Star Power 2008

Beyoncé Wants to Serenade Obama

People  |  Nov 20, 08 11:25 AM CST

(Newser) - Beyoncé has her eye on her next big performance: Barack Obama’s inauguration. “Of course I’d love to,” she told People when asked about performing at the event. “Who wouldn’t?” Sasha Fierce will definitely attend the swearing-in, whether performing or not. “I want to be there to witness it,” she said. More »

Chuck Norris: Prop. 8 Foes Wreaking 'Anarchy'

Townhall Blog  |  Nov 19, 08 8:26 AM CST

(Newser) - Opponents of California's gay marriage ban need to learn how democracy works, Chuck Norris argues at TownHall.com. Post-election Proposition 8 protesters are attacking churches for backing the ban and threatening boycotts, Norris writes, when they should be accepting the majority vote of their fellow Californians. "Like it or not, it's the law now," the actor writes. "The people have spoken." More »

Obama Owes Her Big Time

ABC News  |  Nov 6, 08 2:07 PM CST

(Newser) - As an early backer of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey may have made the difference in the close primary contest against Hillary Clinton, Jake Tapper writes for ABC’s Nightline . One statistician estimates Winfrey—whose choices for her book club, for example, have an astronomical impact on book sales—delivered between 400,000 and 1.6 million primary votes for Obama. She laid low for the rest of the campaign, but now that he's won, expect a more open role. More »

Oprah on Obama Win: 'We Did This'

Time  |  Nov 5, 08 9:40 AM CST

(Newser) - Oprah Winfrey began to open up about the election last night in Chicago, and today on her show, she’ll “unleash” her views on Barack Obama’s victory, her website says. “This happened because we did this,” she told Mark Halperin at Obama’s rally. "We did this." The talk-show host kept quiet about the election after some viewers were less than thrilled with her endorsement of the now president-elect. More »

Want the Day Off? Anyone? Anyone?

Huffington Post  |  Nov 4, 08 8:01 AM CST

(Newser) - Ferris Bueller didn’t believe in -isms, only himself, but actor Matthew Broderick believes in Barack Obama. In a campaign video, Broderick urges people to emulate Ferris and “Take the day off”—only this time, to volunteer for Obama. “Life moves pretty fast,” he says, reprising a famous line. “If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” More »

Frampton's Obama Signs Stolen

Cincinnati Enquirer  |  Oct 30, 08 2:43 PM CDT

(Newser) - Peter Frampton is ticked that vandals in his GOP-leaning Cincinnati suburb keep stealing his Barack Obama lawn signs, he tells the Enquirer . The British-born naturalized US citizen wore an Obama shirt at his last local concert in protest, and has installed security cameras. “They are frustrating my attempt to use my First Amendment right to speech and political speech is supposedly the most protected,” the singer says. More »

Opie, Andy, Fonzie Endorse Obama

Chicago Tribune  |  Oct 24, 08 3:08 AM CDT

(Newser) - Ron Howard has taken a trip down TV memory lane to stump for Barack Obama, reports the Chicago Tribune . In a serious-humorous video posted on Funny or Die, Howard reprises his role as Opie alongside TV pop Sheriff Andy Griffith—who tells Opie he could someday grow up to vote Obama. Howard then swaps wigs, becomes Richie Cunningham from Happy Days and chats about the candidate with The Fonz. More »

Powell Makes Mac Play Defense (Again)

Politico  |  Oct 20, 08 8:30 AM CDT

(Newser) - Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama has backed an already-defensive John McCain even further into a corner, writes Politico. Following what McClatchy Newspapers calls a “blistering critique” of McCain’s campaign by the former secretary of state, the Republican has found himself defending anew the Palin pick, the Ayers angle and his recent onslaught of negative robocalls—a tactic he condemned in the 2000 race. More »

Jolie: 'Obama Would Be Great for My Family'

Huffington Post  |  Oct 12, 08 7:41 AM CDT

(Newser) - Angelina Jolie hasn't officially endorsed a candidate, but Barack Obama's positions "could move" her to vote for him, she tells the German edition of Vanity Fair . His determination to "intervene militarily in genocides abroad and close down Guantanamo Bay" are near and dear to her heart—as is his all-American multi-ethnic heritage that she so values. "Barack Obama would be great for my family,” she said. More »

Brangelina Kiss Away Rocky Rumors

New York Daily News  |  Oct 5, 08 9:51 AM CDT

(Newser) - Cuddly and kissy Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie looked more in love than ever when they arrived at a movie premiere in Manhattan yesterday—despite rumors that Jolie's post partum depression was causing trouble in paradise, reports the New York Daily News . "Everybody's great. The babies are great. They have completely different personalities," gushed Jolie, referring to the couple's new twins. More »

Star-Studded Wallets Come Out for Obama Fundraiser

Los Angeles Times  |  Sep 17, 08 8:29 AM CDT

(Newser) - Barack Obama pulled down $11 million between two star-studded Hollywood fundraisers last night, in the biggest single-night take of his campaign, reports the Los Angeles Times. The candidate mixed it up with the likes of Steven Spielberg, Chris Rock, and Barbra Streisand —who capped off the night with a performance —as John McCain took the opportunity to mock the celebrity shindig before a working-class Ohio crowd. More »

Barbra Hosts Obama Fundraiser

Time  |  Sep 16, 08 10:27 AM CDT

(Newser) - Barack Obama is expected to bring in a huge haul tonight at an LA fundraiser hosted by Barbra Streisand, Time reports. The event involves “a reception and dinner at $28,500 a person followed by a later event featuring Streisand at $2,500 a ticket.” The reclusive singer had been a Hillary Clinton backer, but has now lined up behind Obama. More »

5 Fibs About the 'Oprah Effect'

Washington Post  |  Sep 13, 08 2:30 PM CDT

(Newser) - Is the mighty Oprah endorsement helping Barack Obama… or Oprah Winfrey? Kathleen Rooney, author of a book on Oprah’s Book Club, unveils five myths about the Oprah effect in the Washington Post: Oprah’s viewers will do whatever she tells them. In fact Oprah’s flock is selective. They ignored her William Faulkner recommendation, and Beloved bombed at the box office. Celebrity endorsements don’t matter . Oprah’s seems to. Obama says one appearance with Winfrey yielded 10,000 new volunteers. More »

Oprah on Obama: 'I Cried My Lashes Off'

Associated Press  |  Aug 29, 08 10:44 AM CDT

(AP) - Oprah Winfrey is leaving Denver with the candidate she wanted, but reportedly without her eyelashes. The talk-show host said she was moved to tears by Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC. "I cried my eyelashes off," she said from Invesco Field. "I think it's the most powerful thing I have ever experienced," she added, calling Obama's words "transcendent." "He's not an African-American candidate, he's a candidate for Americans." More »

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