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

[Eugene Minter]

I use to like Magic, but this has drastically changed my views of him. The Clintons are the sneakest of "snakes". We must get past them now!! I am a democrat who will vote for a republican if Hillary is the nominee.

[Marilee Cramer-Smith]

I am most certainly supporting Hillary and voting for her and it has everything to do with experience. Obama supporters like to say that experience isn't important, or that Hillary has the wrong kind of experience. Hell, they'll say anything to push the relatively inexperienced Barack Obama into the most difficult and important position in the world.

I am a Democrat and I happen to like Barack Obama and I like his wife too. But there is NO way Obama is ready for the Presidency - he proves it over and over again.

And no amount of "spin" by Obama, by his campaign team and by his supporters can change that.

[Theresa McDonald]

I take the Presidency much much too seriously to want Barack Obama in the Oval Office. He cannot hold a candle to Hillary Clinton, at any level. He is trying to win the Presidency on ONE speech that he gave a few years ago. Just listen to him in the debates; listen to him in his townhall meetings -- read the strange, contorted "explanations" given by David Axelrod every time Obama screws up.

Hillary is way out ahead of Obama and I expect her to increase that lead as we get into the Fall months.

[patty merrill]

to joseph penso...

I'm not sure where you are getting your information about the candidates but it must be Fox News because you are really out of touch with fair and balanced information...Do you read the LA Times or any other open print?

Patty

[Eve]

Two things bother me about Obama: one term in the Senate is just not enough exposure to national governemnt to lead this country. Two: in 2006, he co-sponsored a bill to end the slaughter of horses in the US for foreign consumption; he has refused to do so in 2007; obviously because he doesn't want to step on the toes of pro-horse slaughter people. This does not speak well of him.

I'm not wild about Hillary, but she's the best choice among the two. Edwards, as someone else said, comes across as a opportunist.

I wish Gore would reconsider.

[D.Brown]

I am an Obama supporter than like Hillary Clinton. I will definantly vote for Obama, but I don't have many bad things to say about Hillary; so far. At this point if she won the primary I would support her; however, as the political season continues and she continue to use her retoric against Obama I will absolutely vote against her by voting for the Republican candidate or not at all. I would like to see a dream team ticket Obama/Clinton.

[Leye]

I think all this argument about experience, freshness, or change is all nonsense. This democratic field is strong and are capable of delivering. Instead of the different camps trying to undercut each other or to make the other look bad, they should be concentrating their efforts in pounding the Republicans. It is my belief that any of these Democratic candidates, CLinton, Obama, Dodd, Biden, Richardson etc are extremely capable and each has his or her own baggage.

[Mia Perry]

The idea that Barack or Hillary are the best options is sad at best. Joe Biden actually has the most experience in foreign policy, being a politicians WIFE, doesn't make you experienced inforeign policy, nor does less than 8 years in the senate.

On a personal note, I'm a HUGE fan of Hillary and Barack, especially Barack. I do think he has vision, and smart enough to have choose an experienced team that will compliment, not over-run what direction the country should go in.

Now to Rudy, this a joke. This guy MARRIED HIS SECOND COUSIN, and was married to her 14 years. That is SICK!!! He cheated on her with Donna Hanover, then humilated Donna and his children with his affair with Judi Nathan. That type of behavior should be taken into consideration, as it should have been discussed in the Clinton era. How you treat your family, people you supposedly LOVE, is fair game to me. Let's talk about friends, that he says "are the best people he know," are accused or proven to be corrupt and child molesters says alot about how his judge of character. Lastly, while he did turn crime around in NY, and seem to be a stand up guy during 9/11, what else has he done, that he should be the candidate of choice, especially for Republicans?

[xcave]

First of all, no endorsement rarely make any difference. Oprah is probably the only exception to this rule. Whatever Oprah says America does. This is true for books, movies, cars, and probably presidential candidates.She is probably the most influential person in the world right now in that respect. She is the figurehead of the house-wife population. No other endorsements matter--not Clooney, Matt Damon, Stephen Colbert, and Jennifer Aniston for Obama, and not Magic Johnson for Hillary. THAT is a fact.
And secondly, I don't understand all this "First Lady" experience. Laura Bush has the same exact experience as a First Lady as Clinton, do you think SHE should be president? No, because that experience doesn't mean anything. experience means nothing. What matters is the decisions you make when you get into office. Obama will make the right the decisions, I can give you a guarantee on that.
If Clinton wins, I'm writing in Michael Bloomberg. This isn't medieval europe, I don't want two families running the White House for thirty years.

[Clinton]

Hillary Clinton is the best! Obama lacks experience and it shows. One moment he wants to have lunch with dictators and the next he wants to bomb our ally Pakistan. If he wins the democratic nomination, I will definitely vote Republican!!! As for Oprah,she should stay out of politics and should continue to just sit on her ass and talk.

[J]

If Hillary is the nominee, she will single-handedly lose this election for the Dems. It is unfathomable to think that someone as divisive and reviled as she is would emerge as the nominee. Can Dems afford to lose again? Can the country? As for the experience argument, I guess Hillary is so experienced that she didn't have to read the intelligence report leading up to the war. Her 'experience' isn't worth a whit and neither is her judgement. Does the country want more of the same old thinking of the past 16 years? New, fresh ways to deal with our myriad problems is what's needed. Obama's judgement (and he DOES have experience) trumps Hillary's old school experience, not to mention her finger-in-the-wind approach to her positions. Oh, one more thing. Quincy Jones bases his support of Hillary on smoking cigars and drinking in the White House with the Clintons (see the LA Times article). I guess it's cool to be invited to the big house, and he wants to go back. Quincy Jones is a musical genius, not a bellwether for his political acumen.

[Carolyn Grace]

Magic Johnson and his wife both gave $4,600 each to Senator Obama in the first quarter. I guess the Clintons put the squeeze on him to endorse Hillary. That's what they've been doing to everyone leaning towards Obama. Get a spine people and stand up against the machine. She is not going to get the nomination. And even if she would, can't win the general. Every rightwing nut in the country would come out to vote against her. She is just too devisive. This country needs someone to unite, not divide.

[Rus Styles]

Disappointed in MJ, but as previously mentioned, Oprah has no equal when it comes to influence, especially with mid-class, career-oriented femmes. Bill/HC must have helped MJ with some of his biz connections, thus this quid pro quo.

We need talent, leadership and sound judgement--not "experience" alone. If you have experience and the aforementioned qualities then cool...And for the nitpicker who mentioned the PM of Canada slip...Well, if this is the best ammo you have for justifying his lack of readiness, you're shooting blanks. Though in some countries PMs powers are not as broad as a president; diplomatically, there's really not much difference...It was the intent of his statement that most matters, not that he called the PM a president--very picayune!

For those bloggers citing the poll lead by HC...Misleading. Many of Obama's supporters don't use land lines; cellular only. These people don't called, so we'll see on judgement day who has the majority support, and I PRAY Obama wins. It would be a great day for America, and would send a clear message around the world that we have a new, bold, diverese leader, who's wants to reverse our current self-implosionary course.

[Tedd]

Big names are nice, but it doesn't mean anything if they're not running for President. Big names help get the image out, but please vote for the person, not the BIG names, just because some one read a book, doesn't mean they can run for President. I'm all for new blood, but right now, we need experience and knowledge in the White House, not another inexperienced person in the White House. Votes should be based on that, not what book you've read, or BIG names you know, those things just help push things along.

[Giancarlo]

Hillary's supporters show a great deal of intellectual dishonesty when they advertise her as the most "experienced" leader. If your main criteria fo voting for selecting the party's nominee is experience, then hell, vote for Dodd, Biden or Richardson.

The true question in this election is if we want more of the same, a return to the divisive politics of the past, or do we want new and bold visionary leadership. History has already shown us that so called "experienced" leadership is often times is spoiled and expired. Just look a George Bush, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld and Condi Rice.

Obama is the only candidate that has taken on the establishment and is promoting a genuine new kind of politics. Not to mention, that he is the most electable candidate and the only one capable of attracting republican supporters over to his side. Hillary too will mobilize Republicans...to vote against her.

[larry]

what experence does Hillary have? Being first lady and what does that have to do with being persident? Hillary is as scripted as Bush was when he ran and we know who was pulling his strings. Who is pulling her strings? Hillary will keep this country divided liked the republicans...even a dem. like me would never vote for her under any circumstance. She is the biggest liar running ..even bigger than rudy.

[Joseph]

Why is it that it takes trashing the other candidate to make yours look better? If you listen carefully to the Democratic candidates, they are all saying pretty much the same thing (except perhaps Kucinich, and praise him for having the gall to be so honest and unelectable).

I'm not sure whether an Oprah or Magic endorsement will win any of the Democrats the election. They would have to continue to be out there hammering home the issue that the war is costing lives (both ours and innocent Iraqis), the economy is in a tail spin, we have a massive health care and immigration problem, and a right-tilting Supreme Court. Add to that, tell us how they will deal with the future of terrorist threats (without scaring the hell out of every one and trampling on our rights).

I think there's enough good stuff out there without trashing Clinton, Obama, or Edwards. They're all probably a better pick than the current president, and whoever comes out from the other side.

Besides the posts are starting to sound so--if I may say--Republican.

[J]

With regard to the post that polls aren't done on cell phones...not only that, but most of the people I know, including myself, aren't Democrats - either Decline to State or some other party but lean Democrat - and are Obama supporters, and they, for sure, aren't counted. Perception is what makes polls count, unfortunately, but they absolutely don't reflect actual voting patterns.

[Cassandra]

So what, hillary has the endorsement of two UNCLE TOMS' (Magic Johnson and Quincy Jones). Who can they influence, no one, not even a bunch of dogs. They are two HOUSE NEGROES. The young black generation don't even know them, they are too old, just like hillary, can you visiulized an old woman as president? If she is elected, in four years she will be 63 years old suffering from memory lapses. And just think another four years she will be 67. It better looking at an old man than looking at an old woman. I am with all the other democrats, I will not vote or vote republican if hillary wins the general election. I don't like the lady. We are hated around the globe. Most countries do not respect a woman as leader. Having a woman president makes us look WIMPY.

[Angela]

Cassandra: Are you serious? You aren't going to vote for her because she won't age well and will make the US look wimpy? I don't know what you have been watching, but she is the only one with balls out there. She has faced an intense onslaught from the right-wing since day one because she dared to care about more than white house china, and she has taken it all with grace. I understand it is harder for a woman to be taken serious, but this is not a reason not to support her. The real reason Hillary might have problems boils down to one word: sexism!

[Andrew]

Hillary is the Goliath of this campaign and the machine she has built is formidable. She is surprised that she isn't coasting to the nomination. She should have run four years ago if she is so bold. She is not the right candidate for the nomination. If experience is her strength then she trails more experienced candidates like Biden and Dodd. She can't count on her machine overpowering the Republicans. If nominated, she WILL lose. The Republicans have known for years how to win against Hillary and are afraid of Obama. They know he will and has drawn a number of their more moderate, reasonable supporters who would NEVER vote for Hillary precisely because they are moderate and reasonable. They will only be able to attack his supposed 'inexperience' which the voters won't buy. Conversely, republican voters will enroll for the first time in order to vote against Hillary and democrat voters will vote republican for the first time. She is the most polarizing figure in politics. Her disapproval rating is twice that of any democrat. If you support Hillary, don't expect to see her as the first woman president. In spite of all her pandering to the center, voters still don't believe she is moderate. They don't trust her in office.

[I'm Black and Voting 4 Hillary]

Good job MJ - for not being like the typical black person who would vote for Obama just because he is black, Black people, can we get it together? Quit voting for people based off of race, sex, and what party the represent. I suppose if Al Sharpton had a dog in this fight you would support him too. Obama clearly lacks any kind of experience to be able to be the president. Hillary is clearly miles ahead of him when it comes to this. Sorry, but I am in the military anc cannot just throw someone in office cause he is a "brother". I will be a "sell out" and will follow MJ on this one. None of the candidates on both sides stand out to me, but Hilllary seems to be the best candidate at this time. And Oprah, since when does she speak for the black race? Get a mind of your own and quit voting for people because they look like you!

[Vicky]

How about this? Obama for President and Hillary for Secretary of State!!!

[Stefan]

Those who think Hillary is the most experienced are simply buying into spin. As has been said, Biden probably has the most experience in government, and he would make a very good vice president in my opinion. Those of you voting on experience, please vote for Biden in the primaries if you won't vote for Obama. Hillary is already trying to distort the campaign by making issues and controversies where there are none. In fact, Hillary previously stated that we should talk to our enemies. But now that Barack said the same thing, she's putting words in his mouth (the idea that he had made a commitment) and critizing him for them ("irresponsible and frankly naive"). Barack got involved more than I would have liked ("Bush-Cheney lite"), but he does have to draw dinstinctions between himself and Hillary.

And I challenge anyone who thinks the President of Canada mistake is such a huge, telling error: do you really think you wouldn't make such an error? He was trying to give a coherent, intelligent answer (thought up on the spot) in less than two minutes--of course he's going to make a mistake here or there. Yes, he knows Canada is parliamentary. So do I, and so do many/most Americans. But I think most Americans could easily make the same slip.

Barack has the power to unite America. He's got the ideas to build up our nation as it needs to be built up. He's planning to vastly improve our nation's educational system, something I haven't heard anything about from Hillary, even though it's possibly the most important issue for America's long-term success. He's got a strong plan to fight terror. He's got a very good health care plan. He wants to get us mostly out of Iraq, but not cut and run. He's capable of reaching across the aisle and stepping above partisan politics to find solutions to the underlying problems (His ideas enacted in government include "Healthcare for Hybrids," ethics reform, capital punishment/interrogation reform in Illinois, and many more great ideas).

So if you've got reasons like these to vote for your candidate, good. But if you don't, maybe you should be researching for yourself and not just letting the media feed you talking points.

[Michael]

Listen folks its just this simple, I consider myself a middle of the road Independent and plan to vote for the person who I believe is the best candidate to address the serious issues we face as a nation. But make no mistake, if Hillary manages to steal the nomination, I am either staying home on election day or voting Republican.

There is no way that I am casting a vote to establish a see-saw Bush/Clinton presidency cycle. What'll be next, Jeb Bush coming out of the wood work n four years?

This nation needs a fresh start and we will not get it recycling the same politicians.

Enough said!