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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| Cher attends hearing on soldiers' helmets |
| 2006-06-16 |
| The subject was whether to modify helmets for soldiers in Iraq, but all eyes were on Cher. As photographers clicked away, the singer and actress entered a Capitol Hill hearing room through a back door 20 minutes after the session was scheduled to start. The hearing soon got under way. Cher has donated more than $130,000 to the group Operation Helmet, which pays about $100 to modify the inside of soldiers' helmets to make them better able to absorb shock from a bomb blast. Cher, wearing a white lace top under a black pant suit, looked solemn as she sat behind the group's founder, Dr. Bob Meaders, while he testified. Meaders said she didn't want to cause a distraction by testifying herself. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, noted that Cher's ex-husband, the late Rep. Sonny Bono, had served on the subcommittee. He called it a "special irony and really great tribute" to have her there. The Army now equips its soldiers with padded helmets designed to be shock absorbent. The Marine Corps has commissioned a study to determine whether to change its helmets but has said the ones Marines use now are effective. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #18 I totally disliked her before - I may have been wrong *there* I said it! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-16 23:23 |
| #17 Cher has made a few visits to Reed and was concerned about the serious head injuries. She is pushing additive gear for better fitting helmets for the troops. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-06-16 23:14 |
| #16 Manfully said, Thinemp Whimble2412. :-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-06-16 22:28 |
| #15 TW2412 stands corrected on the Cher participation. Knee jerk reaction to an overload of the Brittany's on recent news. (her antics are news) and a good look at those who do embrace the "cause of the month club." Apologies to Cher. It is indeed true that Cher does what she believes and bedamned those who would chide. guilty. Cher gets a big pass because she is genuine (but with a heck of an entourage) and does specifiy how she can help. I was wrong. Just too much stars-on-their-navelgazing on the "news" as late. Scusi. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-06-16 19:49 |
| #14 At least she's doing more for the troops than a lot of the Hollyweird idiots. Thanks Cher! |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2006-06-16 16:58 |
| #13 She took a serious career hit in the late '60's because she and Sonny were vocally anti-drug. Though I can't always speak for the results, she clearly thinks for herself. |
| Posted by: Thusing Jort6690 2006-06-16 15:25 |
| #12 Her father is John Sarkisian, an Armenian refugee. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2006-06-16 15:05 |
| #11 Hey, I don't really like Cher, but she is at least on the ride side for once. I'm willing to lay out a thank you to her for it. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2006-06-16 14:46 |
| #10 She's Armenian today? I remember when she was Romny, Latin, American Indian and Italian. You go to war with celebreties you have. Ha! Ha! |
| Posted by: 6 2006-06-16 14:39 |
| #9 She's Armenian. She knows what the real deal is. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2006-06-16 11:43 |
| #8 She is standing out in the Hollyweird community as a supporter of the troops, not very popular with her peers. I don't care what she wears or puts her dollars toward, she is openly supporting us and committed to it. Hat Tip to her. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-06-16 11:38 |
| #7 LOL, Perf! |
| Posted by: Cleting Graque6012 2006-06-16 11:24 |
| #6 She put her money where her mouth is. If it helps a worthy cause and she gets some decent pub out of it, that's a fair tradeoff. To tell you the truth, I never heard of the program until this story. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-06-16 11:19 |
| #5 This is a worthy cause and Cher is way out ahead of the general Hollyweird crowd. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-06-16 11:14 |
| #4 You go to war with celebreties you have. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-06-16 11:13 |
| #3 Meaders said she didn't want to cause a distraction by testifying herself But she did arrive 20 minutes late and held up the hearing until her grand entrance with full circus. "Distraction" caused by testifying would've had less impact than the Hollywood display. It's not about helmuts, is it Cher? This is your Hollywood charity gig. It's about you. Just like the other "Celebs With A Cause". It's sooo trendy to have a "cause" - you don't even have to know what it's about. Just throw money over the heads of the paparazzi. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-06-16 10:40 |
| #2 We do greatly appreciate her concern for our troops. She's still a lightweight, though. We WILL take her money, however......... |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2006-06-16 10:17 |
| #1 Too soon olde |
| Posted by: 6 2006-06-16 10:08 |