Monthly Archives: May 2016

George Clooney Fundraiser Banks $15 Million for Hillary Clinton

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Hillary Clinton, Rob and Alisa Bair, Amal and George Clooney. Photo credit: Adam Schultz.

Four years ago, George Clooney made headlines when he hosted a fundraiser for President Obama at his Studio City home that took in $15 million and was attended by the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Eddie Murphy and Salma Hayek.

Last month, Clooney held a fundraiser for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, which also raised $15 million. Celebrity attendees included Clooney and his wife Amal, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Jane Fonda, Anna Wintour and Jim Parsons, according to Variety.

Earlier in the day, Clinton and Clooney attended an event at Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Beverly Hills home. Attendees included co-hosts Casey Wasserman, Haim Saban, and Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw. James Cameron, George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson were also in attendance.

Nearly 150 people attended the events. Individual tickets went for $33,400 per person, while co-hosts contributed $50,000, and event co-chairs contributed $353,000, Variety reports.

Outside the events, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested Clinton and the high-dollar fundraisers. Actress Frances Fisher was among the protesters.

Clooney’s neighbor held a “99% Party” in support of Sanders. Attendees paid $27 per person, and co-hosts included radio host Cary Harrison, actor Andrew Keegan and director Matthew Cooke.

In an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd, Clooney agreed with Sanders’ supporters.

“They’re absolutely right,” said Clooney. “It is an obscene amount of money. The Sanders campaign when they talk about it is absolutely right. It’s ridiculous that we should have this kind of money in politics. I agree completely.”

 

 

Obama Fundraises For House, Senate Dems in Hollywood

President Obama made the rounds in Hollywood in early April to fundraise for House and Senate Democrats.

Obama attended a fundraiser Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn and wife Cindy Horn’s Bel-Air home. It was the 40th Hollywood fundraiser for the president.

Attendees shelled out $66,800 per couple, and included Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Disney CEO Bob Iger, according to DeadlineStar Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams and wife Katie McGrath, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Norman Lear and Lyn Lear, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin were also co-hosts of the fundraiser.

The fundraiser benefitted House Democrats in their effort to recapture the majority. Many political observers believe presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump would hurt more moderate Republican representatives and give Democrats a favorable chance of winning the majority.

House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chair Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), were expected to attend the event.

The next morning, Obama attended a breakfast at Tobey Maguire and wife Jennifer Meyer’s home to benefit the Democratic Senatorial Committee. Tickets were $33,400 per couple.