George Clooney Speaks At Sellout Swiss Obama Fundraiser

George Clooney has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama by headlining an exclusive event for Americans in Geneva, one of the world's most affluent cities.

The Hollywood actor and director, fresh from the world premiere of the Coen brothers' comedy "Burn After Reading" in Venice, slipped without fanfare into the Swiss city on Tuesday for his first appearance on behalf of the Democratic nominee.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, Clooney signed autographs but did not comment as he squeezed his way past fans gathered in the narrow streets of Geneva.

Some 170 contributors paid $1,000 a head to hear him speak at a cocktail party held at a museum in Geneva's Old Town.

And 75 high-rolling supporters spent $10,000 each to attend "an intimate seated dinner" with the 47-year-old star which followed at the organizer's nearby apartment, according to the American lawyer who set up the twin "private" events.

"Mr. Clooney gave an excellent speech tonight; it was very stirring and moving. Barack Obama is the right person to repair our relations with the rest of the world," an American man told Reuters Television as he left the cocktail on his way to the dinner.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[readytsf]

Somebody ought to tell Georgie there's a few pesky laws out there that might frown on foreign contributions to political campaigns..........

[peskyliberal]

Have you ever heard the term "ex-pat"...the fundriser was exclusively for Americans.


The dumbing of America is apparently working. You have proved that fact.

[w&cheneysuck]

LOL!!! Good one!

[steviec]

ooo, George is yummy, isn't he?..but he doesn't quite have the class his dad--who voiced his dismay with the press for going after Palin's kids (Wed..nat tv)--seems to have cultivated over the years.

[blindd]

we here in america don't care about you swiss and your medieval civiliization

[KickerBoard]

The fund-raiser was for Americans, not Swiss. "Ex pat"? Not ringing a bell?

[observer007]

Is the RNC over tomorrow? How long before we can get back to the business of joining the rest of the 21st century world? Thanks GC, the more that people around the world see that not everyone in this country is some sort of brain damaged sociopath, the better my children's future will be.

[MoeSart]

"headlining an exclusive event for Americans in Geneva, one of the world's most affluent cities"

Nice work helping Obama shake that ELITIST label, George.

[SolomonTheWise]

Please check your grammar. The title should read, "George Clooney Speaks At A Sellout Swiss Obama Fundraiser."

Let me just say that, in my opinion, the people at the fundraiser are by no means "sellouts."

C'mon now, lets use that good ol' grammar check!

[BritishAfricanCanadian]

I am a foreigner that watched Palin and romneys speeches and trust me , after talking to all my friends, God forbid the republicans win, I will not step foot in the united states least I get renditioned to somewhere.
Whats up with all this terrorism talk, its known that the best way to control uneducated fools is through fear.
Even though the bible says fear is the beginning of respect, it also points out that fear is the devils most important tool.

Wake up Americans' don't let the extremests use fear on yuo.
I cannot believe the nerve of Palin being that bitterly critical of Obama ...on her very first night on the national stage.
Like are you kidding me? u just said a while back you didn't even know what the Vice presidents job was.
Is it that foreigners are in a diffrent realm of thinkng or what?
I cannot even imagine the shame of bringing her daughter and her forced fiance to the public.
Like thses repub's were the same people critical off the moral values of familes during the jamie lynn spears pregnancy....google glenn beck on jamie lyn spears transcripit.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

You are not in a different realm of thought. I too lived abroad as a child, travelled, saw the world, and know how others live and think. Let me say this,, looking outside of the box. lol...There are Anericans who are evolved, educated, see through the GOP/Rove machine. Then there are the religious fanatics who refuse to see beyond thier bible. The GOP play on these people like vultures. They prey on thier fears, stupidity, inability to see the lies. They don't want to believe our own govt. was behind 911. That we went into Iraq illegally and attacked a country that never attacked us, didn't have WMD. Its easier to buy the lies about the boogey man, the sky falling, than to realize the more we attack, the more we only incite more terrorism. No sir, you are not at all in a different realm of thinking, you are spot on target..

[saltpeter]

Palin didn't even get a passport until 2007 (when she was 43 years old). She's talking to the more than 80% of other Americans who also DON'T have passports but most of whom will declare (without any personal observation to the contrary) that "America is the best country in the world". The more America politically engages with the world, willful ignorance of how the rest of the world operates is irresponsible. Willful ignorance by elected officials is inexcusable. AND NO, John McCain, engagement in MILITARY CONFLICT is not the only, nor best method to get to know how other nations operate.

[biotechwoman]

Spot on. What is telling is that this seems to run in the Republican mindset--isolationism, and ignorance---that is. George W had only visited Mexico and Canada, prior to being "elected" president--despite the fact that he grew up with enormous wealth and opportunity to travel. Palin has been to Ireland, Germany and Iraq (?). Remember Dan Quayle (past republican VP)? He once stated he could not visit Latin America because he could not speak Latin.

This is exactly the reason why I chose to leave the United States in 2000 and most likely, will never move back. The nation has been taken over by fascists, racists, fundamentalist Christians, and white trailer trash that thinks FOX news is actually a media outlet.

If McCain/Palin are elected, I will renounce my American citizenship.

[schatsie]

So she has 3 houses, went to Hawaii for college, takes off from her job as a mayor to go fishing and who takes care of the children... And what about hubby's business partner...

I say she goes to Iraq and tells those Generals how to win the war!!! that will sure show how tough she is and while she is there she needs to convert those Arabs...and the Pope...

[Anastasia]

Re: "Barack Obama is the right person to repair our relations with the rest of the world,"

And the Republican's aren't. any foreigner who watched Sarah Palin's speech (and Rudi's and Mitt's) has to be shaking their heads.

[johnnygoodwud]

who's criticising geo. i'm glad he's helping obama. lighten up.

[SwingVoter]

Soldout would have been more appropriate than "sellout." just a thought

[DMHendrix]

That man is just too delicious. Smart & gorgeous.

[barackobama4prez]

We have affleck & clooney and johnny has chuck norris and jon voight. :-)

speaks volumes. out with the old, in with the new!

[littlepuffycloud]

I loved you even way back when you were Jackie's on/off again boyfriend, Booker.

[walk0nwalls]

Oh George, you handsome handsome bastard.

[SheriChardonnay]

hey at least he is not throwing a "teen mom soladarity" party lmao!