Bill Maher donates $1M to Obama super PAC

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Frederick M. Brown)

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher on Thursday night announced he's donating $1 million to Priorities USA Action, the super PAC supporting President Obama.

Maher brought out a large check during a live performance of his show "StupidCrazyPolitics" in San Jose, California. The comedian tweeted that the donation was a surprise to Yahoo, which broadcast the standup performance.

There are no limits to the dollar amount donors can give to super PACs, and the rise of the third party groups has created a collection of well-heeled donors who are investing significant sums of money to influence the 2012 election. Maher isn't the only high-profile figure supporting the pro-Obama group -- Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, the fifth biggest super PAC player, gave $2 million to Priorities USA Action last May, and Steven Spielberg has also donated $100,00 to the group.

Still, Maher's donation is big news for Priorities USA Action -- the group raised only about $59,000 in January. Meanwhile, the pro-Mitt Romney super PAC Restore Our Future and the pro-Newt Gingrich group Winning Our Future raised a combined $17 million last month.

Meet the biggest donors of the 2012 campaign

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by fedup12 February 26, 2012 7:58 PM EST: He is the same on the left as Oreilley, Rush and Beck are on the right.

Fool.; Reply to this comment


by ignoranceizbliss February 26, 2012 5:42 PM EST: "A fool and his money are soon parted..."; Reply to this comment


by lagunagal February 25, 2012 2:30 PM EST: Okay one more. I like Bill Maher a lot but he's painful to watch. He'd be much better on radio I think.; Reply to this comment

by lagunagal February 25, 2012 2:28 PM EST

Good Gawd people, as a 2008 Obama supporter do you actually think he has a chance this go around? I don't think so. No need to respond I'm outta here.

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by fedup12 February 26, 2012 8:00 PM EST: Bush got reelected. So anything is possible.

by Acapesket February 25, 2012 8:52 AM EST

Thank you if I had a spare million I would certainly contribute it to President Obama. 4 more years!

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by ProgressNow February 25, 2012 9:50 AM EST: Pres Obama and the Dems are just as pleased to get just $10. I'm proud of the fact that Pres Obama's war chest is mostly made up of donations of $250 and less...the 99% contributing what it can to show support for the Pres.

by krustykanuck February 24, 2012 7:31 PM EST

Both abortions and ultrasounds are typically invasive procedures dzaffina.

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by ignoranceizbliss February 26, 2012 5:41 PM EST: Ultrasounds invasive, really? Where exactly do you get your medical/scientific information? Oh wait, you're from Canada.

by cattiej February 24, 2012 6:42 PM EST

These Super Pacs are ruining our country...I don't understand how the Supreme Court could have approved them....oh right...the majority of them are Republican's...So much for remaining neutral..I want to fire all the judges of the UnSupreme Court...

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by MurdochSucks February 24, 2012 7:17 PM EST: That's why it is critical that we only elect Democrats for Presidents. They can't do anything without the House and Senate, anyway, so we might as well. As long as we have Dems for Presidents, and keep a moderate House and Senate, we should be good. We can get a Supreme Court full of rational people instead of Koch Industries lackeys.


by krustykanuck February 24, 2012 8:01 PM EST: What are you talking about? Obama spent a historical amount of money on his campaign in '08 while McCain opted for public funds... Remember the 30min infomercial Obama gave... think McCain could afford that. Typical Dems and their selective memories....


by LILYGARLOW February 24, 2012 5:55 PM EST: This is NEWS WHY? Or is it supposed to encourage other people to invest in Obama's super PAC. A washed up old man that's getting more than a little senile is supporting a candidate that has done the opposite of everything Bill Mahr believes in---it's just another act of stupidity--nothing more!!!; Reply to this comment

by MurdochSucks February 24, 2012 5:45 PM EST

You know, there are big dollars in both campaigns, but what separates the Liberal donors from the Conservatives, is they give to a cause that will not benefit them personally. If Bill Maher helps pass liberal legislation, he stands to make less money, paying higher taxes. Contrast that with the Conservative donors, who stand to gain headily from the passage of conservative legislation. So, while it is unfortunate that money has become our sole tool for determining a candidates worthiness, at least the left is putting their money where their mouths are to help the poor and middle classes. By the way, the reason that people are pouring money into the elections is that we are too stupid to study the candidates and we fall prey to political smear campaigns. So sad.

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by MurdochSucks February 24, 2012 6:18 PM EST: Idiot, how do you figure he's turning the country Communist. You can't back up any of your failed allegations, yet I am the fool? Ha ha ha, that's rich. You righties just love throwing out insults, because you have ZERO credibility. Talk about character assassination? What about the smears that the Republicans and Tea Party lemmings portray on Obama EVERY DAY! Look at your foolish posts, please give ONE CREDIBLE SOURCE demonstrating any extreme leftist, socialist, communist agenda by Obama. PLEASE, I dare you!


by MurdochSucks February 24, 2012 6:19 PM EST: Actually, I dare you to even define what Socialism and Communism are, since you seem to be vehemently against them. Don't you know that we are not a pure capitalist nation, never have been? You don't have a clue what you're talking about.


by Jaylah54 February 24, 2012 5:44 PM EST: Wow, the Evangeliban seems to be getting pretty nervous to find out that other candidates have support and can get big donors, too.; Reply to this comment