Obama fundraises with A-listers Cher, Julia Roberts

Washington: President Obama had a star-studded fundraiser evening in Los Angeles on Wednesday, which included singer Cher, actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Julia Roberts, and ‘Glee’ stars Jane Lynch and Darrin Criss, among others. In Los A ngeles for two fundraisers (one for LGBT activists), Obama lauded the progress the country has made on gay rights — telling a story about a straight Marine who thanked him for ending the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy of the US military. “I could not be prouder of the work that we’ve done on behalf of the LGBT community,” the Politico quoted Obama as saying in front of a crowd of about 600 at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. Criss and DeGeneres introduced Obama, who was joined by LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Cher, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ‘Modern Family’ and others. At a second, smaller fundraiser at the home of Fox’s ‘Glee’ creator Ryan Murphy, Obama joked that he would not be breaking into song. He was joined at that fundraiser by Witherspoon Banana Republic/Gap Inc. president Jack Calhoun, ‘Glee’ actress Jane Lynch, and HBO executive Michael Lombardo. “The key in 2012 is going to be how badly do we want it. Are we willing to fight for that vision with even greater determination than we did in 2008,” Obama told supporters, who each paid 25,000 dollars a ticket. Obama wraps up his fundraising tour with a fundraising breakfast in LA on Thursday — a two day swing that is expected to bring in at least 5.3 million dollars for his re-election bid. ANI