Obama in Hollywood: Gay Marriage Demonstrators

Obama went to Hollywood on a fund-raising mission for the DNC. The two events were sold out. Mission accomplished.

The Hollywood heavyweights turned out for Obama, but so did demonstrators.

From Variety:

President Obama returned to Los Angeles fund-raising circles for the first time since taking office, appearing at a duo of Hollywood-centric events for the Democratic National Committee that sold out despite donor fatigue and a faltering economy.

Obama's visit to the Beverly Hilton was met with a series of demonstrations outside, the largest of which urged the president to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and to support same-sex marriage rights.

The lib media haven't seemed to take notice, but Obama hasn't exactly been gay-friendly.

Other than giving a special invite to some token gay and lesbian families to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll, what has Obama done to advance gay rights?

Obama and the demonized Miss California Carrie Prejean are on the exact same page when it comes to same-sex marriage.

Obama is keeping the same "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy used by the Bush administration.

In short, Obama has been no savior to the gay and lesbian community so far.

But the protesters created little if any disturbance at the event itself, where a heavy entertainment industry presence including Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ari Emanuel and Casey Wasserman were expected to help bring in more than $3 million to the DNC, which is trying to erase a fund-raising gap with the Republican National Committee this year.

The more exclusive of the events was a late-afternoon dinner, where couples ponied up $30,400 each at smaller gathering that allowed for photo ops and some face time. Among the 250 or so who attended were stars like Seth Rogen, Ron Howard, Kiefer Sutherland and Tyler Perry and politically active industry types like Chris Albrecht, Bruce Cohen, Bryan Lourd. Peter and Megan Chernin, Ron and Kelly Meyer, Skip Paul and Alan and Cindy Horn. Also present were Nicole Avant and Charles Rivkin, the Obama campaign's Southern California finance co-chairs, along with John Emerson, chairman of the Los Angeles Music Center.

Hundreds of other donors paid far less for a general reception, where Jennifer Hudson and Earth, Wind & Fire and the Crenshaw High School Choir were among the performers before a crowd that included Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish, Zachary Quinto and Jamie Foxx. Perhaps reflecting the need to open up the event to a wider array of donors in tight times, tickets originally set at $2,500-per-person were re-priced at $1,000 per person and $2,500 for VIP seating.

Even the less pricey event was pricey!

Tickets were lowered to $1,000 per person because of "tight times."

Give me a break. These people don't know tight.

...In speeches at both events, Obama outlined accomplishments of the administration's first four months, including his economic recovery plan and lifting the ban on stem cell research funding. He received warm applause when he talked about his nominee to the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.

"I would put these first four months up against any prior administration since FDR," Obama said at his dinner speech, adding that he is "not satisfied. I'm confident in the future, but I'm not yet content."

Obama thinks quite highly of himself, doesn't he? No president since FDR can match him.

He's thinks he's accomplished great things.

What would those be?

I'm stumped.

Obama didn't directly address the nature of the demonstrators outside, other than to note that he heard what one said as his motorcade pulled into the hotel grounds.

"One of them said, 'Obama, keep your promise,' and I thought, 'That's fair.' I don't know which promise he was talking about," Obama said to some laughter, before noting that his administration has set out to do what was promised during the campaign.

Ooh. Not a good move to mock those demonstrators.

They aren't pro-life demonstrators or people in opposition to Obama's high tax socialist vision for America. They aren't the usual Obama enemies -- you know, FOX News viewers. These are gay rights activists.

Look at that sign that says "FAIL." Must be a gay marriage supporter and a Rush Limbaugh fan.

Across the street from the hotel, at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Trenton Drive, some 300 demonstrators --- from groups including the Courage Campaign and the Stonewall Democratic Club --- chanted slogans like "Equal Rights Now!" Lt. Dan Choi, a military linguist facing expulsion after he declared his sexual orientation on "The Rachel Maddow Show," addressed the gathering as cars honked their horns in passing by. Some demonstrators cautioned that they were not opposed to Obama's administration, they hoped the visibility would help sway the president to take bolder action.

It was a sentiment reflected by some in the hotel itself. Political consultant Chad Griffin said he and Cohen had a brief conversation with the president in which they urged him to support marriage equality.

This article claims that the demonstrators still believe that Obama is their ally and he will deliver for them. They just want him to quit dragging his feet.

I don't know. I wonder how long it will be before they lose their patience with Obama. Some clearly already have.

When expectations are so high, disappointment is so much more difficult to take.
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Video of Obama speaking at fund-raiser.

He doesn't sound like the president. He sounds like a slick politician on the campaign trail begging for bucks.