GOP senator(Orrin Hatch) helped hip-hop producer dodge coke sentence

[Lerkfish]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/08/austin.arrest.ap/index.html

(I hope this hasnot been posted yet...)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a musician in his own right, helped secure the release of Atlanta R&B producer Dallas Austin from a United Arab Emirates jail after a drug conviction, the senator's office confirmed Saturday.

A Grammy winner who has produced hits for Madonna, Pink and TLC, Austin was arrested May 19 and convicted of drug possession for bringing 1.26 grams of cocaine into the UAE city of Dubai.

On Tuesday a court sentenced him to four years in jail and said Austin, 34, should be deported after serving the term. Hours later, Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum pardoned and released Austin. (Full story)

Beyond saying Hatch has "good relations with the ambassador and other good people in Dubai," his office gave The Associated Press no specifics about Hatch's dealings with the Dubai government.

[Lerkfish]

1. So...I find this very interesting...

saves



whatzup, dawg?

I thought the repubs were the family value party, emphasis on PAAAARTTTTTAYYYY!

[itzamirakul]

4. So.....I guess this guarantees the Republicans the dedicated vote

of at least ONE Grammy Award winning Hip Hop producer.

Wonder how many others in the biz he will be able to entice over to the rw side? The music world sure isn't turning out anti-war songs and concerts and clothing styles and hair styles and film and paintings etc like they have done in previous U.S. wars.

[Lost-in-FL]

5. They kinda look alike

Maybe he is... nevermind! :tinfoilhat: :hide: :yoiks:

[itzamirakul]

2. Look for Ken Lay over there in Dubai living on one of those

palm-tree-shaped-man-made-islands that the Sheik had built for the wealthy of the world to live in nearly lawless lifestyles. Do whatever you wish as long as the Sheik knows you by the money you have...then you cannot be punished for any crime.

There is some really good material here for writers to imagine possible futures in this kind of world as the rest of us face daily challenges to stay free of some Gitmo here in the U.S.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. "a musician in his own right"

Depends on your definition of musician... :puke:

[Barkley]

6. I wonder how the press would respond if Hillary got Dallas off? - nt

[htuttle]

7. I'm stunned and confused...

Orrin Hatch? Hip-hop?

I'm going to go soak my head in ice water, and read this story again...

[htuttle]

8. Okay, now that my head is cold, I think I understand this story

I just remembered that Hatch is the Senator from RIAA. Some contributor in the music industry must have pulled some strings...

[Rageneau]

9. The new album "Orin's Greatest Hits" will be out by Christmas.

[rodeodance]

10. its who you know that counts.

[daleo]

11. So drugs are ok with Republicans now?

Four years wouldn't be that heavy a conviction in the U.S. these days for a bag of pot. I hope this fellow doesn't have to face charges in the U.S. now.

[leesa]

12. We'll have to remember this the next time old Orrin goes on a war on drugs

tirade or goes off on those evil hip hop folks. The hypocrisy of the GOP is astounding! Is Austin a fellow Mormon?