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Obama speaks to the stars; Tom Hanks suggests 'five and a half more years'
The Hill ^ | April 22, 2011 | Jordan Fabian

Posted on 04/22/2011 10:10:49 AM PDT by Second Amendment First

President Obama asked for support Thursday from a small Los Angeles audience dotted with Hollywood stars.

Speaking in a tiny room of the Italian restaurant Tavern to a an audience of 60 that included Steven Spielberg, Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks and George Clooney, Obama said he understood frustration with his compromises with centrist Democrats and Republicans on healthcare, ending the Bush tax rates for the wealthy and other issues.

Over the past two and a half years, Obama said, he was sure there were times "where you're reading the papers or you're watching TV and you're saying, 'Ah, Obama, you know, why's he compromising with the Republicans?' Or 'Aw, why did healthcare take so long? and I want single-payer plan anyway.' "

The president then joked: " 'Golly, you know, if he was just as good a communicator as George Clooney, I'm sure the American people would understand exactly what needs to be done.' "

The remark cracked the room of donors up, according to a White House pool report.

Obama, who returns to Washington from California on Friday, has held a series of fundraisers in the Golden State over the past two days as he completes a week of barnstorming across the country that foreshadows the presidential campaign.

The president has spoken to liberal supporters in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palo Alto whose continued support will be critical if Obama's campaign is to meet a goal of raising $1 billion in campaign funds for 2012.

A big part of Obama's message on the West Coast has been that the White House has accomplished much, but that the president needs another four years to continue his work.

"We've pulled this economy out of a recession. We've stabilized the financial system. We've passed historic healthcare legislation to make sure 30 million people aren't going to go without coverage. We have repealed 'Don't ask, don't tell.' We have put two women on the Supreme Court, including the first Latina. We've passed equal pay for equal work.

"We can go down the list," Obama told the crowd. "But we also know we've still got a lot more work to do. We've just started, and we've got a lot more work to do."

Obama's 2008 campaign had serious backing from Hollywood and Silicon Valley, but the left has soured a bit on the White House over the course of Obama's time in office. A stepped-up effort in Afghanistan was a disappointment to the anti-war left, and Obama's decision to allow the Bush tax rates for wealthier taxpayers to be extended for two years more recently irritated liberals.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) recently said he and other members of Congress needed to pressure Obama to act more like a Democrat.

The White House has intensified its effort to attract independents to Obama's 2012 bid. Those voters were also critical to Obama's 2008 success, but polls suggest their support has weakened substantially. In working with Republicans on December's tax deal and, more recently, on spending cuts, the White House is making a play for independents. But this risks alienating the left.

The signs of frustration from liberal supporters of the president could be seen during his swing through California over the past few days — ten protesters broke into Obama's first fundraiser of the day on Thursday, singing, “We’ve paid our dues / Where’s our change?” at the San Francisco event.

And several picket signs could be seen along several of his motorcade routes voicing opposition to the U.S. military intervention in Libya.

At the Tavern event, at least, Obama seemed to make some headway.

Hanks, for one, could be seen turning to his table mates and saying: "Five and a half more years."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
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"Celebrities... is there anything they don't know?" -- Homer Simpson
1 posted on 04/22/2011 10:10:51 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
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To: Second Amendment First

“The president then joked: “ ‘Golly, you know, if he was just as good a communicator as George Clooney, I’m sure the American people would understand exactly what needs to be done.’ “

A tar and feathering party?


2 posted on 04/22/2011 10:13:37 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (Fix bayonets!)
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To: Second Amendment First

5 and a half more years?

I guess in an America with 57 states, that IS possible!!


3 posted on 04/22/2011 10:14:16 AM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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To: Second Amendment First

Why do all these stars want to ruin their careers? Used to love Hanks, now I wouldn’t pay a quarter to watch him.


4 posted on 04/22/2011 10:14:58 AM PDT by Paperdoll ( On the cutting edge)
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To: Second Amendment First

Tom Hanks - F.A.G.
5 posted on 04/22/2011 10:15:19 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: Second Amendment First

I seem to remember at one time that Tom Hanks was supposedly a Republican...


6 posted on 04/22/2011 10:15:29 AM PDT by RockinRight (Maybe Trump's a stalking horse for Palin...)
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To: Second Amendment First

Obama “acting like a Democrat” would almost be an improvement over his current “acting like a dangerous Marxist.” How typical. They really, really believe the country wants these socialist policies. Well, good for us, then, in the next election.

And I’d love to see the tax returns of all those crapfest Hollywood types. Did THEY pay the top rate of 35% on their earnings or did they find a thousand ways to shield their income from the government.

The only thing missing was watching Obama’s nose grow as he told lie after lie....


7 posted on 04/22/2011 10:18:12 AM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Ronald Reagan: "our liberal friends....know so much that isn't so...")
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To: Second Amendment First

Uh, where is the Atomic Barf Alert?


8 posted on 04/22/2011 10:18:16 AM PDT by Batman11 (Obama's poll numbers are so low the Kenyans are claiming he was born in the USA!)
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To: RockinRight

Well, Chuck Hagel was also supposedly a Republican, so anything’s possible.


9 posted on 04/22/2011 10:18:41 AM PDT by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: Paperdoll

It sure makes it difficult to watch their movies or listen to their music after knowing what their political preferences are.


10 posted on 04/22/2011 10:18:41 AM PDT by 20 years too late
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To: RockinRight

Well, Chuck Hagel was also supposedly a Republican, so anything’s possible.


11 posted on 04/22/2011 10:18:55 AM PDT by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: Second Amendment First

Never go full-retard.

12 posted on 04/22/2011 10:19:09 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Second Amendment First

Why does Obama claim he passed equal pay for equal work?

That Lilly Ledbetter law simply overturned the time limit which had been set in existing law to file lawsuits involving gender pay discrimination.

Actually, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 mandates equal pay for equal work among men and women. Obama had nothing to do with that law.

Why do we have gender pay discrimination when we have good Democrats in charge? If that’s really such a big problem, why hasn’t Obama put Eric Holder on the job to sue everybody, if it’s really a problem?

Why is it that Democrats complain about various problems allegedly created by Republicans? Then, when they get in power, they don’t do anything to solve the alleged problem.


13 posted on 04/22/2011 10:19:09 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: 20 years too late

I used to like the movie “A League of Their Own”. But after hearing so many lectures from Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell about what is wrong with society, it’s hard for me to watch that movie anymore.


14 posted on 04/22/2011 10:21:32 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Second Amendment First

Speaking of celebrities, here’s Big Bird’s take on The Won in a perfect world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCip-gNlK_U&feature=player_embedded#at=11


15 posted on 04/22/2011 10:21:53 AM PDT by eureka! (Tea Party = Real Americans' ACORN --the ground game will save us.)
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To: Second Amendment First

Hanks is a bimbo.


16 posted on 04/22/2011 10:22:32 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: Second Amendment First

Tom, I liked you better when you were making movies like “Bachelor Party.”


17 posted on 04/22/2011 10:22:54 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: 20 years too late

Actors have always gravitated to powerful men. They are happy to be the jesters in the court, knowing it will give them a wider exposure. And exposure is, after all, what they are all about.


18 posted on 04/22/2011 10:24:13 AM PDT by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: Second Amendment First

Stabilized the financial system? This guy is so delusional.


19 posted on 04/22/2011 10:24:56 AM PDT by txmissy
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To: Second Amendment First

I have more respect for Otm Shank (he's India's answer to Brian Dennehy)...LOL

20 posted on 04/22/2011 10:26:33 AM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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