President Barack Obama said his support for gay marriage is a logical milestone towards a fairer America, as he was fêted at a Hollywood fundraiser hosted by George Clooney tipped to make a cool $15 million.
The guest list included A-listers from Barbra Streisand and Robert Downey Jr to Jack Black, Billy Crystal and Salma Hayek
Mr Obama praised his host’s support for liberal causes but also gently teased the A-list actor and Democratic activist at the Tinseltown love-in at Mr Clooney’s Hollywood Hills mansion.
“Yesterday we made some news,” he joked about his public endorsement of gay marriage. “The truth is, it was a logical extension of what America’s supposed to be ... Are we a country thatincludes everybody?”
“Does that make us stronger? I believe it does,” he said.
Dubbed Starmageddon, the event at the Oscar-winning star’s Studio City mansion, which united Hollywood glitz and Washington power, was aimed at swelling Mr Obama’s campaign coffers six months before he asks voters for a second term.
Around 150 well-heeled guests paid €30,892 a ticket to get into the exclusive soiree, the latest in a string of big money events as Mr Obama builds an expensive grass roots campaign machinery and buys top dollar advertising slots.
The Obama campaign also conducted a draw for tickets, asking less wealthy supporters for contributions of at least €2.3 for a chance to chow down with the star of Ocean’s Eleven and the leader of the free world.
DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, who organised the fundraiser, introduced Mr Obama after remarks by Mr Clooney himself, and recalled Mr Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan “Yes we can.” He continued: “Yes, we have. Yesterday he did the right thing yet again” − sparking renewed cheers.
Mr Katzenberg was overhead saying the event was set to make close to €11.5 million.
Mr Obama paid tribute to Mr Clooney in remarks at the start of the evening, saying: “We raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. They like me, they love him. And rightfully so.”
Referring to the iconic Hope poster from 2008 by Shepard Fairey, he said: “People don’t realise that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George,” who was advocating on behalf of Darfur.
“We struck up a friendship. This is the first time that George Clooney has actually been photoshopped out of a picture,” he quipped.
In fact, Mr Fairey did a poster for Mr Clooney with both men on the same picture, Mr Obama revealed. “Why he said at the bottom, ‘dope and hope,’ I don’t know”, he joked.
The guest list included A-listers from Barbra Streisand and Robert Downey Jr to Jack Black, Billy Crystal and Salma Hayek. Eddie Murphy however did not turn up.