Unlike many of his fellow musicians, Sting is not becoming an activist for the upcoming Presidential election. According to Reuters, the British-born star says he commends the efforts of music artists who are taking part in the Vote For Change tour, but won’t join them because he’s not a U.S. citizen. Sting said he doesn’t think it’s his place to get involved since he’s a “guest” in this country.
Although Sting is currently on tour, he revealed that he keeps up with world affairs by reading while on the road: “I’m very plugged into what’s going on politically. I read the New York Times every day and I read the op-ed page and the editorial, and I do the same in London with the newspaper. So I know what’s going on. So I don’t feel, disconnected in that way.”
Sting might be staying out of U.S. election politics, but he does have a strong opinion about the situation in Iraq and questions why America and Great Britain invaded the country in the first place. He said, “They could’ve used the resources and the energy to really try and get who was responsible for 9/11. It wasn’t Saddam Hussein, it’s a bunch of long-hairs who are probably in Pakistan right now.
The Vote For Change tour features Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, R.E.M., among other artists, who will play a total of 34 shows next month in Presidential election swing states. Proceeds from the tour will go to liberal political action group America Coming Together.
Sting’s Sacred Love tour picks up again Friday (September 17) in Selma, Texas.
