Guests arrive at the Greystone mansion in in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill. Tuesday Sept. 16, 2008.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Barack Obama partied with Hollywood celebrities Tuesday night and with the help of Oscar-winning singer and actress Barbra Streisand raised an eye-popping $9 million for his presidential campaign and the Democratic Party.
The night was split into two glitzy events, a reception and dinner costing $28,500 each at the Greystone Mansion, followed by entertainment by Streisand at the nearby Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. About 250-300 people were expected at the dinner and about 800 at the entertainment, which cost $2,500 a ticket.
Dinner guests seen by reporters, or noted by waiters, included Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Lee Curtis and DreamWorks founders Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Obama spent more than an hour before dinner getting his picture taken with guests. He said later that people had encouraged him to be tougher and had questioned why he was so calm in a close race against Republican John McCain.
“I’m skinny but I’m tough,” he said. “I’m from Chicago and we don’t play. Just keep steady.”
“If we can cut through the nonsense and the lipstick and the pigs and the silliness, then I’m absolutely convinced that we are going to win,” Obama said, referring to some of the offbeat charges raised against him.
“The reason I’m calm … is I’ve got confidence in the American people,” he said. “I really think they want to see us do better.” Standing in the courtyard of the palatial estate, he said his campaign was dedicated to people who need jobs and health care and worry about their pensions and sending children to college.
“It’s about those who will never see the inside of a building like this,” Obama said.
He said the economic turmoil in recent days had been sobering for America. “It’s reminded people that this is not a game. This is not a reality show, no offense to any of you,” Obama said to laughter. “This is not a sitcom.”
It was a day of contrasts for Obama. Earlier in the day, the Democratic presidential candidate spoke about the public’s deepening economic anxieties and portrayed Republican challenger John McCain as out of touch with the needs of hardworking people.
Then he flew to California for a night of hobnobbing with Hollywood notables.
Wild Thing’s comment……….
LOL Well see Obama has got to pay for those styrofoam Greek columns.
It’s enough for 500 – 600 teleprompter systems. heh heh
McCain sings Streisand…this is hilarious!
From SNL a few years ago I’ve been told, but not positive on that.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4978339
loaded best with IE for me, still a little slow, so it’s not you if that happens
Jamie Lee Curtis was at the event? No, not Jamie Lee.
I wonder if Obama told how the peons in America cling to their guns and religion?
Will they still love him once he has become a Has Been??
Yep. That looks just like a ordinary working-class stiffs home, Any Town, USA.
Good point Tom, but I can’t figger out when obama was a ‘was’. I guess it’s like the definition of ‘is’
It is interesting to see Barack “Hustler” Obama go back to his arrogant and elitist ‘roots’ in Beverly Hills, California.
Obama is raising lot’s of money, spending a high percentage of that to raise more money, spending huge amounts of money running the campaign, and is siphoning off funds from the DNC. Fund raising genius? Maybe. Financial genius, efficient spender, and team player? NO!
Reid Asks For Cash; Obama Says No
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/16/reid-asks-for-cash-obama_n_126781.html
Obama’s August: $66 million; Update: Only $11 million gain in cash on hand?
Update: Byron York quotes the campaign as having $77 million cash on hand after August. That sounds impressive, but they had almost $66 million at the end of July. They had a burn rate of over 80%, which explains why the campaign may have seemed desperate to the New York Times. In order to make this decision work for Obama, they have to do better than $66 million a month if they want to cover the cost of fundraising as well as make up for the deficit between the DNC and the RNC.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/14/obamas-august-66-million/
Eden oh my gosh I LOVE it.
hahahaa
I use IE7 and it loaded great for me.
Thank you so much Eden.
BobF, hahhaa yess Jamie Lee.
“I wonder if Obama told how the peons in America cling to their guns and religion? ”
LOL If he does that again he darn well better whisper it.
Tom, I doubt it, a few might flip out if he does not win but many will just go on with their next appt. or lunch date. haha
Yatalli, haha yes, there are some gorgeous homes there but if they are democrats for Obama they might as well be living in the land of oz. haha
Mark, hahahaa what is is and was was…. hahaa
Les, hahahaha thanks for the links.
Isn’t that something Obama is sooo selfish he cannot give back to his own party when asked.
McCain and Plain have given back but no way for Obama the selfish me me me Obama jerk.