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At Obama Event, Celebs Reach for Checkbooks
Despite the celeb outpouring during the campaign, his famous supporters have had no face time with Obama since the Inauguration.
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The Hotel Bel-Air has undergone a lot of changes over the years, but it's in for its biggest face-lift via a two-year renovation. Here is a collection of then and now photos.
turning into Hollywood East during both the inauguration and the recent White House Correspondent’s Dinner, the President’s visit to L.A. Wednesday was the most face time some of his most famous supporters have had since Obama took office.
Since January, the Hollywood elite have regularly been trekking up the Executive Mansion driveway. Former 007 Pierce Brosan visited the White House recently to discuss the environment, and Jessica Alba got a tour of the West Wing while in town for the Correspondent’s Dinner -- but almost no one has met with the President.
Well, maybe George Clooney -- but only very, very briefly. Pushing his argument for direct involvement in Darfur, got a private meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and a handshake with the President himself. But there was no photo op with POTUS.
Those types of public display of power and influence for Hollywood in Washington isn’t realistic with all that’s on the President’s plate and agenda, said Emerson. “What are you going to do, have celebrities go out and talk about economy or foreign policy?” he rhetorically asked.
“It just doesn’t make sense, you just wouldn’t naturally think of bringing people in on that. It’s not a negative thing about Hollywood, or people who were supporters being suddenly cut off. I think it is about the guy focusing on governing.”
Ironically, while Hollywood loves a leading man, the real relationship with the nation’s capitol might actually be more of an ensemble piece. It may turn out that Hollywood’s real power play is not walking the corridors of the White House … but with the halls of Capitol Hill.
In recent months, celebrities like Patrick Swayze, who wrote in the Washington Post about his own cancer in an effort to have Representatives increase funding for the National Institutes of Health, and Brad Pitt, who had the red carpet laid out for him by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early March when he came to discuss ongoing hurricane relief efforts in Louisiana, have brought their causes and case to Congress to great public effect.
The exuberant House Speaker called the “Benjamin Button” star "a real hero for the people of New Orleans and a real model for the country.”
For public people, it is a perfect public forum with direct access to the players who actually make the laws and legislation.
“I don’t think there has been a shift, but I think that you don’t come and testify before 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., you testify before Congress,” said Emerson. “That’s where the cameras are, that’s where you can bring attention to use your celebrity to bring public awareness to the issues you are talking about. That happens on the Hill, that doesn’t happen in the White House. “
Fundraiser and face time aside, it looks like for a Hollywood rolling the dice on influence or face time in the Obama era, what happens in the White House stays in the White House.
Comments
MartiniShark Says
I love the ironic undercurrent to this piece. Forever we have heard about the demonic relationship of special interests who curry favor in D.C. and the politicians with whom they purchase influence. Most of this article centered on how Hollywood stars have not had proper attention from the President after donating millions.
Sounds like the same thing to me.
I'm also curious how California and the White House will reconcile going broke while Hollywood continues to have a terrific year at the box office. Will they rely on the tired tactic of raising taxes on the rich (i.e., the Studios) while more jobs are fleeing to Canada because of already high tax rates in L.A.? Obama's friends may have something to say about that when it becomes their wallets in the cross-hairs. See, they are benevolent millionaires, unlike those evil corporations that make "too much" money.
sam Says
When a president's view of America comes from his education in indonesia, and Harvard, his life experience comes from the city of Chicago, then here we are. He Knows not, and his followers marvel at the emperor's new clothes.
We are in huge trouble America! This country is no longer business-freindly, and has been going that way under the socialist policies of the Democrats for years. I could expand and employ a few drivers but I wouldn't try it with all of thier laws stacked against me..the evil employer.
Rob A. Says
The tone of this piece sounds like the writer a) was snubbed by Obama's people and b) is enamored with living in the past with past administrations and c) is possibly Perez Hilton incognito.
Brian Says
Well Cathy how will you have a non profit health care system with no doctors. No one is going to spend the thousands of hours and the money to become a doctor to work for 30,000 a year. So you will show up for your appointment and there won't be anyone there to check you out.
Cathy Says
With reservations I voted for Obama because the other big choice of McCain/Palin would have been a huge disaster. Can we hope that a third party with a really viable candidate -- one who truly believes in America and cares about all its people -- emerge in 2012? I am one of the independent progressives that is totally dismayed by Obama's unfolding policies. I think that health care reform will be the linchpin here. Over 2/3rds of Americans want a single-payer non-profit health care system and Obama is backpeddling fast on this and seemingly coddles the for-profit medical-industrial-complex, believing they will do the patriotic thing in this time of troubles -- even though they caused the health care mess we are in today through their greed.
The Repubs are not at all viable. We know, sadly, what they will do, as we found out starting with Reagan. So what do we do? We need a new party with a strong independent candidate. I know -- it looks pretty dismal now, doesn't it, folks?
Brian R. Says
I would like to know if these celebrities are going to be paying the higher taxes or not. Did they give Obama a payoff so they can get a tax exemption so they can keep their 12 houses, 100 cars and private jets.
BigMike Says
Insteresting..........This guy has more time to party than actually fixing something....i.e. LIKE THE ECONOMY!!!!!!
The Prof Says
Obama has fooled us. He is the ultimate politician...telling everyone what they want to hear...then pulling the rug out from the supporters. Look at the bailout of GM and Chysler...all that money is gone and they're still filing for bankruptcy. Why can't people see the truth? Why are most of us not seeing the man behind the curtain. You better wake up and quick! I can see what is happening and it's not pretty. The bailout money is being wasted by the billions.
Obama, however likeable, is way in over his head. He has no guts and North Korea is about to prove it. Along with Iran and Russia. Israel is on their own.
Hollywood will never be the same. The film industry has moved out of LA for good. It's too expensive to do business here and Obama can do nothing to right that ship. Start paddling east.
Don't vote for Obama next time around. Won't be fooled again!
GeorgeC Says
Don't you see?
Obama's more interested in appealing to that popular kid crowd he was never a part of in elementary school!
Nah -- simpler way to put this...
This was a case of the ULTIMATE narcissist entertaining a room FULL of OTHER narcissists. It's a lovefest of people who feel better breathing their own hot air instead of dealing with reality. Reality doesn't get much more subjective and distorted than in some parts of LA for sure.
Whoa to the country whose electorate didn't bother to read the writing on the walls of the Chicago transit system about this guy.
Hopefully, we only have to put up with him for one term if enough people wise up and see that this guy is the WORST thing that could have happened to this country in a long time.
He's a mediocre leader with ideas that have failed everywhere else they've been attempted. Unfortunately, he's more concerned about creating more people dependent on the government for their livelihood AND being popular abroad than he is in doing what's good for the future of OUR country.
James Raider Says
Obama continues to tell each audience what it wants to hear, but the dishing out of the stimulus money is backfiring audibly.
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/05/obamas-not-so-free-money.htm...
His stimulus money is not so free.
Lee Says
Why isn't President Obama dealing with North Korea instead of partying for the Democrats? We are in trouble and he needs to focus his attention on real problems our country is facing. N. Korea!! nuclear arms race. Iran. Please tell Obama to stand up and fight for America. We need to stop N. Korea from blasing its neighbors. They have been testing and firing missles against the UN agreement!! They are violating its agreement and making President Obama look emasculated!
It is sad.
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