It’s rare for a politician to receive an Emmy and if one does, it is usually to a Democrat and usually it turns out to be an absurd decision. For example, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was honored for his daily coronavirus briefings in 2020. We now know how all that turned out. Barack Obama was nominated three times and won an award for narrating a documentary on national parks. Joe Biden’s inauguration special was nominated for an Emmy. Dwight D. Eisenhower was given a special Emmy in 1956, to honor his contribution to television and the arts.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) was honored for being instrumental in helping the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) escape the Taliban when it seized control of Afghanistan. One of the tragic consequences of Biden’s disastrous military withdrawal from Afghanistan was the lives of Afghan citizens it threatened. The senator helped 272 young musicians, faculty, and staff escape the country after the airport in Kabul was closed. Cassidy was able to help them escape to Portugal.
The Recording Industry hosts the annual celebration, GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, to honor Congressional leaders for their work.
“GRAMMYs on the Hill is a celebration like no other, spotlighting music’s unifying power as we bring together our nation’s leaders with some of the most renowned artists in the world,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “It’s a privilege to honor Pharrell alongside Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Cassidy, all of whom have fought tirelessly for pro-music policy that protects the creatives that make up our community.”
The other recipients are 13-time Grammy winner Pharrell Williams and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
I’m very grateful to be honored at this year’s GRAMMYs on the Hill among some incredible other honorees who have done tremendous advocacy work for others,” said Williams. “It’s important that we show up for each other and support one another to ensure that we can keep creating.”
I’m not clear on what it is that Schumer did to be honored but it’s probably mostly that the Recording Industry can’t just give an award to a Republican and not a Democrat to counter it.
The story’s background is compelling, as relayed by the senator’s press release.
During the fall of Afghanistan in 2021, Cassidy’s office had been involved in efforts to help 272 young musicians, faculty, and staff escape to freedom. When the ANIM students were in busses waiting outside Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaos of the mass evacuation, Cassidy attempted to get them through the gates. He worked to get messages to the commanders of the airport to gain entry for the students. After the airport was sealed off following a deadly ISIS attack, he advocated to make the students a priority as paperwork issues became a problem and worked with the Qatar government on multiple occasions to secure safe passage for the students.
The ANIM group was the largest evacuation out of Afghanistan and was the last major evacuation since the country fell to Taliban control. The students, staff, and families now reside safely in Portugal, where they were offered official residency.
It’s good to learn of some Afghans who were able to get out of the country and out from under the control of the Taliban. Biden’s botched withdrawal left thousands of Afghans behind that should have been able to leave. There are still thousands that are trapped there. The outlook for them is not nearly so bright as the music students and personnel now living in Portugal. Thanks to Senator Cassidy’s work, 272 have been spared.
