George Clooney hosted Obama fundraiser at his home. LA May 2012

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Clooney, Entertainment Industry VIPs Fête Obama at Record-Breaking Fundraiser

The president cracked Hope poster jokes on the actor's Studio City basketball court as guests ranging from Barbra Streisand to Robert Downey Jr. dined at $40k a seat.

Whether your notion of celebrity runs to politics, film or executive clout, there was glitter everywhere you looked Thursday night, as George Clooney opened his hillside home to a record-shattering fundraising dinner for his old friend, President Barack Obama, who made his first visit to the Valley since taking the oath of office.

DreamWorks Animation chief and mega-Democratic donor Jeffrey Katzenberg was the co-host and Wolfgang Puck was the chef, as 150 Democratic donors made their way up carefully guarded streets to Clooney’s home near Studio City’s Wilacre Park, just off Laurel Canyon Blvd. Some of the celebrities in attendance included Robert Downey, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Tobey Maguire, Eddie Murphy, Jack Black, Billy Crystal and Salma Hayek.

Obama addressed the crowd shortly after 7 p.m.. He thanked Katzenberg for putting the event together and Clooney for hosting it at his house, according to a pool report. The president noted that he spotted a “Hope” poster, by Shepard Fairey, hanging in Clooney’s house.
“People don't realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George” at an event when Clooney was advocating on behalf of Darfur, the president told the crowd. “We struck up a friendship,” he added, and then he joked, to much laughter: “This is the first time that George Clooney has actually been photo-shopped out of a picture. Never happened before, will never happen again.”
Obama quipped: "Why he said at the bottom ‘Dope and Hope,’ I don’t know….We raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. They like me, they love him. And rightfully so. Not only is he an unbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is at ease with everybody. He seems to occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something truly important.”

After the niceties to Clooney, Obama briefly discussed his ABC interview this week, where he announced that he was coming out support of same-sex marriage.
“Obviously yesterday we made some news," Obama told the crowd to a big 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.”
He then veered into his familiar stump speech on how bad the situation was when he took office, according to the pool report. “Despite all this, the American people are pulling through...slowly, things are coming back.”
“….The other side has got a different view," Obama said. "Their attitude is you’re on your own. If you’re a kid born in a poor neighborhood in LA, tough luck, you’re on your own. If you’re a senior citizen who because of bad luck got laid off or your company ended up dissolving without your pension being vested, tough luck, you didn’t plan well enough. That’s not the America I believe in. That’s not the America you believe in.”

Fourteen round tables with 10 people each filled a tent on Clooney's basketball court. In a table in the middle, Maguire sat to the right of Clooney and his girlfriend, Stacy Kiebler, Nearby, on the edge closest to the pool, was Diane Von Furstenberg. Streisand (at a rear table and looking serious throughout, in black beret) sat with her husband James Brolin, according to the pool.
Also in attendance were designer Trina Turk, Rob Reiner, J.J. Abrams, Chris Albrecht, Skip Paul and his husband Van Fletcher, and Summit co-chairman Rob Friedman, producer Nina Jacobson, ICM president Chris Silbermann and Creative Artists Agency partner Bryan Lourd.
All had paid $40,000 apiece not only to support Obama’s reelection, but also to be part of history—the single richest one-night fundraiser in the history of presidential politics. The president’s local and national campaign officials differ on exactly how much the dinner raised. Katzenberg told the crowd that the event raised nearly $15 million, although campaign officials say the number is inaccurate. Nevertheless, the total appears to have topped the previous record, $11 million raised by a Streisand concert and dinner in 2008. To put the new record in perspective, the Obama campaign raised more money Thursday night than Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, has raised in any month since he jumped into the race.

The smashing success of Thursday’s event owed at least as much to circumstance as it did to calculation. Katzenberg and his political adviser Andy Spahn had long intended to stage a major Obama fundraiser at about this time of year, but the original venue was supposed to have been the studio executive’s newly constructed Beverly Hills mansion. When work on the house fell behind schedule and other considerations arose, they began looking for another site, and Clooney agreed to open his home. The chance to dine at the same table with Obama and the world’s ranking male star sent the online contest portion of the event into the fundraising stratosphere. (The winners of the contest were two women, a Florida utility company employee and a New Jersey science teacher, who attended with their husbands, a retired military man and a jazz guitarist.)
Almost lost in the chatter surrounding the Clooney-Katzenberg event’s record take, was the fact that, earlier in the day, Obama raised $3 million at a pair of events in Seattle. And, as Obama’s motorcade rolled through Studio City by Laurel Canyon boulevard, people lined the street holding signs. "Our gay family says thanks Mr. President," one stated. And another: "Will trade Lakers for Bulls if you stop!"
There is little doubt that Obama’s forthright endorsement of same-sex unions also has reenergized his Hollywood base in a way that hasn’t occurred since the enthusiastic days of 2008.
As one entertainment industry insider told the Hollywood Reporter, “I am hearing this has mobilized the base. Longtime Democratic supporters who had lost hope in Obama are reversing course. That includes the straight boys who were leading fundraisers two years ago, then walked away. They’re all back in the saddle now.”
Thursday’s event was, in an important sense, a ratification of the incumbent president’s re-embrace of a Hollywood base from which he sometimes had seemed distant. And, as Thursday’s event shows, Obama has learned two essential truths about raising money in L.A.: the bigger the stars in attendance, the bigger the take; and that even the chief executive has to be sensitive to traffic here. Obama’s previous fundraising visits, which relied entirely on motorcades to move the president, his retinue, the security detail and press pool around snarled traffic in Mid-City, Hancock Park and Beverly Hills. This time around, the presidential party took helicopters to Studio City and a short motorcade to Chez Clooney. Fryman Canyon and a hiking trail that passes the actor’s home were the only public ways completely closed for the evening.
Obama will return to Beverly Hills to spend the night and will fly to Reno, Nevada in the morning to deliver an address on mortgage reform in a state even more badly hurt by the real estate crash thanCalifornia. Monday, he’ll hit the fundraising trail again, traveling to New York for an event jointly sponsored by Latino and gay supporters.

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Obama hangs with Clooney in L.A.

What would you do if you got to spend three hours at George Clooney’s house? With George Clooney?

That’s how long President Obama spent at the Hollywood star’s luxurious hillside house in Studio City Thursday evening for a $40,000-a-head fundraiser that was expected to collect anywhere from $6 million to $15 million for the president’s reelection campaign.

The setting was actually a party tent on Clooney’s basketball court. Guests included actor Tobey Maguire, who sat to the right of Clooney and his girlfriend, Stacy Kiebler. Nearby was Diane Von Furstenberg. Also spotted: actors and entertainers Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Salma Hayek, Barbra Streisand (at a rear table and looking serious throughout, in black beret) and husband James Brolin.

Walking through Clooney’s house, Obama glimpsed at the “HOPE” poster from the 2008 campaign by Shepard Fairey and told donors: “People don’t realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George” at an event when Clooney was advocating on behalf of Darfur.

“We struck up a friendship,” Obama said, and then joked, to much laughter: “This is the first time that George Clooney has actually been photo-shopped out of a picture. Never happened before, will never happen again.”

Obama said Fairey did a poster for Clooney with both men on the same picture. “Why he said at the bottom ‘Dope and Hope,’ I don’t know.” More laughter.

“We raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. They like me, they love him. And rightfully so. Not only is he an unbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is at ease with everybody. He seems to occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something truly important.”

Clooney listened intently to the president throughout, his hands folded as if in prayer and his chin resting on them.

Clooney lives in a charming Tudor house in a verdant setting, which includes a sign on a tree on the winding drive that said “Pot-bellied pig Crossing,” for Clooney’s late pet, Max.

The tent had black walls and a clear roof through which the sky and trees of the wooded property could be seen. White paper lanterns of different sizes hung from the roof, celadon-green wallboards with mirrors were at the front and rear, centerpieces of blue hydrangeas graced each table and two slender, tall white urns flanked the short stage with branches of white blossoms.

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said the fundraiser had raised “a record nearly $15 million,” a figure that includes both the $40,000-a-person seats in the tent, and the proceeds from the online sweepstakes for two people to join the Hollywood event.

“Once again the entertainment industry has stepped forward in a very big way,” Katzenberg said, naming John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and now Barack Obama as beneficiaries.

As he introduced the president, the guests stood for an ovation. The president, not breaking from tradition, was wearing a dark suit and white shirt.

“I want to thank Jeffrey (Katzenberg) not just for this evening, but for his tenacious support and advocacy since we started back in 2007. He has consistently been there for me, through thick and through thin.”

As usual in his political stump speech, the president said the 2008 campaign is sometimes “romanticized” by supporters, and “I have to remind them, no, I was there!”

“The only person I don’t have to remind is Jeffrey because he was there, through all the ups and downs, and occasionally he would call, and he would say, ‘Barack, I don’t think that things are working the way they’re supposed to.’”

“Over the last three and a half years he remained an extraordinary friend. So Jeffrey, thank you. And I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court. This man has been talking smack about his basketball game ever since I’ve known him.”

Obama then veered into his familiar stump speech on how bad the situation was when he took office. And he made an oblique reference to his interview Wednesday in which he came out in favor of gay marriage.

“Obviously yesterday we made some news,” he said. “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.”

In addition to attracting 150 high-dollar donors, the Obama-Clooney fundraiser was marketed by the campaign to everyday supporters who were given the chance to enter a sweepstakes to receive a free ticket to the event.

And the winners were a science teacher from New Jersey and a mom from Florida.

That’s right: Beth Topinka of Manalapen, N.J., and Karen Blutcher of St. Augustine, Fla., are the two lucky ladies who, along with their husbands, won an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to have dinner Thursday with President Obama and actor George Clooney.

Obama started his West Coast swing Thursday with a stop in Seattle, where he attended a fundraising brunch in the waterside home (on Lake Washington) of Ann and Bruce Blume. Along the way to the brunch, the president’s motorcade passed by a woman and baby who cheered Obama’s announcement the previous day that he supports gay marriage with a bright-yellow sign: “Thank you! Mr. President for standing up for my Mommys.”

About 70 supporters attended the brunch, with tickets costing $17,900.

The president attended a larger fundraiser at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle, where he addressed about 1,800 supporters. Tickets started at $1,000 for the event, and singer Dave Matthews performed.

Here is what the Obama campaign released about the winners of the free tickets and their guests:

“Beth [Topinka] is a science teacher who grew up in Ohio and moved to New Jersey as an adult. She supports the president’s work on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiatives, as well as his support for Pell Grants and student loan reform. Her son served in the U.S. Navy and was able to attend Penn State on the new G.I. Bill. She invited her husband, Jerry, as her guest.

“Jerry is a jazz guitarist who has played all over the world. His father served as a pilot in WWII, and he grew up in Panama. He’s been playing jazz guitar since he was 16, and currently performs and teaches in New Jersey and New York. He comes from a Republican family but voted for Obama in 2008.

“Karen [Blutcher] is a married mother with a 5-year-old son with Down syndrome. She feels passionately about the president’s work to reform health care and applauds the first lady’s focus on childhood obesity. For 10 years, she’s worked for the public utility company, and before that she worked at a youth nonprofit. She appreciates the president’s efforts to help those who are working hard to support their families and is proud that her career has provided her the opportunity to help others. Her husband, Patrick, will be attending as Karen’s guest.

“Patrick was a basketball player in high school and earned a scholarship to play in college, but opted to enlist in the military instead. He made a career out of avionics — electronic systems used on aircraft — both in the military, and then after he retired as a member of the National Guard.”

The Obama campaign will raise at least $6 million from ticket sales to the the Clooney dinner, but that doesn’t include all the online donations for the dinner-with-Barack-and-George sweepstakes. Several news outlets have reported a take twice that large or more, but the campaign declined to confirm the total.

Proceeds from Thursday’s events will go to Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee and several state Democratic parties.

“We raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. They like me, they love him. And rightfully so. Not only is he an unbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is at ease with everybody. He seems to occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something truly important.”

I love this quote by President Obama regarding George. It's unequivocally true. It sounds as though it was a wonderful evening. I would love to hear about the experiences of the contest winners! Thanks for all of the links and reports everyone.

I've just moved these videos so that they're in the right thread with all the other Obama fundraising dinner stuff.

Video included here

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Obama fundraiser at George Clooney's home nets $15 million
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 11, 2012 -- Updated 0946 GMT (1746 HKT)

A fundraiser held Thursday at actor George Clooney's home raised $15 million for President Obama's campaign.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Obama: 2012 campaign will be tougher than four years ago
The president says: "2008, in some ways, was lightning in a bottle"
A California fundraiser delivers $15 million
Mitt Romney and Obama are in a virtual tie, a recent poll shows
(CNN) -- Hollywood pulled off another blockbuster as a star-studded guest list delivered $15 million into the campaign coffers of President Barack Obama Thursday night.

The fundraiser at the home of actor and activist George Clooney in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles attracted dozens of guests including Clooney's girlfriend, actress/model Stacy Keibler; DreamWorks studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg; designer Diane Von Furstenberg; Barbra Streisand and her actor husband
James Brolin.

In a largely jovial address to guests, Obama acknowledged that the road to the White House in 2012 will be much different than the campaign four years ago.
"This is going to be harder than it was the last time ... 2008, in some ways, was lightning in a bottle," the president said.
Obama's $15M dinner with Clooney
Obama is locked in a tight race with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

A Politico/George Washington University poll released this week shows Romney with a one-percentage point advantage, 48%-47%, over the president among likely voters, well within the survey's sampling error.
"Folks are still hurting out there and those frustrations with Washington and the nonsense they see on the news is making them more cynical than they were in 2008," Obama said. "So we're going to have to fight against cynicism and a belief that maybe things can't happen and maybe the game is rigged, what's the point. That's what we're going to be fighting against this time."

Having Stacy there didn't detract at all. Some tweets:

Clooney threw a party 4 Obama & the #BaltimoreSun hasn't written a new article mentioning that GC knows Stacy Keibler. #somethingswrong
6 mins ago

@JensenClan88 "I keep trying to push a wedding angle to George, but he's no-selling it." - Stacey Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama
6 hours ago

Wow -- this $40K is well worth it. Michelle Obama just beat Stacey Keibler in an arm wrestling match. #Obama #America #TonedArms #40K
6 hours ago

"George & I connected about method acting. He did it for Syriana, I did it for Survivor Series." - Stacey Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama
6 hours ago

"These plates he got dating that cocktail waitress w/ the tribal tat. Tell him he needs new ones" - Stacy Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama
7 hours ago

Want a tour? I tell George this is where a nursery would go. Tell George I'd be a great mom." - Stacy Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama
7 hours ago

"Do you like the onion dip? I made it. I'd make a great wife." - Stacy Keibler to EVERYONE tonight. #Obama
7 hours ago

Somewhere in Studio City Stacy Keibler just asked President Obama if he knows the Junkyard Dog
8 hours ago

picssss?

Watching! Those tweets! Someone has a great sense of humor. Glad it's only a few and the mainstream press is focusing on what Obama said. Know Keibler was there, but if she hadn't been, the break-up rumors would have been rampant today.

Neither way was the PR going to be 100% about Obama cause it was at Clooney's home. Not sure it would have garnered as much PR if it had been at Katzenberger's.

Hollywood has long advocated artistic freedom, individual liberty, and gay rights. According to my Hollywood Reporter some with clout are not completely happy with Obama but fear the very conservative push in the Republican Party. There is concern over whom Romney will choose as his VP running mate. G is internationally known and a well-liked "face" of the industry. Katzenberger was savvy to hold this event at G's, as there is valid concern that Hollywood and strong pro-gay support could hurt Obama. Not everyone in America is as open to individual differences as most of those in the entertainment industry. Again kudos to G for championing the freedoms of "those that choose to march to a different drummer."

watching wrote:Having Stacy there didn't detract at all. Some tweets:

"I keep trying to push a wedding angle to George, but he's no-selling it." - Stacey Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama

Want a tour? I tell George this is where a nursery would go. Tell George I'd be a great mom." - Stacy Keibler to EVERYONE tonight #Obama

Am I reading wrong or is she pushing marriage? Be careful Stace!!!

Was she really doing this during the dinner? Surely this is someones idea of a joke.

Cindigirl,
Aren't those tweets from an anonymous poster who thinks that G&SK together make great comic fodder? LOL

I don't know who they're from - it was posted by watching earlier today. Could be though!

I could have done the media coverage still shots, if George had only asked me !! Oh well, Ive got two red carpets, a fashion shoot and a cleb event coming up this weekend. No time for George anyway! HA, jk, would have loved to help out!!

Obviously those tweets posted by watching aren't genuinely from SK.
Someone called jason carp tweeted them.

FRI, 11 MAY 2012 AT 3:06 AM
George Clooney's Obama Fundraiser - Party Highlights!

President Obama waves as he steps off Air Force One after landing at LAX Airport on Thursday (May 10) in Los Angeles.

The President was on his way to George Clooney‘s highly anticipated fundraiser event, which is said to have raised as much as $15 million for his reelection campaign.

Here are some highlights from the party released by the White House:

Attendees included George, his girlfriend Stacy Keibler, Robert Downey Jr., Diane Von Furstenberg, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Tobey Maguire, Billy Crystal, Jack Black, Salma Hayek, and party host Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Guests had to pass through two security checkpoints before being driven up Clooney‘s driveway by golf cart. Dinner was served at round tables inside a clear tent on his basketball court.
President Obama gave a 19 minute speech. “I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court. This man has been talking smack about his basketball game, ever since I’ve known him.” He said he and the actor had known each other for quite a while, and that famous Hope picture of him was actually culled from a picture of him and Clooney when the latter was advocating for Darfur. “We struck up a friendship. This is the first time that George Clooney has actually been photoshopped out of a picture,” Obama said to laughs. “Never happened before, will never happen again.”
Obama joked about going grey. “People have commented on the fact I’ve got gray hair now. There was a blog post about look how wrinkly Obama is getting. [Laughter]. Sort of distressing. George doesn’t have to go through these things.”
Sounds like it was a great event!

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This is the official transcript from the White House of what President Obama said from the stage at last night's Democratic fundraiser at George Clooney's home in Studio City.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT CAMPAIGN EVENT

Private Residence
Studio City, California


7:30 P.M. PDT


THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Good to see you, L.A.!
(Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody.
(Applause.) Please everybody have a seat. What a extraordinary evening. It is wonderful to be with all of you.

A couple of people I want to acknowledge -- first of all, your outstanding Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is in the house. (Applause.) Where's Antonio? Right here. Also the Congressman of this district, somebody who knows foreign policy as well as anybody in Congress and who has just shown extraordinary leadership on so many issues -- Congressman Howard Berman is here. (Applause.)

I want to thank Jeffery not just for this evening but for his tenacious support and advocacy since we started back in 2007. He has just been consistently been there for me through thick and through thin. Sometimes the 2008 campaign gets romanticized and everybody says how perfect it was and I have to remind them, no, I was there.
(Laughter.) And the only person I don't have to remind is Jeffery, because he was there through all the ups and downs. And occasionally he would call and say, Barack, I don't think things are working the way they're supposed to. (Laughter.) But no matter where we were and what phase we were in, in that campaign, he stuck with us. And over the last three and a half years he's remained just an extraordinary friend.

So, Jeffery, thank you for everything you've done. (Applause.)

And then I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court. (Laughter.) This guy has been talking smack about his basketball game -- (laughter) -- ever since I've known him. And we've actually known each other a while. It was wonderful, walking through the house, and the famous "Hope" poster from the 2008 campaign -- people don't realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George. Because George had come into D.C. to advocate on behalf of Darfur and to make sure that we were doing the right thing for so many people who were going through such horrific events, and we struck up a friendship. And this is the first time that George Clooney has ever been photo-shopped out of a picture. (Laughter and
applause.) Never happened before. (Laughter.) Never happened before, will never happen again. (Laughter.)

But the wonderful thing is the artist actually sent George -- some of you have seen this -- a print with my picture and his picture right next to each other with the same -- in the same format. Why he said at the bottom, "Dope and Hope" I don't know. (Laughter.) I don't think that's fair. That's not fair. That's not right. It ain't right. (Laughter.)

But, look, I cannot take credit for this. Jeffery can take some credit. But let's face it, we raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. (Laughter.) They like me; they love him. (Laughter.) And rightfully so. Not only is he an unbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is at ease with everybody, seems to just occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of stuff that's really important. And he takes time to actually figure out the facts and the issues. (Applause.) And so we couldn't be prouder of George. Thank you. (Applause.) And I couldn't be prouder of him as a friend.

I see a lot of familiar faces in the audience, and I'm going to be joining each of you at your table, so I'm not going to take a long time to talk up here.

As Jeffery said, we've gone through three and a half extraordinary years -- as tough as anything that we've experienced in our lifetimes.
It turns out, though, the American people are tougher. So, yes, we lost almost 8 million jobs during the crisis in 2007-2008, 4 million before I took office, 800,000 the day I was sworn in -- or the month that I was sworn in. The auto industry was brought to its knees; the banking system locked up -- even as we were still in the midst of two wars and extraordinary terrorist threats from abroad.

And yet despite all this, the American people are pulling through.
And one of the great privileges of being President is you travel around the country and every day there's an affirmation of how decent and how strong and how caring the American people are. They're not always paying attention to the babble in Washington. They don't have the time to read big briefing books on the latest ideas for Medicare reform. But they have good instincts about what's right and what's true. And it's those instincts and it's that resilience that really has enabled this country to weather an extraordinary storm.

And I've had the great privilege of seeing people in communities all across the country pull together, keep businesses open so that they don't have to lay off their employees, folks who are out of work supporting each other in places of worship and in community centers, raising their kids, making sure that they're getting off to a good start.

And as a consequence, we're now at a place where we've created 4 million jobs in the last two years, 800,000 in the last six months -- or few months alone -- almost a million, actually, in the last six months. GM is the number-one automaker in the world and, not only that, but they're actually making good cars (applause) -- that people are buying. The banking system has worked through a lot of these issues and slowly things are coming back.

But as Jeffery said, we still have so much work to do. There's still so many people out there who are hurting, too many folks who are looking for work, too many people whose homes are underwater, too many communities that aren’t sure about the future, that are anxious -- even if they're doing okay, they're anxious about whether the future is going to be better for their kids and for their grandkids.

And so I always remind people that in 2008, I did not just run to get back to where we were in 2007. The crisis in a lot of ways was a manifestation of what had been going on for a decade or more -- a sense in which a few of us were doing really well but that that fundamental American promise that if you worked hard, no matter what you looked like, where you came from, what your last name was, who you loved, that you could make it if you tried; that everybody had a fair shot and everybody did their fair share and everybody played by the same rules. Those basic values had been dissipating for a decade or more.

And so that's the reason why over the last three and a half years, even as we've managed crisis, even as we've ended a war and are in the process of ending another one, even as we went after al Qaeda and have decimated the ranks of their leadership, even as we got the auto industry back to a place where it can now compete internationally, and we unlocked the financial system so that businesses and families could get financing again -- even as we did all those things, we kept our eye on the basic promise of our 2008 campaign.

That's why we worked on health care reform -- not because it was popular, but because it was right. And as a consequence, 30 million people will have health insurance that didn’t have it before.
(Applause.) That's why we did Wall Street reform -- not because it was easy or popular, but because it was right, because we can't have a system in which the recklessness of a few can can bring down an entire economy.

That's why we have taken on education, sometimes offending folks in our own party because the status quo of some communities where half the kids are dropping out and only one out of ten are reading at grade level -- we can't compete doing that.

That's why we've doubled clean energy. That's why we doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars. That's why we've invested in science and research. That's why projects all across the country have been built putting construction workers back to work. All of this has been in pursuit of the goal that we originally talked about in 2008, and that was creating an America where everybody had a shot; where we create a platform where if you are willing to work hard, you can make it.

And that requires us to do things together. And we're not finished.
We've got a lot more work. And as we look forward towards this next campaign, the choice between the path that I've set for this country and that of my opponent could not be starker, and the stakes couldn't be higher. And I won't run through the differences in all the issues.
What it comes down to is they have a different vision about how America works.

See, I think we work best when we're all in it together, when we've all got a stake in each other. (Applause.) And I've said this before
-- I believe that -- Malia and Sasha are the most magical girls in the world. I don't worry about them. But I think their lives will be better if every child in America has opportunity and a good education and can go to college without worrying about being loaded up with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. That will be a stronger America for them.

And Michelle and I -- people have commented on the fact that I've got gray hair now. There was a blog post about look how wrinkly Obama is getting. (Laughter.) It was sort of distressing. (Laughter.) George doesn’t have to go through these things. (Laughter.)

MR. CLOONEY: Look at me!

THE PRESIDENT: I like that in you, brother. (Laughter.)

But Michelle and I will be okay after this is all done. But our lives are better if, when I'm walking down the street and I see some elderly couple holding hands and they're walking through a park, I know, you know what, they've got Medicare that they can count on, and they've got Social Security that they can count on. They're going to be able to pay the bills and enjoy their retirement.

I remind people when folks talk about the free market, you won't find a bigger advocate for the free market than me, but I also understand the free market works when we've got rules so that folks who are engaging in fair dealing and providing good products and good customer service, that they're not being undercut by folks who are cutting corners and cheating and bilking consumers.

And I'm reminded -- I just came from Seattle -- I told a roomful of folks, some of whom work for Microsoft, Bill Gates is a genius, Steve Jobs is a genius, Mark Zuckerberg, amazing what they've accomplished.
But the Internet doesn’t exist unless all of us together make an investment in something called DARPA that helped develop the Internet.
That was a common enterprise that created this platform for success
-- for everybody.

The other side has got a different view. Their attitude is you're on your own. If you're a kid born in a poor neighborhood in LA, tough luck, you're on your own. If you're a senior citizen who, because of bad luck, got laid off, or the company ended up dissolving without your pension being vested, tough luck. You didn’t plan well enough.
That's not the America I believe in. That's not the America you believe in.

And obviously yesterday we made some news, but -- (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.

And so that's what's at stake. Now, I will just close by saying that this is going to be harder than it was the last time. This is going to be harder than it was the last time -- not only because I'm older and grayer and your "Hope" posters are dog-eared -- (laughter) -- 2008 in some ways was lightening in a bottle. That's not going to be replicated. And we shouldn’t expect it to -- I've been President for three and a half years. But part of the reason it's going to be harder is because folks are still hurting out there and those frustrations with Washington and the nonsense they see on the news is making them more cynical than they were in 2008. So we're going to have to fight against cynicism and a belief that maybe things can't happen and maybe the game is rigged, what's the point. That's what we're going to be fighting against this time.

And that means we're going to have to work harder. That means we're going to have to be more determined. That means that that passion that we brought to bear in 2008 is going to have to express itself maybe not in such flashy form, it's going to have to be steady, but we're going to have to keep those fires burning all the way through November and beyond. Because I'm not interested in just winning the election; I'm also interested in making sure that we can finish what we started in 2008. We've still got a lot of work to do. (Applause.)

So bottom line is I still believe in the American people, and I still believe in you. And I hope you still believe in me. (Applause.) Because I'm as determined as I've ever been to make sure that this country stays on the right path -- we're moving forward; we're not going backwards.

Thank you, everybody. (Applause.)

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Obama shoots hoops with Clooney, Maguire

The morning after a Hollywood fundraiser that netted nearly $15 million, President Obama played hoops with Batman and Spiderman.

George Clooney and Tobey Maguire, who have played those superheroes on screen, joined Obama and some of his staff members for a game on the basketball court.

We can't help but wonder whether some friendly wagers were made: Clooney, who hosted last night's event at his home in Studio City, came in for some presidential kidding about his game.

"I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court," Obama said. "This guy has been talking smack about his basketball game ever since I've known him."

No word on Maguire's hoop skills.

This morning's game took place at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles.

Obama,who spent the night in L.A., got in the workout before leaving for Reno, where he will talk about housing.

Before departure, the White House said in a scheduling statement: "The president played basketball this morning with staff members and a few special guests, including George Clooney and Tobey Maguire."

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Picture 3 is George's driveway showing
Max's Pot Bellied Pig Xing sign.
Pictures of celebs aren't from the event.


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Joanna wrote:Picture 3 is George's driveway showing Max's Pot Bellied Pig Xing sign.

Do you think he expects Max to return from the dead and cross the road? LOL

Never know!

Expect it's been there forever and
is now Max's Memorial

sure!

First Picture !


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Another two pictures here


Triple Date

"Dinner with Barack and Clooney" contest winners Beth & Jerry Topinka and Karen & Patrick Blutcher dressed in their finest to blend in with the stunning Stacy Keibler and handsome George Clooney.

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orrible pic
you cant see nothing

I love SK's makeup, hair angling across her forehead, and her smile. She genuinely looks happy here. Still G&SK seem to be focusing more on the camera than on each other. There is a big distance between their heads, with questionable body language.

Excuse me davida but....wtf ?

It's a formal group photo ! Period.

There's a video here too

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Obama Plays Basketball With George Clooney, Tobey Maguire
The Huffington Post | By Luke Johnson
Posted: 05/11/2012 1:41 pm Updated: 05/11/2012 3:58 pm





FOLLOW: Barack Obama , George Clooney, Video, Obama Basketball, Obama Fundraiser, Tobey Maguire, Obama Clooney, Obama Clooney Fundraiser, Obama Tobey Maguire, Politics News

The president shoots some hoops.

President Barack Obama played basketball Friday morning with George Clooney, Tobey Maguire and a few staff members,
according to the White House pool report.

The game, which took place at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, came after a fundraiser on Thursday held at Clooney's house. The event raised nearly $15 million for Obama and the Democratic Party. Tickets cost $40,000. Barbra Streisand, Salma Hayek, and Jack Black also attended.
Two small-dollar donors won a raffle and also attended.

The event is part of a West Coast fundraising swing for Obama. The president attended two events in Seattle; the Dave Matthews Band performed at one.

Asked by CBS News' Mark Knoller about the winner of the basketball game, Obama said, "Of course George and I won but we're all winners because nobody got hurt."

This story has been updated to include the game's location and winners.

CORRECTION: This report has been updated to indicate that Dave Matthews performed at the fundraiser. An earlier version said that the Dave Matthews Band performed.

I just gleaned over the above article. On Entertainment Tonight, it mentioned that Don Cheadle was also involved in the pickup game this morning with Pres. Obama and Clooney. Just FYI. I don't think the article above mentioned him.

What a nice photo they all look happy it must have been a wonderful evening.

Rob Reiner, who attended last night, was on Hardball with Chris Matthews today. He said it was a fantastic evening, and that the president made it a point to visit every table and say a few words to each of the guests. Rob mentioned that two of the contest winners sat at his table. He said the party was particularly energized by the President's stance on equality in marriage the previous day. Anyway, it would have been amazing to be there!

Thanks for the extra info, Astras!

Lakin460 wrote:Thanks for the extra info, Astras!

It's the best I can offer. My plan B was foiled. JK.

Joanna wrote:Another two pictures here


Triple Date

"Dinner with Barack and Clooney" contest winners Beth & Jerry Topinka and Karen & Patrick Blutcher dressed in their finest to blend in with the stunning Stacy Keibler and handsome George Clooney.

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"

Maybe it's just me, or maybe Im a bit old fashioned, but why does SK stick her shoulder out in that pic. Rather than embracing the group and being a part of it, it looks to me like she is trying to put herself in front of the poor guy. Personally, I think that's rude of her.

Oh, the lady next to George, looks like she's in Clooney Heaven; her smile says it all !!

If you turn your body slightly towards the camera, you will look thinner. I wonder if that's what SK was trying to do. Since SK is so tall and has broad shoulders and long arms, I think she would have looked better if she had stepped back and stood slightly behind the others.

I find that having people stand in front of, partially covering me, makes me look thinner !!

Maybe we should give her the benefit of the doubt, that perhaps it was a quick photo shoot and she just happened to be in an awkward position, what say?

From all I've read about her, I don't think she's so crass as to tintentionally elbow her way in front of the guests of honor.

Like it or not, I've got a gut feeling she's gonna be around for awhile, if only because George is stubborn and will want to prove the naysayers wrong! IMHO

all good points taken well!

Starmageddon: Clooney's Obama Fundraiser Gets a Name


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

Obama shoots hoops with Clooney, Maguire

The morning after a Hollywood fundraiser that netted nearly $15 million, President Obama played hoops with Batman and Spiderman.

George Clooney and Tobey Maguire, who have played those superheroes on screen, joined Obama and some of his staff members for a game on the basketball court.

We can't help but wonder whether some friendly wagers were made: Clooney, who hosted last night's event at his home in Studio City, came in for some presidential kidding about his game.

"I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court," Obama said. "This guy has been talking smack about his basketball game ever since I've known him."

No word on Maguire's hoop skills.

This morning's game took place at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles.

Obama,who spent the night in L.A., got in the workout before leaving for Reno, where he will talk about housing.

Before departure, the White House said in a scheduling statement: "The president played basketball this morning with staff members and a few special guests, including George Clooney and Tobey Maguire."

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Obama Shoots Hoops with George Clooney, Tobey Maguire

After a night of hobnobbing with Hollywood’s rich and famous, President Obama hit the basketball court this morning for a friendly face-off with actors George Clooney and Tobey Maguire and members of the White House staff, officials said.

The game took place inside the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center at the Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles just miles from the Beverly Hilton where Obama spent the night. Cameras were not allowed inside.

“Who won the game?” shouted CBS’ Mark Knoller as the president shook hands with supporters along a ropeline.

Obama momentarily recoiled, asking “What basketball game? What are you talking about?”

Then the president recalled with a smile, “As you might expect, George and I won, but I think we are all winners because nobody got hurt.” (In a November 2010 game of hoops, the president required 12 stitches on his lip after being struck by a wayward elbow.)

Clooney on Thursday evening hosted a multi-million-dollar campaign fundraiser for Obama on the basketball court at his sprawling Studio City, Calif., home.

Obama joked in his remarks that the two men have a history of talking tough about who’s the better shot on the court.

“This guy has been talking smack about his basketball game ever since I’ve known him,” Obama told an elite crowd of 150 donors, who each paid $40,000 to attend.

Joanna wrote:Another two pictures here


Triple Date

"Dinner with Barack and Clooney" contest winners Beth & Jerry Topinka and Karen & Patrick Blutcher dressed in their finest to blend in with the stunning Stacy Keibler and handsome George Clooney.

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I'm sorry, but SK doesn't blend in with any of them....she always a head above everybody, and imo, always makes G look so small and old. To me, there's such a difference in the way he looks when he's by himself vs. next to her....

Thanks to all for your wonderful coverage of the event. The stories, the pics, all great!

bellybaby wrote:I'm sorry, but SK doesn't blend in with any of them....she always a head above everybody, and imo, always makes G look so small and old. To me, there's such a difference in the way he looks when he's by himself vs. next to her....

Totally agree with that. She's a big girl and virtually dwarfs everyone around her. I think her shoulders are broader than George's. I never envied big and tall women.

thanks