CAUSE CÉLÈBRE: Ready to give Barack the part

[babylonsister]

For Obama supporters, this could be really good news. Some of these people have a lot of clout in CA.


CAUSE CÉLÈBRE: Ready to give Barack the part

From the beginning, Hollywood has loved Obama's story -- his "pitch" as they say -- but was wary of his real box office potential.

By Tina Daunt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 8, 2008


ON desks all over Hollywood, there's a note this morning waiting to be sent:

Memo to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: We think you're aces. Really. And we love your husband. But we're running off with Sen. Barack Obama. Hope you understand. It's all about being part of history. We'll do lunch after the inauguration.

Of course, in certain Westside mansions, loyalty to the Clintons runs deeper than any primary result. But in a town that for many months has been divided by head and heart, a lot of entertainment industry people who chose Clinton because she was the smart choice, the "inevitable" Democratic candidate, are going where their hearts have long wanted to take them -- to a place on the Obama bandwagon (and nobody wants to miss the last seat).

From the beginning, Hollywood has loved Obama's story -- his "pitch" as they say -- but were wary of his real box office potential. Iowa and now possibly New Hampshire have lifted that uncertainty. The only thing the town likes better than a great story is a winning one.

Phones started ringing even before the junior senator from Illinois had completed his Iowa victory speech, which hardened political pros compared to legendary addresses given by the Kennedys, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Ronald Reagan. West of La Cienega, the clips on cable news were the best audition tapes anybody had seen in a long time.

If Clinton loses in New Hampshire tonight, predicted longtime political operative turned Hollywood producer Brian Quintana, Hollywood "will defect to Barack in droves."

"It is not a question of loyalty; Barack is simply too close to making history for Hollywood not to be part of it," Quintana said. "For most of us, Hillary was our first choice, but she has come up short. Barack has become a movement."

David Geffen, an early Obama supporter who is looking even more prescient than usual, shared a celebratory call over the weekend with Kelly Meyer, wife of NBC-Universal chief Ron Meyer. Kelly stepped out as one of Hollywood's early fundraisers for Obama, even though many of her industry friends were going with Clinton. She said Geffen had given her sound advice: Follow your heart.

Now she's getting calls from Clinton supporters who want to join the Obama team.

"It's contagious," Meyer said. "People are invigorated."

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-et-cause8jan08,1,5061330.story?coll=la-politics-campaign

[AtomicKitten]

1. California is a work in progress.

The tidal wave should hit in 3, 2, 1.

[babylonsister]

2. This article encouraged me, especially

after hearing Matthews spouting off this a.m. about how beloved Bill is in CA. I remain hopeful!

[AtomicKitten]

3. there seems to be a lot of that hope going around

;)

[Yael]

4. K & R