US Features
Hollywood celebrates Obama's 'victory of hope'
By Andy Goldberg Nov 5, 2008, 23:47 GMT
New York/Los Angeles - She was one of his earliest and most prominent supporters.
So when Barack Obama's final moment of victory came, it was no real surprise that Oprah Winfrey, the hugely influential cultural arbiter and queen of daytime television, let the tears stream down her face.
'This is one of the greatest moments I could ever imagine,' said the Chicago native in broadcast remarks as she celebrated with thousands of others in Obama's adopted home city. 'It feels like hope won. It feels like it's not just a victory for, obviously, Barack Obama. It feels like America did the right thing. It feels like there's a shift in consciousness.'
'I made a vow not to use my show as a platform so I supported Barack Obama as a private citizen,' she said on her show Wednesday morning. 'But now the election is over and I am unleashed.'
Brad Pitt was among the other stars present at the celebration Tuesday night in Chicago, though there was no sign of Angelina Jolie.
Perhaps she was one of the many celebs who were turned down for tickets to what was easily the hottest event of the year. An Obama campaign spokesman said that for every celebrity in attendance, 10 had to be turned away.
Among those who did make it was director Spike Lee.
'It's a great day, it's a beautiful morning, a new dawn, a new beginning - not just in America but the world over,' he said.
Their words words may have sounded like cliches, but that should be forgiven, argued Michael Moore, the leftwing filmmaker whose documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 is credited with helping to turn the tide of public opinion against George W Bush and the Republican administration.
'Who among us is not at a loss for words?' he wrote on his website. 'Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair.'
He was one of many stars that helped get out the vote for Obama - from Sarah Jessica Parker to Ben Affleck, and from Bruce Springsteen to Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Along with others like Justin Timberlake, they comprised a throng of stars who volunteered for Obama throughout the campaign.
Many celebrated through the night at a celebrity party in Los Angeles hosted by actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette. The partygoers included Friends TV show co-star Jennifer Aniston, British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher.
In New York, film producer Harvey Weinstein hosted a fete attended by Salman Rushdie, TV presenter Matt Blanc and actress Jessica Alba among others.
'I came to live in America in 1999, and in a way I feel I got cheated,' Rushdie said. 'Immediately afterwards I got 9/11 and eight years of Bush. I thought, can I please have America back, and we are about to get it back now. It feels great to have a sensible, intelligent, stylish man in the office.'
Though the support of Hollywood's biggest names has rarely proved decisive in US presidential elections, there are many signs that this year their involvement had a positive effect.
In both previous elections, Bush successfully pilloried their support as that of a small liberal elite that did not reflect 'real America'.
This time Hollywood again raised millions of dollars for the Democratic candidate. But with millions of young voters flocking to the polls like never before, the public support of the movie icons and pop stars that they admired could not be marginalized.
Superstar George Clooney has also been an outspoken supporter of Obama.
'I congratulate president-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces,' said Clooney in a statement.
Other stars were also quick to recognize the historic moment.
'This will go down in history, in black history, for all of the sacrifices that the great Joseph Lowery and Martin Luther King made. This actually pays off for their sacrifice ... I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say,' said singer-song writer Usher.
US rap mogul Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs said the election gave him an unprecedented sense of power: 'I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office ... And that may not be true but that's how much power it felt like I had,' he said.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in US
- 1. Mitt Romney Addresses Tea Party Summit Pictures
- 2. Seven injured as US Navy plane crashes into apartments
- 3. At least three injured in US Navy plane crash
- 4. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, others to face death penalty trial
- 5. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others to face death penalty trial
Older Talkback
page: 1
I'd rather have the four years of Carter than 8 years of Bush failure.
The american voter has chosen wisely,the actors and other artists have demonstrated that they are less egoistic than you,they know that they will be paying more taxes,and for a good cause:to improve the life of the poorest.Call it socialist if you want,even call it marxist.For all I care it is an improvement .
Meanwhile go watch Chuck Norris movies till you puke.
@Dave
A typical loser - you obviously have no idea about Marxism, Communism, Socialism or whatever, but have been indoctrinated by the Neo Con, Bible Bashing, Money Grabbers who rely on fear (of terrorism, loss of jobs, no health cover etc etc) to keep the liitle peope under control while the top 1% grab all the money - a situation remarkably like the fear controlled masses under Stalin.
This election shows that the World has moved on while America has meekly accepted 8 years of damage to its economy and prestige around the world, while waging war on other countries, and the Republicans have clung on to the beliefs of the Cold War, Vietnam, Racism and all the other failed causes. The over 60s were the only category where McCain actually maintained his voting level - the younger generations have thrown out your dated ideas
America claims to be a leading democarcy, yet wouldn't (deliberatley to discourage voters ?) even supply an ample number of polling stations. The queues of voters waiting to vote looked like scenes from a third world country. More civilised nations provide sufficient stationsd for the population, within a few minutes walk of each catchment area, and with a wait of 5 minutes at the most
You really need to rethink your life and find a path into the modern world
It's true for u that a polling station would be no more than 5minutes away and waiting is maximum 15 minutes.I was amazed too at the por organization of the elections .What excuse is there for having people lining up for hours?
Dave is one of the things that is wrong with this country - hate for anything that he doesn't agree with and trying his best to bring it down.
He is the voice of losers everywhere.
Funny thing is that the bible thumpers hate the celebrity, even though because of this great country they are both equal---one vote apiece. Yea Obama!
I am extremely happy that the Hollywood elite are Happy with the election results. Now its time to get down to business, how are you going to help President Obama 'spread the wealth'. Do the Hollywood elite really need all the money they make.....would it not be more fair to redistribute their wealth to those who have not been as fortunate?! Perhaps there should be a national salary........let see the average wage in in the USA is $45,000.00..so all things being fair every adult in the USA should receive no more and no less than $45,000.00 a year regardless of occupation. Movie star $45,000.00, waiter $45,000.00, Heart surgeon $45,000.00, crack head $45,000.00......Now I know many of you folks wonder how the elite will survive on so much less.after all they have luxury homes and jet set life styles, private school for their children......That leads to the question is it really fair that they have so much when the so many have so little....Do they really need luxury homes, perhaps we should consider the end of private ownership and allow the Government to supply housing to us, after a government owned housing project located near the work place would really be the more Green option, and really should their children be in the better private schools when so many are stuck in the failing school systems..of course not, its only fair.
OR
Lets take it one step more and just give out Vouchers that can be exchanged for the predetermined rations we will need to live.
'From each according to their abilities, To each according to their needs'
See ya in the bread line!
@Dave
Congratulations on your Communist philosophy of spreading wealth equally
HAHA not my beliefs seriously, just thought some folks needed a clue as to what they voted for and where they were going to end up if they don't wise up.
To bad so many have forgotten or never saw the Soviet Union era bread lines.
All of his 'fears', he presents as if it's reality...
... NONE of what Dave posts has anything whatsoever to do with an actual event in reality ... only make-believe fear.
And yes, they want Dave to be afraid.
Dave just parrots those fears ... over and over ... fears placed in him by those who wanted to generate republican votes by making people 'afraid' of the Dem candidate ... (as they have successfully done before, but not this time)
They play you like a cheap fiddle, Dave.
You mentioned someone moving out. Sorry, pal your shameless team lost.
There are more winners than losers, so the numbers say that you and the rest of your discontented losers pals should be the ones moving away from the USA. Instead of burdening Europe or some other nice place with your obnoxious presence, I suggest that you try something manly, and befitting of your intelligence, like forming an aryan skin head colony in Antartica.
...when people get what they wished for? It is especially gratifying when you take into consideration who it was doing all that wishing.
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again!
Let us sing a song of cheer again,
Happy days are here again!
@Dave - 'the Soviet era bread lines' -
April 2008 - 'Food stamps are the symbol of poverty in the US. In the era of the credit crunch, a record 28 million Americans are now relying on them to survive – a sure sign the world's richest country faces economic crisis.'
And that is before the current problems, which result from 8 years of Republican damage to the economy, total loss of American prestige around the World and 8 years delay in dealing with climate change. What a wonderful record of achievement to hand over to Obama !
page: 1
DaveNov 6th, 2008 - 05:19:10
Screw Hollyweird the biggest phonies on the planet. They wanted nothing to do with uniting the country when it wasn't their man in the ring now they want us to unify behind the messiah. No way Jose. Screw the leftists. Clooney can suck my .... I will fight Obama every turn of the way. I don't want him to do anything. I want gridlock. He is going to be noting more than a 4 year repeat of a one term Jimmy Carter failure. The phony Hollyweirds could care less how much they are taxes. Thye have so much money giving half of what they got wouldn't hurt them a bit. They and their offspring could live the rest of their lives in luxury even giving half of all they have. They don't have a clue what the middle class american is about. They are nothing but a bunch of wack jobs. I will not allow this country to turn into a socialist nation as long as I have breath. It wasn't founded that way and I wish all you marxist idealogs would just go move to Europe.
Report this comment