Entertainment

Obama Brings In Record $15 Million at Hollywood Fundraiser Held at George Clooney’s Home

LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/AP) — In the wake of President Barack Obama’s gay marriage announcement, Hollywood was ready and willing to support the president’s re-election prospects. On Thursday night, George Clooney played the suave host, chef Wolfgang Puck whipped up something for dinner, and President Barack Obama and about 150 of his Hollywood set donors enjoyed a few laughs at Clooney’s good humored expense.

Obama told the crowd that his famed Hope poster from the 2008 was derived from a photograph of Obama sitting next to Clooney when Obama was a U.S. senator. Clooney had been in Washington advocating on behalf of Darfur.

Obama Raises $15 Million at Fundraiser Held at George Clooneys Home

President Barack Obama waves as he arrives at Los Angeles International Airport, Thursday, May 10, 2012, in Los Angeles. Obama is traveling to the West Coast for a series of campaign fundraisers. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

“This is the first time that George Clooney has ever been photo-shopped out of a picture,” Obama said. “Never happened before, never happen again.”

In fact, the artist who created the poster, Shepard Fairey, used another photograph of Obama but said he relied on the Obama-Clooney picture to avoid a copyright infringement case with The Associated Press. He pleaded guilty in February to criminal contempt for fabricating and destroying evidence.

In this crowd, Obama didn’t even need to mention gay marriage to get a vigorous applause. “Obviously,” the president said obliquely, “yesterday we made some news.”

The event, held under a stretched transparent tent outside Clooney’s sprawling tudor-styled canyon home, raised nearly $15 million, a record for a single fundraiser.

George Clooney and Barack Obama attend National Press Club

The guests paid $40,000 to attend, accounting for about $6 million of the evening‘s financial haul for Obama’s campaign and the Democratic Party. The remainder came from a raffle for small dollar donors. Two winners – both women – got to take part in the dinner and, even though Clooney was the host, they brought their husbands.

Puck’s dinner menu included an artichoke salad followed by roasted duckling “Peking style” with tiny buns, a duo of lamb and beef cheek with potatoes and Brussels sprouts, and sweet corn tortelloni.

“We raised a lot of money because people love George,” Obama said. “They like me; they love George.”

Then seriously, he added: “He seems to occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something truly important.”

Obama Raises $15 Million at Fundraiser Held at George Clooneys Home

For Obama, the A-list party was not only a financial hit, it gave the president the kind of Hollywood buzz a Republican seldom gets. But the glitzy event, with its glamour and wealth, also has its risks and it set up a stark contrast with Obama’s mission on Friday to highlight the plight of struggling homeowners in Nevada.

Among those at the dinner were such actors and performers as Robert Downey Jr., Barbra Streisand and her husband James Brolin, Jack Black, Salma Hayek and Tobey Maguire, who shared a table with Clooney and Clooney’s girlfriend Stacey Kiebler.

Heading to Clooney’s house, along the exclusive canyon roads, families gathered at dinner time to gawk, wave and cheer the presidential motorcade. Children manned a lemonade stand with a sign: “Presidents drink free.”

Around the corner, a boy held up another hand-drawn piece of cardboard: “Will trade Lakers for Bulls if you stop.”

And yet one more: “Our gay family says thanks Mr. President.”

Comments (151)

  • sWampy
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:58am

    They make a really ugly couple.

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:32am

      McCarthy new what he was doing.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:37am

      To attend this event you had to be rich, clueless AND stupid. The trifecta of hollywood…

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:38am

      I‘m sure George puckered up to kiss Oblamus’ ass all night. Look for C-looney to be czar of something real soon.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • doomytram
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:47am

      Oblamer has an Oscar, two time man of the year awards, two Tony’s, two Grammy’s and a Nobel Prize.
      Clooney has an Oscar, two Sexiest man alive awards, and 5 Golden Globes.

      What a snob Oblamer is….LOL

      Report Post » doomytram  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:10am

      I read a Hollywood rag that said Clooney was bi. Granted the source is a rag. But then Clooney is not married. Maybe it means nothing. Maybe Clooney is all that & a bag of chips, which means that there is not a woman that is good enough for him. Other than good looking ( a fact) & a passable actor what good is George Clooney?

      Certainly Clooney’s support for Obama does America little good.
      Well he speaks out for the oppressed. But wouldn’t anyone with that much time & money? More people would speak out against oppression in Africa, but the reason they don’t is because they would be pi$$ing the wind. So does Clooney’s activism matter? We fed starving people in Somalia.
      We ended up with dead Americans & a bad rep. Never mind that a whole clan was holding food aid hostage for leverage over other clans/tribes, America has the bad rap/rep form Somalia & any leftist will tell you so. So why do want to go into Darfur? So we can rinse & repeat? What good is Clooney’s activism?

      I can’t think of anything good about Clooney. He may be well meaning but he is dangerous. Well I can boycott his stuff. It might be one small cut, but it is legal.

      Report Post »  
    • H Beale
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:21am

      Well, there’s another actor that I intend to boycott. I’m so sick of these elitist snobs and their whollyweird whores.

      Report Post » H Beale  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:26am

      Why are they stumping for money after all they beleive Capitalism doesn‘t work so money shouldn’t even be a issue right ? Unless capitalism does work and they need money to further their interest simply they are hypocrites.

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:32am

      Let me see – 6 million divided by $40,000 = a bunch of favors owed sometime in the next 4 years if Obama wins. If Obama loses – no big deal. These guys light their cigars with $100.00 bills. Clooney wasn’t kissing up to Obama – those are brown racing stripes on each side of his nose. Thats what happens when you do a full face plant on his booty.

      Report Post »  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:35am

      The second picture says it all. Now I know why Owebama is all for gay marriage, Looks like the mulatto wants a little more cream. Curious George has a whole new meaning now too.

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:50am

      Around the corner, a boy held up another hand-drawn piece of cardboard: “Will trade Lakers for Bulls if you stop.”

      And yet one more: “Our gay family says thanks Mr. President.”

      Seriously… So the adopted parents made a kid hold this sign up? CPS should be called. AMERICA WAKE THE F”K UP!!!

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • candcantiques
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:59am

      Robert Downey Jr., Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Jack Black, Salma Hayek, Tobey Maguire, George Clooney and Clooney’s girlfriend Stacey Kiebler are all TRAITORS to the Constitution of the United States. .

      Report Post »  
    • ambrosia
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 11:18am

      Wonder if “Curious George” spent time serenading
      “George-of-the-Jungle” Clooney
      with his Al Green rendition of “I…I’m still in love with you…..” ?

      THEY deserve each other…….sadly, America DESERVES better !

      Report Post »  
    • DownWithDems
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 11:19am

      Republicans – Conservatives – Independents – Ron Paul Supporters – Blue Dog Democrats

      It is time for all of us to put aside our differences and come together.
      We must all vote in Nov 2012 to REMOVE OBAMA.

      To those who are not Romney Fans, He is our only hope to defeat Obama.
      We must all come out to vote for him. We must all support him.

      Obama must be defeated. Romney needs the support of all of us.
      Division among us will insure 4 more years of Obama.
      We cannot allow that to happen. We must DEFEAT OBAMA.

      Report Post »  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:32pm

      That was all stimulus money being filtered through Hollywood…..those ******** never actual pay for anything.

      Report Post »  
    • CaptainConservative360
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 12:02pm

      I don’t get Robert Downey Jr. being there! I thought he was a conservative, he said he was! Why Robert, WHY WHY WHY!!!!!!

      Report Post » CaptainConservative360  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:57am

    Wow, they’re actually reading every single comment…slowly…before they post them now. Impossible to have any type of ongoing conversation.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
  • chnswstr
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:57am

    Of course the Hollywood bunch loves him! They all live in the fantasy that has been scripted for them, read cue-cards to keep their fiction alive and know how to play to the crowds and cameras.

    The Big O already got his Oscar (Nobel Peace Prize) 2 weeks into his Presidency. We all need to go back to the ticket office this November and demand a refund.

    Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:15am

      Obama talks incessantly about the elitest 1% then he panders to them for campaign funds. You talk about duplicity, Obama is the ultimate example of a two faced liar.

      That these Hollywood clowns would pay $40,000 per person to gain entry to this event just shows the level of disdain they have for the American system which allowed them to become the millionaires and billionaires they are.

      It is totally beyond me how anyone from Ted Turner, who started from a broken down Atlanta UHF TV station, by using the capitalist system in America, parlaying it into becoming a billionaire or to any of the other of these elitests who started with nothing and built incredible fortunes, would support a “ Manchurian Candidate” whose whole intent is to destroy the very system that gave them what they have.

      Report Post »  
  • Noonien_Soong
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:55am

    In Political Alchemist terms this was equal distribution of capital. Obama got what he wanted, money for near nothing and his rent for free, George got what he wanted, adulation and notoriety from his peers. Both used and played each other almost equally.
    If I were a whisperer I would whisper to both “Fools and their Money”

    Report Post » Noonien_Soong  
    • OKLAPatriot
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:43am

      I like that comment “Money ain‘t for nothin’ and the (chicks) checks are free” That‘s Obummer’s motto. He should have learned to play them drums on MTV.

      Report Post » OKLAPatriot  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:33pm

      How many attendents owe back taxes ?

      Report Post »  
    • joyscar
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 3:36am

      There isn’t anything wrong with these fund-raisers. Mitty has $50k per plate fundraisers and I don’t see you right-wingnuts freak out!! You don’t like the Hollywood wealthy but you love Wallstreet wealthy? You all support these big corporations funding super pacs, some of them hiding behind the phony “non-profits“ to slander in the name of ”social issues.” I hope the IRS outs these huge corporations so that the part of the country that cares about this kind of fraud can stop buying their goods and/or services.
      Does all this money raised for Obama make you worry about Mitty’s chances? All the money in the world can’t save Mitty from himself! He’s the biggest flip-flopper and liar that I’ve seen in the repube party! McCain had a better chance to win. Mitt has no idea what he’s doing. Y‘all better get him and rewind him before he starts yammering about tree height and which he cookies he doesn’t like. And tell him to quit taking credit for crap he didn’t do. Tell him to just put out his tax returns too..what is he hiding now besides the fact that he pays less taxes than the rest of us?
      Obama is genuine and has a god-given talent to connect with people. Mitty doens’t like people. Obama is keenly articulate and will embarrass Mittens. Mitty doesn‘t have a range of emotions and he’s really insecure and nervous around common folk. Obama is globally respected by other leaders and got us out of W’s fake ass war that injured, mamed and sacrificed ou

      Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:53am

    Well, I guess this kind of crap shows where liberals allegiance rest. Pacify the queers and screw the middle class that needs jobs. This is their big deal? This is the important stuff, what a joke.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • atabrigade
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:52am

    What else can be expected of people who pretend for a living? Barry is just like these transparent fecal puppets. They need a script to know what to say and get paid very well to be everyone but themselves. Boycott everyone who was there.

    Report Post » atabrigade  
  • EP46
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:51am

    It was reported that the gay community was bombarding obama with threats of withholding money unless he came out in favor of gay marriage. He knew his trip to Hollywood would be a ‘beat up’ on him if he did not give them what they wanted. It was reported that he received one million $$ in donations as soon as the interview was announced..but before it was shown. So, he gave them part of what they wanted, then Hollywood/Sodom and Gomorrah turned over all the BIG money to him. He has many campaign appearances planned in the next few months with gay/lesbian groups….it’s all about the money. It must be sad to be so worthless as a human being.

    Report Post »  
  • Want our country back
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:49am

    stretched transparent tent – The word transparent has a different meaning under this administration….. does it now mean that you couldn’t see anybody inside while they were eating their food stamp meal consisting of an artichoke salad followed by roasted duckling “Peking style” with tiny buns, a duo of lamb and beef cheek with potatoes and Brussels sprouts, and sweet corn tortelloni and of course from the humble soup kitchen of wolfgang puck.

    Report Post » Want our country back  
    • joyscar
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 3:42am

      Wow…you know a lot about fine food that Obama may eat…how school girl silly is that?
      Stop it. You know everything that Obama is doing because your asses are complaining!! I think that’s as transparent as it should be. Mitt just has to open his dumb, lying mouth to know what his thought or lie of the day is! Good luck with getting that man elected.
      My prediction is:::;;;;;;;he won’t.

      Report Post »  
  • Susie
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:49am

    More and more I buy less and less of anything Hollywood is selling.

    Report Post »  
  • crazyoz
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:47am

    Someone please submit a list of hollywood dirt bags that attended the tax payer Obamas trip to Clooneys fund raiser so we can Boycot their films.

    Report Post »  
    • KURT1010
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:56am

      Ditto…how much did this cost the taxpayers ? Also, I really dont care about hollywood and what they do ….and this make the news….names of those attending needs to be made avaliable to the public.

      Report Post » KURT1010  
    • 50211bs
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:57am

      Wasn’t it the OWS crowd that was in attendance?

      Report Post »  
    • No Mo Fascists
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:28am

      It’s time to boycott everything coming out of Hollywood. Hollywood is ruining our culture and the Dems are ruining our Government and Economy. Why would I give them 1 thin dime.

      Report Post »  
  • dianna9490
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:47am

    Please all you actors and actresses keep donating your money to Obamascammer! He is making such a fool out of all of you! I have a list of actors and actresses that I REFUSE TO WATCH ANYTHING WITH THEM IN IT – I HAVE JUST ADDED CLOONEY AND CHER TO IT HERE LATELY! When your shows are not being watched and you wonder why – WELL HELLO – and then you will be taxed 75% by obamascammer – JUST REMEMBERED YOU WERE AN IDIOT AND YOU WERE SCAMMED – I think its funny that he is making such IDIOTS OUT OF YOU JUST FOR YOUR MONEY!

    Report Post »  
  • Homestead1717
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:46am

    FLASH:
    “OBAMA TAKES BUTTLOAD OF CASH FROM HOLLYWOOD ONE DAY AFTER GAY EVOLUTION COMPLETE!!!”.

    pun intended

    Report Post »  
  • felix
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:46am

    was it joe mccarthy who said hollywood was full of communists, this sure is a flock of em !

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:54am

      Yes it was, he is demonized to this day…for being 100% correct.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • disenlightened
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:48am

      and Joe was right…a real hero who took a beating and didn’t back down.

      Report Post » disenlightened  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:46am

    Political expendency; the gay movement of Hollywood bribe Obama to make a stance so both can push their perverted reality onto all of America weather we wish it or not.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • RIGHTHOOK
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:13am

      Yup and the extreme (left) Obama is showing up more and more every day. He and his crew detest the wealthy and want to tax the wealthy (Geo. Clooney and Beverly Hills/Bel Air friends) however Obama sure does not mind taking their money for self serving purposes. And they are foolish enough to part with it. Idiots!

      Report Post » RIGHTHOOK  
  • BreeZee
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:44am

    So to sum it up, every ticket you pay for at a theater goes to support obumma and the left in one form or another. Just like buying GE or a GM products goes to obumma and the left. I try to avoid all these companies as much as possible.

    Report Post »  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:00am

      BOYCOTT, everyone!

      No movies. No videos. No soundtracks.

      N-A-D-A!

      Here’s our “BLOCK PARTY”, you arrogant communist twits! NO MORE hollywood.

      Eventually, hollywood “useful idiots”, all of you will run out of money and places to hide. You’ve been set up, co-opted and used for forty years or more, and you were too full of yourselves to see it. Still are for that matter. We aren’t.

      NEWS FLASH: REAL, LIVE AMERICA is filled up with your deceit. We are vomiting you out of our lives, cleaning house and setting things right. you are among the first to go. Next are members of congress, both parties…. bp, and all like them. DONE!

      Report Post »  
  • honzie
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:37am

    $15 Million could feed a lot of people, buy lots of birth control and all the other freebies the left wants to use to buy votes. They prefer making everyone else pay for there dependent society.

    Report Post »  
  • BashfulBob
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:36am

    George was married once!! wonder If he will now do It again?

    Report Post »  
  • KingCanon
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:34am

    What Deception!
    What a Great Deceiver!
    Enough said!

    Report Post » KingCanon  
  • Blazebanned
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:34am

    The 99 percenters will be proud……….If you look at the bottom picture, it looks as if odumbass is coming on to looney clooney,which doesnt supprise me…….

    Report Post »  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:26am

    Obama will get his money from stars in california, romney will get his money from big bankers in new york. The rest of us are screwed

    Report Post » soybomb315  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:35am

      If Romney is “still deciding” on immigration…the GOP needs another candidate
      http://www.examiner.com/article/if-romney-is-still-deciding-on-immigration-we-need-another-candidate?CID=examiner_alerts_article

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • Want our country back
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:41am

      Is saving the Republic worth a $1.00 investment? Hollywood’s George Clooney suckupfest fundraiser for obama brought in 15 million dollars. If we all sent Mitt Romney $1.00 (15 million of us) to offset Hollywood it would tell them that we support our candidate. If we gave up one cup of coffee (McDonalds coffee for $1) we could do this.… last time around there were millions in donations coming from undisclosed sources for obama’s election and look what happened. Those of us that are not sold on Mitt Romney need to reconsider what 2013 will look like. If you are discouraged with the state of the country today, we ain’t seen nothing yet……
      When you vote think: President Romney or the alternative.
      Hollywood is rich because of us, they can afford to give millions but the regular Joes, the American People, We the People could make a more powerful statement with, one person, one dollar.
      If you agree, send your $1 to Mitt or a superpac or wherever you feel your dollar will make a difference, just do it.
      Any suggestions how we (you and me) can reach millions of people in a hurry?

      Report Post » Want our country back  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:24am

      @want

      If you supported a candidate that cut current spending levels, stopped the endless and pointless wars, and vowed to return the freedoms American citizens have lost over the past 3 decades then yes I would do this. Sadly you have chosen a candidate that isnt much different than Obama.

      Romney “At least he isn’t a Communist” just isnt a good campaign slogan.

      This election can be won, but money isnt going to fix it. You need to have a real game changing idea, not the same old R vs D crap. Obama is supposedly going to have 1 billion. Mitt out spent the other GOP candidates 10 to 1. Verse Obama he will have to run on his record, which is a bad one and not much better than Obama’s.

      Ron Paul 2012
      http://www.fox19.com/story/18305604/reality-check-why-all-rnc-delegates-are-free-agents-and-unbound#.T6yV6OCBWuQ.facebook

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:14am

      Stuck_in_CA

      If Romney is “still deciding” on immigration…the GOP needs another candidate
      ***

      I could go for Amnesty II, but only if a wall was built & sufficient agents hired to control the border.

      An agreement for Amnesty & to build the rest of the border fence/wall is a non starter. The ink will dry, the amnesty part would happen immediately & the wall would be defunded.

      Fool me once shame on you; Fool me twice shame on me. Well the Democrats fooled Reagan & the public once. That is why it is so hard to get comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats are scheisters.

      Report Post »  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:26am

    Remember….these are Democrats. That means a significant portion of this money will secretly wind up in certain people’s pockets and never, ever make it into the campaign. Another significant portion will go to all kinds of dubious and wasteful things, like walking around money, union labor, clothing, expensive haircuts and outrageous dinner bills. They’re Democrats – they spend other people‘s money so they don’t care how much is wasted.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
  • AR485
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:26am

    So much for hating the rich. Were any of his occupy friends invited?

    Report Post »  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:26am

    dictators love to laugh it up with the hollywood types. obama and the rest are enemies of our nation. he needs to be removed from office before it’s too late. nancy peelosi says her catholic faith compels her to support gay marriage, she is a liar and a hypocrite and so is biden. aborition and now pills filled with baby flesh from china. who doesn’t think we will all soon receive GODS RATH? maybe GOD is punishing us with Obama and his administration. this world is getting more and more evil.

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:34am

      Then presidential candidate comes along who wants the government to do ONLY follow what is authorized in the constitution and the republican party rejects his message.

      Where do we go from here?

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • 50Caliber
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:18am

    Is it coincidental that Clooney had this big event right after Obama announced he was for Gay marraiges? Not that there is anything wrong with that.

    Report Post » 50Caliber  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:27am

      maybe clooney is gay?

      Report Post »  
    • 50Caliber
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:41am

      Hmmmmmmm…..Rock Hudson

      Report Post » 50Caliber  
    • HowardSternIsABigot
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:49am

      I believe Clooney has a gay or transgendered son/dughter. Imagine that.

      Report Post »  
    • TheEDGE
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 4:10pm

      You know what Travolta was saying is true. Clooney is Hollyweird’s golden boy, and is given so many parts, because he gets down on his knees. Betcha‘ he’s the sickest one of ‘em all.

      Report Post » TheEDGE  
  • staggerlee32
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:13am

    I was just flipping through the channels last night and said to my wife that I can hardly watch anything anymore because these people open their mouths and speak their minds on their political views and they make me sick. I can‘t watch most of them anymore because I can’t see them as anything but a USA hating commie.

    Report Post » staggerlee32  

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