Singer-actress Barbra Streisand, who originally endorsed Hillary Clinton in the U.S. presidential primary race, has jumped on Barack Obama’s bandwagon with both feet to sing for the newly anointed Democratic nominee at a Beverly Hills fund-raiser next week. Organizers say the hurriedly planned Sept. 16 event will probably mark Obama’s final stop on the Hollywood political money trail before the November election.
According to political consultant Andy Spahn, a co-host of the fund-raiser, the evening will begin with a dinner for the Illinois senator and about 250 guests at the landmark Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Dinner will be followed by a reception in Obama’s honor at the main ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, featuring a performance by Streisand and others. The ballroom holds a crowd of up to 800 people.
Seats for the dinner and reception together go for a whopping $28,500 per person, but supporters who just want to hear Babs sing for Obama can get in for as little as $2,500 per ticket, Spahn said. At those prices, the two-part event could bring in nearly $9 million, making it the biggest single Democratic fund-raiser for the current election cycle. The money would be divided between Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
Other members of the hosting committee include DreamWorks studio co-founders Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. Spahn said the rest of the evening’s entertainment lineup has yet to be confirmed.
Streisand, 66, one of Hollywood’s leading Democratic activists and donors, was a longtime supporter of former President Bill Clinton and backed the presidential primary campaign of his wife until Obama finally clinched the nomination in June. At that point Streisand, an Oscar winner for her 1968 film debut in the musical “Funny Girl,” immediately switched her allegiance to Obama.
Rarely performing in public, Streisand sang at fund-raisers for the last two Democratic presidential nominees — Sen. John Kerry in 2004 and then-Vice President Al Gore in 2000. They both lost to Republican George W. Bush.
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Barbra Streisand has donated and raised millions of dollars to benefit and better the United States. What have you name calling, hateful people done to contribute to this country.
- Posted by ericGood Grief. Why is it such a huge crime against nature for an American citizen, who happens to be an extraordinary artist, to decide to lend her voice and her support to a presidential candidate? I just don’t get why folks so love to jump on that “Let’s burn Barbra at the stake” bandwagon when she opens her mouth and voices her opinion about ANYTHING. If more intelligent people spoke up and spoke out maybe we would be a better nation. Smells like misogyny, anti-semitism and worse, just plain narrow mindedness to me.
- Posted by JackThese elitist snobbish celebrities who think they are so clever, think they know better what’s best for us than we do, using the wealth we gave them by watching their movies, and buying their sponsor’s products. I don’t want these celebrities to buy the Presidency. The people of the United States should chose the President. Each citizen’s vote should be equal, not canceled out, or overshadowed by some spoiled celebrity. Look at the list of lame celebrities who are trying to get Obama in the white house …
- Posted by GinaMadonna, Ludacris, the idiots from the View, Rosie, Pamela Anderson, Oprah, Lohan, has been chevy chase, Susan Sarandon … These celebrities are out of touch with us Americans. They are just part of an
“in crowd clique” who think they are at liberty to use disgusting language, and make nasty attacks, with impunity. They don’t know the issues, or care, for they are insulated by their wealth, and believe they are above reproach. We, the common people are the ones who gave them their celebrity and wealth … and, we the common people are the ones who can take it back. No Wright, no Farrakhan, no Rezko, no Ayers, no Pfleger, no mean Michelle, and, NOBAMA !
can’t really wait for the whistle to blow..
- Posted by Lucasthe election may be a de facto HIT…
Who will win?
http://www.cafepress.com/myelection08
A lot of you Streisand haters are forgetting that she sang for Clinton and he won TWICE. She sang for Gore and he won the vote of the American people but Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court. So, Streisand’s record for singing for candidates isn’t bad after all. By the way, she sang for President Kennedy as well.
- Posted by plotStreisand seems to be Presidential Poison. Every Candidate she sings for loses.
- Posted by Ernest JewelsMaybe she should sing for McCain?
I love it when the Streisand-haters make up stories instead of backing up their arguments with facts and a little intelligence. Just one fact: Barbra Streisand was just named (9/12/08) the third most generous celebrity in America, just behind Herb Alpert (2) and Oprah Winfrey (1). She puts her money where her mouth is. Her contributions in 2007 ($12 million) brings her total contributions to $36 million.
- Posted by Jeff BazellAppears like she’s ‘auditioning’ for the Norma Desmond role in the rumoured remake of Sunset Blvd. It’s just sad really; barely recognizable as the once great star she WAS, presenting herself as though she’s somehow relevent (much less influential to the party) while all these other liberal waxworks robots bask in her long-lost greatness. I can just see her making her grand entrance; clutching the railing as she makes her way down the styrofoam staircase, freshly croiffed, nipped, pulled, tucked, and painted .. “MAX! .. I mean JIM! JIM! where are you MAX! I mean JIM!”
- Posted by MikesterSTLMOAnyone who pays $2,500 to hear Streisand sing is looney enough to vote for Obama.
- Posted by Isabel StrongHaters! When you are rich the max you can give is the $28,500. McCain has similar roasts but it’s by big oil and the other constitutes he supports. Wake up people (republicans) and realize you all are being used. We pay for the war… they get rich. We fight social policies that actually support our people like health care because of fear! So before you put down B. Streisand. Realize she’s rich but still gives a damn about the less than rich.
- Posted by Tony DallasLet’s hope Barack HUSSEIN Obama has ths looney tunes Barbara Streisand sing at one of his functions and it has the same results as it did for Al Gore and John Kerry.
- Posted by Bill Barna[...] same guy who will indulge in a fundraiser with Hollywood leftist loony Barbara [...]
- Posted by The ‘Lipstick on a pig’ ad | The Palmetto ScoopWhatever…McCain will never get my vote. He does not deserve it. He does deserve praise for his military service and that is it…! He was not capable of running his own campaign without bashing the opponents and now he is hiding behind the skirts of Palin. Talk about crumble..McCain was never in a position to crumble. He is doing whatever is necessary to get elected with little to no answers to issues. He has no character. He has adapted to EVERY one of Obama’s stance including now having a campaign of change. YEAH RIGHT..! So, with that being said, we can put another Republican in office and have things get progressively worst. Or we can have the democrats clean up this mess of and country without war.
- Posted by 4 ObamaYou got to be kidding me. With white rural and suburban voting block on the line, the Dems are going to go to Miss Moveon.Org. Talk about throwing the Republicans a bone. The Obama campaign, once pressured, has basically crumbled. What happens when a real crisis faces this man, like PUTIN? We have no choice, McCain must be elected.
- Posted by bfreeIt is ok to be a Republican and not support the wrong candidate. Voting is a choice you should make based on what is best for the country. As an independent, I will gladly vote for Obama. Yes, even though he is an African American. He can’t do ANYTHING worst than the republican’s have done thus far. I totally commend Barbara for not being afraid to stand out. We are already a country divided and not respected. She is doing her part as a woman of power, I would suggest that the people posting all the negative comments take a look at yourself in the mirror and imagine WHAT IF I LOST MY JOB AND MY HOME AND THERE WS NO MIRROR TO LOOK AT and do your part. Nothing Positive comes from a Negative comment..!
- Posted by HopefulBoy doesn’t this sound familiar. Obama seems to be getting in real deep with Hollywood. Be very aware, look where it got Bill and Hillary. Isn’t there still a trial scheduled for November for entertainment fraud.
- Posted by ElectionMadnessHer singing is still good…and she supports the right candidate.
- Posted by Lori and KathleenI used love her singing many years ago. These days, all she does is ’scream.’
- Posted by frank koppeBTW..Nobama’s goose is cooked anyway.
At least Barbra puts her MONEY where it will help the AMERICAN PEOPLE….and not into another sinking ship……
- Posted by Lori and KathleenOh I had to write again. My anti spam word is LOVE. whO could resist?
peace and love to all.
- Posted by teri mccomb