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

[Sherry]

At $28,500 a plate, that was one expensive meal!

[mbviews]

good post. a rare sign of journalism the way it should be. talking about the campaigns and the choices they make.

[Andy]

Who cares if he has celebrity friends. They’re people who are concerned about the economy just like the rest of us. Clearly the Hollywood elite are looking for change as well. Good for Obama for reaching out to everyone.

[I hate Sarah Palin]

...Nor did he make a mention (and you didn't either) that Palin fundraised today with W.J. Timken. Timken is somewhat notorious in Ohio. No tiny url, but here's the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/16/palin-fundraises-with-ohi_n_126840.html? And here's a quote:
"Timken's company, additionally, is a toxic figure within Ohio's working class community. Only four years ago, Timken Co -- one of the largest manufacturers of tapered roller and needle bearings in the country -- was responsible for job losses in one of the hardest economically hit areas in the United States: Stark County, Ohio.

"He is the stereotypical Republican," said Johnnie Maier, chairman of the Stark County Democrats. "In John McCain's book, Tim Timken makes more than $5 million so he is not middle class... They made $1 million in a [fundraiser] in a county where the private sector and the public sector are laying off people everywhere because people are broke."

In the 2004 campaign, Timken Co. found itself at the center of a provincial but significant political battle. A year and a half before that election, President Bush visited a Timkin plant to tout the trickle down effects of his tax cut policies. "The future of this company is bright, and therefore, the future of employment is bright for the families that work here," he declared.

But all was for naught. Slightly more than a year later, the company's then-chairman, W.R. Timken Jr. said he would close the plant in which Bush had spoken as well as two other plants in the Canton area. He cited business concerns. And more than 1,300 people were threatened with job losses...In May 2004, Bush returned to Canton, this time in full campaign mode. The president visited Timken, then a "ranger", having raised more than $200,000 for Bush's reelection..." The article also states that the fundraiser was held at a country club. Is this McCain's definition of "working" men and women?

[Andrew]

McSame also forgot to mention his attending of Ellen DeGeneres lesbian wedding.

[non-partisan]

Babs is certainly looking bitter these days...why is it that most Dems always look so unhappy...when they are always asking for the "moon?" Was it because they were always picked last on the playground and memories die hard?

[Sandra S]

How dare McCain mock Obama for his fundraiser with Barbra Streisand, a woman probably much more qualified to be VP than his performing monkey on a string? He grandstands Palin and pushes her celebrity status with his supporters and than mocks Obama? How dare this lying, dishonorable man.

Also, as noted in the article "he [McCain] made no mention of the well-heeled crowd he mingled with Monday night in Miami at a particularly lucrative fundraiser for his campaign."

[Lain]

After Obama went back on his word about public financing, he's been having to go around looking for new donors... next stop... Hollywood... funny.

[joni davis]

I honestly love that Obama is going to Hollywood for fundraisers. Thats where the money is for his campaign. Why not. mcsame does it all the time. I hope to see Obama raise 10 million dollars. California is his. Yea!!! Thank You BABA.

[Zach]

They see Barack's popularity as a celebrity as a bad thing. But it actually promotes the candidate and makes people pay attention. Just ask Sarah Palin. I think it's a good thing Barack is having a celebrity fundraiser.

[E. in Houston, TX]

Is there any wonder why there's been little or no comment so far on this bone-headed premise of yours? Other than the no-solutions-on-anything McCain campaign which tries to grab at anything, folks with real issues and commom sense, I might add, will see this as what it is. A fund-raiser, period. Last I checked, unlike McCain, Obama rejected tax-payers funding for his presidential campaign. Where else do you suppose he will get the funding to run a campaign and defend himself against Mccain and so-called "reporters" with hidden agenda like you?

[gettyleigh]

how is this a biased blog? normally the trash that is written in the blogs at the La Times are left leaning. there have been several times that my comments contradicting the left leaning blogs were not even posted because they didnt align with the liberal views of the left or because i lambasted the writers of the blogs for not being objecctive. if you read the blog you'll see that there is a shot from obimbo fired at the McCain campaign. As for McCain being dishonest, thats the pot calling the kettle black. time and again obimbo has been proven wrong about his statements; especially those that surround his background.

"If you’re 20 and not a Liberal, You have no Heart. If you are 40 and not a Conservative, You have no Brain" Sir Winston Churchill

[Uppity Negro]

"It's deja vu all over again (thanks YB)."

Do you remember all those Bill Clinton ads in 1992 that began with "It All Starts With A Middle Class Tax Cut!"

Less than 3 months after his election he said he "worked harder in the past few weeks" than he "ever worked in his whole life" but just couldn't find any way to cut taxes.

In fact, he raised them. Clinton later unwarily admitted in front of a live mike in a half-emptied room that he "raised taxes too much." But he never attempted to correct that poor little over-taxing boo-boo.

Obama is not Clinton. But like Clinton, Obama's plans will require more money than now being collected.

Historically the only way to get more money is to cut taxes. JFK proved it; Reagan proved it. And (credit where it's due) Bush-43 proved it.

Many politicians and their client social classes instinctively enjoy raising taxes on "the rich" in order to "get even."

The more you tax rich people though, the less money they have left over for hiring and investment. The economy slows, less money changes hands, and fewer taxes get collected.

Obama's promise of unfair higher tax burdens on successful rich people proves one thing--that he's in favor of unfair taxation.

Unfair taxation is but one symptom of unfair government. There is something inherently evil in singling out any specified minority for unfair treatment, regardless of why it's a minority. And it's evil to support people who announce and espouse candidly their openly unfair policies.

I don't support McCain. But the more Obama reveals of himself the more I may eventually be driven to the McDud ticket (holding nose, and tipsy first).

[zach]

When McCain and Obama start to talk about the real issues notice how McCain starts to lose. McCain doesn't want to talk about policy, he wants to call Obama a "celebrity".

[Lo Harm]

Oh please -- get real ... before you sink this country any deeper!
McCain Holds Celeb-Packed Fundraiser

By Michael D. Shear
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Sen. John McCain continues to attack Sen. Barack Obama as a celebrity, but that doesn't mean that McCain is above associating with them.

At a fundraiser in Hollywood Monday night, McCain rubbed elbows with a chorus of television and movie stars while raising some cash in the final days before his Republican convention. About 1,600 crammed into a ballroom at the Beverly Hills Hilton, the campaign said.

Earlier, Patricia Heaton, star of "Everybody Loves Raymond" joined McCain on the Straight Talk Air today for a flight from Sacramento to Burbank, descending down the front stairs of the plane together and posing for pictures.

And in the morning, Daddy Yankee, one of the biggest stars in the Latino community, endorsed McCain in front of a gaggle of screaming teenagers...,

Before the fundraiser, McCain was on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

[Annie OMalley]

Obama once again proves that for him, it's about the money, and he can be bought. Part 2 of "Hollywood goes to Washington."

[theoatwa]

for me it's gop numbers never add up, which with most americans having a hard time balancing a checkbook or saving, it probably doesn't matter until it does, then we overreact sideways.

we've a 1 trillion hole right now after 2 tax cuts during 2 wars all borrowed with interest from china. mccain wants to double-down on the tax cuts so we've anothe... Read Morer 3.3 trillion piled on. and so far he's found 17 billion of earmarks to cut.

nobody will be able to escape the basic arithmetic. folks can dogmatically assert that tax cuts solve all economic problems big or small but the evidence say otherwise. in 7 years wages have fallen net inflation. that's never happened before.

lop-sided tax cuts for rich spurred markets/investments that flow overseas for best returns as rich don't spend (thus rich). and now we've a gluttony of financial and credit assets going through a firesale w/ prices tanking. and consumer demand, 2/3 of economic activity, has dried up w/ no wage growth or bubble credit left.

[MR]

I'm not a stupid guy and I for one am convinced that anyone that thinks taxing BIG Anything is going to save me money forgot to take the finance 101 final. I waffle back and forth between Obama and McCain. I think the only stupid voters are those that are so convinced that "their guy" is the only right guy. After all neither of them are going to get it 100% right.

[Lori]

Obama went to the $28000 per head dinner after talking about on people's side. What kind of people can afford a $28000 dinner? So much on people's side.

[Addison]

people dont trust Obama......He will not face of with McCain man to man. I want some debates......not all this crap..........
Palin will tear Biden to Pieces........

Democrats I know you have a problem with the way our democracy works......You think the election should be Decided by the Matt Daemons and Wolf Blitzers of this world but Im sorry to say that everybody gets one vote...and the people who elected G.Bush to office 2 times are the same people that will elect McCain to office this time.......

You guys just need to pick a halfway decent canidate next time.......This guy is Shady and unproven.

[Aycee]

I think McCain owes Barbara Streisand an apology. She's a terrific person who stands by her convictions. So she's a celebrity, so what. Isn't McCain, Palin and even Obama for that matter. The media has made them such. Stop your immature whining and get a life McCain, hopefully one that is as far from political life as possible. And while we are on the subject of Celebrity status, something that is generally equated with having a lot of money, property, and in general, a lifestyle that is beyond the reach of ordinary Americans, McCain has 12 properties. Of course he couldn't tell the reporter who asked him, where they are, but nonetheless, he's not an ordinary Joe like you or I. He's got it cushy. I doubt that even Barbara has 12 houses.

[Dmitriy]

Elitist Barack Obama not only mingles with celebrities of his own status but employs crooks like Penny Pritker. Who was the first subprime lenders to stick it to borrowers and have her bank seized and also Obama’s campaign Finance Chair (as confirmed on April 3, 2008) and a potential Secretary of the Treasury in an Obama administration.

With Obama's wealth redistribution our economy will go down the drain, because who do you think will pay rich people's taxes? You and me.

[SexintheCity]

This election is so dumb. To be honest, I have the same experience as Obama. I have not even heard anything about Biden or what he has been doing. Everything is all about McCain and Palin. This election is not about policies or the economy. It is a popularity contest like back in high school for the homecoming king.

[Grace]

It seems the Obama supporters are getting very skittish! Most articles are overly partisan to Barak Obama and he still can't get ahead in the polls. Don't knock John McCain because he is a stronger candidate. The problem is the Democrats have a poor candidate. You chose the wrong one- Hillary Clinton would have had a smooth, triumphant path to the White House!

[Right to Win]

palin believes that bringing on the end times is her duty as a pentecostal, fundamentalist christian. rapture queen. she loves hurricanes, thinks the wrath of god is sexy.