Posted on 09/08/2007 8:14:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MONTECITO, Calif. - Oprah Winfrey rolled out the red carpet Saturday for Barack Obama at a gala fundraiser attended by high-wattage stars that was expected to raise $3 million for the Democratic presidential candidate.
The most powerful woman in show business celebrated her favorite candidate with 1,500 guests at her palatial estate in this coastal enclave south of Santa Barbara. Tickets to the sold-out private event went for $2,300 apiece, keeping them within campaign finance limits.
Stevie Wonder performed for guests, who included Sidney Poitier, Forest Whitaker, Chris Rock, Cindy Crawford, Jimmy Connors, Linda Evans, Dennis Haysbert and many others. Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry also were expected, though it was unclear if they were in attendance. The media were barred from the fundraiser.
Visitors were bused to Winfrey's secluded home from an equestrian center about 10 miles away. A solid line of limousines, BMWs, Bentleys and a few hybrid Priuses disgorged well-dressed guests. Some sported stiletto heels despite official instructions to wear flat shoes for walking on Winfrey's meadow.
Visitors were subjected to strict security procedures and relieved of cameras and recording devices. Instructions sent to guests noted that Winfrey and Obama would not be accepting gifts.
Earlier in the day, Obama made a quick, lunchtime stop to speak to a crowd of about 1,000 eager supporters who gathered on a hillside overlooking the Pacific at Santa Barbara City College. It was his only public appearance of the day.
Obama, wearing his usual white shirt open at the collar and sleeves rolled up, shook his way down a line of outstretched hands as the song "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" blared from speakers.
He spoke for about 20 minutes, hitting his core themes of optimism and accountability.
"What's called for is a level of responsibility and seriousness that we haven't seen in a very long time," he told the cheering crowd, which included college students in short sundresses and big sunglasses and older couples in peace symbols.
A woman standing in front of the stage appeared to faint as Obama spoke about Iraq. The candidate paused and asked the crowd to make way for firefighters.
One supporter shouted, "You're a good man," leaving Obama momentarily at a loss for words.
"Well, I'm not the only one stopping to help her," he said, sounding almost embarrassed.
He talked briefly about his last trip to California in August, when he spent a morning helping a home health care worker clean a house, wringing out mops and making breakfast through a program sponsored by SEIU, the Service Employees International Union.
"Listening to her talk about the hardships of her life, talking about her struggles without a trace of self-pity ... I thought, there is the essence of what America is about, this generosity of spirit," Obama said.
Then it was off to a private luncheon and on to Winfrey's cocktail-hour shindig, where a different brand of very American generosity would be on display.
Obama already enjoys the support of Hollywood moguls like David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Winfrey's fundraiser is another chance for him to tap California, which was his top donor state from April through June with a total take of $4.2 million.
Obama has raised more than $58 million for his White House bid. Forbes magazine estimates that Winfrey, the Chicago-based talk-show host, is worth about $1.5 billion.
Winfrey is a well-known fan of Obama, calling him "my favorite guy" and "my choice" on CNN's "Larry King Live" last year before he announced he would run for president.
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (R) poses with U.S. Senator Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle Obama at an Obama' 08 fund-raiser for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, hosted by Winfrey at her home in Montecito, California September 8, 2007. REUTERS/Harpo, Inc./Handout
Obama for president: http://www.barackobama.com
Unidentified guests stand at the gate of Oprah Winfrey's 42-acre estate, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, for a fundraiser for presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,in Montecito, Calif. The most powerful woman in show business was set to celebrate her favorite candidate at her palatial estate in this coastal enclave south of Santa Barbara. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
No barf alert ?
No barf alert ?
—
Sue me. lol
Obama and Oprah in the same title? It goes without saying. ;-)
Suspicious, but that looks Japanese.
We get this puff piece $hit while Fred gets smeared as a Libyan terrorist lawyer in the NY Slimes (nevermind it’s a prominent ex-rodent Senator who WAS the lawyer, and father of the current IA Governor).
Senator Barack Obama speaks to supporters during a presidential campaign
rally Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
(AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
AP = Abysmal Press .. I hear ya
She is such a racist.
Wow, black people are so oppressed in this evil country, I don’t know how they stand it, poor souls.
Or absolute pablum... either way.
Hey, they are oppressed. They keep giving 90% of their votes to the slave party. They need to be freed again.
He's keeps it up, he'll be political roadkill... perhaps literally..
.
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, speaks to supporters during a campaign rally Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
Linda Evans?
I thought she was on our side.
On edit
One of the Republican candidates need to flatly state that Obama isn't qualified to be President. Just lay it out there and damn what the liberal media says if they play the race card.
To think, all this time all the Democratic Party needed to get back on track was a black guy who doesn’t speak in rhyme or wear a tracksuit.
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