Gay Marriage - George Clooney Fundraiser In Los Angeles Nets $15 Million For Obama Campaign

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By PETER NICHOLAS AND ERICA ORDEN

LOS ANGELES Even seeing that this individual struggles for you to rekindle the actual enjoyment of their 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama showed Thursday he / she still has the actual loyalty of Hollywood's elite, getting virtually $15 trillion in a very fundraising meal on the home connected with acting professional George Clooney.

The event seemed to be your fusion involving glamour and political electricity since the president created true for his or her re-election for you to an market loaded with video clip executives, realtors as well as iconic entertainers. Barbra Streisand, having some sort of african american beret, sat at one of the 14 tables about Mr. Clooney's field hockey court, that has been tented for the occasion.

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President Barack Obama gets to Bob Hope Airport with Burbank, California, before attending some sort of fundraiser at George Clooney's home with Los Angeles.

Tobey Maguire associated with "Spider-Man'' fame was in the table with Mr. Clooney and also his girlfriend, Stacy Kiebler, in line with your media billiards report.

The president, which flew to Los Angeles from a pair of fundraising occurrences in Seattle, designed his / her Hollywood check out at an auspicious time: A day time before, he publically helped exact same intimacy marriage, on the delight of the many associates involving the particular amusement industry. Introducing that president, Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief accounting of Inc., drew regards when they made some sort of research to be able to Mr. Obama's help support regarding gay marriage .

"Yesterday, they have the right thing,'' said Mr. Katzenberg, exactly who assisted boost money to the event.

Mr. Obama created solely the barest discuss of the gay spousal relationship issue. He said "obviously yesterday we manufactured some news, women and men simple fact can be it was before a realistic extendable associated with exactly what America should be.''

Drawing some sort of form a contrast along with Republicans, they added, "It grew directly beyond this specific difference within visions: Are all of us a nation that includes everybody and gives anyone some sort of opportunity and goodies most people fairly, which is this planning to make individuals stronger?''

The fundraiser made far more money regarding Mr. Obama's marketing fund when compared with almost any he has used given that being a new presidential customer in 2007, in accordance with members of his fundraising team.

Most with the actual visitors paid $40,000 apiece with regard to seats for the dining during Mr. Clooney's household in Los Angeles. But this Obama strategy increased thousands additional internet by simply raffling out of two zero cost tickets into the dinner. The winners ended up Beth Topinka, a New Jersey knowledge teacher, as well as Karen Blutcher, a Florida tool provider employee. Both ladies sported their husbands. The a couple young couples sat toward this rear of that tent.

The affair from Mr. Clooney's Tudor-style home, nestled inside a wooded, hillside property, ended up being focused for the hockey court. Visitors journeying way up the winding generate for the residence seen one among Mr. Clooney's particular innovations to this property, indicative reading, "Pot-bellied pig Crossing," regarding their later pet, Max.

Under your canopy of whitened paper lanterns, guests involved stars Robert Downey Jr., Salma Hayek, and also Jack Black. They sat close to circular tables having centerpieces of glowing blue hydrangeas.

Mr. Obama circulated from the group, seated with all the conference tables to chew the fat together with guests, speaking about his or her babies and several of his / her most desired television shows, such as "The Wire," according for you to one particular attendee.

Guests said your tenor of the occurrence seemed to be joyful, in particular pursuing Mr. Obama's help support of homosexual spousal relationship with Wednesday. Optimism about the re-election effort, however, seemed to be kept with check.

"It weren't like several decades ago; this had not been the particular optimistic thing. It was far more realistic,'' said Rick Rosen, mind on the TV office at Hollywood expertise company William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, building a distinction between Mr. Obama's re-election advertising campaign and his bid because a candidate within 2008. "That seemed to be a bit little bit of super inside your bottle," he added.

Though the actual fund-raiser introduced accurate documentation payment to the president, it could actually receive a new political backlash. Mingling with well-to-do activity statistics plays proper Republican narrative that will Mr. Obama is herself a full-fledged star that's detached with the challenges regarding day-to-day voters.

Mr. Obama kidded Mr. Clooney in the evening, during one position exchanging jokes in regards to the ageing process.

"There seemed to be a article about, 'Look the way wrinkly Obama can be getting,''' he said. "It was almost distressing. George will not ought to endure these things.''

At that, this gray-haired Mr. Clooney said: "Look at me!''

"I like that inside you, brother,'' Mr. Obama said.