Oprah Hosts Obama in Star-Studded Event

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Oprah Hosts Obama in Star-Studded Event
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 8, 2007

MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) -- 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....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Winfrey.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Oprah Will Pay Dearly For This!

[Cha]

3. Are you being

sarcastic? In answer to another thread, perhaps?

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Just Referring To Clinton's And Murdoch's "Deck 'em" Politics

But aren't they such a cute couple? Those smiles are wonderful.

[beaconess]

6. Oprah's one of the few people who is probably immune from any kind of "deck 'em" politics

The woman is sitting on a BILLION dollars! She can hold her own against anything anyone throws at her.

Which may be one reason so many people's shorts are in a bunch about her support for Obama. To paraphrase Eddie Murphy's line in "48 Hours:"

"Oprah is some folks' worst nightmare: a black woman with a billion dollars!"

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Clinton Should Be The ONLY Choice Of African-Americans

She alone knows what it's like to serve on a plantation: "When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about" sayeth Clinton.

[Cha]

10. Oh, sorry..I get it..

it's a promise from corporatehogs. Thing about Oprah is ..she has her "Fuck You" money all safe and sound. How nice to be able to come out and support whomever you want without fear of what it will do to your career.

[Imagevision]

16. Oprah Will Pay Dearly For This., this is the best you got??!!

Oprah could very well be the deciding factor in who wins the primary...

[emilyg]

20. I sincerely doubt it.

[KingFlorez]

2. That's some fundraiser

Obama really raked in the dough here.

[Cha]

4. Cool! Desperate times

call for Desperate Measures. Let's hope Oprah and Obama are successful in their endeavors to even the playing field.

[illinoisprogressive]

7. wonder if she will get one of the Clintonistas threats...

[beaconess]

9. Wow - who needs Rush Limbaugh?

When folks at DU are so eager to do his work for him?

[Cha]

11. strawman, red herring,

demagoguery.

[Mrs. Overall]

12. We're witnessing the creation of "Oprama"!

[ruggerson]

19. rofl

Oprahma.

ROFL.

[snowbear]

22. Oprama? ... hmmm.. that has a nice ring to it...

Someone needs to whip out some cool t-shirts with that slogan on it and either a great photo or some type of awesome logo or other artwork!

Very clever! ~~

[TSIAS]

13. Wow! President Palmer supports Obama

Even when he's selling car insurance, Haysbert has a commanding voice.

Not that it matters, but it makes me smile having his endorsement given to Obama.

[beaconess]

14. I'm going to take a minute and, with a big smile, feel all warm, fuzzy and proud

And bask in the glow of seeing a black female billionaire help a viable black presidential candidate rake in a boatload of money at a major, media-frenzy-worthy fundraiser where a who's who of black people are the main attraction, not just the an occasional dark dot in an overwhelming sea of white faces!

Go on with your bad selves, my people!

[DeepModem Mom]

18. Thanks for this post, beaconess, and for a thoughtful pause! nt

[Ethelk2044]

15. Go Oprah

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 inattendance. 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 proceduresand relieved of cameras and recording devices. Instructions sent to guests noted that Winfrey and Obama would not be accepting gifts.

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-oprah-hosts-obama-in-starstudded-event/117054.htm

[saracat]

23. And aren't some GOP? Linda Evans and Jimmy Conners?

[sandnsea]

17. Other reports estimated 6,000 in SB

I wonder why the AP got it so wrong.

[Laurab]

21. Good for Oprah!

And, for Obama. It's nice to see that he has a lot of well-known, respected supporters, too. Oprah certainly wouldn't influence my vote (nor would very many other people), but she is almost universally liked and respected, and I'm glad Obama has her support. He still needs to become better-known among the not-so-political people, and Oprah will help with that.