After Election, Madonna Tries to Stay Upbeat

Nov. 9, 2004 — -- The moral of Madonna's new children's book is simple and positive: "Everything that happens is for the best." Now the singer who is constantly embroiled in controversy is trying to practice what she preaches to kids.

In an interview with ABC Radio, Madonna said she's doing her best to get over her disappointment at the outcome of the presidential election and focusing on her new book, "The Adventures of Abdi," the story of a little boy who must deliver the world's most precious necklace to the queen.

"In terms of the elections, I don't agree with so many things and the decisions that George Bush has made and I'm not happy with the situation in Iraq," she told ABC Radio's Andrea Dresdale. "I do believe that the American public has been manipulated to a great degree."

Nevertheless, Madonna -- who had urged fans at her concerts to see Michael Moore's controversial, anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- says she's not going to sit around "moaning and groaning."

"In the end, we have to say, 'OK, we didn't win, but there's other ways to fix the problems, so now what else can I do to help?' "

Madonna also says there's no need to bury the hatchet with Elton John, who recently accused her of charging concertgoers outrageous prices to see her lip-synch, an allegation she's denied. Madonna says there was never a rift between the two performers.

"There was never a hatchet for me in the first place," she said. "I always thought of him as a friend. I think he was just having a bad day when he said those things and I never really took it personally."

She said the media blew the whole thing out of proportion.

"The press made a bigger deal out of it than I did," she said. "I don't really care. I don't read the press."

Madonna, who's married to British director Guy Ritchie and lives in England these days, says she invited John to induct her into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, but he had a previous commitment.

"I thought, that would be cool if Elton John gave me the award and then we could kiss and make up in front of everybody because everybody seems attached to the idea we're having this feud in the first place," she said.