'All Recording Devices' Banned From Obama-Oprah Event

GUESTS forking out $2,300 a head for Oprah Winfrey's big bash for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had better leave their cameras at home. All recording devices are banned from the Sept. 8 event at the talk-show queen's $50 million estate in Montecito, Calif., reports Santa Barbara News-Press columnist Richard Mineards. And to avert limo-lock, the 2,000 guests must go to a "Greeting Center" eight miles away to have their cars valet-parked before shuttling to the bash by bus. The guest list is secret, but such Obama supporters as Jamie Foxx, George Clooney, Halle Berry, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are expected.

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Comments

[larry278]

10:30 PM on 08/23/2007

OK, Ms Winfrey is going for a recording device free event; that's par. Whomever records the event will have to work quick to sell it as an exclusive before others who have also recorded the event shop around their recordings. A composite of the best portions of the recordings will be compiled & aired within 2 hrs after the event.
The no recordings rule will hype the interest in the recordings for a day or two.

[TWOSHORT]

07:12 PM on 08/22/2007

Black people have opinions just as Whites Asians Native Americans and Hispanics do.Just don't like each other knowing how we really fill about each other.So no recording what we say.

[dlkincaid]

06:45 PM on 08/22/2007

So what - the real truth (go Obama - go Oprah), but when all is said in done. These rich southerners will get their people out of the dog fights, out of the bars and especially out of their Bush controlled churches to vote against a Black man - Michelle needs to keep her mouth shut. I am a 61 year old African American female with 2 sons - and I can tell her from experience - she doesn't have a clue if she thinks these people are going to vote for her husband, just ask the latest, Vick, Bonds, Tiger - oh don't forget OJ - woman they love their dogs more than they would ever vote a Black man in their white house.

[dijo]

07:02 PM on 08/22/2007

I am one white southerner who will proudly vote for Obama. I am sure you have experienced the feeling of being prejudged because of your color. It doesn't feel any better on this side.
Go Obama go!!!

[dijo]

06:19 PM on 08/22/2007

As I see it, this is a non-issue. This is a private home. Does Oprah not have the right to make the decision as to what happens in her own home?

[Stretchumall]

04:39 PM on 08/22/2007

Bring a lot of cash as there will be photographers there selling pics of you and someone richer or more famous.
it's all about the $$$$.



Got Rope?

[klondiker]

03:38 PM on 08/22/2007

I think that's standard for fundraisers held in private homes.

No big deal here.

[mrman]

03:26 PM on 08/22/2007

This event is being held at her home. She has the right to call the shots. She may want to sell portions of the event later and give the funds to the OBAMA campaign. It's just a normal Hollywood way of controling a media event for future $$$. Some celebs might not want their political affiliation made so public. Whatever the reason...it is a Private Affair. Geoge Bush is the appointed President of this country and the general public has zero access to him....now that's something to talk about.

[SeanGardner]

02:03 PM on 08/22/2007

I support this move by Oprah. Why would Oprah and Obama want a camera phone video or audio piece posted on TMZ.com just hours after the event - exposing a private conversation not meant for the airwaves?

Obama and Oprah want this event (and the subsequent conversation relating to it) to be about Obama and what he intends to do for this country when he is sworn in.

Bravo Oprah. Bravo Obama.

[DeanLowe]

11:25 AM on 08/23/2007

So he wants his intentions to be secret?
Isn't that politics as usual?

If he have control over his own brain and mouth then he shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[SeanGardner]

04:09 PM on 08/23/2007

But its an event at a private residence. THese are people coming to hear what Obama has to say, and, see if they can network with Oprah and others on entertainment related matters.

Why should everything, at a private fundraiser be fair game? If this was a fundraiser at a hotel or something, that would different.

When I do a fundraiser for Obama in November (with only my friends and co-workers), I will have the press there. But if Barack Obama was going to be there (and he's not), then you have to think about restricting the media (if not banning them) for different reasons.

Its not that anyone has anything to hide. Its that Oprah doesn't want her home to open to the world. It is her right. Its her home.

Go Barack.

[Yasmine]

09:00 PM on 08/23/2007

GOOD LUCK. I THINK IF A BLACK WINS, IT WILL LIFT THE SPIRIT OF ALL BLACKS AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL SET A REALL GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THEM AND STOP ALL FUTURE RACIAL COMPLAINTS.

[Tom95134]

12:46 PM on 08/22/2007

I guess Oprah will be dining on a large plate of crow. Considering how she was so quick to shoutdown and trash someone that raised a question about the war on her show she should be eating crow for a long time to come.