"Los Angeles is shutting school libraries, And VIPs are paying $40,000 for a photo with a president" latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/…
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RedGlitter Ⓥ (@redglitterx) May 11, 2012ICYMI: RT @LANow: Steve Lopez: Clooney's Obama party full of 'Hollywood hypocrites' lat.ms/JkgIja—
Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 11, 2012
Cranky and spot on. “@kurtisalee: Steve Lopez: Clooney's #Obama party full of 'Hollywood hypocrites.' lat.ms/JhjmeP via @latimes”—
Tina Griego (@tinagriego) May 11, 2012
Lopez hits a nerve: Whether most Hollywood types do much to help the LA community. (And tipping a valet doesn't count.) latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/…—
Tom Petruno (@tpetruno) May 11, 2012
It’s not just the Obama/Clooney traffic that aggravated L.A. residents tonight. It was the hypocrisy, stupid.
If George Clooney and friends can raise $15 million for Obama why can't they raise that money for California who is deep in debt—
Wayne Dupree (@NewsNinja2012) May 10, 2012
As George Clooney Throws Obama A $40,000-A-Plate Party, Meet The Billionaires Opening Their Wallets -forbes is.gd/h9am3n #tcot #sgp—
czar (@Kristokoff) May 11, 2012
George Clooney's Hollywood fundraiser nets Obama $15 million. Nothing like discussing the needs of the 99% over a $40k dinner.—
Students for Mitch (@Students4Mitch) May 11, 2012
I wonder if there are any hypocrite 1% types at the $15 million Clooney money grab tonight? Why isn't #OWS there protesting?—
Dave in MD (@RSAmerica) May 10, 2012
This fundraising crap is so stupid. Obama will raise 15 million at Clooney's ? Money could be used better elsewhere.—
Sharon (@PSU_Md) May 11, 2012
From grizzled L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez, a big two thumbs down. Way down:
They say tonight’s soiree for President Obama at George Clooney’s house in Studio City is supposed to gross $15 million, and the operative word is “gross.”
Yeah, pardon me for being such a party pooper, but isn’t it a little offensive that 150 of L.A.’s high rollers would shell out $40,000 to kiss Clooney’s ring and get maybe 10 seconds of face time with Obama?
And what about the thousands of saps who pumped an average of $23 into Obama’s campaign coffers for the chance to be one of the two peons chosen to break bread with the VIPs?
I’d rather watch the Lakers game from a bar stool, which in fact is what I may do.
I haven’t seen Clooney’s guest list, but I’d bet $2 -– and not a penny more –- that his house will be full of that particularly unctuous strain of liberals who live for events like this that make them feel good about themselves but don’t really give a toss for their own community. Los Angeles could end up declaring bankruptcy and these posers will be telling friends about their big night at George’s house.
Fun fact: Fundraiser co-host Jeffrey Katzenberg is under investigation by the SEC, according to the Washington Free Beacon:
President Obama’s record $15 million fundraiser tonight at the home of actor George Clooney is being co-hosted by DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. In addition to being the largest single donor to the pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA at $2 million, Katzenberg’s company is currently under investigation by the SEC for allegedly bribing Chinese officials.
The SEC investigation comes just weeks after Katzenberg announced this February that DreamWorks had struck a $2 billion deal to open a studio in Shanghai under the Oriental Dreamworks brand. The China deal was inked in a ceremony that featured Katzenberg alongside Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who stopped off in Los Angeles in February on his way back to China after a series of high-level meetings at the White House, including meetings with Obama.
Mockery, as always, is the best medicine. Comedy writer Ben Hoffman (endorsed by our Red Eye fave Andy Levy) pretended to “live-tweet” the Obama/Clooney soiree:
For anyone else at Clooney/Obama dinner, Wi-Fi network is "Clooney02" – Password is "Ocean13" (Case sensitive)—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
Does security need to guard Obama from Will Smith, or the other way around? #HipHopHug #RealFriends—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
Obama stands up. Looks at Clooney. "George has more pull than John Travolta at a massage parlor." Bit racy for me, but crowd loves it.—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
Secret Service wants me to delete Obama's Travolta joke. Does anybody know how to delete a tweet?—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
Always heard rumors that Spielberg "smelled weird." Definitely not bad, but weird. Doesn't bother me, though. #HappyToBeHere—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
Secret Service says the Obama/Travolta tweet is still up. Thought I hit trash can button. Anybody out there who can help?—
Ben Hoffman (@BeniHoff) May 11, 2012
