AP: Obama Tells Celebrities They're the 'Ultimate Arbiter' of America's Direction
Does Middle America really want their country run by celebrities, a kitchen cabinet of divas and Clooneys and Snookis? That’s what was implied in an AP story by Ben Feller titled "Obama to Celebrities: 'You're the Ultimate Arbiter of Which Direction This Country Goes.'"
"President Barack Obama soaked in the support — and the campaign cash — of Manhattan's elite entertainers Thursday as his re-election team sought to fill its fundraising coffers," Feller wrote. "Speaking in a dimly lighted, art-filled room, Obama told supporters they would play a critical role in an election that would determine a vision for the nation's future.’
"You're the tie-breaker," he said. "You're the ultimate arbiter of which direction this country goes."
Perhaps that's what a candidate always tells the big-buck donors, that they're the "ultimate arbiters" of the nation's direction. But that doesn't sound very populist. Feller noted it was a rare joint appearance by Barack and Michelle at the home of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. "The intimate dinner banked about $2 million, with 50 people paying $40,000 each." Broderick was performing and could not attend. (Someone saved Ferris.)
Among the celebrities on hand to hear Obama's remarks were Oscar winner Meryl Streep, fashion designer Michael Kors and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who moderated a private question-and-answer session between the president and the guests. Broderick, who was starring in a Broadway musical, was absent.
The president and Mrs. Obama also headlined a second glitzy fundraiser in Manhattan Thursday night that included a performance from singer Mariah Carey and remarks by singer Alicia Keys. The 250-person dinner yielded the Obama campaign at least $2.5 million.
Feller briefly relayed that this hob-nobbing with the "ultimate arbiter" celebrities might not look good to many voters:
The strategy holds the potential for peril. It allows opponents to paint Obama as hobnobbing for dollars with middle-class angst riding high. The Republican Party lampooned Obama as tone deaf when his campaign promoted the Parker/Wintour event on the same day news broke of climbing unemployment.
- Tim Graham's blog
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Comments
I believe him
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:51am.
After all, our "celebrities" have a lot to do with how far into the gutter this country has fallen. Thanks to them we have a generation of TV viewers & moviegoers that only see Amerikkka portrayed as an evil, racist, nature-plundering empire....unless a Democrat is in office, of course.
And I am ashamed to be part
Submitted by Sude23 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:49am.
And I am ashamed to be part of that Generation :(
A private Q-and-A? Really?
Submitted by CO2Maker on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:51am.
Okay, that's two questions.
"Mr. Preezy, Mr. Preezy, we're not bitter clingers, are we?"
"No, no. But, ah, I think Alan Alda might know at least one bitter Clinger. Ha ha."
BTW, I'm sure Clinton use that line: "Darlin', be a tie-breaker for me, will ya? Give me some of your ultimate arbitration, honey."
Romney will pounce
Submitted by Texndoc on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:56am.
That's what's nice this time around. Romney wants to win and unlike McCain has a team that doesn't want to skip and play jacks with the opposition. It has to be very frustrating that the more people hear from Obama the lower his numbers go. What a strategy: Bob Beckel having to tell OReilly that "they need to get him off TV a while.". Not good.
Beckel
Submitted by crabman2 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:52am.
I was absolutely floored to hear Bob Beckel say that . I had to replay it twice to make sure what was said . You know things are getting bad for Obama when a liberal ideolog like Beckel says something like that !!!
Well said!
Submitted by NC Boy on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:57am.
"Romney wants to win and unlike McCain has a team that doesn't want to skip and play jacks with the opposition."
I read somewhere that this is not the Romney that Obama wanted to run against. I love it!
Sooooooo......
Submitted by stratosaurus on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:45am.
Clueless Leader doesn't want to run against a candidate that may get just as down and dirty as odildo the weak and waffling? Imagine that! Doesn't anyone see how "unfair" it is to make the leader of the insane clown posse run on his record? That's RACIST!!!!! Why can't you reactionary conservatives just accept the fact that obozo is the best choice for "resident for life"? (Sarc off)
If Americans were stupid enough to let celebrities and newscasters instruct them on which candidate is best "for everyone", they might end up electing a not-so-closeted communist wannabe.
Whoops -- too late.....
Get him off the air?
Submitted by CO2Maker on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:23am.
They need to get him off Air Force One for a while and spend some quality time in the Oval Office.
... hmmmm ... maybe not, now that I think about it.
--
Submitted by NYCMiddle on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:57am.
I will happily pay his greens fees for the next five months if it will keep him from "governing" and doing more damage to our country.
Seriously, Mr. President. I will pay for three rounds of golf a day from now until you leave office at the end of THIS term.
Pretty please.
WHAT?!
Submitted by stratosaurus on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:38pm.
If he stays out of the Oval Orifice, he does less damage than when he's there! We get in deeper trouble when he "tries to help"!
Here's an idea -- turn him loose in Kansas, and let JoJo the Idjut Chile drive for him. Since Biden couldn't find his head with both hands, that should keep the two of them on the road for at least three months.
This ain't the Hollywood that went off to war in 1941.
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 7:16am.
These people are really not like us.
There are some similarities
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:27am.
There was a strong Leftist element in pre-war Hollywood, comprised of screenwriters, directors, and actors. Some were card-carrying Communists (the subject of the post-war HUAC hearings), and others were bleeding hearts who were targeted by the American Communist Party (CPUSA) to at least contribute to the cause if not join. The CPUSA targeted Hollywood in two ways: (a) a popular media through which its message could be disseminated (and hence the focus on screenwriters), and (b) a collection of wealthy people who could be tapped for $$$.
It peaked around the time of the Spanish Civil War, which internatiionally became a rallying issue for Leftists of all flavors. In the US, where the name "Communist" was not popular, the name "Popular Front" was used to represent a coalition of Marxists, socialists, New Dealers, and fellow travellers.
But the Popular Front lost a lot of support when the USSR signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler in August 1939, and invaded eastern Poland that September days after the Nazis invaded the western half. Idealists were confused and angered, and some felt duped.
Red Hollywood laid low until Hitler invaded the USSR in June 1941, reinvigorating the socialism v. fascism theme, and when Pearl Harbor brought us in to the war on the side of the USSR, Red Hollywood saw somewhat of a revival. Afterall, now the fight against facism was the patriotic thing to do.
The Hollywood celebrities that went to war represented both Left and non-Left Hollywood, their political differences being put aside while they battles America's enemies.
Lefty Hollywood stayed quiet during the McCarthy Years, but re-emerged by the 1960s, and has been around ever since.
Obama is so concerned about
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 7:24am.
Obama is so concerned about those "people still hurting out there" that he found a way to stick them with the bill for the trip.
Because, you know, he needs HIS money for other things.
Even stiffed the Troops for
Submitted by Boudin on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 7:30am.
For lunch? What a creep
You want creepy?
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:16am.
Michael Tomasky at the Daily Beast is giving Obama hell for wasting his time with crap like that when he should be "fighting for his political life!"
And the "middle class" comes as an afterthought:
I understand that he’s president, and presidents have to pardon turkeys and meet the New York Giants and all that business. But, uh, he doesn’t have much time for this sort of thing right now. He’s supposed to be fighting for his political life—and, by the way, for the middle class.
Clicked on the link for once, and it's a
Submitted by Unsane on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:11am.
Horrible article by a committed Socialist. Yet someone else who thinks the government's job is to punish people for being successful. And yet again, once you see someone talking about "class", what they REALLY want is entrenchment. Mr., Tomasky clearly wants the "middle class" to be FORCED TO STAY THERE FOREVER lest they be severely punished by the government for wanting to better themselves.
I've never understood why people like him feel a need to criminalize success.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Anna who?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:18am.
On the Today Show this morning, Tamron "I'm Just Crazy About Larry" Hall was reading the headlines...
"Last night, Obama was at a fundraiser at the home of SJP." No mention of co-host Anna Wintour.
Apparently, they think SJP is less radioactive to the general public than Wintour.
disturbing
Submitted by driguana on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:23am.
I find this so personally disturbing....we rant against some 1%ers who own and operate business but we laud others....especially those who "act" at being things they aren't and glorify wealth and luxury and opulence (American ingenuity???)....I simply scratch my head in bewilderment sometimes....having grown up in the movie and music biz, I understand the wonderment and possibility of entertainment, but I am weary of our lack of true leadership.....I wonder where the wander went...to some, it's all just one big party...maybe that's the new third party...
Please understand...
Submitted by Unsane on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:13am.
You HAVE to understand that some 1%ers are simply cooler than others, and one more thing:
The 1%ers that want to punish achievement (like Mr. Buffett) are really only out for one thing, and one thing only: to entrench their position.
People who obsess over "class" really desire that people be put in their place and forced to stay there for eternity.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
"Obama told supporters they
Submitted by clancie on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:25am.
"Obama told supporters they would play a critical role in an election that would determine a vision for the nation's future." What a frightening thought - we're already ruled by the ungodly.
0+0=0
Submitted by MidAmerica on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:56am.
Our empty suit President hobnobs with equally empty suit celebrities.
Yep
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:22am.
Like virtually all politicians, Obama is more at home with intellectually-challenged big donors than he is with working people who feel the impact of his policies.
Hope & Change? Nothing changes.
Sarah, why the long face?
Submitted by BBallleaper on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:18am.
You still have a chance in the 3rd at Aqueduct!!
Horsing around...
Submitted by Pilgrim1949 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:22am.
Neigh, I say, neigh!!
When she speaks you can say you heard it straight from the horse's....
....well, do I actually need to fill in the final word?
"Ye canne change the laws of physics....." but some politicians believe that with the right legislation you can pretend they don't really apply to your own pet projects...
Ding Ding Ding! We have a Whinny!
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 2:26pm.
That post made me Snort.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
In the words of Obi Wan Kenobi...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:32am.
..."May The Horse Be With You..."
Good one Kids
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:11am.
Just had to weigh in about how sick I am over the "self-appointed" cool people patting themselves on the back over how "cool" they all are
Final Arbiters??
Submitted by Pilgrim1949 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:20am.
Sadly, Hollyweird supplies lots of MISdirection....
But, "...final arbiters..." of where our country goes??? (What about all those ILLEGAL, dead and multiple-personality-vote-often voters?)
Oh yeah, I remember now, I read something somewhere about "...government of the celebrities, by the celebrities and for the celebrities..." is how it goes, I think.
At least, it does for the Utopian lefttard fringe...
"Ye canne change the laws of physics....." but some politicians believe that with the right legislation you can pretend they don't really apply to your own pet projects...
Troubling
Submitted by JANDJ on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:34am.
I find it more than a little troubling to be saddled with a President who understands the Kardashians better than he understands us "ordinary folkds". His Campaigner in Chief mode has taken this nation to the edge of disaster and all he can think of is how to pander more to his pals in Hollywood.
Us ordinary folks get our
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:11am.
Us ordinary folks get our hands dirty. He wants to see the real America he needs to watch reality shows where people acutally work like, Swamp People, Deadliest Catch, Action Hunters, Alaskan Gold Rush, Bering Sea Gold, Pawn Stars, Sons of Guns, American Guns, Auction Hunters Axe men. Those are real American, not actors.
Swamp Loggers was filmed in this area. Bobby Goodson was not willing to become an SOB for Discovery to make it more exciting so his contract was not renewed. Bobby brings equipment to be worked on to a guy I know here in town. He said Bobby was one of the nicest people you ever wanted to meet.
A bad omen
Submitted by Unsane on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:24am.
All those shows are found on The History Channel.
Portent.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Rick
Submitted by Radical1979 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:39am.
All he would do is mock those people. One year there was an interview with Sarah Palin around Thanksgiving. In the background was a guy killing turkeys to prep them for dinner. MSNBC went nuts because Palin could just stand there and answer questions. It's fine that those jobs exist, and that people do them, but those on the left don't want to see it. It offends their delicate sensibilities.
If the country does crash, those people will all starve.
So true, Rad
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:48am.
Funny, I caught a couple of episodes of "Frontier House" yesterday.....and the kids got so attached to the chickens & pigs.....but they were hungry!!!! Well, he got over that in a hurry.
Yep....people love their lobster, but are squeamish about putting them in the boiling pot.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Hay Baracko...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:35am.
...They are friggin' actors...they are paid to pretend they are someone else...Oh wait....Good Point!...
"Speaking in a dimly lighted
Submitted by Snappy on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:19am.
"Speaking in a dimly
lightedFIFY
Obama the Ultimate Arbiter
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:47am.
No OT, so here goes;
Obama will use imperial presidency to grant immunity to young illegals
H/T Drudge
The guy will do absolutely ANYTHING to get re-elected!
IIRC, Bush took all kinds of hell from liberals for saying he was "the decider," and that wasn't even about executive orders!
Let's see what happens to Obama.
How are the Democrats going to defend this blatant usurpation of power?
Actually, I don't have that much of a problem with
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:58am.
....the policy.
It's the imperial decree that I object to. When and if a bill like this goes through Congress, it may have my support. But until then, we need to turn this Dream Act stuff around to the huge overstep of executive power.
He serves at the will of the people. Not the other way around.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Exactly, B....
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:19am.
I agree that something has to be done, but this is NOT the way to do it!
Both the blatant pandering AND the blatant power grab infuriate me!
The dictator
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:01am.
Just one more example of him being a dictator and that's as blatant as it gets. This is extrememly impeachment worthy too, but will Boehner do anything now especially since Holder apparently blinked on F&F?(not that I would believe anything at this point, these people just plain need to go, and go away, preferably in the stockade)
This is fast becoming like NY, people don't seem to care what this fraud does in this country and keep chanting the meme "vote him out in November" when we can't wait until then.
-Jon
The closest that crowd comes to "those who are hurting"
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 10:56am.
is telling them where the broom closet is and then giving them the rest of their daily orders as they trot off to shopping, dinner, a show, whatever. Horseface would no sooner have a mall security guard in as a dinner guest than Obama would go to a VFD picnic to sit in the dunking booth.
The entire crowd is so damned clueless and removed from reality that I wonder if they know most life exists beyond the Hudson, and that very people they say are "hurting" are the very ones they hold in such deep contempt.
Let them eat cake...
Submitted by 125 grain on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:26am.
What a self aggrandizing joke all liquored up in white socialist guilt! Use to be American entertainers believed in America and some even died defending it. Now that's a conviction that is the "arbiter of direction" Mr. President! These buffoons are nothing more than organ grinding monkeys on the moral train to depravity...giddy up Ms Parker!
Hold on a second
Submitted by oldfart on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:55am.
Gag
Gag
Choke
Hurl
Ok now I can talk.
What a bunch of self-absorbed sophists.
Mr. Samuel Goldwyn had the right idea when he said
"Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union."
I think he made that statement so people would not learn that most people in Hollywood are dumb asses who because they might be able to remember some lines provided to them by someone else they are experts on everything.
Gag
Choke
Hurl
Mr Goldwyn knew that it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think your are stupid than open your mouth and confirm everyone's thoughts.
Romney needs to make Dear
Submitted by sherlock1 on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 1:04pm.
Romney needs to make Dear Reader curse the day he said those words.
Really?
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 2:27pm.
"You're the tie-breaker. You're the ultimate arbiter of which direction this country goes."
So, CA and NY will be so close in the election results that only it's celebrities will be able to break the electoral log jam? As If!
Jeez, Obama, how dumb do you think people are? Oh, wait, you're taking to celebrities....
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
They are..........
Submitted by GregE on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:09pm.
.............the ultimate propaganda tool.
Conservatives have half of the power of the purse strings...
Submitted by thescoots on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 8:48am.
we are half of the audience out here in Realville.....Its high time that WE, conservatives dictate the terms of the conversation by keeping our money in our pockets....To h e l l with Hollywood....do not buy their DVDs, their CDs....and don't spend money at the movie theaters. Starve the bastages out of existence.....
We unfortunately are our own worst enemy when we fail to grasp that we are propping these elitists up and enabling them to prop up Obama....Stop it already! Don't feed the beast that is destroying our culture and our country....Hollywood. When they are broke enough....and humble enough.....they might, maybe, just change....but that is way down the road....Until then.....don't feed them.
Speaking of that purse
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 11:52am.
Speaking of that purse, when will Harry Reid let go of the damn thng?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Interesting, you've managed
Submitted by cathartic1 on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 10:34am.
Interesting, you've managed to pull an out of context quote without looking at the whole statement:
"And what we’re going to have to do is to present very clearly to the American people that choice. Because ultimately you guys and the American people, you’re the tie-breaker. You’re the ultimate arbiter of which direction this country goes in."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/15/remarks-president-campaign-event
Hollywood elites are the
Submitted by celator on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 10:36am.
Hollywood elites are the absolute bottom of the barrel. They couldn't break a tie with a hammer.
Do you have a point?
Submitted by Unsane on Sun, 06/17/2012 - 10:34pm.
It is still scary as hell. I don't even want these jokers to be the arbiters of my entertainment.
That you want to be programmed by His Majesty The Shahinshah and Hollywood to think and behave as they demand you do does not surprise me in the slightest.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Poor little stupid troll.
Submitted by The Vet on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 10:31am.
Busy Busy Busy.
I am sure you raced right over to AP and fired off a long scathing letter. You do remember AP, don't you little stupid troll? AP, the SOURCE of the story. The SOURCE of the story that dropped the "American people" part. Your first clue AP was the source of the story --- the "AP:" part of the headline in the blog here.
Please little stupid troll, can you give us a trancscript of your angry letter to AP. We would be most interested in that.