Muammar Gaddafi, Mariah Carey, and Usher...

[Waterpilot]

Muatassum is one of Muammar Gaddafi sons.

Gaddafi's five sons also make appearances in the cables. One, Muatassim, who serves as his father's national-security adviser, is said to have demanded $1.2 billion in 2008 from the chairman of Libya's national oil corporation, in order to establish his own militia. Twice in the last few years, Muatassim has held lavish New Year's parties on the Caribbean island of St. Barts, at which Mariah Carey, Usher, and Beyonce have been paid to perform (Carey was reportedly paid $1 million for four songs).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theloo...y-peccadilloes

My guess is that this sort of thing happens all of the time. Not just musicians, but actors, athletes, reality stars and the like... Probably even business men and women as well.

So this isn't about who was named in the article (Though I did use it in the title to grab attention), as I'm sure there are plenty more who have done the same.

Would you take money form the Gaddafi's to perform?

Does money always win no matter where it comes from?

[EdHunter]

Yep. My four song setlist woud be:

Revolution Rock - The Clash
Red Star Falling - Saxon
Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
and of course, Winds of Change.

[Diogenes]

In the 80's there was Sun City... now?

[GrapeApe]

This reminds me of the Roman Emporer Vespasian, who set up a tax on urine being given to tanners and fullers. When his son, Titus complained that it was disgusting, Vespasian waved a silver coin under his nose and asked him if it smelled bad.

The point being that no matter where it came from, the money spends the same, not to mention that what Gaddafi might have done with that money wouldn't be nearly as harmless as what Usher would do with it.

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by GrapeApe

The point being that no matter where it came from, the money spends the same, not to mention that what Gaddafi might have done with that money wouldn't be nearly as harmless as what Usher would do with it.

So you wouldn't feel guilty for taking money from a person that has the ability to infuse that back into his own improvised country because he's going to spend it somewhere and it might as well be you?

[PSPookie]

It's pronounced: "uRsher".

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

Would you take money form the Gaddafi's to perform?



Does money always win no matter where it comes from?

1. Nope
2. Yeah, pretty much.


The real drag is that these are people that could actually afford to say no. Ask a peasant like me to ignore a million dollar payday for 20 minutes work is a pretty tough sell. If I already had a bunch of millions and residual agreements for bunch more...much easier.

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by Steve

The real drag is that these are people that could actually afford to say no. Ask a peasant like me to ignore a million dollar payday for 20 minutes work is a pretty tough sell. If I already had a bunch of millions and residual agreements for bunch more...much easier.

I agree, they are afforded an opportunity, though hard work, to pick and choose what type of work they take and for whom they'll be working...

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by Steve

1. Nope
2. Yeah, pretty much.


The real drag is that these are people that could actually afford to say no. Ask a peasant like me to ignore a million dollar payday for 20 minutes work is a pretty tough sell. If I already had a bunch of millions and residual agreements for bunch more...much easier.

+1.

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

I agree, they are afforded an opportunity, though hard work, to pick and choose what type of work they take and for whom they'll be working...

huh.