Broiler Chickens
Posted on 06/03/2004 2:30:04 PM PDT by presidentbowen
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Artists are coming out in full force in support of Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry.
Two major concerts will be held next week -- one Monday in Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and one June 10 in New York at Radio City Music Hall -- to raise money for the campaign.
The Los Angeles gala will feature performances by Barbra Streisand (news), Neil Diamond (news), Willie Nelson (news) and Billy Crystal (news), while the New York show boasts Bette Midler (news), James Taylor (news), John Mellencamp (news), Jon Bon Jovi (news), Wyclef Jean, Robin Williams (news) and Whoopi Goldberg (news).
"It's very ambitious. I don't think the artistic community has gotten together to raise this much money in one effort in my recollection," said Jann Wenner, editor and publisher of Rolling Stone, who is executive producing both events. "The artist community is united on this because of the kinds of values that the artist community shares and feels deeply are very threatened by the current administration. Kerry himself has been a longtime musician, a longtime fan of the arts, a longtime supporter of intellectuals' pursuits of civil liberties. These are all the things that this community depends on -- the freedom of expression, creative freedom. These are core concerns."
Wenner first met Kerry in the 1970s, during the Vietnam era. Kerry, after serving in the Vietnam War, for which he received a Silver Star and three Purple Heart awards, co-founded the Vietnam Veterans of America and became a spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War. The two rekindled their friendship when Kerry was elected to the United States Senate in 1984.
Wenner also was behind a similar concert in 2002 -- in support of Al Gore (news - web sites)'s bid for the presidency -- which reportedly raised more than $6.5 million. It was then that Wenner promised to put on such a show for Kerry if he decided to run for president.
The Los Angeles show also is being produced by Miramax co-chair Harvey Weinstein, Streisand's manager Marty Erlichman and special-event producer Ken Ehrlich. The host committee includes Rhea Perlman (news) and Danny DeVito (news), Laurie and Larry David (news), Warren Beatty (news) and Annette Bening (news), Ted Danson (news) and Mary Steenburgen (news), Dustin Hoffman (news), Ben Stiller (news), Robert De Niro (news), Leonardo DiCaprio (news), Ben Affleck (news) and Rita Wilson (news).
The concert also will mark the first time Streisand and Diamond have performed together in 24 years. The duo, who attended the same Brooklyn school, will perform their hit duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."
"The idea for the Los Angeles show was really to present the American classics, the great big standards," Wenner says. "Willie, Billy, Barbra and Neil -- these are people who sing to the heartland of America."
For the New York event, Wenner and Weinstein are working closely with John Sykes, chairman and CEO of Infinity Broadcasting System. The host committee includes Chevy Chase (news), Jimmy Fallon (news), Richard Gere (news), Jessica Lange (news) and Uma Thurman (news). Darlene Love also will be on hand to do a surprise performance with Midler. Kerry will speak at both galas.
"We did very well with younger voters in the primaries but they will be a hard-fought battleground in the general election, so concerts such as these are an enormous asset to us," said Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill says.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
"They'll be singing these wonderful old all-American tunes in Arabic", he continued...
Where is Tom Hanks? Rita is his wife. Could he be a closet Republican? Just curious.
Hanks recently headlined a big Hollywood gala for global warning. Doubt very much he's a Republican.
NAYYYY, they are liberal as liberal RATS come! BUT, at least Tom knows to cool it during WAR! For that I have to give him a few kudos!
Broiler Chickens
Streisand? Where can I get tickets? I hear she is retiring after this show.
It's a Shame... Billy Crystal is one of my favorite comedians...bummer! :( It's too bad they have chosen to offend half of the American population with their STUPIDITY!
"These are the things that this community depends on -- the freedom of expression, creative freedom. These are core concerns."
Since when has the Republican party ever stopped these idiots from freely expressing themselves, as well as creative freedom? I'll tell you when....NEVER!
These people really get my pressure up because they are some of the most self involved hypocrites to walk this earth. Don't buy an SUV because it's not good for the enviroment and it eats up too much gas....but it's okay for them to own one, if not several.
I don't enjoy tv or movies any more because I'm always sure at least half the cast is anti-American. Anybody have a list of actors/actresses who support us?
Hollywood Liberals are coming out..."
I figured most of them had already "come out".
Fox News Alert: Sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning!!!!!
This is the first time I've heard of Neil Diamond being part of that crowd. What a letdown!
I'm glad this guy is on our side
Too bad the class acts in Hollywood are gone. Greer Garson, Jimmy Stewart, Irene Dunne, and many others were staunch Republicans. Garson was even asked by the Texas Republican party to run for Congress. Now, Hollywood is represented to the world by this trash who are constantly promoting anti-Americanism. The sewage they're pumping into the water supply is polluting the culture.
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