Madonna has always had one trustworthy ally in her music career, which has forever ensured she gets the attention she desires: controversy. Make no mistake, turning 50 and embarking on her eighth tour is no reason for the Material Mom to stop this pleasant activity of hers.

As proven in Cardiff, Wales, where Madonna played the first concert of her Sticky and Sweet Tour on Saturday night. This time around, the pop star had a personal political view she wanted to get across to the 40,000 enthusiastic fans which had gathered to see her at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

As the song “Get Stupid” played, off her latest album “Hard Candy,” strongly evoking images were projected during a video segment, showing the effects of global warming and destruction.

Images of German dictator Adolf Hitler and Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe were intermingled with that of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, much to the dissatisfaction of some who thought the juxtaposition an exaggeration.

That was not all however. While Madonna obviously opposes the Arizona senator’s possible ascension to the White House, she does support that of his Democratic rival Barack Obama.

Another series of images followed, showing Indian spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, iconic singer John Lennon and Nobel prize winner Al Gore, as well as the Illinois senator.

John McCain’s representatives reacted promptly, branding Madonna’s video montage as “outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time.”

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said the singer’s initiative “clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits.”

John McCain previously compared his Democratic rival to modern-day celebrities.

Barack Obama’s campaign also responded to Madonna’s strong display of support through spokesman Tommy Vietor, who said, “We hope that John McCain will offer a similar condemnation as his allies increasingly practice sleazy swift boat tactics.”

Considering the hard work Madonna put into preparing for her world tour, controversy was to be expected. Two year ago, when she embarked on her Confessions Tour, she resorted to a similar means of getting her message across, hanging from a crucifix during one of her songs.

The show ultimately became the highest grossing tour ever for a female artist, earning nearly $200 million from some 1.2 million concertgoers who came to her 60 shows.

Saturday in Cardiff, among the 40,000 fans eager to see the Material Mom entertain them with new music, new dances, new everything, were husband Guy Ritchie and children Lourdes, Rocco and adopted son David.

Madonna will take her two-hour show to 51 venues across the world, in Europe, North America (in mid-November) and South America. Madonna went through grueling rehearsals this summer, preparing for her tour, and was even reported at one time to be suffering from extenuation and anemia.

She has proven yet again however that she is unstoppable.