Obama finds lots of green in Oprah's meadow

SANTA BARBARA â?? Over the years, dozens of celebrities and authors have been the happy beneficiaries of what Hollywood likes to call "the Oprah effect."

Saturday, it was Barack Obama's turn to enjoy billionaire chat diva Oprah Winfrey's favor, as a stunning cross section of the country's entertainment and sports elite gathered in "the meadow" of her sprawling Montecito estate to raise money for the junior Illinois senator seeking the Democrats' presidential nomination.

The continuous midday motorcade of stars, activists, all-star athletes and entertainment executives snarled traffic up and down the coast. While Fox News asked its viewers to wonder whether "the Oprah effect can carry Obama to the White House," Santa Barbarans were left to wonder whether she had enough juice to get her guests to her own party.

There was a decidedly more populist tone to Obama's first appearance in town Saturday . . . or, at least, what passes for populism here.

An enthusiastic crowd began arriving about 10:30 a.m. for the Democratic hopeful's 11:45 a.m. address at Santa Barbara City College. They was a cross-section of hip Santa Barbara -- overwhelmingly white, fashionably turned-out surfers, high-end bohemians, college students and onetime '60s activists.

By the time Obama arrived from an overnight stay in San Francisco, the crowd had grown to about 5,000 under one of those perfect, blue Santa Barbara skies. The temperature was impeccable, and the ocean glinted as the kind of backdrop money can't buy -- unless, of course, you can afford beachfront property in Santa Barbara.

Obama surveyed the scene and quipped: "I can tell you, city colleges in Chicago don't look like this. I wouldn't get any work done here."

Then, eyeing the crowd: "I didn't know there were any hippies left." That got a big laugh, as did the senator's rejoinder: "That's cool."
Obama finds lots of green in Oprah's meadow - Los Angeles Times

A celeb giving an endorsement and raising some cash....nothing new. Oprah is big name....must be politically involved considering this lil' party...right?

It's easy, Oprah, so why not vote?

Oprah, we know you are a busy woman, being a media mogul and everything, but don't you think you could vote in a presidential primary once in a while?
You haven't cast a ballot in a presidential primary since 1988, a detail we might have completely glossed over if you hadn't started raising money for Barack Obama's primary campaign. You even allowed the wealthy to trample your meadow grass last night during an Obama fund-raiser at your Santa Barbara mansion. Despite your fancy digs in California, you've been registered to vote in Chicago, and it wouldn't take much to slip on a pair of your "Favorite Things" slippers and saunter on down from your Water Tower Place condo at 180 E. Pearson to your assigned polling spot at 222 E. Pearson. To make it easier, we even drew a map for you.
It's easy, Oprah, so why not vote? :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Commentary

Spoke to soon I guess.......Oprah don't vote! I guess she just wants her minions of brain washed bonbon eaters to waddle to the polls for her. The left wing has found yet another prize.....:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:
Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on . Oprah: Another left wing disaster! Obama finds lots of green in Oprah's meadow SANTA BARBARA â?? Over the years, dozens of celebrities and authors have been the happy beneficiaries of what Hollywood likes to call "the Oprah effect." Saturday, it was Barack Obama's turn to enjoy billionaire chat diva Oprah Winfrey's favor, as a stunning cross section of the country's entertainment and sports elite gathered in "the meadow" of her sprawling Montecito estate to raise money for the junior Illinois senator seeking the Democrats' Rating: 5