Bono suggests using Amy Schumer, Chris Rock to combat extremism with comedy

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- While testifying during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, U2 frontman Bono suggested using Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen to combat extremism with comedy.

"The first people that Adolf Hitler threw out of Germany were the dadaists and surrealists," the legendary singer said to a panel of diplomats Tuesday who were pushing the United States government to provide more aid to the Middle East.

"It's like, you speak violence, you speak their language. But you laugh at them when they are goose-stepping down the street and it takes away their power. So I am suggesting that the Senate send in Amy Schumer and Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen, thank you," he continued suggesting progress could be made against extremists using laughter.

Later, Bono assured the crowd at the Dirksen Senate Office Building that he was "actually being serious."

"Actually, that's not the first time I've heard experts on how do we counter violent extremism talk about that," said senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat for New Hampshire. "It's one of the things that we're looking at."

Schumer remains the only comedian named to respond to Bono's suggestion tweeting Tuesday "Holy [expletive]."

Bono also called on the government to provide more aid to those in need in the Middle East. "When aid is structured properly, with a focus on fighting poverty and improving governance, it could just be the best bulwark we have against the extremism of our age," he said.