Hollywood scum contribute millions; Multi-millionaire preznit coughs up ten grand

Hollywood stars such as Sandra Bullock and Steven Spielberg, sports champion Michael Schumacher and rock heroes Linkin Park have made huge donations to the Asian tsunami disaster relief campaign.

Seven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has made the biggest donation by an individual so far offering $US10million.

"The dawning of the New Year has not been as joyful for us this year because of the catastrophe in Asia. We sympathise with the victims in their grief," Schumacher said.

Publicist Marvin Levy says the Spielberg family have pledged $US1.5 million to charities including Save the Children, CARE and Oxfam

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Leonardo di Caprio has given UNICEF a donation for victims in Thailand which, according to Access Hollywood, also reached $US1 million.

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Even the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which each year sponsors the Golden Globe awards, has donated $US250,000 to Action Against Hunger, Save the Children USA, the Asian Earthquake Fund and Doctors Without Borders.

ABC article

[Sandra Bullock] has given $1 million to the American Red Cross for its tsunami relief effort.

It's the second time Hollywood's girl-next-door has opened her heart and pocketbook for disaster victims. She previously gave $1 million to the Red Cross following the 9/11 terrorist strikes.

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Many more stars are expected to help raise money for south Asian disaster relief later this month when the NBC Universal Television Group airs an hourlong telethon.

Jeff Zucker, NBC president, yesterday announced plans for the benefit special on Jan. 15, featuring music and celebrity appearances.

NY Post article

Scott McClellan, White House press secretary, told reporters traveling with Bush to Illinois that the president -- himself a multimillionaire -- has written checks to several organizations listed on a Web site set up to direct Americans to various reputable charities collecting private contributions for tsunami relief. McClellan would not identify the organizations to which Bush contributed.

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President Bush [...] has contributed $10,000 from his personal funds to the relief effort, his spokesman said Wednesday.

SF Gate article

Maybe someone should send J. Grant Swank, Jr. at MichNews.com ("Most In-depth, Conservative, Honest News & Commentary") that link. "J. Grant" aka Joseph Swank, writes:

So now the celebs giving tallies are "in our face" news. Not what I really wanted. Not at all.

I would strongly recommend that celebrities who contribute funds to the present world crisis ''tsunami'' (by the way, how many of you "out there" knew that that word existed prior to several days ago?) ''keep their mouths shut.'' And inform their agents to keep their mouths shut. And let their accountants know to keep their mouths shut.

Ray Romano makes close to $2 million an episode!

Sandra Bullock makes $20 million per movie.

Oprah has a $30 million dollar jet and owns a $50 million mansion+

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Jesus told His own not to let the right hand know what the left hand was up to when dishing out goodness to the world. Very kind advice, Jesus. Thank you very very much.

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Jesus asks His children for the low profile. Let one's prayers be in secret. Let the Father alone testify to what pluses are chalked up for the day.

But now we come to these Hollywood celebs who prance and strut.

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I have a political hunch at work in this celeb crisis giving. I think they are trying to shove equal weight to Hollywood in balance to the DC Bush administration. After all, was it not most of those Hollywood celebs who cheered on for JFKerry and booed GWBush? Yes it was.

And now that the floods have hit, quakes have shook, and the planet's in an uproar, the celebs show the world ''American in particular'' that they can be as compassionate as the President.

It's not going to fly with us "out here," however. Not on your life. No way.

We Red States thinking folk are not dumb flat, as the celeb colony would have us to be. And so we have a hunch that what's in the giving hand from the celebs is not only for the destitute but for a political dent in the American political what's-up.

But it ain't flying, celebs. It just ain't flying.

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What must it be like to live inside a head like that?

I don't know. I may have to take exception to Mr. Swank's contention that he's not "dumb flat". If I can figure out exactly what that is.

If Mr. Swank wants to jump on celebrities, however, I offer him this one....

UNICEF says Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City has volunteered her image to entice donors.

article

The ABC News writer of that sentence probably wasn't intentionally trying for levity. But it's fitting.

...and hey, do what you want...you will anyway.