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steve2470

(37,457 posts)
Fri May 11, 2012, 02:23 AM May 2012

Los Angeles event brings in nearly $15 million for Obama campaign

Source: Los Angeles Times

In an exclusive backyard soiree at George Clooney's house in Studio City, President Obama headlined a star-studded fundraiser Thursday night that pumped nearly $15 million into his reelection effort, believed to be the largest one-night campaign haul ever.

The dinner party took place one day after Obama announced his support for gay marriage, a popular issue with the Hollywood crowd and one that he highlighted.

"Obviously yesterday we made some news," Obama said to applause. "But the truth is it was a logical extension of what America is supposed to be. It grew directly out of this difference in visions. Are we a country that includes everybody and gives everybody a shot and treats everybody fairly and is that going to make us stronger? Are we welcoming to immigrants? Are we welcoming to people who aren't like us — does that make us stronger? I believe it does. So that's what's at stake."

The gathering took place under a tent on the basketball court in Clooney's backyard, and was hosted by DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg. About 150 people paid $40,000 each to attend, and gathered around circular tables decorated with gold tablecloths and yellow and purple flowers.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0511-obama-clooney-20120511,0,6723641.story

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MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
1. 150 x 40,000 = 6,000,000
Fri May 11, 2012, 02:33 AM
May 2012

Where did the other nine million come from? Do they have auctions and shit like charity fundraisers? A 50/50? Raffles?

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
2. here's the rest of it:
Fri May 11, 2012, 02:34 AM
May 2012

" But not all the attendees were bold-faced names. The Obama campaign held a contest for supporters across the nation, asking for donations of as little as $3 for a chance to win airfare to Los Angeles and a spot at the dinner.

The contest proved wildly successful — tens of thousands of people contributed an average of $23, with their donations making up two-thirds of the $15-million haul. The winners were Beth Topinka, a science teacher from Manalapan, N.J., and Karen Blutcher, a utility company worker from St. Augustine, Fla. Both women brought their husbands. "

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
14. If I had a chance to have dinner with George Clooney...
Fri May 11, 2012, 10:58 AM
May 2012

I would be leaving all signficant others at home!

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
4. I saw that amount estimated BEFORE The VP and the President spoke out on marriage equality
Fri May 11, 2012, 03:15 AM
May 2012

Despite the suggestions that the President's statement was cynically timed to raise more money at this event, I'd seen earlier estimates that it was expected to raise $15-16 million.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
5. Yes. The money was collected in advance, before the announcement was made.
Fri May 11, 2012, 06:21 AM
May 2012

The same thing in Seattle. It didn't increase the take from the events here, because that had already been collected in advance. But it did make for an extremely enthusiastic crowd!

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
6. Their 'take' includes the tickets bought in advance PLUS checks written at the event
Fri May 11, 2012, 06:51 AM
May 2012

Those big on-the-spot donations are what really increase the total. Here, the fact that the actual total is just what was predicted before the President's marriage equality statement pretty much shoots down any notion that he made the statement largely to rake in more campaign cash from Hollywood (as some had alleged).

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
7. I didn't see anyone writing checks at the lunch I went to, and there was no announcement
Fri May 11, 2012, 06:58 AM
May 2012

about how, when, or where to do such a thing. You'd think if they wanted to collect checks then and there, they might have mentioned it.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
8. It's normal at a big fundraiser
Fri May 11, 2012, 07:09 AM
May 2012

I don't know why it wasn't obvious at your event. But if you look at the Clooney event, you'll see that the ticket price times number of attendees is far short of what actually was raised.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
9. Many people who are invited to attend an event send a check
Fri May 11, 2012, 07:35 AM
May 2012

even if they can't go. That explains why much more money can be raised than the number of seats sold, even without any attempt to collect extra checks during an event.

But there was an additional money-maker for the Clooney dinner. Two-thirds of the money raised came from a contest to attend the dinner:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=118802

(So Hollywood, excluding the contest, raised about $5 million; and Seattle, about $3 million. Good job, Seattle!)

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
11. I think that contest was a tremendous idea. If I'd known about it, I'd have entered it!
Fri May 11, 2012, 07:43 AM
May 2012

But the event in Seattle was a lot of fun, too. I was hoarse after a while, from all the cheering.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
12. I'm glad you had fun!
Fri May 11, 2012, 07:48 AM
May 2012

After a Kerry event in Ohio in '04 my voice was reduced to a pathetic croak for about four weeks. But I never regretted it for a moment.

Tarheel_Dem

(31,212 posts)
15. "That crowd was psyched!"
Fri May 11, 2012, 12:10 PM
May 2012

Which is why the president's critics are in overdrive today. Count me among the "psyched"!

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