Could Obama and Barbra break a record in Beverly Hills?

The polls are one thing, but it sounds like Barack Obama might make progress in other ways during two ultra-rich Beverly Hills fund-raisers Tuesday. According to Politico, the events could raise more than $9 million, which, if it happens, would be a one-day record. When you see how much folks are paying, it'll all make sense:

The first event will cost $28,500 per person for dinner at the Greystone Estate. Upwards of 250 high rollers — including some of the biggest executives in film, television and music — will munch gourmet chow and get to hang out with the candidate, enjoying a little face time and posing for personal pictures. A few spaces are left but the event is expected to sell out by Monday afternoon, possibly bringing in more than $8 million before expenses are subtracted. For a second, sold-out event Tuesday evening, the Obama caravan will travel just 2½ miles to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where a reception and concert will spotlight [Barbra] Streisand and several other performers.

Hollywood heavyweights such as Steven Spielberg and David Geffen probably aren't going for the music. The Times' Dan Morain and Noam Levey report that Obama is already raking in the cash at a record clip.

-- Shelby Grad

Photos: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[john t cheek]

The finanical announcements are critical. It's time for politics to be set aside and the affect this is having on the Americaan be dealt with first and foremost

[Gertrude Morgenstein]

This fundraiser has the potential to backfire horribly considering the general public's disgust with Hollywood. The last thing Obama needs is to be seen schmoozing and accepting large amounts of cash from the Hollywood elite for his failing campaign.

Then again, aren't we all just waiting for Hillary in '12 anyway?

Knock yourself out Barack...no, really...you were great.

[Rob]

The theory about Obama being an elitist can be confirmed every day. Now and every day he is rubbing shoulders with the rich who support the democrats. The wealthy movieproduces and artist that support Obama do not need to worry about taxhikes and high fuel prices. They don't make $10 / hour and drive a truck to work. We can't do a thing about fuel prices unless the democrats agree to start drilling for more, a descision alone will press down oil prices right away. The only conclusion is that democrats are in the pocket of big oil, their inaction drives up the oilprices and we suffer but the rich elite don't care and neither do the democrats.

[woodstock1969]

Barbra, here is a question to ask Mr. Obama at your fundraiser. Where were you coming from Mr. Obama, when you and Michelle sat in the pews and heard this from Rev Wright, and 2 years before you was forced to leave the church and separate from your mentor Rev. Wright. And Obamaites, do not lie, he said himself that Rev. Wright was his mentor.
"And if I could just add one more thing…
A full day of silence
for the tens of thousands of Palestinians
who have died at the hands of
U.S.-backed Israeli forces
over decades of occupation."
Anybody in their right mind who selects that same pastor to be on their spiritual advisory committee AFTER that statement, is someone who should not be president of the United States of America.

[Pat]

This makes me sick! Half the people in the state are losing their homes and these millionaires are throwing millions at a guy that already has millions ($60 Million raised in August!). Give me a break. How much money does one campaign need? Does he want another $25 Million podium? You want change? TRY DONATING to CAUSES ... not egos!

[phyllis Greenberg]

Im so proud of our Hollywood community being born and raised here......This is the most important election of our time........Everyone is so passionate about Obama! Our Man! Our Next President....God forbid Mc Cain/ Palin could get into the office of President of this country that we love? It would mean damage beyond our belief.....Thanks Hollywood!!! Counting the days until Nov 4th............Working for the Obama campaign in the Motor Avenue office.......Everyone needs to get out and vote!!! Obama / Biden ticket is our future.........I regret not being able to be there....Good luck....

[Andy]

Will Andrew Malcolm be protesting at both events?

[Jeff]

Woodstock1969, you took my question to Barbra. I wanted to ask her the same. I agree with most of her views but I wonder if she was ever troubled by Obama's 20-year relationship with an anti-semite (Rev. Wright) and another Jew-hater, Farrakhan. I come from the very same neighborhood as Obama, Hyde Park on Chicago's south side. I often walked to the very secured, heavily gated mansions of Muhammed Ali and other Muslims. Wright was right when he said Obama ended his relationship with Wright for strictly political reasons. I was for Hillary but I will reluctantly vote for Obama just to save us from McCain/Bush/Palin. They scare me more than Wright or Farrakhan ever did. Anyway, I hope the Streisand-Obama thing doesn't backfire in their faces.

[Rich Kay]

Hollywood is made up of morons. They don't even realize the person they are supporting will cost them millions in increased taxes. But they don't mind paying more taxes, they will just ask for more money when they do what they do. So what if it is pushed on the movie/concert goer who has to pay the ever increasing ticket prices.

[Lisa]

What is it with you posters? Do you think successful campaigns run on fumes? Do you think the campaign teams work for free? Have you checked out the going rates for ads on national network television? McCain is raising money,too, and his campaign manager is one of the biggest lobbyists in the country.

Get real and grow up. This is politics in the U.S.A.

[Ann]

Reading the other comments makes me wonder...do you people think Obama is going to get the money he needs to run a campaign against McCain by hitting up east L.A.? Does Cindy shop at Target? Good grief, people...wake up and smell the reality. McCain thinks under $5 million is poor. Hollywood is going to spend this money no matter what. Better on Obama than Rodeo Drive, although this isn't an either/or for them. . People DO donate to causes....AND spend on politics. Yes, that's how much money they have because someone (you and you and you?) glorifies celebs and makes them wealthy. If the general public is so disgusted with Hollywood why are they so compelling in the news/tv/internet/magazines?

[Existenz]

Nothing new. Every politician, including John McCain, comes to Hollywood for money. They also go to Texas for money, NYC for money, Chicago for money, etc.

Considering that Republican billionaires are planning to run more smear ads against Obama, he'll need the funds to defend himself. I wish I could go!

[E.J. Talbot]

Heck no I am not waiting for Hillary 2012; it's done and over for her, no doubt.
I am living for the here and the now aka Obama/Biden 2008.

[Griffin]

Thank you to those that can help finance the campaign of Barak Obama.
You are doing every member of this great country a favor.

Mr. Obama is most respectful of others.
He has dignity and intelligence.
He does not loose his composure or temper.
He continues to stay focus on the many tasks at hand with grace and
vigilance. He is a forward thinker. He will be the next great Leader.
Embrace Change.
Vote Nov. 4

[JillK]

Dear Rob,

You are mistaken. I don't blame you, I blame John McCain for lying to you. Drilling for oil will NOT bring down prices at the pump any time in the near future -- it is a cosmetic issue that McCain has chosen to delude you about so that he can win the election. Even if we started drilling tomorrow, we wouldn't see the results of it until 2030!!

1. The Big Oil companies already hold leases on thousands of acres of land in the United States that they aren't drilling. If it was only about "drilling at home," they could be doing that RIGHT NOW. No, it's about GREED. They want more, more, MORE.

2. Oil is a commodity that is traded on the WORLD MARKET. There is nothing stopping the Big Oil companies from dumping it into the world market, where it could be bought for a higher price by the Chinese. Oh, and since OPEC controls the release of oil into the marketplace, they can just reduce supply until the demand increases, once again driving prices up, up, UP! Free Market, Baby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG8YbBbLCI4&feature=user

3. John McCain refuses to sign the New Energy Reform Act of 2008, which would require oil produced in the U.S. to stay in the U.S.!! Why? Because it would close loopholes that benefit his buddies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Energy_Reform_Act_of_2008

4. Even John McCain says the only impact offshore drilling will have is a "psychological impact." Here are his own words: "I don't see an immediate relief, but I do see that exploitation of existing reserves that may exist -- and in view of many experts that do exist off our coasts -- is also a way that we need to provide relief. Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial."

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/mccains_power_outage.html

Dear Pat,

You might want to check out barackobama.com, where he is encouraging his supporters to donate to the Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricanes Hannah & Ike. He even provides a nifty little link for you right on the main page!

[Jim]

Wow, We have a run on confused people here. Gertrude, thinks the general public hates Hollywood. Could you please link to some evidence? Rob, thinks that drilling for oil right now, will reduce gas prices after tons of evidence to the contrary has been posted right here in the Times. Woodstock, wants to talk about the Rev Wright, while ignoring Gov Palin, and her own church's attention to "Jews for Jesus" and the "pray the gay away" campaigns. Pat, wants to talk about the sub prime mortgage crisis and Obama, while ignoring John McCain's mentor and associate Phil Gramm, and how he got all of that started while he was a Senator.
Finally, Andy posts a mysterious message at Andrew Malcolm, but doesn't care to let the rest of us in on the secret.
This is the most important election in a generation, and we have people still wrapped up in partisan illogic.These people are entitled to their opinions of course, but after eight years of George Bush, you would think these people might be motivated to stand up for no more of the same.You got eight years of nothing, most people would know when that is enough.

[trinity trinh]

hey, all you haters of obama. go to hell. why are you guys hating obama just for trying to raise money? no matter what people he tried to raise money with, idiots like you guys would try to find something to blame him with. have some respect for a guy that can raise this much money in one night. can you? dont think so, so shut up and go to sleep. and wait til nov 4th when this hero becomes president and saves us. mccain is an a**hole... whoops. bye. thanks. obama 08.

[Teddy]

Judging from the comments, LA is made up solely of celebrities and rightwing trolls.

[gaypastor]

Barbra is a traitor to women everywhere! I guess she's just as "elitist" as Obama is.

[Robert]

Once again the elitist seem to show their true colors. Every day we hear Obama calming that is like the average person well this should show you who is out of touch. With people loosing their homes, job’s and retirement saving. (Let’s blame the republican) while the democrats control the congress and the senate and spend 100 of million to buy the white house. When will we get fed up and stop letting the rich and famous (Greedy) people who pray on the rest of us to set policy that they benefit from WE NEED TO TAKE BACK AMERICA with a true third party set up by the people for the people.

[john]

Thank you Barbara for all your work and support of Obama and Biden. You know what is at stake in this election.

[Paul]

Wow, the hypocrisy of some of these posters....I guess it's perfectly ok for John McBush to ask his rich oil buddies for money, but when a Democrat goes to Hollywood for money, people rant & rave....

Republicans are such hypocrites it is sickening...

[MrUniteUs]

Enough with the whining.

McCain gets millions of dollars worth of promotion on right wing radio everyday.

The fact is people of all socio-economic level are supporting Obama's campaign. Obama picked 500,000 new donors last month alone, mostly average people.

Obama represents the epitome of the American dream. Worked hard in school and in his professional life. Spent his adult life helping others, and by all accounts he is excellent husband and father. That's why he is getting the support he gets.

[Mr. Unite Us]

"Palin today raised almost $1 million for Republican Party coffers at a fundraiser at a country club in Canton, Ohio. McCain took in $5.1 million at a Miami fundraiser." Where are the whiners?

Paul,
You are absolutely right. Some how its wrong for Obama to raise money, draw large crowds, be a great family man, produce Xlnt legislation, graduate, from top colleges, dedicate his life to helping others and inspire millions of Americans.

I see a double standard.

[Nurse]

Isn't anybody wondering what Barbra is going to sing? What would fit? Do you think she will sing, "God Bless America?"

- from a serious Barbra Streisand fan who sincerly wishes she would have stayed out of politics.

Why couldn't she just retire after "The Mirror Had Two Faces" . I know that it was not her most popular movie, but I watched it about a dozen times or so. I loved that movie.

[Brett]

Gosh, I thought that was Miss Piggy

[dragonfly777]

More $28,000 dinners? My! MY! Obama has so little time to keep soaking people. Hurry Obarbie! Hurry!

[Sister]

Thank you Mrs. Barbra Streisand for hosting this event. We all know that campaigns cost money, and we also know that, Mr. Obama will need all the fund he can get from his supporters, rich or poor, and we also know he is not federal funded by using the Gov't Tax payers money for his campaign. The Gov't has enough on their hand try to save the US from a depression, by to bailing out the Greedy Finanical institutions, a campaign should be the last of the Gov't worries.

Again, everyone in Hollywood who is helping Mr. Obama with his campaign, Thanks. PS. Remember to help the hurricane Victims and Haiti.

[PROUDusa]

...AND TELL US AGAIN HOW BHO IS SO IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMON PEOPLE OF THE USA...YEAH, I DIDNT THINK SO. HE HASNT A CLUE!