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 Obama will push his economic agenda at DreamWorks Animation in
Glendale, Calif., on Tuesday. Before delivering his remarks, Obama
planned to meet with film industry executives and tour the studio
that created "Shrek," ''Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda."
He will also attend his last Democratic Party fundraiser of the trip
at the home of Marta Kauffman, co-creator of the sitcom "Friends."
The Seattle-to-San Francisco-to-Los Angeles trip featured seven
fundraisers for the Democratic Party and the committees that help
House and Senate Democrats. So far this year, Obama has been the
main attraction at five fundraisers for the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, five for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee and two joint House and Senate fundraisers.
Late Monday, at a fundraiser at the sprawling Beverly Hills home of
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Obama praised the legendary Los Angeles
Laker, saying that when Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis in 1991
he prompted the country and the world to think in a new way about
the disease. He said Johnson changed "our attitudes with the kind of
grace and courage that only true leaders can display."
The 160 attendees who paid as much as $15,000 to attend included
actors Samuel L. Jackson and Diane Keaton and basketball players
Antawn Jamison and J.J. Redick of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Obama, a basketball fan who still plays with friends, joked that his
basketball career ended in high school, though he said he may have
been able to play at a Division III college.
"Also keep in mind that the last time Magic played basketball was
with me at my 49th birthday party, and I just want to tell you, it
wasn't pretty," he said.
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Later, Obama spoke at a dinner for about 120 donors hosted by
Israeli-American media mogul Haim Saban. Among the guests was actor
Tom Hanks. Saban, known for his pro-Israel views, applauded the
international deal with Iran to temporarily limit Tehran's nuclear
capabilities. The agreement has been called an "historic mistake" by
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While in Los Angeles, Obama also visited with the family of a
Transportation Security Administration officer who was killed at Los
Angeles International Airport earlier this month.
The White House said Obama gathered with relatives of officer
Gerardo Hernandez at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The president also
met with TSA agents Tony Grigsby and James Speer, both of whom were
wounded in the shootings.
By visiting DreamWorks, Obama will be reunited with Katzenberg, a
major campaign contributor. The White House rejected suggestions
that the visit to DreamWorks was a reward for Katzenberg's support.
"DreamWorks obviously is a thriving business and is creating lots of
jobs in Southern California," White House spokesman Josh Earnest
said. "And the fact of the matter is Mr. Katzenberg's support for
the President's policies has no bearing on our decision to visit
there; rather, it's an opportunity."
[Associated
Press; JIM KUHNHENN]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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