Streisand headlines fundraiser for Obama
DENVER (AP) -September 16, 2008 The Oscar-winning singer and actress was to perform Tuesday
night on Obama's behalf in Beverly Hills. It was to be a two-step
evening with a reception and dinner costing $28,500 a person
followed by a later event featuring Streisand at $2,500 a ticket.
Obama was flying to Los Angeles after an appearance Tuesday
morning in a Denver suburb.
Streisand originally backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton but
switched to Obama when he emerged as the Democratic presidential
nominee.
Streisand has been outspoken in criticizing John McCain's
selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on the
Republican presidential ticket.
"This calculated, cynical ploy to pull away a small percentage
of Hillary's women voters from Barack Obama will not work,"
Streisand wrote on her Web page. "We are not that stupid!"
"I believe John McCain chose Gov. Palin because he truly
believes that women who supported Hillary - an experienced,
brilliant, lifelong public servant - would vote for him because his
vice president has two X chromosomes," Streisand said. "McCain's
selection of Gov. Palin is a transparent and irresponsible decision
all in the name of trying to win this election."
Obama is financing his presidential race with private
contributions after abandoning a pledge to take public financing
capped at $84 million. His campaign announced Sunday it had
collected $66 million in August, a fundraising record for any
presidential candidate in a monthlong period.
By comparison, McCain raised $47 million in August, a personal
best for his campaign as well. After claiming the GOP nomination,
McCain accepted the $84 million in taxpayer funds allotted the
public financing system for the race.