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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
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Obama Does Hollywood
September 17, 2008 7:06 AM
Many a film scene has been shot at the Greystone Mansion in Los Angeles, Calif., where a 55-room Tudor mansion tonight beckoned Hollywood glitterati to contribute $28,500 per person to the Democratic National Committee/Obama for America joint Victory Fund.
In "Indecent Proposal," the tycoon played by Robert Redford was seduced by the real estate agent played by Demi Moore as she showed him through the empty living room of the Greystone Mansion. He didn't much care for the house, but her he liked.
Film buffs might also recognize the manse from "What Women Want," "The Witches of Eastwick," "The Big Lebowski," "Death Becomes Her," and "Batman & Robin," among others.
And it was here that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Arrived shortly before 7 p.m. Pacific for a fundraising reception and dinner -- salad with goat cheese, roasted potatoes, filet of beef and asparagus, apple crisp and chocolate lava cake.
Somewhere between 250 and 300 others signed up for the dinner, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Lee Curtis, Will Farrell -- known for, among other characters, his devastating impersonation of President George W. Bush -- as well as Jodie Foster, Toby McGuire, and Chris Rock.
Not to mention the man Sen. John McCain, D-Ariz., said was his favorite Hollywood "president," Dennis Haysbert, who played the assassinated President David Palmer on Fox's "24."
At an outdoor courtyard within the Greystone compound, Obama told the gathered masses that his campaign offered a rather sobering look at the economic problems the nation now faces.
“It's reminded people that this is not a game," Obama said. "This is not a reality show, no offense to any of you. This is not a sitcom.”
Many Democrats were apparently worried about the prospects of losing (again) in the fall.
“I know that a lot of you, just in conversations while we were in the photo lines, had all sorts of suggestions,” Obama said. “I know that won't surprise you. And a lot of people have gotten nervous and concerned. Why is this as close as it is? And what's going on? We always knew this was going to be hard, and this is a leap for the American people. And we're running against somebody who has a formidable biography, a compelling biography. He's a genuine American hero, somebody who served in uniform and suffered through some things that very few of us can imagine.
“And so he is a worthy opponent," Obama said. "And this should be hard, because what we're asking of the American people is a fundamental shift away from an economic theory that has dominated over the last eight years, that says, ‘You give more to the most and hope that it trickles down for everybody else,' an economic theory that basically says, 'you're on your own if you don't have health care, you're on your own if you don't have a job; if you're born into poverty, lift yourself up by your own bootstraps, you are on your own.'"
“If we can cut through the nonsense and the lipstick and the pigs and the silliness, then I'm absolutely convinced that we're going to win,” Obama said to laughter and applause.
“We’ve still got enormous work to do because of the enormous resistance out there -- resistance because people have been fed cynicism for a long time,” Obama continued. “When my opponent, and the operation that they’ve put together, starts feeding into that cynicism and starts feeding into that resentment, it’s not always clear which way things are going to tip.”
The senator said he was confident about winning because "I've looked at John McCain, I've looked at Sarah Palin, I've looked at their agenda, and they don't have one.”
Ha ha ha ha, said the crowd.
"They don't have answers to our economic problems," he said, “and they don't have answers to our foreign policy problems." Obama asked the crowd to "keep steady" in the remaining 48 days until Election Day and to remember that his campaign "is about those who will never see the inside of a building like this and don't resent the success that's represented in this room, but just want the simple chance to be able to find a job that pays a living wage."
Obama then went to the ballroom at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.
Around 800 people -- including Sarah Silverman, Ron Howard, Magic Johnson, and Pierce Brosnan -- were there, eaching paying $2,500 to the Obama Victory Fund.
We are told, though the press was not permitted (inflicted?) with permission to hear her, that Barbra Streisand ran through little parts of songs, though not entire numbers.
Obama thanked everyone, then was serious.
“This should be a celebratory evening," he said. "We’ve got 48 days to go in a campaign, a campaign that started 19 months ago, at a time when a lot of folks thought we might not get here." But, he added, “I’m not in a celebratory mood.”
Obama listed the depressing headlines -- Wall Street in crisis, hurricanes, the deadly train crash in nearby Los Angeles.
Obama offfered the Tinseltown big wigs his stump speech, and then told them not to worry about his calm demeanor.
“The reason I’m calm,” Obama said, “is I have confidence in the American people.”
Obama asked supporters “to keep on going out there, arguing and fighting” in the final 48 days.
- jpt
September 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (262)
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Please don't compare Obama to Dr. King. The differences are night and day. Dr. King spoke of hope. He was a man of morals and character. He loved our country. He did not belong to a hate church and he actually used action and not the words and the help of the media to try to make people believe in him. After all the coverage I have seen, I have come to realize that Obama does NOT possess the skills to lead this country. The media may support him because they want to appear to non-racist. I am a white woman who will be voting for McCain and if McCain were black and Obama white I would still be voting for McCain. This is a job interview not a civil movement and the most qualified will lead. I am a life long democrat but this year I will be changing my party. I DO NOT believe in the race card as the media does. And I do not believe in the empty words which flow so easily from the mouth of Obama. McCain/Palin 2008
Posted by: badger229 | Sep 28, 2008 10:15:37 AM
"The reason I’m calm, is I have confidence in the American people.” said Obama at the Hollywood fundraiser. Which American people? The socialists in tinseltown?
Calm? Bet Obama was calm..he smokes like a chimney despite his protestations to the contrary. So much for a "healthy" president if he were elected. I wonder who his Surgeon General would be if elected President..Jocelyn Elders again with "safe cigarettes" as in "safe bullets"? Maybe the cigarettes calmed him..hope it was only cigarettes.
Old habits are hard to get rid of and since Obama admitted in the past that he has not been totally honest with the American People about his cigarette habit, why should anyone believe anything he says? So much for credibility as far as Mr. Obama is concerned..at least from my perspective.
Posted by: Al MacLeod | Sep 18, 2008 7:59:07 AM
As a loyal Clinton supporter I wish Hillary would have been our choice but this is going to set up what is going to be an interesting match in 2012 Clinton/Palin, and as a loyal democrat im getting the feeling that my party is leaving us conservative dems behind we would be talking about a super majority right now, but no we have to make history now, Im voting for Obama but damn if we arent screwing it up. 2010 midterms will teach us dems a lesson in coalition building because the 500 million dollar man has drained our coffers and the DNC will be broke and when we finally get to a recession which is two quarters of negative growth we wont have any money for our candidates of the future. now liberals talk about how the GOP leaves on our own, funny we are not investing in the future of the party and thinking about the now, so democrats of the future your on own in raising money and networking because the DNC will be broke mid 2009 so much for plan 50 state plan Gov Dean envisioned.
Posted by: Quintell | Sep 18, 2008 5:31:30 AM
Just another case of Nobama selling out to the Hollywack fringe.
Posted by: roger king | Sep 18, 2008 12:16:30 AM
Just shut up about Obama using his own money and how noble it is. Checking that box in your tax return means that more people will be able to have a chance to run for office. It makes elections more fair. What he has done has insured that anyone who runs for office in the future will at minimum have to have about 500 million dollars before they even consider it, and how does anyone raise that kind of money without some kind of strings attached. It leads to the kind of corruption that we are all supposedly sick of.
Posted by: pennsylvaniavoter | Sep 17, 2008 11:41:27 PM
Main St. in trouble, Joe Hollywood is filling his pockets. What a surprise.
Posted by: pennsylvaniavoter | Sep 17, 2008 11:30:42 PM
Seems he has learned since his spring fundraiser in San Francisco not to say people don't support him cause they are bitter and cling to religion, guns and bigotry. But we already know he thinks that, so bye-bye Barack.
Posted by: Typical White Person | Sep 17, 2008 11:14:56 PM
How is it that is O'Babble is sooo smart, so many stupid people are backing him ? Do smart people pay $30,000 to hear Barbara Streisand "sing" ?
Posted by: Ron | Sep 17, 2008 11:04:43 PM
Bad timing . . . very very bad Mr. Oh-I’m-so-close-to-the-common-man! Hello!? He’s so common that he’s hanging with the Hollywood liberals! He should have cancelled or sent a proxy...remember how the Republicans curtailed their convention because of the hurricane?! Guess what Senator Obama . . . there's a hurricane on Wall Street and you should be hanging out on main street! Shame on you! I’m embarrassed to admit I almost voted for you! Thankfully you’ve helped me see what a stupid decision that would have been.
Posted by: LFforMcCain | Sep 17, 2008 11:00:41 PM
Oh well, Obama's party is just getting ready to start. In case you have heard, McLiar's convention poll bounce has disappeared even with Palin.
Posted by: suv2001 | Sep 17, 2008 10:21:25 PM
28,500 per ticket? I am asuming these are not the average americans he claims to care so much about. Who is out of touch with reality? Mr Obama you are a crook a fake and a coward who hides behind the race card and god willing will never be elected President of this great country. Go be a trustee in your Racist Pastor's church. He is your sounding board for ideas according to your own book. And who the hell cares what a celebraty thinks anyway. Talk about out of touch with reality.
Posted by: batesba | Sep 17, 2008 9:20:24 PM
Why does the Obama compaign not seized on the fact that his campaign has not taken a single dime from taxpayer, while half of McCain money are subsidize by the tax payer close to $100 million of tax payers money is wasted on Lies, Deception and Selfish ambition. McCain is not for Country First, he is for McCain first. Who is really for changes, not McCain. In regard to ear mark that funds go to schools, hospitals and special social projects. What is wrong with that. Who is on the look out for the tax payer, not McCain, its Obama. The Republican use everything they have against Obama, yet I have no idea why Obama does not use this against the Rebublican. Maybe its a trump card to be used later, but I highly suggest Obama make this known to people as many do not know this.
Posted by: wade | Sep 17, 2008 8:54:20 PM
Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac gave Obama huge contributions; and in turn, Obama hired the former head of Fannie Mae, Jim Johnson, to lead his VP search team; even after Mr.Johnson ran Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac in the ground. It is fact that only one other democratic senator received more money from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac....so please people, don't delude yourself that Obama has never accepted money from lobbyist. Oh, and Obama gave his wife's employer a million dollar pork package after she was promoted....so let there be no mistake...he is just like all the other politician...EXCEPT, he has no experience.
Posted by: mcpalin101 | Sep 17, 2008 7:25:28 PM
Patty - Dr. Martin Luther King's words about the "...content of their character" sums up why I won't vote for Obama. He has demonstrated no real achivements. He is a socialist. He has associated with leftist radicals throughout his career. He doesn't have enough of an actual record to know where he stands on issues (other than, of course, his two autobiographies). The color of his skin has nothing to do with it. It's his big-government, high-tax, weak-defense approach that will be very damaging to this country ... and that's why I won't vote for him.
It's obvious you hate McCain/Palin. But, pray tell, what exactly do you like about Obama? Is it his "community activism"? Is it his Harvard law degree (which can be debated as positive or negative)? Exactly how is he more qualified than McCain or Palin? Seriously, details please.
Posted by: Colorado Conservative | Sep 17, 2008 7:14:19 PM
After reading all of these comments, I just have to wonder what the hell people are thinking. Politics aside, the REAL problem with this country is that there will always be those who can't see past the color of a person's skin, and this is still a country FULL of racists. Doesn't anyone remember Dr. Martin Luther King's words about the "...content of their character"? John McCain voted against the Martin Luther King Holiday, and that pretty much sums up his feelings on race (oh sure, I know he has an adopted daughter from Bangladesh...whatever). On another note, sure, he went through hell as a prisoner of war, but that doesn't qualify him, or anyone else, to run this country. He is a 72-year-old man who has had 3 bouts with malignant skin cancer, and even though the torture in Vietnam didn't take him down, skin cancer very well could. It scares me to think that if something should happen to him, IF he gets elected, then Palin would be in charge of running this country.
Posted by: Patty | Sep 17, 2008 6:57:33 PM
I remembered Babs Streisand courageously honoring her promise to leave the U.S. if George Bush was elected in 2000.
Oh wait, she didn't move after all. She must have been on the same private jet that never left the runway as Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin
Great Post by Beth!
If I may add..Alec Baldwin did in fact get on a plane after the election..but it wasn't to leave the country. Baldwin accepted the role of a Great American Hero by the name of General Jimmy Doolittle. The movie's name was "Pear Harbor" (2001). General Jimmy Doolittle (Then, Lt. Colonel Doolittle) was awarded the Congressonal Medal of Honor for the daring bombing raid over Tokyo in 1942.
Doolittle a Great American and great Republican was promoted to full general and his 4th Star pinned in a White House ceremony by President Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater later in the General's life.
There you have it. When it comes to "principals" the Hollywod big mouths are all Phonies where the Big Bucks will take precedence over principle any day of the week. Sounds to me like Obama fits in very well with these types.
Posted by: Al MacLeod | Sep 17, 2008 6:35:28 PM
Hollywood elites live in a pretend world with more money than they know what to do with. They are surrounded by sycophants who tell them they can do no wrong, and they believe their own press that they are prettier, smarter and more deserving than the average American. They can afford to pay more taxes (and afford more accountants to shelter their income) so what does it matter if Obama raises taxes? What does the "average American" know anyway? Can't they see he really cares? Why can't these ignorant, working-class dummies understand that Obama, with his smooth talk and big smile, is the perfect man to save this country from all the evils of conservatives and Republicans?
Reality check. They love Obama because he's just like them ... all surface, no substance. They hate McCain because he represents gritty reality, true sacrifice, and a willingness to say what he believes rather than what others want to hear. They hate Palin because she's a "working-class mom" who has actually accomplished more in a short time in Alaska governance than Obama has accomplished in his entire career.
The McCain/Palin ticket points out the meaninglessness of their own contributions, but Obama justifies their existence. He makes them feel good about themselves, so they have to vote for him.
As for me, I won't vote for a socialist no matter what the color of his/her skin. I won't vote for someone with no relevant experience no matter how eloquent his/her speeches. I won't vote for someone who unashamedly uses the race and class envy cards, while at the same time claiming his opponents are divisive. I won't vote for someone who wants to tax this country to death.
Posted by: Colorado Conservative | Sep 17, 2008 6:32:50 PM
concerned Mom in Michigan,
I apologize. Your reasons were much more thought out than mine were. Although I think my reasons were also valid, I can see how your reasons reflect an emphasis on things that are much more important.
Todd
Posted by: Todd Gatts | Sep 17, 2008 6:07:28 PM
Todd--the reason I hate Palin is NOT her barbie doll persona. That's a swallow reason for hating or liking her. The reason I hate Sarah Palin is that she is totally unqualified to lead this country and I fear, yes really fear, for my children and grandchildren. My granddaughters will no longer have choice if Mccain/Palin wins. Secondly, Mccain's history is based on war...which American city do you propose should be taken out first by our enemies, once Mccain/Palin start their nuclear war? Palin has NO Foreign policy experience and we are supposed to trust her with our children? Men need to stop thinking with their "little heads" and start thinking about their wives, mothers, daughters, children. Yes, I hate Palin for the future she will deliver.
-concerned Mom in Michigan
Posted by: Intelligent voter | Sep 17, 2008 5:52:32 PM
I remembered Babs Streisand courageously honoring her promise to leave the U.S. if George Bush was elected in 2000.
Oh wait, she didn't move after all. She must have been on the same private jet that never left the runway as Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin
Posted by: beth | Sep 17, 2008 5:42:48 PM
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