The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit organization of well-known entertainment figures, is sending contingents to both the Democratic and Republican national conventions again this year.
The group, founded by Ron Silver and friends in 1989, advocates for causes, rather than a political party. Its issues include the First Amendment, public education and arts advocacy.
The convention delegations will include actors Quentin Tarantino, Susan Sarandon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Patrick Harris, Dana Delany, Matthew Modine and Wendie Malick.
Wednesday night benefit galas, along with programs and issue-oriented receptions and meals, are scheduled at each convention.
Variety reports that the Black Eyed Peas will perform for the Democrats and the Charlie Daniels Band will entertain the Republicans.
The coalition also sponsored galas at the 2004 conventions, which proved to be major fundraising opportunities. According to its 2006 tax return (the most recent publicly available), the group raised almost $1.8 million in 2004, compared to less than $700,000 in the years before and after the conventions.
The Creative Coalition does not contribute to political campaigns. It does, however, pay lobby firm Quinn Gillespie to advocate for its interests in Washington. Last year, Quinn Gillespie collected about $20,000 from the group.
Although the Obama camp has rounded up the masses of Hollywood liberals - many of whom are active in the Creative Coalition, the group has tried to take a more equal-opportunity approach to the political process.
Silver spoke at the Republican Convention and was an advisory member of Scooter Libby’s legal defense trust. Coalition board member Peggy Noonan was speechwriter to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
At the other end of the spectrum, director Lisa Caputo was press secretary to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Another member of the board, Lawrence Bender, producer of An Inconvenient Truth and Good Will Hunting, is a bundler for Obama.
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1 Comments
#1. Lynwood G. Collins 09.22.2008
September 22 2008
1170 Lite-N-Tie Road
Macon, GA 31211
1 478 841 2822
LITENTIE@aol.com
Dear Muckety,
Re: Obama Campaign, McCain.
As I watched you comments on TV this morning it occured to me that an incident in McCain’s career about 1985 should be thoroughly aired to the public. I believe it could be extremely damaging to his presidential run. It was called “The Keating Five” affair. Although McCain was finally aquitted in this scandal that cost taxpayers over two billion dollars it was quite evident he was deeply involved.
Go to the internet and look up: “The Keating Five”, Charles Keating, Keating Savings and Loan, for full details.
Unless I misinterpret this affair it is almost identical to the present mortgasge crisis. McCain should have learned from this disaster and that as a senator, he should have done something in Congress to prevent it from happening again. The American voters need to know this. I hope you will give serious consideration to this and advise the Obama campaign and they will use it.
Another point regarding McCain should be brought out. It is probably information you and Obama’s crew would hesitate to use but I believe it would quite damaging to his campaign.
When Bill Clinton was exposed for cheating on his wife the Republicans went “ballistic’ as you may recall, and probably rightly so. But not one word from them about McCain cheating on his first wife for a year, obtaining a marriage licence a month before his divorce was final , divorcing his first, leaving her and his two children, marrying a girl 17 years his junior from a very weathy family. If this subject was important with Clinton as president it should be equally important with McCain.
I am a white retired WW11 Navy vet. No association with any political organization, who believes ardently Obama can be our President and his election would the best thing that has happened to our country in a long long time
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Sincerely yours
Lynwood G. Collins
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