Obama showered with praise, cash from lesbian, gay backers at Los Angeles fundraiser

President Barack Obama waves as he arrives at a campaign fundraiser sponsored by the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., June 6, 2012. / AP

(AP) LOS ANGELES - President Obama basked in the support of his gay and lesbian backers Wednesday night, revving up an enthusiastic crowd with a pledge to block any attempt to roll back rights that gay Americans have gained under his administration.

With his public embrace of same-sex marriage just weeks old, a standing ovation with sustained applause greeted the president at a 600-person campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles for gay and lesbian supporters.

The president, nearing the end of a lengthy day of West Coast fundraising, appeared to feed off the energy of a crowd that included a handful of celebrities, including comedian Ellen DeGeneres and the singer Cher.

Complete coverage: Campaign 2012

There is no way to know exactly how much money Mr. Obama has raised from gay donors, reports CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli, as those who give to Mr. Obama are not asked to disclose their sexual orientation. Analyses of the president's so-called "bundlers" - the well-connected and wealthy men and women who reach out to friends, family and acquaintances for donations - suggest, however, that a significant chunk of his campaign cash is coming from the LGBT community.

Making the case for his re-election, Obama said he would refuse to allow anyone to attempt to reinstate the military's ban on openly gay service members, a measure the president had fought to repeal.

"That's not something I will tolerate," he said.

Some Republicans have said they would back the reinstatement of the "don't ask, don't tell" law. Mitt Romney, Obama's Republican rival in the presidential race, is not among them.

Obama ticked through what he called his presidential "to-do" list, saying "we've gotten some stuff done over the last three-and-a-half years." After launching into a passionate defense of his contested health care overhaul, he referred back to the to-do list. "Check," he said.

The president expected to raise more than $5 million for his re-election campaign and the Democratic Party during fundraisers in San Francisco and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday.

Earlier Wednesday during an event in San Francisco, Obama conceded that people around the country are wondering if he can keep his promise to build an economy designed for the long term. But he blasted opponents as offering nothing more than finger-pointing as a platform.

Obama told donors at the $5,000 per person fundraiser that "the other side" doesn't have any new ideas.

"And because they don't have any new ideas, what they will do is spend 500, 700, a billion dollars in negative ads and their simple message will be: This is someone else's fault and that's enough reason for you to vote for us," he said.

"And," he added, "if we don't answer them, that can work."

In "Virginia or Iowa or North Carolina or California, all across the country," Obama said, "there are a lot of folks who are still wondering are we going to be able to fully deliver on that promise of a country that is thriving and has an economy that is built to last?"

Obama offered no new prescriptions for how he would answer Americans' economic questions. He said he's pushing a number of bills in Congress aimed at boosting jobs and growth but has gotten little help from Republican lawmakers.

The president was introduced by Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Mays, a former outfielder for the New York Giants and San Francisco Giants.

Following his fundraising drive in California, Obama was heading to Nevada on Thursday for a speech at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The president planned to announce new steps to help college students repay their loans and his efforts to jumpstart the economy.

[fcs25]

Obama attended a meeting filled with foul language,low brow bathroom humor and jokes about masturbation.What a statement about his character and morals.He has no business being president and should be removed ASAP.He is a total disgrace to America.

[infantryman1968]

by dixt1 June 7, 2012 10:47 AM EDT
Stanley Kurtz writes:

Minutes of the meeting on January 11, 1996, of the New Party's Chicago chapter read as follows:
Barack Obama, candidate for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District, gave a statement to the membership and answered questions. He signed the New Party "Candidate Contract" and requested an endorsement from the New Party. He also joined the New Party.


LOL!

A flaming card carrying socialist.

The Irony.

[SD92040]

Don't you wish this was vetted back in 2008?

[mikethep]

starving1968-3: He didn't say "create legislation" - he said "PUSH legislation."

"I'm sure you'd fail the citizenship test like most conservatives would."

Just where did you get the statistics to make this assumption? Ed Shultz?

[mikethep]

Perhaps Obama would like an endorsement from the gay porn star that hacked up his lover and sent his body parts to schools.

Not the lifestyle I would like to have supporting me if I ran for office.

But, heck - to Obama, campaign money is campaign money.

[starving1968-3]

So your claim is that he only did that because he's gay?

Or are you trying to portray all gays as homicidal murderers?

Pretty childish on your part, either way.

[vsmit]

Perhaps Romney would like an endorsement from the "straight" Charles Manson who hacked up women in their homes.

This "straight" lifestyle is not what I would like to have supporting me if I ran for office.

[stormerF69]

Funny how the pansies fall in line when,Obama says one thing in front of the cameras and another behind them. So where is the bill, Obama?What bill has Obama put forth to bring Gay and lesiban Marriages to become legal through out the states? Nothing silence nothing but lip service for votes,Don't be played for fools people,Obama is only interested in one thing keeping his Position as President.

[starving1968-3]

If you knew how America's government worked, you'd realize that the POTUS doesn't create bills / legislation.

And no legislation is needed since the 14th amendment already covers the issue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Protection_Clause

[ObamasGuppies]

Why not just call it the immoral and sicko fundraiser for Marxist Obama. These people have the IQ of a speedbump because Obama hasn't promised them nothing. He won't push legislation to make Gay marriage legal or fight the states and these Gays give him cash. All he said is that I support you. I loathe you people but I'll support you, send me cash.

[dixt1]

Stanley Kurtz writes:

Minutes of the meeting on January 11, 1996, of the New Party's Chicago chapter read as follows:
Barack Obama, candidate for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District, gave a statement to the membership and answered questions. He signed the New Party "Candidate Contract" and requested an endorsement from the New Party. He also joined the New Party.

[lgccac]

"Obama showered with praise, cash from lesbian, gay backers ..."

Now that's an endorsement I would not be proud to have.

[mikethep]

The thought of being "showered" with anything from gay people gives me the creeps.

[mikethep]

Gay "backers" is also an unpleasant thought...

[cimach]

I can't wait until November to replace this "out of touch" President. He fits in with Hollywood because as a politician with a fat paycheck and fat benefits for life, he just cannot relate to jobless middle America. And Obama increasingly looks even more out of touch with people. The Democrats have not learned anything from the mid-term elections.

[OweninNJ]

"Hey, I've evolved! Now please write me a check."

[mikethep]

I think it is very telling of Obama's priorities when he prefers to be seen receiving loving glances from hideous transgender "Chaz" Bono (born female "Chastity" Bono) on the anniversary of D-Day instead of honoring WWII Veterans, the heroes from the "greatest generation."