Hillary raises Oprah's Obama bash with a Magic party

Celebrities dueling over politicians. Or politicians dueling with politicians via celebrities.

Either way it's a fun story. And here we go. Do you remember all the hubub a few weeks ago when talk show diva and black billionaire Oprah Winfrey announced her support for fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama and agreed to throw an exclusive fundraiser for him at her Santa Barbara area home on Sept. 8?

Well, Hillary Clinton's campaign will announce any minute now that Magic Johnson will host a fundraiser for her at HIS house six days later on Sept. 14. Co-hosts of the celebrity event will be musician Quincy Jones, a longtime supporter of both Clintons, Berry Gordy, the founder of the Motown music empire, and Clarence Avant, another longtime music industry executive who is also African American.

"Senator Hillary Clinton understands the domestic and international issues better than anyone," Johnson will say in the release. "and has the experience and knowledge to help lead our country and get us to a better place. We need a winner as our next president."

Clinton responded, "I am honored to have such Magical and fabulous support."

Gordy, Avant and Jones have similar glowing things to say. The event will be held at the home of Magic and Cookie Johnson.

And the nice thing for Hollywood's hard-pressed celebrities, being pressured to pick sides in this ongoing Democratic fray, is that the events are on different nights. So they can pay $2,300 apiece twice and will be unable to use a scheduling conflict as an excuse.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[vwcat]

Magic Johnson was a huge deal in the early 90s. All the so called big names supporting Clinton are names from yesterday, just like Clinton herself. They don't have sayings like you can't go home again and you cannot relive yesterday for a reason.
But, Oprah is today. now. and the celebrities who back Obama is like the candidate. today, now, and huge.
there is a difference. Hillary is all about days long gone by and trying to recapture 15 years ago. Truth is, her time has long past and she is much older today than in 92. Her supporters are people who were big deals yesterday.
Barack Obama embodies what is happening now. He has vision and looks to tomorrow. Hillary has no vision because it was all yesterday. Obama is what is important now.
it is no longer 1992.
It is now 2007

[Leo]

By your reasoning, anyone older than 46 (Obama's age) is yesterday's news and not fit to be commander in chief. Please, this is just utterly ridiculous! With no real executive and foreign policy experience, Obama is just too dangerous to be entrusted with our national security and global affairs, as clearly evidenced in his amateur and naive statements.

Hillary Clinton is the only candidate who offers solid experience, indepth knowledge of world and domestic affairs, and the audacity to "change" our country for the better.

[joshua penso]

The idea of either Obama or Clinton as president is scary to say the least. Unfortunately with either of them we are making universal health care more likely and the war on terrorism will turn into only a bumper sticker. These two are actually truth be told farther to the left than John Edwards who is not quite as scary as them because it is clear that he is merely a politically hungry opportunist. None of them have the mental acuity or balanced reasoning most Americans desire in a president. As they showed in their recent visit to the DailyKos pary, they really pander to the far left of even their own party and don't come close to representing most Americans the way that Rudy Giuliani would. Also, we need to choose our leaders carefully and not listen to people like Magic Johnson who only makes choices recklessly, particularly in the bedroom.

[Angela]

vwcat: So now you are saying Hillary's time has past because she has Magic Johnson as a supporter instead of Oprah? Give me a break. Then again, I guess I would say something like that if I couldn't criticize someone based on real things such as a lack of experience. Don't get me wrong, I like Obama, I just think he is too green to be President. Hillary has bested him at every opportunity and has earned her current status as top contender.

[xcave]

I am sick of this "experience" argument, it is getting stupid and overblown. Among presidents who had less or about the same experience on the national political stage as Obama: George Washington (just a war general), Abe Lincoln (state senate), FDR (first term governor), and JFK (first term U.S. senator). In fact, the two most "experienced" presidents in recent memory were LBJ and Richard Nixon. They worked out well. The truth is, experience means nothing once someone reaches the White House. The only things that matter in a president are his intelligence, decision-making ability, and ability to surround himself with good advisers. Those are three things that have been lacking in the White House for 7 years if I do say so myself, and also three things that Obama possesses. Obama is extremely intelligent and studied at Columbia and Harvard before becoming a law professor. He has proven his ability to make good decisions by being against the Iraq War from the very start. And finally, throughout his career, he has taken advice from both conservatives and liberals, so he won't surround himself with cronies. The only thing he lacks is experience according to the skeptics, the same experience that pulled us into the biggest foreign policy disaster in history, the same experience that made us want to nominate Kerry instead of Dean, clearly the much better candidate. Do we really want any more of that experience?

[Jamal]

I'm not surprised at all. I knew Hillary would try to replicate the move. She's never had any creative ideas. Once a follower, always a follower.

I find it quite amusing though, that Hillary supporters say Obama is not electable because he's black, yet they pander to black voters and seek endoresements and support from used-to-be-big black celebrities.

What a disgrace!

[Sarah Jane, Iowa]

Magic Johnson? I thought he had HIV-AIDS before he didn't have it? Anyway, that sounds very much like Hillary Clinton.
I can imagine how terribly hard the Clintons have fought for this. They coerce for endorsements and even pay for some.
If she were a genuine front-runner, she won't have to do all that. Her internal polls show that she's not winning.
Personally, I see this as a stupid copycat. It's like saying Magic and Oprah are on the same league. And I think Oprah and those who love Oprah will try and punish the Clintons for that.

[Joel]

I would automatically vote against anyone who is endorsed by Oprah. She is a buffoon who knows nothing about public policy.

[Gizella]

It's astonishing that so many people cite Hillary's "experience" as a reason to vote for her. The Democrat with the MOST experience is probably Joe Biden.

This race has nothing to do with experience and everything to do with popularity.

Hearing Joe Biden on Charlie Rose brought that really home to me. Alas, he's not popular.

[Kap]

With all due respect, it was quite unbelievable that Obama didn't know that our largest neighbor and trading partner has a parliamentary form of government (he spoke of calling the President of Canda). Regarding cronies, his land deal with a man under indictment in Illinois was poor judgement (decision making ability) by his own admission. Recent polling that shows Hillary pulling away (whereas Obama peaked when he announced) proves the fallacy of these earlier posts.

[mysistagirl]

xcave:
I'm right with you on this nonsensical "experience" argument. I think people are just repeating what they hear others say without really examining it.

While experience deserves consideration, it is far from the most paramount qualification. Far from it. Knowledge and good, solid judgement is more essential than any amount of experience. After all, it was "experience" completely void of good judgement that got us into this Iraq mess. For all her experience, Hillary's (and other's) judgement was out to lunch. There was a whole boat load of experience in Cheney and Rumsfeld and where did that get us? Again, if it's lacking in judgement it is worthless.

When I got hired at my job, I was not the person with the most experience. In fact, I was fresh out of college, but the hiring manager said something to me that is relevent to this discussion. He said "often times experience brings with it baggage, so as long as you bring us the knowledge and ability, we'll give you the experience". I've been here for 16 years and I'm the senior advisor in my department. To focus on this "experience" issue to the complete exclusion of other characteristics can be detrimental, and in and of itself demonstrates a lack of good judgement!.

So people need to stick a fork in this "experience" argument. It's way over done and blown way out of proportion with other essential characteristics necessary to be effective.

[Gary]

The experience argument is NOT overblown. Every generation has its own set of circumstances to deal with. When George Washington and Abe Lincoln were president with "little experience" as you suggest, the country was in a very different place.

Now, the world is very complicated, we are in the middle of a dangerous war, and there are a lot of domestic problems to deal with.

Obama lacks the experience to get started on day 1. Hillary Clinton is ready and has been ready to lead.

We don't need a president who will need on the job training.

[Mike]

"Every generation has its own set of circumstances to deal with. When George Washington and Abe Lincoln were president with "little experience" as you suggest, the country was in a very different place. Now, the world is very complicated, we are in the middle of a dangerous war, and there are a lot of domestic problems to deal with." ... wrote Gary

The Revolution wasn't complicated? The Civil War wasn't complicated? You are an idiot. To "suggest" that Washington and Lincoln could not lead this country today is laughable. It's amazing you know how to even type letters into words.

[John Schmor]

There's no question that Clinton has more experience than Obama - the question I keep asking myself is which kind of experience really counts in this time? I am baffled by the writer who thinks Washington, Lincoln, and FDR were not presidents in "complicated times." None of them had even close to the former first lady's experience. Then again, how is being a first lady experience we should count? I want a woman president soon - but not through the kitchen door. I also want a non-caucasian multi-cultured president who can actually TALK to other leaders without immediately assuming the USA deserves rights of primacy, like the old ugly British empire. We know in our own lives that different people bring different forms of experience to their success and their worth to the community - why do we expect, in these terrible times that we need only one kind? The key for me is the moral center of the candidate, and I think Clinton has none - she ran for senator of a state she had never lived in so that she could run for president because her husband was, forgive me Clinton lovers, a real mess of an executive. Are we only ever going to look back in order to look forwards? Do executives in strong companies succeed because they've "been there?" No, I think we need radical change, Republican or Democratic - I will vote for the one who seems most capable of change - NOT the one who seems most "experienced."

[Jimmie]

I 'm a barack supporter that will vote republican if hillary is allowed to steal this election. Hillary supporters can gush all they want to about experience. She is an experience liar, her husband is responsible for bush's' presidency and the loss of nuclear secrets to china. She's bought and pay for by special interest. Her supporters are nieve if they think that the government will get anything done if she's president. In the begining of this campaign I thought that maybe I could vote for her but I realize I have to much Intergrity. If she wins the Dem race I will make a protest vote so will many others, Sorry to tell you guys but she will not be President. She the only Dem that's worse for America than the Repubs. Anouncing Majic Johnson as a supporter! Get real this 2007 not 1807 he means nothing he represent nothing to the black community and to the world. Now if she really wanted to do something she should have gotten Dennis Rodmen. Right or wrong at least he has conviction. What is majic? Nothing, a who cares,

[Anthony]

Oprah' s support of Senator Obama is significant not just for fundraising purposes, but because her endorsement can potentially allow Obama to cut into Hillary's huge lead with Democratic women, the primary reason for Hilary's lead in the early polls. While Magic Johnson is a beloved athlete, entrepenuer, and HIV/AIDs activist/icon, he doesn't have the media presence or cultural currency to help Hillary Clinton win the African American vote. If anything the attempt to diminish the headline impact of Oprah's fundraiser for Senator Obama, only further erodes Senator Clinton's campaigns claim of inevitability.

[mitch]

having Hillary as President would give us experience and contacts and Bill as a HUGE foreign relations asset. if we are to win the war against terrorism (not terror, as the anti-American dubya and neo-cons constantly mistakenly call it), we need international cooperation. so given their compassion and intelligence for the best interests of our children and families domestically, and the intelligence and goodwill for the best interests of our families serving our country internationally, another President Clinton is our best choice. I care about our nation and our soldiers and my child. That is why I will vote for Hillary.

[Steve]

Hillary is a follower rather than a leader. Obama initiated most of the newsworthy items that have happened recently. Hillary just tags onto his coattails to talk about the same subject matter. I haven't seen or heard anything so far that has come from Hillary that is not as a response to what Obama is doing. Hillary's foreign travel experience does not qualify as foreign policy experience. She is old news. Her presidency will probably end up as a clone of another democratic president in the recent past. We have already seen the disasters of that presidency. We want new blood with new ideas. Hillary has not really proved much as a senator either. I would like somebody in this forum to list 3 accomplishments that can be credited directly to Hillary as a senator.

[miriam]

If you do vote for Hillary, I hope you enjoy waiting in DMV style lines to see a doctor. Enjoy!

[Ezekiel, Charlton, SC]

I can see how Hillary's experience helped her to mess up healthcare in 1993.

I can see how her experience helped her say only last year that she would take nuclear weapons off the table and one year later she said it should not be discused.

I can see how her experience helped her formulate the belief that American people should not be told the truth.

I can see how her experience taiught her that it was morally and political correct to accept money from the same people who have stiffled her efforts in the past, as long as they help her get elected this time.

I can see how her experience helped her authorize a war that has caused hundreds of orphans, widows, thousands of death and billions of dollars.

Yes, I see how her experience helped her and Bill put hundreds of black people in jail and now they need them to get back to the white house for the second time.

You must be heartless, if you support this woman for President.

[citizen]

Hillary the follower. Obama get's invited months prior to the Selma event and Clinton armtwists an invite to be there at another church. Then Oprah announces a fundraiser for Obama, so Hillary has to look around for someone to host one for her the same week. She just can't bear it can see? And if given a choice, I think Oprah will be the party of the year, not Majic Johnson. While I admire him, I think he and Quincy Jones need to learn what is in the hearts of black people before they put themselves out there to do a fundraiser for Hillary. The news is starting to get out on all the illegal activities of Clinton, and just wait until the California Teachers Association find out how Bill Clinton through the Yucaipa corporation is plundering their pension funds to fund Al Gore's TV station and I could go on. Google is featuring a movie trailer of an upcoming documentary about a massive lawsuit against Bill Clinton and the press isn't even covering it but they will cover a Majic Johnson fundraiser. Interesting how Clinton has the media annoiting her as the next President before one vote is cast. I call the Media the new "swiftboaters for Clinton" and they have already begun their attacks and people are actually believing their idiotic half truths instead of researching for themselves what is true and what is not.

By the way, Judgement trumps experience any day of the week and Clinton has no judgement.

[Diamond]

You must be in a pipe dream to really think that Americans will elect another Clinton (a woman at that) into the whote House. America must be pretty desperate. It couldn't find a man for the job or even a woman from a different family other than the Clinton family.

This country is full of opportunities and smart people. Every family must get a fair shot. Power cannot be monopolized by the Bush's and the Clintons. After that, who's next? Jeb Bush then Chelsea Clinton, then one of the Bush twins? get outta here!

[Grace Kelly]

LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR:

If Hillary steals this nomination, I WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN. And so will millions of Democrats.
Just as many Republicans are defecting to Obama now, many Democrats will defect to a uniting, non-polarizing Republican nominee if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination.

But it will not just be us. Hillary's nomination will astronomically raise voter turn-out among Republicans because of the Anti-Clinton sentiment and the anti Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton sentiment.

So, Democrats take note: You will have to put up with another Republican President if you nominate lieing, conniving Senator Clinton, because millions of Dems like myself WILL VOTE AGAINST HER in the general election, under any circumstance. ANYBODY BUT HILLARY.
Americans will know the truth when she goes to court later this year.

[ike]

Bill was a good President but HILL IS NO BILL.

Bill is a former UNITES STATES president and Hillary's spose, but she doesn't own him.

Any next President can appoint Bill to a foreign relation position, not just Hillary.

[Mil Nzemba]

Hillary is so polirized that I wouldn't even consider to be on the ticket.
If Obama makes that known to his supporters, I am sure it will change the dynamic on the race.
That's how JFK won the election...he was franck and direct and said that he would gladly return to congress if he's not the nominee.

Its a bold move and OBAMA needs to make that move in order to be seen different. Not just someone who wants to be in power.