world. That’s not the business of government,” but belongs in the private sector’s purview.

“One” is co-chaired by Jack Oliver, a Bush 2000 campaign fundraiser and Washington lobbyist. RNC members said Oliver has lobbied them in favor of the “One” program and its offshoot “One Vote ‘08,” which seeks to make global poverty and health a key issue in the 2008 presidential election.