Taking a photo with Obama to cost $10,000 at LA fundraising event

PanARMENIAN.Net - In the second of what is sure to be a series of fundraising visits to Hollywood donors, U.S. President Barack Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26 for a pair of events scaled to accommodate a variety of incomes.

According to Hollywood Reporter, the first of the two fundraisers - both of which are designed to attract entertainment industry supporters - is scheduled for 4:30 pm at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard

A mere $250 will get a single person in the door, while $10,000 is the cost to take a photo with the President. Later that evening, Obama will network with the heavy hitters at Fig & Olive restaurant on chic Melrose Place. Thirty-five-thousand dollars allows you to bring a date. If you're on your own, it will only set you back $17,900. The main event will be a chance to participate in a Q&A with the president.

Sources say that invitations to both fundraisers are set to go out this week.

Entertainment industry donors are expected to figure prominently in the Democrats' fundraising plans for the hotly-contested 2012 elections. Showbiz figures contributed about $40 million to the Democrats during the last presidential election cycle. Obama visited Los Angeles for two events in April, one at the Sony Pictures lot and another at Tavern restaurant in Brentwood. These early gatherings will provide an interesting gauge of how enthusiastic Hollywood's politically-active players remain about the president.

A recent analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics reported that the entertainment industry contributed $2.53 million of the $39 million Obama collected during the first half of 2011. Employees at CAA gave $111,900, while DreamWorks SKG contributed $107,400. Sony came in with $95,900 and Disney employees gave $84,600.