President Obama arriving in New York yesterday for two fundraising events and an appearance on Letterman. Image: AP, David Karp

A group of about 100 people gathered at the 40/40 Club last night where Jay Z and Beyonce hosted a $40,000 per head fundraiser for President Obama, raising a total of about $4 million. On the menu: champagne and sliders. You can see a couple of Instagram shots of Bey dressed for the event here.

The Washington Post has got a pretty good wrap-up, based on what the reporters were allowed to see. Journalists are shown the door after some prepared remarks and before the donors in the room are given the mic to ask questions. Unlike Romney’s now infamous statements about the “47 percent,” Obama stuck with positive remarks, thanking Beyonce for being a good role model and talking about the “bond” between he and Hova because their wives are more popular than they are.

The money raised at this fundraiser and another earlier event at the Waldorf-Astoria, which cost $12,500 per family and was attended by 200 donors, will go to a number of Democratic causes including the DNC and the Obama Victory Fund. There will be one more “Dinner with Barack” event, open to donors giving as little as $5.

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Source: WENN

If you raised $4 million for the president in one night, he’d probably say that about you too. Last night, Beyonce and Jay-Z held the much talked about re-election fundraiser for Barack Obama at Jay’s 40/40 club in NYC. The $40,000 per person exclusive event maxed out at it’s 100-person limit making the effort a success by all accounts.

Speaking before the crowd, Beyonce said:

“I can’t tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama. We believe in his vision.”

Showing that he shares the same admiration for Bey as his wife, Michelle, when Barack Obama addressed the audience, he remarked:

Let me just begin by saying to Jay and Bey, thank you so much for your friendship. We are so grateful. Michelle and Malia and Sasha are mad at me because they are not here. That doesn’t usually happen. Usually they’re like, we’re glad you’re going — we don’t need to go. But every time they get a chance to see these two they are thrilled, partly because they are just both so generous, particularly to my kids. And Malia and Sasha just love both of them.

Beyoncé couldn’t be a better role model for our daughters because she carries herself with such class and poise and has so much talent. And Jay-Z now knows what my life is like. We both have daughters, and our wives are more popular than we are. So we’ve got a little bond there. It’s hard, but it’s okay. It’s okay.

The funny thing is I think the President is telling the truth, although it’s hard who’s the more favored Obama when grown men are so excited to see the President, they pick him up and swing him around in a bar like he’s a little kid. Even though the President’s favorite ladies couldn’t attend the fundraiser last night, I’m sure there will be plenty of other opportunities for them to hang out with auntie Bey Bey and uncle Jay.

Here are a couple Instagram pics of Bey from last night:

Source: Beyonce Promo Instagram

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Source: I Am Beyonce

Beyonce and Jay-Z are working overtime on their social responsibility, err, campaigning for President Obama. After we heard the Carters were throwing a rather exclusive fundraiser for the Commander-in-Chief at $40,000 a plate, Queen Bey did something rather uncharacteristic today. She emailed Obama supporters with a special contest offer to be a part of the big night.

Anyone who’s hardcore #TeamObama is used to getting emails from the president, Michelle Obama, and other leaders of the democratic party but today supporters got a unique message from Bey Bey which read:

I usually don’t email you — but I have an amazing invitation I have to share.

Jay and I will be meeting up with President Obama for an evening in NYC sometime soon. And we want you to be there!

Until midnight tonight, if you pitch in $25 or whatever you can, you’ll be automatically entered to be flown out to join us.

I’ve had the honor of meeting President Obama and the First Lady a few times — and believe me — it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Don’t worry about the airfare and hotel, it’s taken care of. And you can bring a guest.

But the countdown is on — this opportunity ends at midnight:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Meet-Me-in-New-York

Can’t wait to meet you!

Love,

B

Excuse me one minute while I go drop my $25 in the bucket.

But seriously, for us commoners who are a few thousand short of affording a spot at this swanky event built for 100, how cool would it be to be amongst this crowd for one night? And, you know, help President Obama get re-elected. Get to clicking New Yorkers, the event is only a couple of weeks away!

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Image: YDPhotos.co.uk/WENN.com

Occupy Wall Street first took to the streets of NYC in 2011 to protest, as its website states “the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations.” Since its inception, OWS has not only gained global attention but support from celebrities, including hip-hop notables Russell Simmons, Kanye West, Common and Mos Def, just to name a few.

But don’t add Jay Z to this list. It seems one of New York City’s now most prominent businessmen doesn’t put his substantial weight behind the movement.

Jay Z, who is celebrating one of his greatest non-music efforts — the opening of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn debut of the basketball team he partly owns, the Nets — told The New York Times magazine he never really “got the OWS message.” He goes on to say that he thought OWS’ message was not clear and that the movement demonized entrepreneurs.  “I’m not going to a park and picnic, I have no idea what to do, I don’t know what the fight is about,” he said.

Ironically, the clothing company Jay Z co-founded, Rocawear (which he sold to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million), was selling Occupy Wall Street t-shirts. Consumers may have thought the proceeds were being donated to OWS, but the company never disclosed where they were going. Rocawear eventually yanked the products off the market amid claims it was exploiting the movement.

Jay Z, who is worth an estimated $460 million, stated in the Times magazine interview that he felt OWS is actually against what America stands for — capitalism. “This is free enterprise. This is what America is built on,” he continued.

Still, you can’t accuse Hova of being apolitical. He and the missus are hosting a fundraiser for President Obama on September 18 at Jay Z’s 40/40 club. The donation: $40,000. See you there?

Source: Ohverlycritical.com

As someone who gets annoyed when my dinner tab comes up to $40, I can’t even imagine having the ability to shell out $40,000 to dine with President Obama and Jay-Z. But as they say, it ain’t trickin’ if you got it, and if you got it, you can attend a top-notch fundraiser for the FLOTUS at Jay’s 40/40 Club in NYC.

Page Six says the event will take place September 18 with a maximum of 100 guests gathering at the lounge to show their support for our commander-in-chief. Bey and Jay will host the intimate partay and President Obama is expected to attend a reception where supporters can also take a photo with him for a cool $12,500 pledge demonstrating that they are down for the cause.

The fundraiser will reportedly be the president’s last stop on his New York campaign circuit before the election so why not go out with a bang, right? There’s no better way to cash out of NY than with an additional $4million in his bank courtesy of some very wealthy New Yorkers and the FlOTUS’s celebrity BFFs Beyonce and Jay-Z.

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Sunday is here…time for the weekend wrap-up!  We’ve got some break up news, baby news, music news, a one-sided fight and a few other tidbits for you! Oh, don’t forget: I’m always on Twitter running my mouth about everything and nothing (DrennaB). Time to wrap it up…

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These days, celebrities all seem to be broadening their brand and jumping into new business ventures daily. From perfume lines, to clothing lines and video games, actors and artists are all looking for the next best thing.  It’s no wonder that many celebs have jumped into the restaurant business. Across the country, famous folks like Robert De Niro, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake are putting down their Oscars, Grammy’s and People Choice Awards, and taking on the role of restaurant owner.

Check out these hot spots around the county, and the famous face behind the kitchen…

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