Lady Gaga Reportedly Offered $1 Million to Perform at RNC

Lady Gaga was allegedly offered $1 million  to perform at the Republican National Convention last summer, according to a lawsuit filed by the Republican fundraising and advocacy group, American Action Network.

The Washington Examiner reports the AAN is suing the entertainment vendor of the convention.

Gaga wasn’t the only superstar to turn down the seven figure offer. Country star Dolly Parton and rapper Pitbull also declined to perform.

Gaga fundraised for President Obama and later performed with Tony Bennett at a White House staff inauguration ball in January.

The convention eventually hired Kid Rock and Journey to play during the festivities.

The RNC issued the following statement:

“A story in yesterday’s Washington Examiner unfortunately left many people with the impression that the RNC had asked Lady Gaga and other artists to play at the Republican National Convention.    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.”

AAN also issued a statement that is posted on the RNC’s website:

“In planning for our fundraiser in Tampa, e-mails we’re exchanged between AAN fundraising staff and outside vendors exploring various performance options.  AAN is an independent group and is no way affiliated with or connected to the RNC nor was the RNC ever privy to these internal discussions. We considered some acts and didn’t seriously consider others, but we were ultimately happy with a great Kid Rock concert. Our events were independent from the official convention and the RNC.”

Celebrities Want You to Vote…For Stuff

These celebrities want you to vote. Among slew of celebs in the new non-partision video that is meant to garner enthusiasm among voters are: Tobey Maguire, Sarah Silverman, Jason Gordon Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, Zac Efron, Selena Gomez, Edward Norton, Amanda Seyfried, Benicio Del Toro and Jonah Hill.

Many in the conservative blogosphere didn’t believe the video was non-partision, due to some of the issues brought up at the end of the video that tend to be supported by liberals. Although, many may describe it as a pro-Obama ad, it isn’t like this one from 2008.

DiCaprio told The Associated Press that the purpose was to ignite enthusiasm among voters.

“We are using the power of social media throughout the Vote 4 Stuff campaign to incite bipartisan conversation around real issues, encourage registration and voting in November.”

Susan Sarandon: Romney Comments “So Entertaining”

Actress Susan Sarandon, known for her liberal views, recently commented on the leaked Mitt Romney footage from a fundraiser earlier this year, reports POLITICO.

She joined Current TV host Joy Behar in a discussion over the comments. When Behar asked the actress her thoughts on Romney’s statements, Sarandon said she was enjoying the GOP candidate’s remarks.

“I’m so entertained,” Sarandon said. “I’m very happy that he’s so entertaining. I don’t know if it’s going to cost him. I think a lot of people agree with him in seeing things that way. I guess it’ll mostly effect the swing voters. And I think it’s an interesting few days on the campaign trail to see how he deals with that. But I don’t think that was really new information.”

“Well no, but it just made him look like Scrooge,” Behar said. “It made him look more Scrooge-like.”

“But I think that’s what he is,” Sarandon said. “But I don’t think — listening to, you know, where he wants to spend his money, that he was very interested in education or the elderly and I mean a lot of the people he’s talking about pay taxes so I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Johnny Van Zant On Team Romney

Right after Mitt Romney was asked to stop using the  Silversun Pickups’ track “Panic Switch” on the campaign trail, he gained an endorsement from Lynyrd Skynyrd front man, Johnny Van Zant, POLITICO reports.

Van Zant said he isn’t a fan of President Obama’s policies.

“His whole platform was change, change. Well, very little has changed I know for the people that are our fans,” Van Zant said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve heard the president go we’re asking the rich to take a little bit more in taxes. Well, that’s not asking, that’s telling. I still believe in the trickle-down effect.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd is set to perform at the Republican National Convention at the end of August.

He said the next president needs to restore the country.

“I hope whoever wins come November, whether it be Romney, or [Obama], they put this country back on track,” Van Zant said. “I did not vote for President Obama … now he’s the president of the United States. Whatever happens we have to support him. We have to be good Americans and stand by our president.”

The singer recently got behind Florida Republican Ted Yoho, who upset current Rep. Cliff Stearns in a primary on Tuesday.

The former democrat was inspired by President Ronald Reagan.

“I loved Ronald Reagan,” Van Zant said. “I believed in what he was saying. I believed that he was going to take care of national security and as far as I’m concerned I think he’s one of the greatest presidents we’ve ever had. I hope whoever wins in November does as good a job.”

 

Spike Lee Believes Election Will Be “Very, Very, Very Close”

Director Spike Lee said the presidential election is going to be closer than many people think in the latest issue of the New York Magazine.

How do you think President Obama is doing?

I support him; my wife and I gave a benefit for him at our house. But I think this election is going to be close. Bottom line, there are many people in America who look at themselves and say, “Am I better now than I was before?” It is going to be tooth and nail, and I think it is going to get nasty. But, in my opinion, if they are trying to bring up Reverend Jeremiah Wright again, they are really reaching. I hope and pray that people are not going to go for the Willie Horton okeydoke.

Do you think people will?
I got faith that they won’t. Honestly, though, the big question is, I think there will be a block of people saying, “I cannot vote for a Mormon.”

Are those people voting for Obama instead? That seems unlikely.
They got a tough decision: Obama or a Mormon. Their beliefs got them between a rock and a hard place.

What do you think of Romney?
You know what’s funny? I met him in an airport, Reagan National Airport, and we said hello. It was, like, two, three years ago. I was just in D.C. and he was there and he said, “What’s up, Spike?” and I said, “What’s happening, Mitt?” We were in line getting something to eat. So I said what’s up and shook hands. I think it is going to be very, very, very close.

Wanda Sykes Praises Obama, Slams Romney

Wanda Sykes went on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night praising Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage.

“I’m very excited,” Sykes said. “I’m so proud of him. What’s so funny like is people think like he did it for political reasons. I’m like how is this going to help him politically? I mean, first they didn’t think he was from America, right? They called him all kind of names, socialist. I mean, now he’s saying he’s for same-sex marriage. You know, there is somebody like, ‘Ah, this is the last piece of my anti-Christ puzzle. This is it! I’ve been waiting for this.’ I’m so happy. I really am. It means a lot.”

When asked about Mitt Romney, Sykes said he is bland and not genuine.

“He says whatever should be said in front of that organization,” Sykes stated. “He’s like the Forrest Gump of candidates. He was in Michigan. ‘I like cars. My wife has a car.’ You know? He was in Wisconsin, ‘Had myself a grilled cheese sandwich today. That was nice.’ I would love to see him in front of NOW. ‘Boy, women, boy I like women. You know, my wife has a vagina. I like that. I like that.'”

Watch the full interview here.