In a blog entry at BlackAmericaWeb, author Michael H. Cottman writes that while it's important for President Barack Obama to work with Congress to advance his legislative agenda, it's even more important for him to schmooze with black Hollywood to bring in lucrative donations for his re-election campaign. Why? White Hollywood has been lukewarm, unlike in 2008.

... But here’s the problem: Obama reportedly isn't as chummy with Hollywood as he was in 2008, and the Obama campaign may be concerned about Hollywood's half-hearted engagement in the early stages of the presidential campaign -- and, in some cases, outright criticism.

But some African-American stars say they have Obama’s back. Film director Spike Lee, for example, hosted a high-end Obama fundraiser at his home Thursday evening, and the president was the featured guest at a star-studded campaign event at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on Thursday, with performances by Al Green, India.Arie and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.

About 40 people reportedly attended Lee’s fundraiser, which cost $35,800 per person, while tickets to the Apollo event went for $100 per person. Among the donors for Lee's fundraiser are singer Mariah Carey, her husband Nick Cannon and retired New York Knicks guard Allan Houston.

Inside Lee's Upper East Side home, where his walls are lined with iconic photos of African-Americans through history, including Mohammad Ali and Malcolm X, Lee’s wife, writer Tonya Lewis Lee, began her introduction of Obama by saying it might seem odd to some that Lee would arrange a fundraiser for the president since Lee has been openly critical of Obama on occasion ...

... Obama told the crowd that Spike Lee has long been special to him because "on my first official date with Michelle," he said, he took her to see "Do The Right Thing."

Read Michael H. Cottman's entire blog entry at BlackAmericaWeb.

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