Hollywood producer provided private plane to U.S. journalists returning from N. Korea
Stephen Bing, a Hollywood producer and friend of former President Bill Clinton, provided his own private jet to fly home the two L.A.-area journalists who had been held captive in North Korea,
An official at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank confirmed to the Associated Press that Bing owns the plane that carried Clinton, Euna Lee and Laura Ling home early this morning.
The wire service has more:
Bing was a multimillion-dollar donor to pro-Democratic groups that ran ads against Republican President George W. Bush in the 2004 campaign. He also donated at least $5 million to pay for a new Democratic National Committee headquarters in 2002, when Clinton loyalist Terry McAuliffe headed the party.
Bing contributed $40.1 million of the total $45.7 million raised to support a failed 2006 California ballot initiative that sought to tax companies drilling for oil in California. Bing's contributions were funneled through his Shangri-La Entertainment company.
Bing contributed $40.1 million of the total $45.7 million raised to support a failed 2006 California ballot initiative that sought to tax companies drilling for oil in California. Bing's contributions were funneled through his Shangri-La Entertainment company.
Photo credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
What kind of plane was it? A 737? 767?
Posted by: Steve | August 05, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Does anyone know what kind of jet it is? I wonder if it flew nonstop from Pyongyang to LA? I watched its arrival on TV this morning and it was shined up like an expensive pair of shoes!
Posted by: Doug | August 05, 2009 at 01:54 PM
I wondered who paid for that, and I think we all appreciate him stepping up on this. He's a major league good samaritan!
If only his previous, generous 40 million had helped California as he hoped...why do the other oil producing states tax corporations that drill for oil on state land? Why can't we tax for drilling for oil on our own land?
Stephen Bing for Governor. :-)
Posted by: tracy green | August 05, 2009 at 01:57 PM
That's good. Bing seems like a good guy.
Posted by: Paul | August 05, 2009 at 04:33 PM
Why is it I feel another Road movie in the making when I read this story? Its got all the right ingredients for a memorable movie. Bing's plane flies out of Bob Hope airport on a road to recovery in distant North Korea. Rescues two attractive babes and flies back to the States. Got to be a movie here surely ... Bill Clinton to play Bing Crosby. Al Gore to play Bob Hope maybe Wynona Ryder to play Dorothy Lamour. Be a box office bonanza ! Can't wait !
Posted by: Howard J. Powers | August 05, 2009 at 05:13 PM