Chris Cuomo: "Now, to the power of Hollywood on presidential politics. Candidate Barack Obama raked in $1.3 million by going Hollywood. It's a deep pocket that more and more are trying to reach into. Here's senior national correspondent Jake Tapper."
Jake Tapper: "Last night, at the Beverly Hills Hilton, the stars came out for another million dollar affair, honoring a thin, statuesque idol of color. No, not Oscar, Obama. Barack Obama."
Actor George Clooney: "He's the most charismatic person I've been in a room with in a long time."
Tapper continued the segment, which aired at 7:07am on February 21, by talking with actor George Clooney about the failed congressional campaign of his father, Nick Clooney, and how celebrity support may have backfired. However, the ABC journalist left out the proverbial elephant in the room (or, in this case, donkey in the room). It was celebrity liberalism that likely harmed the elder Clooney’s ambitions to be the Congressman from the fourth district in Kentucky:
Tapper: "George Clooney is just one name in lights who ponied up the maximum $2300 contribution for the Obama fund-raiser. Guests included Eddie Murphy, Ron Howard, Jennifer Aniston, and Morgan freeman. The event was hosted by DreamWorks founder Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberger, and David Geffen. With such an open race, Hollywood is a key stop on the cash circuit."
Allan Hoffenblum (Political consultant): "California is a gold mine both for politicians within California and throughout the country."
Tapper: "In the 1990s, Hollywood was Clinton land. Now it's up for grabs. Although Obama held a public event in Los Angeles in the afternoon, the star studded affair in the evening was closed to cameras.
Clooney: "I don't know necessarily whether saying I back him is helpful."
Tapper: "Clooney found out first hand the double edged sword of celebrity endorsements when he tried to help his father's race for Congress."
Clooney: "I backed him by raising money for him, but it was-- Everything was categorized as Hollywood versus the Heartland and I actually hurt him."
Tapper: "Complicating matters even further is the fact that California may move up its primary to earlier in the process, which, Chris, as you know, it's so expensive to campaign in California. That may mean the politicians try to raise even more money in Hollywood."
According to Tapper, "Hollywood is a key stop on the cash circuit." That may be true, but the rest of his sentence should have been, "as long as you’re a liberal."
