Tonight: Obama Hits Up Hollywood's A-List for Cash

As the quote from Love Story goes, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” If you subscribe to that philosophy, it will come as no surprise that while Americans continue to sour on President Obama (his approval ratings continue on a collision course with the 30s), there is still one place he can always depend on for free love and fast cash: Hollywood. One of the most romantic couples of our time has a big date tonight. From Reuters:

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – When President Obama took to the stage at a Beverly Hilton ballroom on May 27, 2009, to raise money for the Democratic National Committee, it was a victory lap of sorts for the 250 studio executives, directors and stars who had paid $15,200 apiece to dine on kabachi ravioli as they listened to their newly elected leader.

“If it weren’t for you, we would not be in the White House,” the president told DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, going on to recognize the deep pockets of other showbiz contributors who had put millions into his campaign coffers.

Tonight, a little more than a year later, Obama arrives in Hollywood again to meet and greet industry heavy hitters. This time, the feelings of many in the crowd are more complicated. Obama has faced criticism from the left about unfulfilled campaign promises ranging from the closure of Gitmo to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

This evening’s fundraiser featuring Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) takes place at the Hancock Park home of “ER” and “The West Wing” executive producer John Wells and benefits the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The usual gang of Hollywood A-listers will be in attendance: the host committee includes J.J. Abrams and wife Katie McGrath, Alan and Cindy Horn, Barbra Streisand, the Katzenbergs, and Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg.

With rising “wrong track” poll numbers and mounting criticism by donors and supporters over the administration’s Afghanistan policy, compromises in the health-care bill and lackluster Wall Street reform, it’s painfully obvious that many Hollywood natives are getting restless.

Obama has not cozied up to the industry and, indeed, has told insiders he feels uncomfortable schmoozing with show business bigwigs — a big departure from Bill Clinton.

Read the whole story here.