Is Obama really a celebrity? $28,500 a plate says he just might be
@phillygirl606 (1112)
United States
September 17, 2008 8:35pm CST
Obama picks up about $9 million in Hollywood
The night was split into two glitzy events, a reception and dinner costing $28,500 each at Greystone Mansion, followed by entertainment by Streisand at the nearby Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. About 250-300 people were expected at the dinner and about 800 at the entertainment, which cost $2,500 a ticket.
Dinner guests seen by reporters, or noted by waiters, included Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Lee Curtis and DreamWorks founders Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Now Obama claims to be all about the middle class, but no middle class person I know could or would spend such money like this. This is really bothering me. He claims not to be a celebrity but yet he is hanging out with all the celebrities, drinking it up and partying when America is in such economic crisis. We are losing our homes and struggling with our everyday needs. Trying to figure out how this bill is gone to be paid and how that utility is gone to be paid because everything is rising in cost. And here;s Obama partying with the stars, preaching about how he knows what we are going through. HELLO I don't think so. Thousands of people are losing their jobs everyday and their homes being foreclosed and whats Obama doing about it. He's being serenaded by Barbara Streisand and eating a plate of chicken that costs over 28,000 dollars while Mccain is visiting factory workers and the middle class.
I am in no way endorsing John McCain or Obama, I am not trying to sway anyones vote by no means. This is just something that really upset me. We have people in Texas who are not allowed back in their homes yet, many of whom are going home to no home at all and Obama is out laughing it up with the rich and famous. Seems to me someone seriously needs to get their priorities straight.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@liscampll (124)
• United States
18 Sep 08
McCain attended a fundraiser in Miami earlier in the week at which he reportedly raised $5.1 million. Last month, McCain reportedly held a fundraiser with celebrities in Beverly Hills.
Sept. 17 Wall Street Journal article, Brody Mullins and Glenn R. Simpson reported: "Many of the fund-raising events the Republican rival Sen. McCain attends, including one in Miami on Monday, begin with a private cocktail hour with the Arizona senator for contributors donating about $25,000 each. Some events the Sen McCain held this summer for his campaign and the Republican National Committee offered special treatment for couples who wrote checks of up to $100,000.
It's politics. They all fundraise.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
18 Sep 08
And none of this seems right to me. I understand it is a part of politics but with some much going on in the united states this all just seems morally wrong. It also makes a person wonder as well, these people paying the big bucks for these so called fund raisers how many of them really are lobbyists?
I just think that all this so called fund raising is just gone to make people mad because of the bad shape the economy is and they are having dinners that cost over 25,000 a ticket.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
20 Sep 08
I'm not mad in anyway. I just think with the way the economy is right now that a 28000 a plate dinner is absurd. Of course its their money to throw around and i know it's a deduction. In my opinion though I just feel that they could be throwing their money in others causes and making a huge difference.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Sep 08
Phillygirl, why would someone get mad because someone else has money? It's their money.
Not everyone with a lot of money is a lobbyist, the Hollywood and Beverly Hills crowd certainly aren't and neither is the crowd in Miami. Remember, too, these contributions are tax deductions but, really, if people are willing to pay a high dollar price to eat rubber chicken with a candidaet, his campagn manager would not be doing his job if he didn't schedule these high contribution events.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
18 Sep 08
They say you are know buy the company you keep. Senator Obama told us early in the primaries that he was going to take money form the little people. he was not going to beholding to the "Bib Money". If we are in tough economic times how can the little people come up with, $400,000,000, which is what they are estimating that he will be raising and spending for his bid for the presidency. He has to go to the big money.
@evanslf (484)
•
18 Sep 08
All politicians fundraise and if they can get a big hit from rich supporters, then that is what they will do. Bush has specialised in this over the years, so no surprise that Obama (and McCain) are doing it.
Now I understand the concern that rich donors might be buying favours with their wallets - but the point is that both parties are doing it. If we want to address this concern for future elections, then some form of cap, limiting donations by private individuals (and companies) to candidates in presidential election campaigns would help.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
18 Sep 08
This is kind of my point. He preached about how he does not have no celebrity status at all for weeks. Doesn't this kind of prove what he was saying wrong?
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
19 Sep 08
Well, these types of dinners aren't priced for the food, or even the stars that will be there. They are to raise money for the campaign. Otherwise I would be right with you, that chicken better be lined with gold!!! But McCain either has or will have a similar dinner with around the same price per plate.
You are right, these dinners aren't for the middle class. These are for the rich so they can come up off some money to help their campaigns.
@thickchic (41)
• United States
18 Sep 08
yada yada yada boo boo boo...oh pls the reason why he is hanging with the rich folk is to raise money so you and i can have a better life obviously he needs to raise money and us middle class folk dont have it...ah duh....
give me a break....
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
18 Sep 08
oh please, both Obama and McCain are both running on pipe dreams. Its really sad if you really believe that he is only hanging with the "rich Folk" to help others.
Thanks got your response, all opinions are welcomed
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Sep 08
Guess you must not have heard about McCain's partying with the rich down here in Miami. Every candidate running for high office does this....this is how they raise money and there's nothing wrong with it. Are the votes of the rich and powerful less important than the votes of the middle class or the poor? Of course not. Both candidates work hard trying to reach every segment of our society but, let's face it, it takes a lot of money to run for president so both of them have to have these high dollar events.
I really don't know what you expect Obama to do about the situation in Texas. He is not the president, he is running for office and there are only 47 days left. Give the man a break. You might, or maybe not, be interested to learn that, while McCain was (or is he still?) down here in Florida, his attention was focused on two specific groups of voters. The Jewish communities and the Latino communities. Why? Because they represent large voting blocks and have historically voted Republican so he needed to reach out to them. Florida has 27 electoral college votes incase you don't know so we're an important state. Should I take the same tone that you do and suggest that he doesn't give a flip about the rest of the residents in Florida? What, he can't drive a few hours north of Miami and see the regular folk? Or that he doesn't care about those who are struggling in Texas? Let the men campaign.
