Lady Gaga Turned Down $1 Million To Perform During RNC | Hacker News Reader

Lady Gaga Turned Down $1 Million To Perform During RNC

joemiller.us

9 pointsbagoldsmith9 comments

I understand that Hacker News likes political stories mostly leans left on the political spectrum, but this story isn't true(1). Susan Ferrechio needs to update her story or put a disclaimer on it.(2)

(1) http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2525899

(2) "To be clear, the RNC neither asked, offered, thought of or ever considered the idea of Lady Gaga performing at our convention. And clearly, we didn't offer a million dollars. The story is actually referencing an event by American Action Network, an independent group that is no way affiliated or connected to the Republican National Committee or Republican Convention."

Seems accurate enough to me; the headline says 'perform during RNC' not as part of the official convention activities, and AAN is identified by name in the opening paragraph. Also, an additional story indicates that the RNC were in fact coordinating with AAN, citing emails from the the RNC 2012 director of external affairs.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2526265?slideout=1

Having said that I don't really know what this story is doing on HN, but it is mildly amusing.

'According to the American Action Network website, the organization's purpose is to "create, encourage and promote right wing policies."'[0].

Of course the RNC wouldn't /sully/ their names with it. They just let the money that runs their engine do it for them. Mis-titled and flamebaity, of course, but still rather valid.

0. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Action_Network

One would assume that at her level, $1 million is pocket change and that if she doesn't support the republican cause, she would decline that offer without skipping a beat.

In my opinion it was an attempt at "dog whistle politics" to hire a pro-gay or more accurately a pro-human rights singer to make the RNC look inclusive.

Reminds of a quote from a politician in California named Jesse Unruh: "Everybody can be bought. I don't care what the price. For some its wine, women, or drugs but for that rare individual who can't be bought, well.. They can be leased."

Lady Gaga doesn't seem to be an appealing choice for typical RNC voters, wouldn't she be booed off stage?

Apparently strip clubs see a 3x boost from GOP conventions compared to the DNC, so it's just as likely they'd throw money at her.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/23/politics/tampa-gop-strip-clubs (slightly NSFW)

Sorry to be That Guy™, but why is this on hacker news at all?

Meanwhile the the dems have advanced strategy and computer programs and the Republs are trying these wasteful stunts.

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