Who Hollywood Backs (With Their Wallets) in 2008

By Katherine Thomson, Huffington Post. Posted August 7, 2007.

Despite some high profile fundraisers for the big three Democratic candidates in recent months, many of Hollywood's biggest names and most political families have yet to give big in the presidential race.

The Sheen/Estevez clan, Martin, Charlie and Emilio, all turn up empty, ditto all four Baldwin brothers and the Gyllenhaals. Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson are also yet to commit.

But Universal chief Ron Meyer, daughter Jennifer and her fiance and baby-daddy Tobey Maguire have all cut big checks for Democrats. Ron has given $3,300 to Obama, $2300 to Dodd, $2300 to Clinton and $1000 to both Edwards and Richardson. Tobey has used his profit points to give Obama $2300 and Clinton $4600, while Jennifer has given $2300 to Obama.

The outspoken Arquettes also turn up near empty, Rosanna gave $2300 to Obama, but Patricia, Alexis and David have given nothing. David's wife Courtney Cox Arquette also shows no donations. In fact, the only one of the six "Friends" who has given is Jennifer Aniston, and she gave $2300 to Obama.

Many stars turn up nothing thus far, from Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Drew Barrymore and Angelina Jolie, to Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Robert De Niro, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. But, George Clooney has given $2300 to Obama, and Clooney, De Niro and Pitt's agent, CAA's Bryan Lourd, has also given $2300 to Obama.

And despite living in Bermuda most of the year, Michael Douglas has given big: $4600 each to Clinton, Obama, Richardson and Dodd. John Edwards, however, got nothing from Douglas.

Hollywood heavy Steven Spielberg has given widely. After cohosting an event for Obama in February, and endorsing Clinton in June, the director has given $2300 to Obama, Clinton, Edwards and Richardson.

Director Brett Ratner, who hosted a high-profile event for Clinton, has given her $4600, and Edwards $4600, as well. But his "Rush Hour" star Chris Tucker shows up with nothing and his "X-Men 3" leading lady Halle Berry has given only to Obama, to the tune of $2300.

And who do Scientologists support? It's hard to tell. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Giovanni Ribisi, Jenna Elfman, Kirstie Alley, Nancy Cartwright, Juliette Lewis, Leah Remini, and Lisa Marie Presley all turn up nothing. One who did, "Crash" writer/director Paul Haggis, has given $2100 to Dennis Kucinich.

The followers of Kabbalah have also been tight with campaign donations. Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Madonna, Roseanne Barr and Sandra Bernhard gave nothing. Madonna's baby-daddy Carlos Leon also turns up empty. One follower who did give was Donald Trump's second wife. Marla Maples has given $2000 to Clinton. The Kabbalah Centre's founder and spiritual leader Philip Berg also has yet to give.

Elsewhere, Barbra Streisand has covered her bases and given $2300 to Obama, Edwards and Clinton. Don Henley topped that with $4600 to Clinton and Obama. Jon Bon Jovi (as John Bongiovi) and Bruce Springsteen have given nothing so far, but Paul Simon has given $4600 to Dodd.

Younger stars like Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake have given nothing, either. And like old times, all of 'N Sync followed Timberlake's lead, with none of the other four guys donating.

On the Republican side, Kelsey Grammer shows up with a $2300 donation to Giuliani, but his fellow conservative and upcoming sitcom costar Patricia Heaton turns up nothing.

The hip-hop community has also been dormant. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Damon Dash, Russell Simmons, Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson show nothing.

Less anyone forget, it was Combs who spearheaded Citizen Change's "Vote or Die" campaign during the 2004 presidential campaign. Simmons, meanwhile, has been a vocal proponent of John Edwards in the past. On July 24, 2006, Simmons took Edwards with him to an evening class at Union Square's Jivamukti Yoga, got photographed with him outside of the class, and spoke to the New York Daily News about the occasion. Apparently those downward dogs just weren't enough.

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