George at another Obama fundraiser in LA

George Clooney, Jim Belushi Join President Obama at Beverly Hills Fundraiser
By Joshua L. Weinstein at TheWrap Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:50am EST

President Obama spoke to a small group of supporters including George Clooney and Jim Belushi Wednesday night, telling them he understands that some of his backers are frustrated with the pace of progress.

He noted that the prison at Guantanemo Bay in Cuba is still open and that the war in Afghanistan continues.

"I understand" the frustration, he said. "I feel the same way sometimes."

The president spoke at the Beverly Hills home of Bradley and Colleen Bell. Bradley Bell is executive producer of the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful."

Obama attended two fundraisers at Bell's estate. About 1,000 people attended the first, which featured a concert by the Foo Fighters. Rashida Jones and Jack Black spoke at that event.

The second was a $38,500-per-person dinner for about 80. Clooney, Belushi, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant were among the guests at the smaller dinner.

Avant's father is Democratic activist and music executive Clarence Avant. Nicole Avant, an early supporter of the president, has been tasked with helping boost Obama's relationship with Hollywood.

Will Ferrell, billed as a co-host of the event, did not appear, but his wife, Viveca Paulin, was there.

Obama spoke in the Bells' dining room, where guests were seated at seven tables, each with centerpieces of pink orchids.

The president entered the room around 8 p.m. and left the house at 9:15 p.m. His motorcade arrived at the Beverly Hilton six minutes later.

Source


Obama, speaking at L.A. fundraiser, points to positive changes
By Kathleen Hennessey and Michael Finnegan Tribune Washington Bureau
First Posted: February 15, 2012 - 8:21 pm

LOS ANGELES — While acknowledging that “change is hard,” President Barack Obama touted the nation’s economic progress on his watch during a celebrity-studded fundraising stopover Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Addressing a crowd of about 1,000 at an outdoor reception, Obama needled Angelenos about the weather — “You’re all cold. This is balmy, people” — then talked about the change he promised in the 2008 campaign, and the depth of the nation’s economic troubles when he took office.

“We did not fully comprehend at that point how deep this crisis would be,” he said, then mentioned the increase in jobs in recent months. “Don’t underestimate the changes we made.”

He said the U.S. auto industry was saved, and asserted that “2.6 million young people have health coverage who wouldn’t otherwise have it” had it not been for the health care law that he championed.

Obama was expected to raise a total of more than $3 million during two events at the expansive Holmby Hills estate of “The Bold and the Beautiful” producer Bradley Bell and his wife, Colleen. The outdoor event, with tickets priced at $250 and $500, featured a performance by the Foo Fighters and appearances by comedian Jack Black and actress Rashida Jones.

Obama spoke later to a more intimate gathering inside the Bells’ Spanish-style home, which about 80 supporters each paid $35,800 to attend. Among those present were George Clooney, Jim Belushi and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who on Wednesday was named chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Obama offered a version of his standard campaign speech, touting the end of the Iraq war, job creation and the end of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, but acknowledged some supporters’ frustration with work left undone. “I understand that; I feel the same way sometimes,” he said, citing the ongoing war in Afghanistan and the continued detention of suspected “enemy combatants” at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

The president’s foray into Los Angeles came amid tension between him and some of his Hollywood supporters over anti-piracy legislation. The entertainment industry strongly backed the bills, but they were killed under pressure from Google and other Silicon Valley interests on Internet free-speech grounds. The White House angered some in Hollywood by publicly criticizing key aspects of the bills.

Previous visits by Obama have caused severe traffic jams across Los Angeles, prompting outrage from frustrated motorists. The Los Angeles Police Department urged drivers to avoid major Westside streets Wednesday night and Thursday morning, when Obama is scheduled to travel to a fundraiser at the Corona Del Mar home of real estate developer Jeff Stack and his wife, Nancy. He is then scheduled to travel to San Francisco and Seattle.

Earlier Wednesday, the president visited the Master Lock factory in Milwaukee, portraying the world’s largest padlock manufacturer as an optimistic tale about American manufacturing on the rebound.

Over the last two years, Master Lock has moved 100 jobs from China back to the Milwaukee plant, a mini-surge that Obama compared to the recovery of America’s troubled auto industry since an emergency government bailout in 2008 and 2009.

“What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries,” Obama told a crowd gathered on the factory floor. “Today you’re selling products directly to customers in China stamped with those words, ‘Made in America.’ ”

The president appealed to manufacturers to reverse outsourcing and find ways to create jobs back home. He makes his pitch as China’s expected future president, Xi Jinping, makes his own U.S. tour and faces questions about China’s role as America’s chief rival in the global economy.

U.S. industry doesn’t lack patriotism, Obama’s Republican critics argue. Business executives will add jobs when it’s in their economic interest to do so, said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio.

“The best thing the president can do to prevent outsourcing is pull back on the destructive policies — like his health care law and regulations — and threat of tax hikes that are making it harder for American businesses to hire workers here at home,” Buck said.

Source

thanks

Thanks Watching Informative and interesting too...

Haven't seen any pics yet of him going or leaving the event

I saw the tweets attached to this....didn't post because I wasn't sure they were true....thanks Watching!

Silly girl - I thought the same thing and that it was a rehash of the dinner from April last year in LA. So I did a bit of searching and confirmed it through the articles. Personally, I didn't even know Obama had planned to be in LA at this time.

Watching, I heard on the news that he was on the west coast from LA to Seattle doing some appearances. I'd guess that George was very interested in attending this. Great articles, thanks!

President Obama Attends Latest Hollywood Fundraisers: George Clooney, Jack Black

By NIKKI FINKE | Wednesday February 15, 2012 @ 8:00pm PST
Tags: Bradley Bell, Hollywood fundraiser, President Obama fundraiser

COMMENTS 28
Here’s the White House press corp pool reports just in about President Obama’s two fundraisers tonight at the same Holmby Hills estate of soap opera producer Bradley Bell and his wife. The first was an outdoor fundraising reception and Foo Fighters musical performance for 1,000 people with limited Gen44 tickets costing $250, and general admission tickets $500. Later was a fundraising dinner for just 80 people with tickets costing $35,800. Proceeds from both events will go to Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee:

UPDATE POOL REPORT #2: Just after 8 p.m., pool was led into the main Spanish style house of the Holmby Hills estate of “The Bold and the Beautiful” producer Bradley Bell and his wife, Colleen. In a dining room under a large gilded chandelier, George Clooney was standing amid 7 or 8 round dining tables, chatting with Valerie Jarrett and two others. Seated at one table was actor Jim Belushi, at another, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. A Democratic official said there were 80 guests in the room. At 8:05, Obama entered to applause. Clooney was a few steps away from the president when he entered. Behind Obama was a giant antique-looking gold-framed mirror. Obama recognized Villaraigosa and Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Fox. About a half dozen waiters dressed in black stood in the back of the room. The ceiling, with wooden beams, was similar to what you’d see in a California mission. Obama’s opening remarks were his standard campaign stump speech. He talked about ending the Iraq war, creating jobs, healthcare, talking to Marines at the gym where he worked out in Hawaii; them thanking him for ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, everyone playing by same set of rules. “The other side has a very different view about where they want to take this country,” where it’s ok if just a few do well, and those left behind, it’s their own fault, he said.

POOL REPORT #1: President Obama’s motorcade left the Beverly Hilton at 6:14 PM and drove to the Holmby Hills estate of The Bold and the Beautiful producer Bradley Bell and his wife Colleen. Wilshire, Santa Monica and Sunset Blvds were closed. From the press van, a dozen or so people along the route took pictures of the motorcade with their cellphones.

Upon arrival, pool was led up a driveway to a muddy footpath that ran along the side of a gigantic back yard full of hundreds of people. (A Democratic official told pool there were 1,000 guests.) A canopy of olive trees covered the footpath. Orange, pink and white floodlights illuminated trees all over the yard. A large brightly lit concert stage was set up on one end of the yard.The Democratic official told pool that prior to our arrival, the Foo Fighters had performed “Walk,” “Learn to Fly,” “My Hero” and a solo performance of “Everlong” by lead singer Dave Grohl, who accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. Pool also missed earlier remarks by comedian Jack Black and actress Rashida Jones, the Democratic official said. Pool was not close enough to the crowd to spot anyone recognizable.

On stage, Colleen Bell introduced Obama. Speaking of the president, she said, “He reminds us that change doesn’t come easy or fast.” At 6:30 PM, Obama walked on stage to applause. He was wearing a dark suit.

Obama’s remarks will be provided in full by the WH, but in the meantime, here are some highlights. He joked about the weather being relatively cold for Los Angeles. “You guys are not used to this kind of weather, are you,” he said. He added: “This is balmy, people.” He also said he loved the Foo Fighters. They were tired of winning so many awards, so they said, “Let’s do something else tonight,” Obama said. Obama also thanked Rashida Jones and Jack Black. He mentioned that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had been named Permanent Chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (The pool could not see Villaraigosa.) Obama also said that the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., was present. An interpreter was on stage was translating Obama’s remarks into sign language.

Obama talked about the change he promised in the 2008 campaign and the depth of the nation’s economic troubles when he took office. “We did not fully comprehend at that point how deep this crisis would be,” he said. He mentioned the increase in jobs in recent months. “Don’t underestimate the changes we made,” he said. Also: “Our auto industry is saved, and General Motors is the No. 1 auto maker in the world again.” He said 2.6 million young people have health coverage who wouldn’t otherwise have it, had it not been for the healthcare law passed on his watch. “There are people whose lives have been saved because of the work you did in 2008,” he said. And: “As tough as things are, the changes we’ve made are remarkable, and they’re making a difference in the lives of people every single day.”

Obama spoke for 20 minutes. When he finished, the crowd applauded, and pool was led past basketball courts, multiple fountains, the driveway where Obama’s black SUV was parked, past the giant Spanish-style main house, a jacuzzi and swimming pool to a holding area in a pool house.

On Thursday, President Obama will attend other fundraising events in California — Corona Del Mar, San Francisco, and then leave the state.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

and on that note.... my soap is about to come on ( deedle deedle dee) That's tip toeing btw

Why is he fundraising?

He is fundraising for his reelection in November....