President Barack Obama concluded an approximately 17-hour visit to Los Angeles Friday by raising funds for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
The breakfast roundtable fundraiser was at the Brentwood home of "Spider-Man" actor Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer, the entertainment trade newspaper Variety reported. Tickets are $33,400 per couple, according to Variety. The price is based on the $33,400 maximum amount an individual can contribute to a national party committee in a year.
Obama delivered an approximately 15-minute speech Thursday night at a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at the Bel Air home of Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn and his wife Cindy. Obama criticized Senate Republicans for their refusal to hold hearings on his appointment of appeals court Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
"Our democracy only works if there is a respect and appreciation of the process of self-governance," Obama said.
Obama also told the approximately 90 people at the fundraiser "not to be complacent" about the general election.
"We can not be cynical because the stakes are too high," Obama said.
Left out of the president's remarks was that votes taken by House Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, to muscle Obama's economic recovery plan and health care law through Congress soured the public and cost Democrats the House majority in his first term.
Democrats have a good chance to add at least a handful of House seats come November. That number could grow if the Republican presidential nominee is Donald Trump, who has alienated large numbers of women, Hispanics and others with his biting rhetoric and issue positions. But to regain control of the 435-seat chamber, Democrats would need to pick up 30 seats, which would be an uphill climb
Robert A. Iger, the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Co.; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco; the Oscar-winning actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the Emmy-winning star of the HBO political comedy "Veep," were among those attending the fundraiser.Tickets started at $15,000 per couple that included a photo opportunity and dinner. A $66,800 ticket provided a couple dinner, admission to a VIP reception and photo opportunity.
The visit is Obama's 25th to Los Angeles and Orange counties as president. He conducted fundraisers during 22 of his visits. Thursday's fundraiser was Obama's 40th in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Obama last visited Southern California in February when he attended a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He also taped an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in Burbank and spoke at a pair of Democratic National Committee fundraisers in Hancock Park.
He also visited the region in October, when he attended a series of fundraisers for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic National Committee.
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Details on traffic closures during the visit can be found here.
