Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Hollywood events could rake in $9M

By JEFFREY RESSNER - (Politico)

LOS ANGELES — Celebrities have taken a serious drubbing from Republicans this political season. But this week they will prove again that they’re good at raising gobs of money for Democrats.

Barack Obama has planned appearances at back-to-back Beverly Hills fundraisers Tuesday evening, with the events on track to raise more than $9 million combined, possibly breaking the single-day fundraising record.

Fundraising “records” are difficult to verify, given the nature of campaign bookkeeping, in which bills are recorded by date paid, not the date expenses were incurred. Much of the money raised at Tuesday’s twin events — a dinner reception at a historic estate, followed by a concert starring headliner Barbra Streisand — will go directly to the Democratic National Committee, while other dollars will be funneled into Obama’s own campaign coffers.

The first event will cost $28,500 per person for dinner at the Greystone Estate. Upwards of 250 high rollers — including some of the biggest executives in film, television and music — will munch gourmet chow and get to hang out with the candidate, enjoying a little face time and posing for personal pictures. A few spaces are left but the event is expected to sell out by Monday afternoon, possibly bringing in more than $8 million before expenses are subtracted.

For a second, soldout event Tuesday evening, the Obama caravan will travel just 2½ miles to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where a reception and concert will spotlight Streisand and several other performers. In addition to those attending the earlier dinner, who also get into the concert, about 500 others are set to attend just the musical affair, at $2,500 per ticket, meaning the show should rake in an additional $1.25 million.

A number of factors are responsible for the high turnout. Los Angeles has long been one of Obama’s most profitable fundraising stops, and Tuesday’s events carry the imprimaturs of Hollywood’s biggest players, from Streisand to co-hosts Steven Spielberg and his DreamWorks partners David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The events could mark Obama’s last stop in Los Angeles before the Nov. 4 election. However, it is expected that his wife Michelle will return shortly and that other surrogates, including Warren Buffett, will hold fundraisers on the candidate’s behalf.

Fear is also a great motivator. With the rapid rise of rival Sen. John McCain in the national polls over the past week and the hubbub surrounding his vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a renewed sense of urgency has gripped Democrats. Those in the entertainment business seem especially aware that a new leading lady mysteriously dropped into the final act of a thriller can dramatically alter the previously predictable storyline.

“People are really scared that McCain is gaining,” said a Hollywood politico involved with Tuesday’s fundraiser. “In my 20 years here, I have never seen folks write checks like this.”

Heh-Heh-Heh!!! …. Oh, sorry … So, in addition to Pam Amderson, another political Hollywood sage is heard from in the arts and crafts of “sucking”:

Lindsay Lohan: Sarah Palin Sucks!

Celebrities are continuing to speak out publicly over their disapproval of Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. You can tack on Lindsay Lohan and her gal pal DJ Samantha Ronson to that list now! The pair just published this same entry on their respective MySpace blogs:

“I really cannot bite my tongue anymore when it comes to Sarah Palin.

I couldn’t be more supportive of a woman in office, but let’s face it, it comes down to the person, and their beliefs, male or female.

Is it a sin to be gay? Should it be a sin to be straight? Or to use birth control? Or to have sex before marriage? Or even to have a child out of wedlock?

I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be… Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she’s FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land…. Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard. This really shows me her complete lack of real preparation to become the second most powerful person in this country.

Hmmmm-All of this gets me going-Fear, Anxiety, Concern, Disappointment, and Stress come into play…

Is our country so divided that the Republicans best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?

I know that the most important thing about this election is that people need to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their choice… I would have liked to have remained impartial, however I am afraid that the “lipstick on a pig” comments will overshadow the issues and the fact that I believe Barack Obama is the best choice, in this election, for president…

Palin’s desire to “save and convert the gays”-really??

According to this Associated Press story, the church of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is hosting a kind of conference devoted to the “conversion of Gays” — no kidding.

Here’s the AP text: ‘Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer. You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed since she was a child. Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.’

I feel it’s necessary for me to clarify that I am not against Sarah Palin as a mother or woman.

Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies… And its frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that.

Oh, and…Hint Hint Pali Pal- Don’t pose for anymore tabloid covers, you’re not a celebrity, you’re running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!

And in the words of Pamela Anderson, “She can suck it“.

Lindsay- “I have faith that this country will be all that it can be with the proper guidance. I really hope that all of you make your decisions based on the facts and what feels right to you in your heart-vote for Obama!”

Samantha- “I love this country- however i wasn’t born here and don’t have the right to vote- so i beg of you all to really do your research and be educated when you cast your vote this coming november…. and if you’re in doubt- vote for obama! Mainly because if she gets elected my green card probably won’t get renewed!!!”

xoxo
Lindsay and Samantha“

Me: Day-ummm, girlfriends … No, I mean that literally. Damn you … Go scrub your carpets and brush your teeth. Lilo, talk to me when you haven’t been checked into rehab half a dozen times in one year … and MAYBE I’ll think about thinking about listening to you bark.

Bumbling Idiot Chevy Chase Shitting His Pants

Me: Oh … the level of wisdom that seeps from the cracks and holes of Hollywood cannot be imitated …