Is it really true that Hollywood is in the tank for Barack Obama?
Apparently.
Figures released by the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics show that California led the nation in contributions to the president’s inaugural celebration.
Halle Berry. Steven Spielberg. Sharon Stone. Jamie Foxx. The list goes on — Hollywood ponied up. Even more impressive, California’s total of $6.4 million was in a different league (natch) than the next biggest donors – New York (almost $4 million) and Illinois ($3.4 million).
As for the inaugural itself, Washington is still buzzing over all the celebrity traffic. The locals are marveling that Queen Latifah waited in line like everyone else at the Mall the morning of the Inaugural. The Marriott is still trying to explain why Dionne Warwick canceled her inaugural concert at the last minute, with paid-for-it ticket holders left in fancy clothes without any music. And Republicans are shaking their heads over news that Bo Derek, a Republican who says she voted for Obama, made the inaugural party circuit.
Beyonce, who said on arrival back at LAX Friday that she was “proud to be an American,” was a huge hit at the Neighborhood Ball that began the Obamas’ long odyssey of 10 balls and one private party last Tuesday night. Her rendition of Etta James’ “At Last,” which has drawn over 94,000 views on youtube, was so emotional that one party-goer told me the Obamas seemed to stop dancing to make eye contact with her.
What a country. What a party.
