Lady Gaga turned down RNC

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Washington Examiner

Lady Gaga turned down $1 million to perform at RNC
March 31, 2013 | 8:00 pm
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Photo - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 05: American singer Lady Gaga, greets fans as she arrives at the Stamford Plaza on June 5, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 05: American singer Lady Gaga, greets fans as she arrives at the Stamford Plaza on June 5, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
The Washington Examiner
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Not even a million dollars could convince Lady Gaga to perform at last summer's Republican National Convention.

The snub by the pop star is included in a lawsuit filed by a powerful Republican nonprofit fundraising organization, American Action Network, against a vendor whose job was to stage entertainment just outside the doors to the GOP's convention in August.

Documents filed with the lawsuit show that other entertainers also said "no thanks" to appearing at the GOP convention including Dolly Parton and the rapper Pitbull, who Republicans hoped to feature at an event for the Hispanic Leadership Network.

Many entertainers, including Journey and Lynyrd Skynyrd, agreed to perform at the convention, but Lady Gaga's offer was the most lucrative, according to an email sent last summer by AAN's director of development, Pete Meachum.
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"See what it would take to get Gaga instead of Dolly," Meachum requests of Rob Jennings, who heads Cater America LLC, an event production company based in Wyoming.

Jennings, whose company is being sued by AAN, was instructed by Meachum to try to make the offer to Lady Gaga more tempting by telling her it would be an event "honoring women who run for public office."

Meachum, who is a former aide to House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and is now chief of staff for Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., wanted Lady Gaga to perform on Monday, Aug. 27, the evening of the convention's first official day.

"Also, tell them that $150,000 will go towards a domestic violence shelter," Meachum further instructed Jennings in an effort to make the offer harder for Lady Gaga to refuse.

American Action Network is a 501c(4) organization headed by former Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and raises money to support GOP candidates for House seats. The organization is suing Cater America in an effort to recover $350,000 that AAN officials say they lost in part when a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert arranged by Cater America was canceled. The concert could not take place because Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Isaac churned toward Tampa.

In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, AAN says most of the money it seeks represents a loan that Jennings has failed to repay.

Cater America plans to countersue, saying AAN reneged on a deal to pay $500,000 for the rock band Journey, which performed a 90-minute set on Aug. 30, the final night of the convention, and for other expenses incurred by Cater America that it says AAN had promised to cover.

Cater America also contends AAN violated an agreement not to give away tickets. National Republican Congressional Committee Executive Director Guy Harrison was among the NRCC staff who attended a Kid Rock concert put on by Cater America on Aug. 29. American Action Network spokesman Dan Conston told The Washington Examiner that AAN "invited some close personal friends from nongovernmental organizations on a personal basis."

Guess she knows where her bread and butter lies, and doesn't want to upset that.

[Flagg]

I don't believe this story.

[Straha]

The Lawsuit exists and a bunch of the other details make sense in context.

[Flagg]

They honestly thought Lady Gaga, a staunch gay rights supporter, would play at the old racist homophobe whitey get together?

[Crossroads Inc.]

My question is why on Earth would a bunch of old racist homophobe whities WANT a staunch gay rights supporter playing at thier event?
I mean REALLY! Do they not not know her at all?

[Esquire]

What, the RNC being slightly delusional? Say it's not so!

Though on the other hand, it looks like some Republicans are trying to be less nuts about the whole gay issue, so perhaps this was intended as some sort of symbolic gesture of reconciliation?

[Dalton]

What, the RNC being slightly delusional? Say it's not so!

Though on the other hand, it looks like some Republicans are trying to be less nuts about the whole gay issue, so perhaps this was intended as some sort of symbolic gesture of reconciliation?

No, what it was intended to do was attract younger demographics. What they failed to realize is that you can't buy everyone. Lady Gaga chose to stand by her principles, but that's not why this lawsuit is being filed.

[Block]

Frankly I don't buy that it was a stand on principles at all. She would've lost tens of millions if she'd shown up, since I'm almost certain that her fanbase would've turned on her for being a part of such an event.

[Dominus Atheos]

...but that's not why this lawsuit is being filed.

I don't think this thread was started to talk about the lawsuit, since they say the lawsuit is over a loan for catering services not provided because the RNC was rescheduled due to Hurricane Isaac.

The organization is suing Cater America in an effort to recover $350,000 that AAN officials say they lost in part when a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert arranged by Cater America was canceled. The concert could not take place because Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Isaac churned toward Tampa.

In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, AAN says most of the money it seeks represents a loan that Jennings has failed to repay.

[Civil War Man]

My question is why on Earth would a bunch of old racist homophobe whities WANT a staunch gay rights supporter playing at thier event?
I mean REALLY! Do they not not know her at all?

Stodgy old white people inviting certain celebrities because they've heard the hip young people in their staff talk about how cool they are, only to have the whole thing hilariously explode in their faces, is quite entertaining.

See Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

[Flagg]

My question is why on Earth would a bunch of old racist homophobe whities WANT a staunch gay rights supporter playing at thier event?
I mean REALLY! Do they not not know her at all?

Stodgy old white people inviting certain celebrities because they've heard the hip young people in their staff talk about how cool they are, only to have the whole thing hilariously explode in their faces, is quite entertaining.

See Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

The best part, I mean the best fucking part was everyone in the media go apeshit and say Colbert was wrong to basically do what they were too cowardly to do, call Bush on his bullshit to his face.

[Alkaloid]

Frankly I don't buy that it was a stand on principles at all. She would've lost tens of millions if she'd shown up, since I'm almost certain that her fanbase would've turned on her for being a part of such an event.

I'm confused. She could not stand on her principals and perform at an event promoting things she disagrees with, or she can not stand on her principals and not do it because it will cost her money, but either way she is not standing in her principals? Does having a lot of money automatically make you incapable of having and/or standing on principals now?

[UnderAGreySky]

The other option, as someone suggested on another forum, would have been to say yes, take the money and donate it all between Planned Parenthood and the It Gets Better project (or equivalent). But this is the easiest way out though.

[Lord Relvenous]

The other option, as someone suggested on another forum, would have been to say yes, take the money and donate it all between Planned Parenthood and the It Gets Better project (or equivalent). But this is the easiest way out though.

Except Lady Gaga probably decided the publicity brought to the RNC by her appearance outweighed any benefit of donating the money to charities.

[Lord Revan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Lady Gaga Bi or lesbian herself so that might have affected the desesion as well.

[bilateralrope]

The snub by the pop star is included in a lawsuit filed by a powerful Republican nonprofit fundraising organization, American Action Network, against a vendor whose job was to stage entertainment just outside the doors to the GOP's convention in August.

This is the bit I don't understand. How does Lady Gaga's refusal to take part in a Republican convention have any relevance to this lawsuit ?

[Napoleon the Clown]

I doubt performing for the RNC would meaningfully impact Lady Gaga's career. I don't see what's so unbelievable about her making a decision based off her own principals. Considering she takes gay rights so seriously I'm inclined to say that the decision had nothing to do with what fans would think of it, beyond maybe not wanting to be a hypocrite.

[Scrib]

My question is why on Earth would a bunch of old racist homophobe whities WANT a staunch gay rights supporter playing at thier event?
I mean REALLY! Do they not not know her at all?

Stodgy old white people inviting certain celebrities because they've heard the hip young people in their staff talk about how cool they are, only to have the whole thing hilariously explode in their faces, is quite entertaining.

See Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

The best part, I mean the best fucking part was everyone in the media go apeshit and say Colbert was wrong to basically do what they were too cowardly to do, call Bush on his bullshit to his face.

Wouldn't that be the worst part? When news reporters have to tell comics to not do their job, not because they sucked at it but because they were good, something is clearly fucked.

[Dominus Atheos]

The snub by the pop star is included in a lawsuit filed by a powerful Republican nonprofit fundraising organization, American Action Network, against a vendor whose job was to stage entertainment just outside the doors to the GOP's convention in August.

This is the bit I don't understand. How does Lady Gaga's refusal to take part in a Republican convention have any relevance to this lawsuit ?

As Dalton explained, not a thing, but the offer and Lady Gaga's refusal only came to light as a result of the lawsuit.

[bilateralrope]

The snub by the pop star is included in a lawsuit filed by a powerful Republican nonprofit fundraising organization, American Action Network, against a vendor whose job was to stage entertainment just outside the doors to the GOP's convention in August.

This is the bit I don't understand. How does Lady Gaga's refusal to take part in a Republican convention have any relevance to this lawsuit ?

As Dalton explained, not a thing, but the offer and Lady Gaga's refusal only came to light as a result of the lawsuit.

If it isn't relevant to the lawsuit, why is it included in the lawsuit ?

[Lost Soal]

The offer is possibly part of the borrowed money they haven't repaid

[Stormin]

Well Lady Gaga is in good company. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was invited to speak at the Republican CPAC and declined. Too bad, if he had gone he probably would have lost the next election pretty hard despite divided opposition.

[Alyrium Denryle]

If it isn't relevant to the lawsuit, why is it included in the lawsuit ?

At a guess, documents handed over as part of the lawsuit, but that are not directly involved in the case. When you get sued, every document you have that is tangentially related to the suit often has to be turned over. So every record related to that contract, which includes trying to get Lady Gaga to show up.

I'm confused. She could not stand on her principals and perform at an event promoting things she disagrees with, or she can not stand on her principals and not do it because it will cost her money, but either way she is not standing in her principals? Does having a lot of money automatically make you incapable of having and/or standing on principals now?

Honestly, the idea that she would lose her fan base is silly on its face. The gays might be a bit angry with her for a week, and that is IF and ONLY IF she did not use the performance as a platform to plug gay rights, or troll the republicans in the audience. Which she totally would. Lady Gaga is not only fabulous, but she is a professional surrealist troll and performance artist. She would totally get up there and perform Born This Way and Alejandro. Complete with scantily leather clad dudes dancing seductively with eachother.

Had she done that, I would go out and buy everything she ever wrote, including her stuff from which she was a classical pianist.

Monetary motivations would probably be in favor of her performing for the RNC. Standing on her principles and not taking money from those swine is probably her actual motivation.