Research Briefing

As Americans Continue To Deal With The Effects Of Obamanomics, Obama Connects With His Celebrity Friends

“Meanwhile, Obama Will Make A West Coast Campaign Swing In The Early Part Of The Week And Will Be On ‘The Tonight Show’ Tuesday Evening.” (Emily Goodin, “The Week Ahead: President Obama’s West Coast Swing,” The Hill, 10/24/11)

OBAMA’S TAXPAYER FUNDED WEST COAST SWING IS MARKED BY FUNDRAISERS WITH HOLLYWOOD’S ELITE

Obama Returned To California, The Home Of His Biggest Number Of Bundlers, For “High End Fund-Raisers Hosted By Hollywood Stars.” “President Obama returns to Los Angeles on Monday for high end fund-raisers hosted by Hollywood stars. California is home to the biggest number--87-- of Obama's top fund-raisers or ‘bundlers,’ people who use their own personal and professional networks to raise money. New York is second at 49.”(Lynn Sweet, “Obama In Los Angeles: California Top Big Money State,” Chicago Sun-Times, 10/24/11)

Obama’s Los Angeles Fundraisers Are “Chock-Full Of Big Southern California Names.” “President Barack Obama makes another swing through California this week, starting with a fundraiser tonight in Los Angeles and a sit-down with Jay Leno. The commander in chief's evening, in fact, will be chock-full of big Southern California names.” (Micaela Massimino, “AM Alert: Obama Hits California A TM, Sits Down With Jay Leno,” The Sacramento Bee, 10/24/11)

First, Obama Dropped By A Fundraiser Hosted By Will And Jada Pinkett Smith

"’Hitch’ Producer James Lassiter, Will And Jada Pinkett Smith And Def Jam's Jay Brown Are Among Those Who Will Host The $35,800-Per-Person Dinner Oct. 24.”(Tina Daunt, “Obama Adds Second Event To Los Angeles Fund-Raising Trip,” Hollywood Reporter, 10/13/11)

• Obama’s Guests Include Lady Gaga’s Manager Troy Carter, Roc Nation President Jay Brown, And His Wife, Kawanna, Head Of Magic Johnson Enterprises. “Along with the Lassiter, other hosts of the high-dollar dinner include Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith; Troy Carter (Lady Gaga's manager) and his wife, Rebecca; and Roc Nation president Jay Brown and his wife, Kawanna, head of Magic Johnson Enterprises.” (Tina Daunt, “Obama Adds Second Event To Los Angeles Fund-Raising Trip,” Hollywood Reporter, 10/13/11)

Followed By A Money Stop At The Home Of Melanie Griffith And Antonio Banderas

Obama Fundraiser Hosted By Hollywood Stars Eva Longoria, Melanie Griffith And Antonio Banderas. “On Oct. 24, Obama will attend a fundraiser in Los Angeles co-hosted by ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria at the home of Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, according to a report this week in The Hollywood Reporter.” (Sam Youngman, “$70M More For Obama Cash Stash,” The Hill, 10/13/11)

Obama’s “First Official Latino Fundraiser” Has A Distinct “Showbiz Flair.” “In what his reelection campaign says is the first official Latino fundraiser for Obama's candidacy, the President is scheduled to be at an event Oct. 24 hosted by Eva Longoria and a team that includes TV personality Giselle Fernandez, Puerto Rican attorney Andres W. Lopez, Texas designer and architect Henry R. Munoz and Illinois attorney Manuel ‘Manny’ Sanchez. With tickets starting at $5,000 per person, according to the invite, the event is aimed at supporters nationwide, but it undoubtedly will have a showbiz flair: It's at the Hancock Park-area home of Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas.” (Ted Johnson, “Obama Courts Latino Hollywood,” Variety Weekly, 10/22/11)  

Obama’s Hollywood Fundraiser Sold Out With Tickets Priced At Up To $35,800 Each. “Air Force One is scheduled to land at LAX at 4:50 p.m., after which Obama will be whisked to the home of Hollywood notables Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. There, ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria is co-hosting a Latino gala fundraiser for Obama and the Democratic National Committee. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro are among those expected to attend. Tickets range from $5,000 to $35,800. Even if you can afford it, you're out of luck.” (Micaela Massimino, “AM Alert: Obama Hits California A TM, Sits Down With Jay Leno,” The Sacramento Bee, 10/24/11)

And Obama Concludes His Celebrity Campaign Tour With An Appearance On The Tonight Show Confronting A Recent Critic

Obama Is Making His Fourth Appearance On ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.’” “President Barack Obama will be visiting ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ on Tuesday, October 25, marking his fourth appearance on the show, his second since taking the office of President of the United States.” (“President Barack Obama Is Set To Make His Fourth Appearance On NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ Tuesday.” NBC News, 10/20/11)

Jay Leno: “Having To Make A Decision Is President Obama's Worst Nightmare.” “And the biting humor repertoire of late-night comics: ‘Donald Trump says he's President Obama's worst nightmare,’ Jay Leno said last night. ‘No. Having to make a decision is President Obama's worst nightmare.’” (Andrew Malcolm, “The Increasingly Odd Political Optics Of Barack Obama” Los Angeles Times’ “Top Of The Ticket” Blog, 4/26/11)

HOLLYWOOD STARS ARE “HARDLY ABSENT” FROM THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY

Celebrities Are “Hardly Absent” From The Obama White House. “At the same time, Hollywood stars are hardly absent from the White House or Obama events. Just on Friday, reporters were startled to see Will Ferrell — in town to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday at the Kennedy Center— amble into the briefing room, where he posed for photos behind the podium with White House press secretary Jay Carney. And in Los Angeles Monday, Will and Jada Smith, Eva Longoria, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas will be helping him bring in the bucks at two high-dollar fundraisers.” (Amie Parenes and Karin Tanabe, “The Not-So-Celebrity President,” Politico, 10/22/11)

More Than 150 Celebrities Have Visited The White House Since Obama Took Office. “A review by POLITICO of events including movie screenings, concerts, the annual Easter egg roll, state dinners and private visits shows that more than 150 celebrities — from Reese Witherspoon to Jon Bon Jovi — have visited the White House since Obama took office. Many are repeat visitors, including Longoria, Jay-Z and John Legend.” (Amie Parenes and Karin Tanabe, “The Not-So-Celebrity President,” Politico, 10/22/11)

Obama Has Entertained A “Parade Of Stars,” Sometimes Making His Staff Uncomfortable. “After Obama took office, a parade of stars — in town for business or pleasure — began turning up in the East and West Wings. The casual pictures Jay-Z and Beyonce snapped sitting in the Situation Room went viral — to the White House’s discomfort. Ben Stiller swung by for a tour, along with his wife and comedian Ricky Gervais. Forest Whitaker stopped by to meet Obama on ‘World Malaria Day’ and Jennifer Lopez and then-husband Marc Anthony spent a few moments in the Oval Office with the president.” (Amie Parenes and Karin Tanabe, “The Not-So-Celebrity President,” Politico, 10/22/11)

For Obama, The Entertainment Industry Is An Incessant Money Machine

“In A Sequel To President Obama's Celebrity-Laden 2008 Campaign, Many Of Hollywood's Biggest Stars Are On His Donor Rolls Again In 2012, According To The Latest FEC Records.” (Christina Wilkie, “Obama’s Early Donors: Hollywood Stars Contribute In Droves,” The Huffington Post, 8/5/11)

“President Barack Obama Will Be Coming To Town This Week For A Series Of Fundraising Events For The Second Time In Four Weeks.” (“President Obama To Tour L.A. For Fundraisers, ‘Leno,’” KTLA News, 10/24/11)

• As Recent As September 26, Obama Fundraised With His Entertainment Industry Supporters. “Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26 for a pair of events designed to attract entertainment industry supporters.” (Tina Daunt, “President Obama Sets Two Hollywood Fundraisers,” Hollywood Reporter, 8/30/11)

Obama Is No Stranger To Raising Money From Hollywood’s Elite Circles. “Since April, big-screen stars George Clooney, Will Ferrell and Tom Hanks have all contributed to Obama's re-election campaign, as have Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Michael Keaton and Eddie Murphy. Small screen stars also donated in droves, including talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, ‘30 Rock's’ Alec Baldwin, ‘Glee's’ Jane Lynch, ‘House’ star Jennifer Morrison, ‘Lost’ creator JJ Abrams, ‘Monk’ star Tony Shalhoub, Yeardley Smith (aka Lisa Simpson), ‘The Big C's’ Oliver Platt, ‘Frasier’ star David Hyde Pierce and former ‘ER’ star Anthony Edwards.” (Christina Wilkie, “Obama’s Early Donors: Hollywood Stars Contribute In Droves,” The Huffington Post, 8/5/11)

• “In Addition To The Actors, Movie Producers And Studio Executives Also Dot The Donor List, Like Brian Grazer, Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, Disney Chairman John Pepper And ‘Sex And The City’ Co-Creator Michael Patrick King.” (Christina Wilkie, “Obama’s Early Donors: Hollywood Stars Contribute In Droves,” The Huffington Post, 8/5/11)

“And While It May Come As Little Surprise That Hollywood's Elites Are Backing A Democratic Candidate, The Sheer Number Of Headlining Stars Who Have Donated To A Candidate This Early On In A Presidential Campaign Is Unprecedented.” (Christina Wilkie, “Obama’s Early Donors: Hollywood Stars Contribute In Droves,” The Huffington Post, 8/5/11)

Obama Sees Hollywood Elite So Often, He’s Come To Think Of Them As “Ordinary Folks”

When Obama Fundraised With The Rich And Famous Last Month, He Spoke To Them As If They Were “Ordinary Folks” Effected By The Economic Downturn. “Despite the well-heeled nature of the audience, Obama suggested at one point that the group was intimately familiar with the devastation caused by the economic downturn. ‘A lot of people in this room have seen directly the damage that’s been done by this recession,’ the president said. ‘Ordinary folks have been hurting badly,’ he added later in his remarks, before commenting on the unemployment rate and other ‘hardship.’” (Josh Gerstein, “Obama: ‘A Battle For The Hearts And Minds,’” Politico, 9/19/11) 

• Among The Donors Were Celebs Jon Bon Jovi And Carmelo Anthony. “Donors at the event included the singer Jon Bon Jovi and Peter Orszag, vice chairman of global banking at Citigroup Inc. and Obama’s former director of the Office of Management and Budget, also attended the fundraiser. Professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks also attended the event, according to a Democratic official.” (Hans Nichols and Margaret Talev, “Obama Courts Wealthy New York Donors After Tax Boost Pitch,” Bloomberg, 9/19/11)