Obama Chicago Fundraiser Roundup
By Prescott Carlson in News on Jul 12, 2008 3:30PM
Barack Obama was busy raising cash around town last night with two high priced fundraisers. The first, at the Hyatt Regency, was a $2,300(!) a head dinner attended by over 600 people. The fundraiser hosts also raised $50,000 each. For their $1.4 million, guests were treated to an appearance by Chicago's King of Comedy, Bernie Mac, who caused a stir amongst those that apparently were unaware Mac tends to work blue.
"I don't know why my man Barack wants to be president but I'm proud of him because politics is dirty, especially with Republicans," Mac told the crowd of 600 at the Hyatt."So Barack, you can't get mad, you understand, when you hear rumors. People like rumors. They are going to say things like, you know, you was in the club with Lil' Kim and you and Kanye West got in a fist fight."
Mac cussed plenty through the act and said that would disqualify him from being vice-president.
Mac then went on to introduce Obama, who at the end of his speech playfully chided him, saying, "Bernie, you got to clean up your act. This is a family affair. . . . I'm just messing with you, man." But apparently Barack didn't let his camp in on the joke, who released this statement following the event: "Senator Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn't condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate."
Afterwards, Obama zipped over to another fundraiser at the Park West, where Jeff Tweedy was performing for fans who paid $100 for general admission tickets, and $500 for reserved seating. In his speech there, Obama denied a rumor that he didn't listen to Wilco on his iPod, saying, "That is not true. I love Wilco." Call us cynical, but that sounds a bit made up -- seriously, has anybody heard of this supposed Obama/Wilco-related rumor?