Hollywood Concert Raises $5M for Kerry

[CShine]

LOS ANGELES - Comedian Billy Crystal called it "Woodstock for really, really rich people" as Hollywood's artists came out to raise $5 million to put Democrat John Kerry in the White House.

"A presidential candidate needs all the friends he can get, even if they come from show business," said actor Ben Affleck, opening Thursday night's star-studded concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond performed their 1978 hit "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" together for the first time in 24 years. Streisand also sang a special 2004 election version of her song "People." The song poked fun at White House figures including President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, "the spookiest person in the world."

"When the White House stationery reads president John Kerry," she crooned, "we'll be the luckiest people in the world."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=696&e=6&u=/ap/20040625/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_fund_raiser

[Worst Username Ever]

1. Kerry needs to be careful

That people don't associate him with rich stars like they did with McGovern. The repugs were able to associate him with appealing to the the limosine crowd and not the common Amurkin, and the star-power backing him really backfired.

[Heddi]

2. oh but it's okay for bush to say

"Some call you the elite, but I call you my base?"

BULL-SHIT

Anyone can support anyone they want. I don't hear anyone poo-pooing bush over speaking at $1500-$2500 dollar-a-plate dinner trying to raise money from big-wig Oil barrons, or beef barrons, or land barrons, or corn barrons.

Fuck that. Get your money where you can and get your support where you can.

I guess some would suggest that those in Hollywood shouldn't be allowed to vote, lest 'our candidate' be accused of receiving votes from the 'hollywood elite' rather than from 'avg americans' :eyes:

Here's a hint---the "average" american gets their news from Entertainment Tonight and EXTRA and Celebrity Justice. The "average" American thinks that J-Lo's marriage is more of an important issue than, oh, health-care reform. THe 'average' american is more interested in that Olsen girl being an Anorexic than millions of normal middle-class girls having eating disorders and having no private treatment facilities and pretty much no treatment at all other than "be a good girl and clean your plate"

If Entertainment Weekly says that Ben Affleck supports Kerry, no doubt there will be many people who will support Kerry---not because of his politics, but because their fave celeb supports Kerry.

**edited for a slight error in grammar**

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Thank You!!!! Also, is it O.K for Bush to have...

Rapist KKKelsey Grammer, a celebrity supporting his campaign???

:wtf:

Again: Why the F--- is it O.K for Right Wing Stars to have political views such as the Nashville Nazis but Liberals have no such right???

[Heddi]

6. Just like it's okay for

the likes of Toby Keith to spout racist, xenophobic, bigoted songs and albums and that's 'freedom of speech', and it's okay for Bruce Willis to travel to Iraq b/c that's "supporting the troops", and it's okay for various celebrities to get on TV and yammer their jaw about the war and support this and pray for the president that, because that's good ol' fashioned "opinion".

BUT

The Dixie Chicks say something negative about the president, and that's HIGH FUCKING TREASON. Sean Penn goes to Iraq, and that's AIDING THE ENEMY. Various celebrities get on tv and yammer their jaw about opposition to the war this and bring them home now that, and they're told to STAY OUT OF POLITICS AND STICK TO HOLLYWOOD.

Double standard?

Naw. Not at all. Not a single bit.

Just like Republican-appointed judges who go beyond the scope of their powers could NEVER be "activist judges". Only Democrat-appointed judges.

[Worst Username Ever]

5. What I am saying

is that the pattern has backfired before. Don't *misunderestimate* the hypocracy of the right. As we all know, there have been too many occasions to count where the right does one thing, and the paints a negative picture (that somehow manages to stick) of the left doing to same thing. E.G. flip-flopping...

[Heddi]

7. WHO FUCKING CARES?

I am so sick of having to wipe my ass a certain way, lest the "republicans" would rather me wipe another way.

Of COURSE the right does one thing then chastizes the left for doing the same thing. IT'S CALLED REPUBLICANISM.

Jesus Christ. I'm so sick of this talk on DU that we shouldn't say anything, shouldn't do anything, shouldn't THINK anything that would disagree with the Right-Wing or Republicans or Freepers.

WHO FUCKING CARES WHAT THEY THINK OF US. God.

I'm just WAITING on the thread that suggests that we should all just go ahead and vote republican during every election, because gosh! What would the republicans think if we DARED to vote for a Democrat? Sheesh! Imagine the shit-storm THAT would raise.

Look--it doesn't matter what we do. They'll always find fault with it. We follow their lead, and they say "oh, well we must be doing SOMETHING right or else the Democrats wouldn't do it." We go against their lead and they say "oh! Well of COURSE they have to try to do it their own way".

They have celebrity coffers and deep-pocket donors. That's okay. But WE have celebrity coffers and deep-pocket donors and suddenly "oh no! Kerry shouldn't associate with those types lest he get labeled a HOLLYWOOD ELITIST

Here's a fucking hint-----John Kerry could eat fucking Ramen Noodles and live in a homeless shelter and never associate with ANYONE who makes more than $14,000 a year before taxes, and the right would STILL PAINT HIM AS A FUCKING HOLLYWOOD ELITIST because once, in his youth, he went to a movie theater. Therefore, ergo, i.e. he's a hollywood elitist.

Don't you see. It makes no difference. They're fucking insane and I'm tired of having live 'politically' based upon what they'd think, say, do, or imply.

[Tippy]

9. I agree with your post...

For many years republicans have pulled this little stunt and because our Democrats do care how they are viewed they kept their distance ...but what did that get us..we need Democrats with a spine..we don't need republicans telling us what is wrong and what is right...

[sadiesworld]

14. Nice rant.

:thumbsup:

[KAZ]

15. Excellent rant!

This, and the one above. Sure are some wonderfull writers on DU. Thanks!

[ilovenicepeople]

23. Fucking Excellent Rant!

:hi:

[TheWraith]

16. It's not about how they think about us.

It's about how they portray us, and not playing into their spin. You play it right, do and say the right things, and all their accusations will play in the electorate as negativism and hypocracy. For example, when they screech about "Hollywood elitism," and how actors shouldn't be involved in politics, you suggest that if they really feel that way then they should ask Gov. Schwarzenegger to resign.

Politics is all about how things are percieved. You do and say the wrong things, and you're providing the proof to all of their bullshit. Do it right and you kick their ass.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Yes , this has been

used against us before. But the answer is not to roll over and refuse millions of dollars from good liberals with money, who unlike *'s supporters, don't want anything from Kerry for their contribution. The answer for the left is to answer these charges with one voice. The left hosts on Crossfire, all the hosts on Air America, Howard, Michael, and any Democratic representative, including the Kerry campaign, all need to be pointing out where the * money comes from. Amd they need to do it OVER and OVER and OVER again until the average 'murican is as familiar with it as the term "liberal media." Oh, and did I mention that they need to point this out many, many times?

[Piperay]

24. Phooey

Gore was criticized because he didn't cater enough to the Hollywood crowd. The Democrats get criticized no matter what they do, better to 'error' on the side of bringing in big campaign bucks.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. Incredible Event

Wow. Just wow. Seeing Neil and Barbra together was a once-in-a-lifetime treat.

Celeb Presenters: Ben Affleck, Billy Crystal, Jamie Foxx, Esai Morales, Ben Stiller, Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro.

Musicians: an 8-year-old Hapa cellist whose name I've forgotten, Willie Nelson, Angie Stone, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand.

DTH

[David Zephyr]

17. Thank You, DoveTurnedHawk For Helping Me Buy Tickets to Kerry/Streisand

And thanks for jumping in at the last moment to help me and my friends out!

Streisand and Diamond were magic together and we had a heavenly evening there in the Disney Hall last night.

My friends told me to express their gratitude to you for making the effort to find us tickets to purchase, DTH!

You also can feel very good about raising some extra thousands of dollars for Kerry's campaign. I feel just great about my contribution.

Finally, Teresa Heinz Kerry really impressed me greatly. Her intelligence is only matched by her great heart. What a woman!

:hi:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

18. It Was Truly My Pleasure, David

Will we be seeing you on Sunday? :-)

DTH

[David Zephyr]

19. We Are Hoping to Be There Sunday.

We'll be in Palm Springs Saturday night and Sunday morning, but then hope to head directly there.

Did you see the idiot Bush supporters "protesting" outside the Disney Hall? Everyone of them was white! I chided them upon entering that they should be able to at least hire some one of color to stand with them because their protest group looked a little too John Bircher. My friends nearly gagged me.

Streisand's "People" was a riot!

[JI7]

20. i hope they show this on tv

[4_Legs_Good]

10. How does it work with the $2K donation cap?

I heard some tickets were going for $25K.

curious...

david

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. "Kerry Victory 2004" Is a Joint Fundraising Committee

At least I think that's what it's called. The first $2,000 of any donation (minus any previous hard money donations to JK's campaign fund) to Kerry Victory 2004 goes to JK's campaign fund, and counts against the hard money cap.

The remainder goes to the DNC, which has a max $25,000 limit.

DTH

[4_Legs_Good]

13. Ahhh, sounds great!

[Beaverhausen]

12. These celebs won't be writing policy like *s rich friends did

I think it's great!

and it's not like celebs don't do fundraisers for * too.

[cmkramer]

21. True

Also, plenty of liberal celebrities have also gone overseas to entertain the troops in the Gulf including Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, and Sheryl Crowe.

[JI7]

22. many celebs also come from non rich backgrounds

they understand that before that big break which turned them into a big star, how tough things are for people. and they tend to not forget. i think it's one reason most of them are liberals.

[dArKeR]

25. Stars come out for Kerry - MSGOP

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5295804/