Obama jokes with Clooney gala fundraising star

LOS ANGELES (AP) - George Clooney played the suave host, chef Wolfgang Puck whipped up something for dinner, and President Barack Obama and about 150 of its donors together Hollywood enjoyed a few laughs at the expense Clooney good mood.

Obama told the crowd that his poster of the famous Hope 2008 was obtained from a photograph of Obama sitting next to Clooney, when Barack Obama was a Senator of the United States. Clooney was in Washington to defend the interests of Darfur.

"This is the first time that George Clooney has never been photo-shopped a picture," Obama said. "Never happened before, never happens again."

In fact, the artist who created the poster, Shepard Fairey, used another photo of Obama but said he was counting on the image Obama-Clooney to avoid a case of infringement of copyright to Associated Press. He pleaded guilty in February to criminal contempt of production and destruction of evidence.

In this crowd, Obama did not even need to talk about gay marriage for more vigorous applause. "Clearly," the president said obliquely, "yesterday we made some news."

The event, organized in a transparent tent stretched outside Clooney sprawling Tudor-style house canyon, has raised nearly 15 million, a record for a single fundraising.

Guests were $ 40 000 to attend, representing about 6 million e-financial party for the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party. The remainder came from a random drawing for donor dollars smaller. Two winners, two women - are taking part in the dinner, and while Clooney was the host, they brought their husbands.

Puck dinner menu included a salad of roasted artichokes followed by duckling "Beijing style", with tiny buns, a duo playing the lamb and beef with potatoes and Brussels sprouts, sweet corn and tortelloni.

"We raised a lot of money because people like George," Obama said. "They love me, they love George."

Then seriously, he added: "It seems to occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something really important."

For Obama, Part A-list was not only a financial success, it gave the president the kind of Hollywood buzz Republican rarely gets. But the glitzy event, with its glamor and wealth, also has its risks and set up a striking contrast with the mission of Obama on Friday to highlight the plight of distressed homeowners in Nevada.

Among those at the dinner were the actors and artists like Robert Downey Jr., Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin, Jack Black, Salma Hayek and Tobey Maguire, who shared a table with Clooney and George Clooney's girlfriend Stacey Kiebler.

En route to the house of Clooney, along highways exclusive Canyon, families gathered at dinner time to gawk, wave and cheer the motorcade. Children held a lemonade stand with a sign: "Presidents drink for free."

Around the corner, a boy held another hand drawn piece of cardboard: "Do Bulls Lakers to share if you stop."

And another: "Our gay family says thank you Mr. President."