Obama’s $3 million S.F. dinner — the complete guest list
Craig Newmark, Cissie Swig, Steve Westly and will.i.am each happily dropped $35,800 to dine with President Obama at billionaire Marc Benioff’s San Francisco home Wednesday evening. These are just some of the 85 famous names on the fundraiser’s guest list which was plainly visible to rubberneckers as attendees checked in. Combined, Obama’s take for the 90-minute event was a cool $3 million — or $3,043,000 to be exact (85 guests x $35,800 each).
The record-setting price tag for the dinner was part of Obama’s highly profitable fundraising swing through the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday, April 20.
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A small cluster of onlookers — a few Obama fans, a few protesters, but mostly local residents who happened to pass by — watched and waited on the sidewalk at the intersection of Presidio and Pacific avenues for the President to arrive. While his motorcade was delayed for hours, a steady stream of well-dressed guests showed up and were let in one by one. Each name was checked on a master list of attendees held by a staffer who (unintentionally, one presumes) allowed nearby rubberneckers to get a glimpse of it as she flipped the pages.
The photographs below were taken of the fundraiser’s official guest list as the staffer checked the ID of each arrival. In total, 85 entries are visible on two different pages, though only about 50 of the names are fully legible.
Craig Newmark is the founder of craigslist and is a well-known internet entrepreneur. Cissie Swig is a wealthy philanthropist and a member of San Francisco’s famous Swig clan. Steve Westly is a California politician, candidate for governor, venture capitalist, and ardent Obama supporter. And will.i.am is a musician and producer, best known as the leader of the Black Eyed Peas.
Several other famous names are on the list. Readers interested in seeing who can afford to spend $35,800 for a 90-minute dinner can scan the photos below.
The full list of legible names is presented after the photos. (This short report will be followed by a more thorough photo essay soon.)
UPDATE:
Here’s the only report I could find from a pool reporter allowed into the event. A snippet — yes, that really is the “Stevie Wonder” on the list!:
The press corps was ushered into a large tent set up in the courtyard in the middle of Benioff’s block-wide residence, to find Stevie Wonder entertaining the crowd; his final song was a new one composed for the occasion, entitled “Ten Billion Hearts,” about joining together to heal the world.
The President was seated at Benioff’s table; Wonder returned to sit at the President’s side as Benioff introduced POTUS, saying that in a time of many crises, “we have the right person to lead us here.” Recording artist Will.I.am was seated at the same table.
…and the rest seemed to be not much more than a boilerplate stump speech. But…will.i.am at the table of honor?
[Click on each image to see it in higher resolution.]
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im sure obama spoke to inform the guests of the higher taxes they need to pay
How about this idea………how about our “supposed” president worry about our deficit and the “chaos” he’s started in Libya and the list goes on, and STOP playing “campaign boy”. Or even better…….just stay “on the road” and give the “power” to someone who knows how to handle it and that will….just sayin’…
First name, last name, first name, last name… will.i.am? Get over yourself, dude. Did he wear the helmet he wore during that abominable halftime show. I hope for the guests’ sake that he wasn’t the entertainment…
Will.I.Am wears a helmet because it is required for the short bus for the ones with the short intellect. Hell this whole list needs a helmet.
It would be intersting to see how many of these people felt so bad about not paying their fair share of taxes that they sent (additional) checks to the IRS!
Obama is his own government charity. Obama conversation before the event:” Are my pant creases perfect? Are these cuffs even on both sides? Did you get the graying just right on my temples? Is the skin lightener evenly toned? Just enough to be black, but not too black? Nails done? Hey, I can’t see my reflection in my shoes. Do over! Get that shoe boy in here. . And remember, please put the richest women close to me. You know how they love me and I Loooove their money!! Show Time!!
______^______^
Should we not look into who some of these people are? Anyone recognize any of the names? There was a time when George Soros would have appeared on a list like this made public and someone would have glanced over the name and kept reading!
This may be a good example of watching the other hand, in this case these are the hands that “feed” BHO and expect something in return, these are the types in the shadows we dont hear about! Remember they had $35,800 to shell out for this little get together!!
Could it be fascism in the making, revisited? In which case, the “looking into” will only be done post festum, although the place is unlikely to be Nuremberg.
Also, if this is an ALPHA list, are there BETAs as well? We know that Gammas and Deltas do not count much.
i’m sure the beta had all the hyphenated names on it
I recognize a few names. The ones that I recognize are good people although I generally dont agree with some of their politics. Its interesting to see the multiple names from the same family. This is a classic way to circumvent campaign finance limits–but everybody does it.
I believe that the Lisa Goldman and Douglas Goldman on the list are from the Lisa Douglas Goldman Fund. I cant be sure as neither is a particularly unique name, but seeing both together ….
http://ldgfund.org/about-us/mission/
Here are some of their recent projects. Like I said, theyre not bad people.
http://ldgfund.org/our-grants/recent-grants/
I get the feeling that money isnt a big issue for them, so they probably do support President Obamas call for increase top marginal tax rates.
Interesting, heres what else I found.
It appears that Douglas E. Goldman is a heavy hitter for the other team.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/douglas-goldman.asp?cycle=08
I was not aware of his other company, Certain Software.
http://www.certain.com/
Likewise, Lisa M. Goldman, a homemaker, is also a heavy hitter for the Democrats (there are a couple of different Lisa M. Goldmans on the list so watch for the San Francisco address).
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/lisa-goldman.asp?cycle=08
I hadnt realized that Douglas Goldman was also with the Richard Rhoda Goldman Fund.
http://www.goldmanfund.org/html/about/board-and-staff.html
The Goldman Fund gives the fairly prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
http://www.goldmanprize.org
Some organization calls the Goldman Fund, anti-capitalist, probably for some of their environmental work.
http://www.undueinfluence.com/goldman_fund.htm
Im going to make a guess that the J… [Goldman] and M… Goldman on the list are John D. Goldman and his wife Marcia L. Goldman. Both are associated with the Richard Rhoda Goldman Fund and both are generous givers to … you guessed it, the Democratic Party (this shouldnt be a surprise).
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/marcia-goldman.asp?cycle=08
Cissie Swig is a well-known fixture in San Francisco politics. Her full name is Roselyne Swig.
She and the rest of the Swig family are heavy hitters for the other team.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/roselyne-swig.asp?cycle=08
Her husband ran the world-famous Fairmont hotel.
http://articles.sfgate.com/1997-09-26/news/17757137_1_fairmont-hotels-roselyne-cissie-swig-richard-lewis-swig
Cissie Swig is a confident and ardent supporter of everybodys favorite San Francisco politician, Nancy Pelosi. As one paper describes …
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/17627?page=3
Roselyne Cissie Swig: A longtime friend, donor and Pacific Heights neighbor, Swig is also a policy buff who shares Pelosis concern for the environment, womens rights and defending Israel.
Well, if she wants to defend Israel this way, she may as well just send the money to Iran.
Spot-on nancy
These dinners happened by the 100s for the 2008 election! Look up Obama’s “Super Bundlers” and you will find all of the rich fat cats names that supported him.
I am glad to see more people paying attention this time at least.
The left has their man. The GOP cannot stop infighting long enough to find the right candidate and do our own Super Bundling, so unless a miracle happens, this will just be a repeat of 2008
The number dropped could be because thems are getting cautious too.
Remember the leaked (in)famous ‘Pennsylvania bitter clingers that are exnophobic’ statement by Obama? That was in a 2008 private fundraiser to the SF elites.
This time the guests are true hardcore believers.
I was thinking the same thing. It’s a very unimpressive list, SF society-wise. The party in 2008 was thrown by a very wealthy developer who’s probably feeling the pain, so maybe not so much love. I didn’t see his name on the list. Frankly, very few society folks besides Cissie, (who, by the way is a few sandwiches short of a picnic).
These must be true believers, nothing but rich Obama groupies.
“The left has their man. The GOP cannot stop infighting long enough to find the right candidate and do our own Super Bundling, so unless a miracle happens, this will just be a repeat of 2008.”
Boy, are you ever right on the infighting. There are times when we really do earn the “stupid party” label.
When we do have a candidate, will we actually support him? Or will a percentage of the party start screeching “RINO!” and bail, handing the election to Obama, as some did in 2008?
Remember 2008, you folks who thought John McCain wasn’t “conservative enough?” Remember, you folks who shouted “RINO” back then? How’d that work out for you?
In 2012 we’ll have a candidate. He or she will be the candidate for the Republican party. He or she will run against Barack Obama. He or she will be our only other choice besides Barack Obama.
The libertarian candidate will not get one electoral vote.
The American party candidate will not get one electoral vote.
The Constitution party candidate will not get one electoral vote.
The Whig candidate will not get one electoral vote.
The Reform party candidate will not get one electoral vote.
If Donald Trump wins the nomination I will vote for him. If Sarah Palin gets the nomination I will vote for her. If Mitt Romney gets the nomination I will vote for him. If Harold Snuffy, the second assistant dogcatcher in Leaf Springs, Arkansas, gets the nomination, I will vote for him. Hell, I voted for Bob Dole in 1996.
We can *not* afford four more years of Barack Obama. We have to win this election at any cost. We can’t do it by screeching “RINO!” at any candidate who disagrees with us on a few things, because Obama disagrees with us on many things, and you only have one choice – the R or the D.
Choose wisely.
animal,i say this repeatedly,and i am a member of a tp group in nyc. it is absolutely imperative in my opinion that the focus of the 2012 elections be on taking the senate. we have the house,a majority of governorships, state legislatures, and states attorney generals plus us, taking the fight to this leviathan.complete this w/the senate ,and we can block leftist judicial appointments,repeal hc,defund regulatory agencies that stifle liberty. the conversation that is being held now by us as to the presidency is distracting us from our true goal, shrinking the size of government. do not forget that we are winning that fight and it is ours to lose.
what good is it to take the Senate if Obama is going to just ignore it? I’m not sure anybody has the guts to actually impeach the man.
Well, get enough of a majority in the Senate (and House), and THEY can ignore Obama. It’s called “Veto Override”.
We cannot afford another 4 years of Obama, but we also cannot afford another 4 years of a RINO. We are heading for a cliff. Slowing down is not the answer. Going the other direction is the answer. If we are going to go off the cliff, I’d rather the other guy were driving, so we cannot be blamed during the cleanup.
Elect a Conservative/Libertarian or forget it.
I’d rather win.
Marc, a RINO is better than a jackass. Just remember that.
Why do BILLIONAIRES support Obama?
They give him 36K…
He gives them OUT OUR BILLIONS…
RICO…RICO…RICO!
Ahhhh…now you’re finally getting it. It’s not socialism, it’s not fascism, it is however the root from which they both have sprung: it’s plain old corporatism – the evergreen political philosophy of the modern administrative state.
I’m surprised that Trump wasn’t the guest of honor as he could have the distinction of ending up as the man who was most responsible for giving Obama a second term.
I have acquired a copy of Obama’s speech from the dinner swill.
“Don’t worry,” Obama told each elitist plutocrat inside. “We’ll make sure that you’ll be paid back many times over by the middle class in tax breaks, bailouts, Fed freshly-printed money, and pork projects. The power alone that we’ll give you will bring a return many times over. That $35,800 is the best investment you ever made!”
Once again I’m proud of my heritage. No Italians supporting this meathead.
How much did it cost the taxpayers for this fund raiser to California??? 100% of the costs of sending him around for fundraisers should be born by the democratic party none by the taxpayers.
The O always schedules an official function so the campaign won’t have to pay the cost of AF1 and the security,yada yada.
Us taxpayers foot the bills of the campaign whether or not we like it.
After all, he will make clear- he won,you didn’t.
It would be enlightening to see how much money these guests contribute to the Democrats. Even more, it would be of interest to see what (if anything) they contribute to the Republicans. Its nice to know who the enemy is. It is even more valuable to know who’s playing both sides against the middle. We, the tax payers, are the middle. Neither political party really gives a damn about us. We’re simply “astro turf.”
I have to say I am surprised ANY Jewish people would pay a dime to see Obama. As much of an anti-Semite as Obama is I am shocked that he is not completely ignored by Jewish people.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440104574402591116901498.html
Yes, the liberal and rich Jewish mind-set is certainly a headspinner!!
Obviously, they don’t give a rat’s ass about what happens to Israel.
I dont understand why so many from the California Jewish community support the Democratic Party, except maybe out of habit.
The strangest thing last year was seeing the support by some in the Jewish community for Proposition 27, which benefited only the Democratic Party, despite itself being a very anti-democratic piece of legislation. Fortunately, California voters soundly defeated it.
The primary contributor was Haim Saban, a well-known supporter of Israel.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2010/11/proposition_27_haim_saban.php
He still gave the Proposition 27 effort $2 MILLION, as did a number of well-connected, out-of-state billionaires, including George Soros. There were suspicions that Haim Saban was attempting to protect Congressman Howard Bermans district, which is heavily Latino but doesnt have a Latino majority thanks to careful Gerrymandering. Who did the Gerrymandering last time around? One of the people was Howard Bermans brother, Michael. You can read more about it here.
http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2010/09/proposition-27-revealed.html
I agree. Read “Why Jews Are Liberals” by Podhoretz. It explains why they are such dupes.
You’d be surprised at just how many Jews (Left Wing Socilists) support Barry Obama. It has been the Eternal conundrum. Why do Jews support anti-semetics?
Unfortunately there is that sector of Jew that is the typical east coast liberal, self loathing, Israel hating Jew that still would don the FireReTARDent suit and follow him into hell if he told them to. I know a few. It is sickening and sad when you see that. You have to wonder to themselves if they maybe had no relatives or grandparents who where lost in the Holocaust.
Heh, heh, heh;
And according to Obama, these soirées are on “THE BACKS OF THE POOR”!
Wish we had poor like these in my state.
Perhaps Barry should has asked the fat cats if they would care to contribute to the federal government…about and beyond their usual tax burden that is…in order to shrink the federal deficit. I’m sure they would be more then willing…lining up in fact…to give Barry and his boys many many millions of more dollars for him to waste. Thanks guys!!!
I recognize Jon Streeter’s name: lawyer, past president of Bar Association of SF. Struck me as a bit of a self-promoting tool the couple times I ran into him at events around town, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had political ambitions of his own one of these days.
Gosh, I sure missed being there but they wouldn’t let me attend.
If Barry X wins a 2nd term they are gonna be real suprised when he kills them and takes all their stuff. “Gee, sorry, Comrade. Yeah, well I needed your money to get power, and now you’re of no value to the Revpolution… Look, the gas is really quick. Ya won’t feel a thing.”
I don’t think the money is going to work this time for Barry. He has dug himself a hugh hole. We need to start looking for people of conviction and honor to run for President in 2012. I for one am looking at Rep. Allen West.
Here’s a suggestion. Instead of using the billions of dollars that will be collected by all parties as campaign funds…Have all candidates collecting these billions of dollars donate them to the IRS to pay down the deficit. That will surely get them on every Radio and Television News and Talk Shows where they can pontificate why they should be elected.
You quite frankly couldn’t pay me 35k to hob knob with that prick.
“The staffer acted stupidly”
Its interesting how some of the names appear in bold text.
The top name ia Denise Bauer.
She hasnt donated much, herself.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/marcia-goldman.asp?cycle=08
But she apparently bundled more than $200,000 for the President.
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/bundler.cfm?Bundler=25671
She must have done a good job. She was invited to a state dinner for President Hu Jintao of China.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/State-Dinner-Guest-List-Includes-Bay-Area-Notables-114239214.html
Shes hosted fundraisers for President Obama.
http://www.marinij.com/ci_7481887
I was wondering about the “bold” names, too. good work.
Leni Eccles has contributed a good amount of money to the Democrats in the past.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/leni-eccles.asp?cycle=10
She co-hosted a previous Obama fundraiser.
http://www.marinij.com/ci_7481887
Zombie: given your last two posts…
YOU ARE THE FINEST PERSON WHO EVER BREATHED IN THE UNIVERSE’S HISTORY!!!
I think you’re forgetting about Ruth Buzzi and Andre the Giant. I mean, c’mon!
Marc Benioff is likely Marc Russell Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Benioff
Hes been a heavy hitter for Democrats lately, but gave to both Obama AND McCain in the 2008 election.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/marc-benioff.asp?cycle=08
Lynne Benioff is Marc Benioffs spouse.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/22/salesforcecom-philanthropy-billionaires-intelligent-technology-marc-benioff.html
Lynne Benioff gave Obama for America a small amount in 2008.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/lynne-benioff.asp?cycle=08
Im going to guess that Russell and Joelle Benioff are related family, but Im not sure. I didnt find much.
That list made me laugh.
What was that old saying about fools and their money?
Perhaps there should be a 39.6% tax on campaign donations.
Rockstar Neil Young’s wife’s name is Pegi. If the Pegi Young listed above is the same one, I guess I won’t need to buy any more of his $100-$200 boxsets.
That’s it? Where’s Babs? To me this doesn’t look to good for Bammy!!
It would be interesting to see how many times Liberal/Progressive Hollywood actors, producers and directors have turned down govt subsidies and tax breaks for their film projects.
My guess? Not once. Not ever.
They give that money, taken from us, to their favorite politician.
Dual list: this also shows who has no love / concern for Israel since Obama personifies to opposite.
At Holy Thursday Mass last evening, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was really, truly and substantially present in the guise of ordinary bread and common wine. He will have been in San Francisco as well. “Who shall I release? And the crowd yelled, ‘Give us Barrabas’ ” “IHS”
Haas is the heir to the Levi Jeans fortune and major donor and or founder of many philanthropys in the California area including at least one major business school.
I haven’t bought any Levi’s in 25 years. I am a Wrangler jeans kind of a guy. I hope I never find out Wrangler is owned by big spending and useless collectivists, too. They are already selling baggy jeans, eh?
I think the motivation for some of these people is that it is fashionable to be thought of as “important” and politically active it causes of the “people”. It is something they wear like an expensive pair of shoes to show not only their own wealth but that they are oh so important. This is especially true since most of these people are inherited wealth and have no clue where real wealth comes from in the first place. Let’s remember as we have seen recently all too clearly, the Democratic party is really a cabal of frauds working for the unions and other criminal money launderers such as our “betters” in all forms of crony capitalism/Wall Street et all. You have the movers and shakers from prior generations and then their decendents who inherited more dough than they know how to spend. Any crook from Chicago knows how to snow these clowns.
When you make 100′s of Millions, some make Billions, off of the backs of the taxpayers every year; what’s a messily $35,800 for dinner to keep the gravy train running. The real fat cats Obama and his lackeys in the Media/Press tells us are Republicans are in reality Democrats and Republicans feasting at the Government trough and kickbacks are a cost of doing business; I bet the kickbacks are even tax deductible as an cost of doing business.
Liberalism is a mental disorder. There are lots of sicko’s in SF… but we’ve known that a long time.
One of the benefactors of White House deficit spending and executive order edicts is Facebook. Think of all the millions since 2008 that have lesser jobs or no jobs. More time to spend time on Facebook and the participants soar. Advertisers don’t have to know that the social network site increases are from people with more spare time. I too would contribute the maximum allowable — to every PAC I could hide in.
Ya know, I don’t think I saw one name on that list of the stupid “celebrities” that starred in commercials to promote BHO, such as Ron Howard. Seems to me that the event was merely a gathering of people that want to be a part of a takeover. These are the people we’ll stomp over while taking our country back.
Benoff referred to Obama as “the one to lead us”. Those attending this dinner to raise funds for Obama have been given much and have the opportunity, during their finite time in the world, to accept the path to the Father in Heaven, as told by His Son, Jesus.
I wonder if at that dinner anyone asked The One True Leader, who is Almighty God, to give His Blessing to them and this nation and for peace in this world.
From an article by Ron Radosh, http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/2011/04/20/is-there-an-american-socialist-tradition-2/2/
“National Review’s Jonah Goldberg, author of the best-selling Liberal Fascism, urged his readers to also take a careful look at Sklar’s theories. He cites a blog post of mine written a year ago, in which I noted that Sklar believes that Obama will make “central to his presidency” what he calls “proto-statist structures characteristic of fascist politics — that is, ‘social service’ political organizations operating extra-electorally and also capable of electoral engagement,” that will lead to “party-state systems…in which the party is the state.” Thus, he notes that during the campaign, Obama favored armed public service groups that could be used for homeland security, that would tie leadership bureaucracies to him through the unions and groups like ACORN.”
Think SEIU, Trumka, Voter Intimidation in Phila PA by black panther party
Actually, I feel a little sorry for the staffer doing the check-in. She’ll
get the blame and we’ll never hear of her again. This is one administration that doesn’t like to let ANYONE know anything about what it’s doing, no matter what the public’s right to know. And, the captive media isn’t about to risk offending the Kenyan.
As we head into the coming Presidential election season, lets all stay focused on the truth, no matter what. Barack Hussein Obama and all of his handlers( “Czars” ) are communists. They will always be communists no matter what they say to get Boobily re-elected. And, if Boobily gets re-elected, the great American experiment in self government will be lost forever.
Excuse my ignorance, but could someone explain how the money works here?
There are limits on contributions to federal candidates that are far below the amount to attend this dinner.
How do they get it to fit within the rules? Is it bundling? How much actually goes to the Obama campaign?
I’ve never understood this. Can anyone enlighten me?
Yeah — the Obama campaign bends the rules by having some of the money go to the DNC. From the first link in the article:
“Yes, “there’s a little bit of sticker shock,” one Dem told us this week. The explanation: $30,800 of that donation will go to the Democratic National Committee, with $5,000 going to the Obama campaign — $2,500 for the primary and $2,500 for the general election.”
Rules were made to be bent!
Didn’t Tom DeLay get sentenced to prison for doing the same thing?
He’s been on the campaign trail for the last 6 years. Good thing, he’s only doing his day job 4 days a week.
Tawnie Farmer? Seriously?! Sounds like a porn star.
She is; but, she’s given so much for “America”.
by the way, I like your handle
Quinn Delaney used to be active in the TIDES foundation. Maybe she still is. Her husband is Wayne Jordan. So maybe on the list it is not:
Wayne Houston
Jon Jordan
but Wayne Jordan.
Kelly Bulkeley is the guy who writes the books about dreams.
http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Christianity-Islam-Conflict-Creativity/dp/0813546095/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303755173&sr=1-1
It was on another “highly profitable fundraising swing through the San Francisco Bay Area” (2008) when Obama told the assembled wealthy faithful about all those frustrated Western Pennsylvanians who cling to their guns and their religion, aka “the bitter clingers”.
So the wealthy etc. San Franscicans could shake their heads and cluck their tongues in mock sympathy for those sorry people.
I don’t think Barry expected that his condescending observations would ever escape that room.
I’d pay $35,000 to not hear Obama opine, drone, preach, whatever. I’d pay that much if he’d keep his mug off of my tee vee for a week.
I’d pay a million if his small, narrow brain could drop the car/ditch/republican analogies.
Seriously
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