CBS President Says at Obama Fundraiser 'Partisanship Is Very Much a Part of Journalism Now'

June 7th, 2012 9:32 AM

Les Moonves, the President of CBS, said Wednesday, "Partisanship is very much a part of journalism now."

According to the Los Angeles Times, Moonves made the remark while in line to attend a fundraiser for President Obama in Beverly Hills sponsored by the LGBT Leadership Council:

Before the event began, a long line of partygoers waited on the sidewalk outside the hotel to check in. CBS chief Les Moonves and his wife, Julie Chen, waited patiently for their wristbands. Obama, Moonves said, "has shown great leadership" on the issue of gay marriage.

Though he heads a news division, Moonves said, "ultimately journalism has changed … partisanship is very much a part of journalism now."

He hastened to add that despite his presence, "I run a news division. I've given no money to any candidate."

Says the man at a fundraiser for President Obama that cost as much as $25,000 to attend. As the Huffington Post reported in May:

President Barack Obama will soon have a new arena to test out his "evolving" views on same-sex marriage -- the annual LGBT Leadership Council's gala, which takes place this year at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Tickets for the June 6 event start at $1,250 and are still available. Prices top out at the $25,000 per couple tickets, which include name recognition in the event program, a photo with the President and preferred seating for two. Singer Pink is scheduled to perform that night. [...]

Obama formed the National LGBT Leadership Council in 2007 to gather his LGBT supporters into one fundraising and organizing powerhouse. It launched alongside an Obama Pride site that now contains a blog about the President's statements on gay rights as well as his administration's accomplishments thus far for the gay community.


According to the Times:

The event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel was part of a two-day fundraising swing through California and Nevada during which Obama was expected to raise more than $15 million for his reelection effort. He started the day in San Francisco and ended with a $25,000-per-person dinner for 70 at the Beverly Hills home of "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy.

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres, whose decision to come out of the closet in 1997 was covered as a major cultural — and potentially career-ending — event, emceed the party. Darren Criss, a heartthrob on "Glee," provided entertainment, after the singer Pink withdrew, citing illness.

The gathering was a who's who of gay Hollywood, and included many of the creative minds whose portrayals of gays on screens large and small has nudged society toward accepting gay rights. Max Mutchnik, creator of "Will and Grace," was a co-host. Dustin

Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk," was in the audience, as were Cher and her son, Chaz Bono.

It appears Obama's same-sex marriage evolution is paying off - at least financially.

(HT JWF)