Obama Dines with Parker, Streep, Wintour and Franklin

The Obamas appeared together last Thursday evening at a fundraiser held at the home of actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick in New York City. The exclusive dinner raised nearly  $2 million, with 50 people paying $40,000 each. The dinner was co-hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour according to the AP.

Among the famous attendees, actress Meryl Streep, Bravo’s Andy Cohen, fashion designer Michael Kors and singer Aretha Franklin dined with the President and First Lady. Although the event was held at his home, Broderick was absent due to his performance in a play.

After the glitzy dinner, the Obamas then headed to a fundraiser in Manhattan, where singer Mariah Carey performed and singer Alicia Keys spoke. The 250-person dinner brought in at least $2.5 million for the Obama campaign.

This is one of the many recent celebrity fundraisers the Obama campaign has held that has raised an estimated $50 million.

This particular event has been scrutinized by conservatives as “elitist” and “out-of-touch.” Pundits such as Glenn Beck criticized the Obama campaign for tapping Wintour to co-host, due to her harsh reputation.

However, like the George Clooney fundraiser, the Obama campaign held a raffle for donors to partake in with a minimum donation of $3. Two lucky winners were chosen to attend.

President Obama’s Hollywood Love Affair

President Barack Obama visited Los Angeles Wednesday night and Thursday morning for fundraisers with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

On Wednesday night, Obama attended a fundraiser at Glee creator, Ryan Murphy and his fiancé David Miller’s Beverly Hills home.

The event was attended by 70 people, who allegedly paid $40,000 per ticket to see the president speak for 12 minutes, according to DEADLINE Hollywood. After his speech, which had an emphasis on LGBT rights, Obama took questions from the audience, which included: HBO’s president of programming Michael Lombardo, Julia Roberts, CAA’s Kevin Huvane and Bryan Lourd, Glee star Jane Lynch and Reese Witherspoon. Also in the crowd were CBS executive Les Moonves and wife Julie Chen, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, Disney Worldwide Marketing president Ricky Strauss, Participant Media’s Jonathon Bass, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, singer Cher and transgender son Chaz Bono, Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick, Hulu’s Jamie Kershaw, NCIS’ Pauley Perrette and Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Ellen DeGeneres and Glee’s Darren Criss performed before Obama’s  speech. Criss filled in for singer P!nk, who had to back out last minute due to health issues. Many of the supporters at the event were large LGBT rights supporters. Murphy announced he was hosting a fundraiser shortly after Obama came out in support for same-sex marriage. After the performances, Obama was introduced by a military doctor who came out after the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” in which Obama signed in 2010.

Early Thursday morning, the Obama campaign held an exclusive breakfast at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with some of Hollywood’s hottest young stars including: The Avengers Jeremy Renner, Glee actress Dianna Agron, Star Trek‘s  Zachary Quinto, Southland’s Ben McKenzie, Jessica Alba, Bryan Greenberg, Adam Rodriguez, Zach Braff, Brandon Routh, Ian Somerhalder, Jared Leto, Kal Penn and Sophia Bush.

Sources said the event was intended to help build the youth support for team Obama and enlist some of Hollywood’s youngest, hottest stars to help out with that effort.

Above: Jeremy Renner with Obama

Above: Zach Braff with Obama

Above: Sophia Bush with Obama

In the last month, the Obama campaign has been teaming up with celebrities for fundraisers and public raffles. George Clooney‘s fundraiser in early may brought in over $15 million for the president. Obama attended a fundraiser with many broadway stars earlier this week that was hosted by former president Bill Clinton. Rocker Jon Bon Jovi played at one event and attended another.

An upcoming fundraiser hosted by actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour on June 14 is also expected to bring in a huge haul for the president.

The Romney campaign has yet to receive much Hollywood support and is set to have only one event with “celebrity” Donald Trump in the works.

Obama, Clinton and Jon Bon Jovi in NYC

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi performed at an Obama fundraiser and attended another today in New York City. Obama attended three fundraisers, along with former President Bill Clinton.

Earlier today, it was reported Jovi hopped on Air Force One with Obama on his way to NYC.

One of the fundraisers was held at the Waldorf Astoria, where 500 attendees paid $2,500 each to hear the chief executive speak and see Bon Jovi perform, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Hollywood Reporter reported the final event would end with a Broadway celebration at the New Amsterdam Theater with a crowd of 1,700. After Obama’s scheduled remarks, a plethora of theater veterans are expected to perform or appear including Patti Lupone, James Earl Jones, Manny Patinkin, Stockard Channing, Angela Landsbury, playwright Tony Kusher, Nina Arianda, Kerry Butler, Norbet Leo Butz, Bobby Cannavale, Chuck Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris, Meagn Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Audra McDonald, Hattienne Park, Patrick Wilson and Jeffrey Wright.

The Obama campaign has been cashing in on the online fundraisers that raffle off tickets to fundraisers hosted by celebrities, such as George Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker and Bill Clinton. Tonight three winners (and their chosen partners) who donated to campaign and put their names in the raffle, were awarded tickets to the event and the Broadway concert, as well as given a chance to talk with both Obama and Clinton at the Waldorf Astoria.

Glenn Beck Tears Into the Obama Campaign for Anna Wintour

Conservative pundit Glenn Beck attacked the Obama campaign for using Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour in their ad about the upcoming fundraiser she’s co-hosting with actress Sarah Jessica Parker, reports the Huffington Post.

Beck mocked Wintour’s pronunciation of Michelle Obama and railed against the Obama campaign for using Wintour, who was said to be “quite harsh” in the fashion industry and was allegedly the subject of the film The Devil Wears Prada.

“She was the devil part,” Beck said in reference to the movie title. “She was the person who was actually in the movie treating her co-workers… like garbage, waiting on her every whim. She is what [Obama] says capitalists are like all the time. She is everything she says the Republicans are and she’s an Obama supporter.”

 

Anna Wintour Appears in Video Publicizing Upcoming Obama Fundraiser with Sarah Jessica Parker

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has made a new video for the Obama campaign to bring attention to a fundraiser she is co-hosting with actress Sarah Jessica Parker, at Parker’s New York City home on June 14.

In the video, Wintour tells viewers that she and Parker have their own reasons for supporting Obama and that they “want to hear yours.”

Obama to Run Ad During MTV Movie Awards with Sarah Jessica Parker

Obama campaign will attempt to court younger voters during the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, with it’s first national television ad, according to E! Online.

The ad will feature actress Sarah Jessica Parker inviting supporters to donate to the campaign and be entered to win a chance to attend an upcoming fundraiser at her house with the President and First Lady. The fundraiser is co-hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

“The guy who ended the war in Iraq, the guy who says you should be able to marry anyone you want, and the guy who created four million new jobs, that guy President Obama and Michelle are coming to my house for dinner on June 14,” Parker says in the ad. “And I want you to be there, too.”

A source tells  E! Online that MTV has reached out to the Romney campaign to propose that the Republican frontrunner also run ads or a message during the broadcast.

The Obama campaign has set a similar fundraising goal for the Parker-Wintour fundraiser to that of George Clooney’s in early May.

Romney Fundraises in Beverly Hills

GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has attempted to court Hollywood as President Obama has.

Around 400 people attended a campaign fundraiser Thursday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel. However, there was one very important Hollywood aspect missing: the Hollywood A-listers, the Los Angeles Times reports.

There was no George Clooneys, Will Smiths or Reese Witherspoons. However, actors Jon Voight and Scott Baio were among those in attendance. Both actors have been outspoken conservatives in Hollywood over the years. A rarity in a town so heavily dominated by liberal entertainers.

Voight wrote a critical open letter to the president in 2010, accusing him of having betrayed Israel and “promoted anti-Semitism throughout the world.”

Romney said there has been a lot of support from the liberal town.

“There’s people I know who have gone against the tide to support me in this effort, getting on my bandwagon very early, even some Hollywood folks,” Romney said.

Tickets to the event ranged from $2,500 to $50,000.

Both campaigns are expected to return to Beverly Hills in upcoming months for more fundraising events.

Obama Nabs Clooney and Parker; Romney Nabs…Trump

In the last month, the Obama campaign has enlisted actors George Clooney and Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as former president Bill Clinton to host fundraising dinners with the President.

The Clooney fundraiser raised around $15 million for the Obama campaign and the Parker fundraiser, on June 14, is also expected to bring in a large amount of money for the campaign.

Now the Romney campaign has enlisted entrepreneur and reality star Donald Trump to host a fundraiser for Mitt Romney.

The campaign has dubbed it: “Dine with the Donald” contest. Like the Clooney and Parker campaigns, the minimum donation is $3 for donators who would like to throw their name in the raffle to attend the dinner. The campaign site does not list when the event takes place, but does include some details:

• Airport transportation in the Trump vehicle.

• Stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York.

• Tour The Celebrity Apprentice Boardroom.

• Dine with Donald Trump and Mitt Romney.

Clooney Hosts Star-Studded Fundraiser for Obama

Actor George Clooney hosted a star-studded fundraiser for President Obama, that was expected to bring in $15 million for the Obama campaign.

The fundraiser was held at Clooney’s house in Studio City and the 150 tickets were going for $40,000 a piece.

The fundraiser was hosted by Dreamworks Animation Chief, Jeffrey Katzenberg and the dinner was provided by chef Wolfgang Puck.

The dinner brought out many celebrities including: Robert Downey Jr., Barbra Streisand, Tobey Maguire, Eddie Murphy, Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Salma Hayek,  Stacy Keibler, designer Trina Turk, J.J. Abrams, Rob Reiner, James Brolin, Diane Von Furstenburg and Barry Diller, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

One of the reasons the fundraiser was one of the largest in terms of money intake, was because the Obama campaign raffled off two tickets for donors who could not afford to pay $40,000 for a regular ticket. The minimum donation a person could make was $3. The two winners were both women from New Jersey and Florida.

Hollywood’s enthusiasm hasn’t been as high for Obama during this election cycle. However, many political analysts believe that Obama may have reenergized the entertainment industry’s excitement after coming out in support for gay marriage on Wednesday.

Since his endorsement of gay marriage, Glee’s Ryan Murphy has already set up a fundraiser for the President next month.

Republicans have already criticized the President for the fundraiser.

“President Obama is headed to Hollywood to hobnob with celebrities while the middle class continues to be squeezed by Obama’s policies,” said Kirsten Kukowski, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.

More Hollywood Support for Warren

Hollywood stars are opening their wallets once again for Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will co-host a fundraiser in Santa Monica on May 21, with The Office’s John Krasinski and Lost creator J.J. Abrams. The event is entitled, “A Massachusetts Evening,”and donations to attend the fundraiser will range from $1,000 -$5,000.

Affleck, Damon and Krasinski are all natives of the Bay State.

Warren is going up against Republican Sen. Scott Brown who won the seat in the 2010 special election, after former Sen. Ted Kennedy passed away.

In recent months, Warren, a Democrat, has garnered quite a bit of support from Hollywood.  Major industry donators include: Will Ferrell, Barbra Streisand, Ron Howard, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steve Bing and Hans Zimmer. Other celebrities that have been vocally supportive of Warren are Cher and Danny DeVito.

The Brown campaign has criticized Warren’s support from the entertainment industry and painted her as “out-of-touch” and “elitist” for attending these fundraisers and mingling with celebrities.