Bad timing for Barack Obama to hobnob with Hollywood celebs?

The sense is visceral among many Democrats that when John McCain expressed confidence in the "fundamentals" of the economy to start the week, he returned the focus of the presidential race to a fundamental issue that will benefit Barack Obama.

The Democrat's chief strategist, David Axelrod, certainly thinks so; chatting with reporters today, he said the campaign had been "blasted" back to first principles -- pocketbook concerns.

He made his comment on the Obama flight to Burbank after two days of stumping in Colorado, where the candidate hammered McCain as out of touch with average Americans.

But where was Obama headed after landing in Burbank? To Beverly Hills, for a couple of off-the-charts, star-studded fundraisers (including one headlined by Barbra Streisand).

Axelrod, reporter Michael Finnegan of The Times' relates, was asked about prospective Republican attacks on Obama for hobnobbing with Hollywood royalty.

“I think [voters] have heard the whole Republican whoop-de-do before, and this time, I don’t think they’re going to subscribe to it, because there’s so much at stake,” he replied. "I honestly think that [GOP] efforts to deflect attention from the fundamental situation in our economy are just going to fail."

We'll see, because McCain took a shot at Obama's evening itinerary as he wrapped up a rally with running mate Sarah Palin in Vienna, Ohio.

“He talked about siding with the people … just before he flew off to Hollywood for a fundraiser with Barbara Streisand and his celebrity friends,” McCain said. "Let me tell you, my friends, there is no place I’d rather be than here, with the working men and women of Ohio.”

The Times' Noam Levey, on the trail with McCain, notes that he made no mention of the well-heeled crowd he mingled with Monday night in Miami at a particularly lucrative fundraiser for his campaign.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Republican Folly]

The Republican strategy to turn around the economic disaster of the last eight years will be to....

“He talked about siding with the people … just before he flew off to Hollywood for a fundraiser with Barbara Streisand and his celebrity friends,” McCain said. "Let me tell you, my friends, there is no place I’d rather be than here, with the working men and women of Ohio.”

Is this the main concern of the Republican candidate? So I take it there are no answers from the Republican party as to what direction we need to go. The is only idle cocktail gossip. Are your voters that dense?

[LA Crimes]

Where's the other side at this blog? This is entirely right leaning. This is not representative of LA Times' readers. I'm getting sick and tired of one nasty Republican missive after another constituting this blog. Take it to the Free Republic if you want to spew this garbage and give your subscribers a BALANCED blog to enjoy.

[Barbara]

John McCain is such an idiot, he continues to try to portray Obama as a celebrity. Well he failed to mentioned his huge fund raiser being held in England where the media is not welcomed. I for one do not want that lying slithering slimmy snake in the White House. But, we must be careful of the dumb people who will still vote for him and his lies.

[Sandra S]

Dishonorable John McCain has some nerve mocking Obama. He has brought sensationalism into the race and elevated an unqualified candidate to celebrity status for her gender alone. Frankly, Barbra Streisand is probably more qualified than Palin. She has been around awhile and knows the issues affecting America. Palin has to be given a fast track course on America - and then coached by handlers on how to read cue cards. John McCain is showing who he really is now - a liar, a dishonorable man who is willing to do anything to get elected. I consider his credibiity and integrity compromised and does not deserve to hold a position of trust.

[holly]

It is simple

Obama is an elitist.

He hangs out with movie and music stars. He has no idea how the rest of us live.

Go Sarah Go.
Now Sarah is part of the regular guy crowd. Hurray for US.

[Carl C]

McCain says Obama has too little experience to lead, then gets Palin as a running mate. He says Obama is mixing with the stars, and yet he is doing the same thing. McCain voted 90 percent of the time with Bush, and we have a near economic collapse, but he thinks the economy is sound, and that the middle class is people who earn 5 million a year. Hmmmm. No wonder the blogs are 3 to 1 in favor of Obama!

[MarkD]

meh.. no big deal. McCain just did a fund raiser there as well. only difference is McCain wants it to be secret. he'll take h-wood money as long as he can deny it. hypocrite

[Jane]

Stop it! Stop it, LA Times! Stop it, press! Both candidates fundraise, and there's nothing illegal or immoral about fundraising in Hollywood. In fact, judging by the magazines at the grocery store checkouts, middle America actually likes Hollywood. So stop stop stop stop stop stop covering the "hobnobbing with celebrities" stuff when our whole financial system is undergoing a seismic shift! Stop catering to the lowest common denominator! Stop stop stop stop stop stop stop! And for shame!

[Terri]

No. Obviously it was a pre-planned event. McCain had the same type of event in Miami on Monday. Why isn't that making headlines?

[Anon]

This is an irresponsible article. This fundraiser is only an issue if people like Don Frederick make it an issue by writing pointless articles about. What exactly are we supposed to take away from reading this blog article?

Both candidates raise vasts sums of money by attending "well heeled fundraisers."

This article is what we call a distraction and bad journalism. Please find some real issues to talk about.

[lil]

Relax... Obama is Hollywood, that's just the way it is... but so was Clinton... oh, that didn't end so well did it?

[Clugs]

It gets old when BOTH campaigns are constantly telling the media what the average American thinks. Axelrod saying that most Americans won't care what Obama is doing with celebrities is stupid. Neither candidate has a clue what voters want (an actual discussion on the issues)

[Keith B]

It is beyond belief for Obama to think that this doesn't matter. I truly believe that when the elite in Hollywood use their fame to affect the rest of us - we take note and I for one am offended by it. I like to vote with my pocketbook, personally. It some small way I can quietly have my say. Since the last election I never pay to see someone whom I feel has utilized their fame to take advantage of the rest of us who don’t have a soapbox before millions to influence others. For goodness sakes, these people say memorized lines to a camera or sing words of a song. These are our guides? We are in real trouble. I live in Southern California and this place is so far left I am afraid it is going to fall off into the ocean any day. It DOESN’T represent America by any measure. It is totally loony out her. Just look at the Pelosi, Boxer, etc… Kind of embarrassing isn’t it?
I urge others to do the same. Simply stop paying to see them. Let them depend on their liberal left-leaning friends to put the millions into their banks accounts. Walk the talk.

[JOJO]

Now Repos they have their own celebrity thhey don't envy Obama for that.

[Thomas]

This woman looks like death warmed over. Can't he do better than this??

[sallie]

hey folks,
Obama either takes your tax dollars to campaign (which he declined) OR he earns his own through donations (which is admirable). You can't have it both ways....McCain is usiing YOUR money to blow on lying ads---AND YOU GET NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER, while Obama is getting VOLUNTARY donations from the poor, middle class and rich to fund his campaign.
What, you wish Obama had decided to suck your public $84 million iinstead?

[Mike Paulson]

It's no big deal that Obama is flirting with Celeb's, after all McCain firts with the Celeb Cindy all the time. (that would be the super rich Celeb he dumped his wife to marry)

[George]

Yes.

In a time when the economy has major issues, people are losing their homes, I am struggling to pay for gas, and people have to choose between food or medication, Obama goes to Hollywood and charges $31,000+ per person to be in his presence?

Now, if it were a fundraiser to help Michigan families pay their mortgage or help provide money for alternative energy research, it would be much more palatable.

It just reinforces the Obama is one way in Scranton and another in San Francisco line...

[cta]

7 houses

$310,000 outfit

Who's out of touch?

[Martin, GA]

better keep a promise, a schedule and tell the truth then playing McGaimes

[Larry Clifton]

Obama is Santa Clause to the Republicans and Jouhn McCain. He just want stop giving. Babs is the poster girl for elitist Hollywood narcissism and rich left-wing loon squads. These are the very people that most Americans nver relate to in their world.... And there he is, Jeremiah Wright's alter boy, talking in circles about change that he can't articulate the meaning of.
I'm sure glad he sacked Hillary. Pepublicans may even take back the House on McCain coattails.
http://americanpoliticalblog.wordpress.com/

[JHD]

What's the big deal? Politics in this day and age cost money so their will be hobnobbing for both parties.
And I am sure John McCain and his 7 houses just love rust belt Ohio...

[lucy2008]

Dear Sir,
This is a nice but small article.

Yes, I agree with David Axelrod that there is too much that is dear at stake. The Republican campaign is bringing money like mad from many sources including evangelical churches who are also getting out the vote. Just because this is entertainers, does not mean that they are not allowed to contribute their efforts to the cause. And even on a sour day of crisis the cause can not be more deep. Barbara Streisand is a highly respected singer and rarely does any event. This means a lot.
People are upset about the Republican party and how right wing they have become and what Bush/Cheney have done to the country and overseas. When Mrs. Palin quoted the fascist and racist, Westbrook Peglar, during her VP acceptance speech at the RNC (a person who made statements for the assination of RFK), many have taken deeper notice. This election has a great deal of meaning on many levels and the sparkles and ting tingling of Hollywood will not take away from the goal.

[JudiNV]

I gotta say this article is pretty petty. I mean, if Obama wants to attend a fund raiser that is bringing in the big bucks, more power to him. The same goes for McCain.

Print some real news for cripes sake!

[sue]

If Obama and Hooywood Dems care so much for the "People of America" why doesn't he take this Hollywood cash and send it down to Texas where there is real devastation?

I boycott movies!