ELLIS HOBBS: Obama keeps it real

“Obama ’08, all the way.

“There’s the kind of taboo to talk about the whole racial issue. Yeah he’s (black), but what catches my eye is he keeps it real. You know, he’s done some bad things in life. He just seems like one of those brothers where he comes from around the way. He could be one of us. It just so happens he’s in the media every day.

“That’s what I like now. If he can keep it real now with the fan following he has, then once he gets into office I don’t think he’s one of those guys that can be corrupted. He may not make all the right decisions or have all the answers, but he’ll definitely keep it real and let us know what’s going on..

Williams said the preacher “doesn’t matter” and isn’t one of “the real issues. We should stop being misled by a voracious appetite for trash. I’m really kind of disgusted at the fact that for the first time probably in our nation’s history the media is dictating this political campaign more so than the candidates are. Rev. Wright is as important to this election as Bill Clinton was important to this election when Hillary stood by and he did what he had do in the White House.”

Everyone from Desperate Housewife Marcia Cross to celeb blogger Perez Hilton, newly-engaged and possibly pregnant Ashlee Simpson and fiance Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz…oh yeah, and some politicians and reporters…attended the posh event, MC’d by new American citizen, Craig Ferguson.

For complete coverage, a couple of options:

Washington Post

AFP

Vogue UK’s quick bit about what Donatella Versace had to say at the dinner:

New York Daily News

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Former President Jimmy Carter, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are all scheduled to make appearances on “The Daily Show.”

Not exactly fair and balanced,though–three Democratic guests, and one Republican guest.
For the complete CNN political ticker story, click here.

 Two weeks after the next president is elected, Mike Huckabee will publish a book sharing details on his failed bid for the White House and offering his vision for remodeling the conservative movement.

Sigh, even Chuck Norris couldn’t save Huckabee’s campaign. The Arkansas Governor has written two previous books.

For CNN’s full story, click here.

On the eve of the poll, Obama picked up another celebrity endorsement when filmmaker Michael Moore backed him. In a posting on his website, he said he had planned to stay neutral, but was incensed when Clinton mentioned the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in a TV debate last week.

Rock star Bruce Springsteen endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday, saying “he speaks to the America I’ve envisioned in my music for the past 35 years.”

In a letter addressed to friends and fans posted his website, Springsteen said he believes Obama is the best candidate to undo “the terrible damage done over the past eight years.”

No word yet on who the poor man’s Bruce Springsteen–Jon Bon Jovi–is backing…

From the McCain campaign:

“Apparently a web intern added Rachael Ray to our policy team without her knowing it,” McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds told CNN Tuesday morning. “He was swiftly dealt with and the page is down for revision. Our apologies to Food Network …but according to our press assistant the passion fruit mousse is really worth trying.”

For the full ticker story, click here.

No word on whether Rachael Ray is planning EVOO-inspired legal action.

• Bros before Hills: In important election news, Hills dude and Kardashian clan member Brody Jenner has announced his support of Barack Obama. “I think people would take us more seriously with Iraq and everything … I just think he’s cool,” said Brody.

No word yet on Spencer’s endorsement…

First, the L.A. Times has a piece on the drop in popularity a celebrity could pay when they endorse a candidate.

Writing at Politico.com, he suggests the aging empress of TV has paid a price for getting into the dirty business of politics with and for her man Barack. By August last year, a CBS poll found her favorabMother Teresa who beat out TV talk-show hostess and billionaire Oprah Winfrey as most admired woman of the 20th centuryle rating had plunged from 74% to 61%, still twice as good as the president but nearly a 20% drop.

Next, another rapper out for Obama.

Nas is the latest in a line of celebrities to publicly declare their support for Obama.

The I Can hitmaker tells MTV, “There’s no two ways to look at it, man – the man’s got what it takes. He’s serious.

“As a kid, you always think, ‘We’ll never see a black president,’ you know? ‘There’ll never be a black president.’ And you always feel that way. Everybody’s always grew up that way, black and white. So I think now, with Obama having a great chance of winning, I think (with) black and white, there’s been something lifted off their shoulders. It’s like, ‘This can happen. This can be great.’ And it’s about time.”

I’m sure he feels ill-matic about that one. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

Lewis Black gives his own spin on celebrity endorsements–in his usual calm, collected manner (ha!).

Finally, Elton John’s alright for fightin’ for Hillary. A concert for her at Radio City Music Hall raised $2.5 million for her presidential campaign.

Experience is central to Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential bid, and Wednesday night she tapped one of pop music’s most venerable rockers to help fill her campaign coffers with $2.5 million. Elton John, who has sold records and filled arenas for four decades, played a benefit concert for Clinton at Radio City Music Hall.

“I’ve always been a Hillary supporter,” John, 61, said before launching into his 1970 breakthrough hits, Your Song and Border Song. “There is no one more qualified to lead America.”