WASHINGTON – President Obama soaks up more Hollywood glitz Tuesday with a trip to the studios of DreamWorks SKG in Glendale – after soaking up cash in L.A., San Francisco, and Seattle at a string of fundraisers.
He’s officially there to talk about the economy, but it’s also a thank you for studio boss Jeffrey Katzenberg, one of Obama’s biggest bundlers, who helped raise $15 million at a single event at George Clooney’s house during the last campaign.
Katzenberg also gave $3 million to Priorities USA Action, which worked to ensure Obama’s reelection – and provided critical early support for Obama’s political rise in the 2008 campaign.
The DreamWorks studio has cranked out such box office hits as Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. “Contributing to the president’s campaign or being a political supporter of the president doesn’t guarantee you a presidential visit, but it shouldn’t exclude you from one either,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
The event follows after LA funders Monday night including one at the home of basketball great Magic Johnson, and another at the ritzy estate of Chaim and Cheryl Saban in Beverly Hills. The event hauled in nearly $2 million, with guests kicking in $16,200 each for Democratic groups.
Tom Hanks, Diane Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson were among the Tinseltown bigs who rubbed elbows with Obama Monday.
The Saban fundraiser, held in a heated outdoor tent, featured chandeliers shaped like palm trees and featured bouquets of pink roses and an elaborate fountain.
In his remarks, Saban, a top Democratic fundraiser who backed Hillary Clinton in 2008, jokingly complained about the lack of valet parking at the White House.
“Last Friday, the president and first lady were very generous and kind with their time, they invited us to the White House for a very small intimate dinner. And we had a wonderful time – great food, great company, very inspiring. No valet parking! You know what? I had to walk to the White House. We have valet parking at the Sabans! So, Mr. President, if you would, please, thank you. Taxpayers’ money? I’ll fund it, no problem.”
Obama responded: “First of all, there was valet parking — for Cheryl. We thought it was appropriate for Chaim to get some exercise. Cheryl, being the wonderful person that she is, declined the valet parking, and so she might have joined him. But I would have been happy to have her drive right up into the South Lawn.”
At a Democratic National Committee event in San Francisco Monday, attendees were treated to performances by top jazz artists, including Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman, and Esperanza Spalding and the duo of Alyssa Moran and Jason Moran. The event for 400 donors raised up to $6 million.
Obama also raked in cash at three smaller events for 30 people each – raising nearly $ 1 million a pop.
The last, on Tuesday, was at the home of Marta Kauffman and Michael Skloff. Kauffman helped create the show “Friends,” and Skloff wrote the sticky theme song to the show.