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365Gay.com
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Oprah
Hosts Obama Mega Star Funder
by AP,
September 9, 2007
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Montecito, California -- Oprah
Winfrey rolled out the red carpet Saturday for Barack Obama at a gala fundraiser
attended by high-wattage stars that was expected to raise $3 million for the
Democratic presidential candidate.
The most powerful woman in show business celebrated her favorite candidate with
1,500 guests at her palatial estate in this coastal enclave south of Santa
Barbara. Tickets to the sold-out private event went for $2,300 apiece,
keeping them within campaign finance limits.
Stevie Wonder performed for guests, who included Sidney Poitier, Forest
Whitaker, Chris Rock, Cindy Crawford, Jimmy Connors, Linda Evans, Dennis
Haysbert and many others. Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry also were
expected, though it was unclear if they were in attendance. The media were
barred from the fundraiser.
Visitors were bused to Winfrey's secluded home from an equestrian center about
10 miles away. A solid line of limousines, BMWs, Bentleys and a few hybrid
Priuses disgorged well-dressed guests. Some sported stiletto heels despite
official instructions to wear flat shoes for walking on Winfrey's meadow.
Visitors were subjected to strict security procedures and relieved of cameras
and recording devices. Instructions sent to guests noted that Winfrey and
Obama would not be accepting gifts.
Earlier in the day, Obama made a quick, lunchtime stop to speak to a crowd of
about 1,000 eager supporters who gathered on a hillside overlooking the Pacific
at Santa Barbara City College. It was his only public appearance of the
day.
Obama, wearing his usual white shirt open at the collar and sleeves rolled up,
shook his way down a line of outstretched hands as the song "Ain't No Stopping
Us Now" blared from speakers.
He spoke for about 20 minutes, hitting his core themes of optimism and
accountability.
"What's called for is a level of responsibility and seriousness that we haven't
seen in a very long time," he told the cheering crowd, which included college
students in short sundresses and big sunglasses and older couples in peace
symbols.
A woman standing in front of the stage appeared to faint as Obama spoke about
Iraq. The candidate paused and asked the crowd to make way for
firefighters.
One supporter shouted, "You're a good man," leaving Obama momentarily at a loss
for words.
"Well, I'm not the only one stopping to help her," he said, sounding almost
embarrassed.
He talked briefly about his last trip to California in August, when he spent a
morning helping a home health care worker clean a house, wringing out mops and
making breakfast through a program sponsored by SEIU, the Service Employees
International Union.
"Listening to her talk about the hardships of her life, talking about her
struggles without a trace of self-pity ... I thought, there is the essence of
what America is about, this generosity of spirit," Obama said.
Then it was off to a private luncheon and on to Winfrey's cocktail-hour shindig,
where a different brand of very American generosity would be on display.
Obama already enjoys the support of Hollywood moguls like David Geffen and
Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Winfrey's fundraiser is another chance for him to tap
California, which was his top donor state from April through June with a total
take of $4.2 million.
Obama has raised more than $58 million for his White House bid. Forbes
magazine estimates that Winfrey, the Chicago-based talk-show host, is worth
about $1.5 billion.
Winfrey is a well-known fan of Obama, calling him "my favorite guy" and "my
choice" on CNN's "Larry King Live" last year before he announced he would run
for president.
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