By Lagan Sebert
Obama in Hollywood, photo by Cedubya
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/1/07 — Young Hollywood stars, who have long been considered political dilettantes seem to be awakening to politics these days triggered by an array of causes as well as an unconventional politician in Barak Obama. Obama reached out to a group of stars and starlets in their 20’s and 30’s at his weekend fund-raiser at the Hollywood nightclub Boulevard3.
Martini glasses clinked by the hotspot’s reflecting pools as Obama brought a little bit of hipness back into politics. Though he is often railed for making broad idealistic statements with little substantive foundation Obama has stated that inspiring a generation is just as important as actually crunching the numbers that will turn into policy. Obama claims to be able to do both.
Comedian Cedric the Entertainer introduced Obama to the crowd, to which he said, “The thing that we need right now, more than fancy plans or white papers or policy works, what we need is you. I am confident in my ability to lead this country, but I can’t do it alone.”
Yet what really sizzled the young hipsters is the war in Iraq. Obama said it should “never should have been authorized, should never have been waged.”
Hollywood figures from Oliver Stone and Jane Fonda to Gabrielle Union, Jessica Biel, Taye Diggs, Anthony LaPaglia, Dave Annable, and Kate Walsh helped raise over $300,000 for Obama’s war chest.
Events like these show that as traditional methods of campaign financing begin to dry up, Obama will have to keep up his break-neck pace and inventive strategy in order to stay in the race for the next year. One thing that Obama seems not to be scared of, is change. With nearly 150,000 friends on MySpace, Obama is constantly strengthening his platform with the young and tech savvy voters, and has had more success with his internet campaign than other candidates. If Obama can succeed in mobilizing a historically apathetic voting demographic, his chances as a candidate should not be underestimated.
He may have less experience, but if Obama can convince the young voters that he is cool enough to actually motivate them to the ballots, that might be all it takes. He already has one rock and roll legends writing songs about him.
“Someone walks among us
And I hope he hears the call
And maybe it’s a woman
Or a black man after all
Yeah maybe it’s Obama
But he thinks that he’s too young”
Neil Young; From “Lookin’ For A Leader”
Supporters say maybe, just maybe, Obama is just young enough.