Maher puts a million where his mouth is
Faux news host Stephen Colbert isn’t the only comedian with a super PAC connection. Political satirist Bill Maher got into the act Thursday night, pledging $1 million to a political committee supporting President Barack Obama.
Maher announced during a Yahoo-webcast special, “CrazyStupidPolitics,” that he was giving $1 million to Priorities USA Action, a super political action committee backing the president. A cynic on politics who often takes liberal stands on issues on his HBO talk show “Real Time,” Maher joins Dreamworks Animation executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and the Service Employees International Union as the committee’s top funders.
Colbert created and funded his super PAC – Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow – to satirize the unfettered flow of corporate and union funds into political campaigns.
Perry donation ends pastor’s vigil
A pastor who has spent more than three months living in a tent on the roof of a Chicago motel says he will end his vigil, thanks to a promise of $98,000 from movie mogul Tyler Perry that will allow the pastor to buy and demolish the motel to make way for a community center.
The Rev. Corey Brooks moved into a tent on the roof of the motel Nov. 22 and has spent 94 days on his third-story perch in an effort to bring attention to gun violence that plagues the area. He had said he wouldn’t come down until he raised the $450,000 to buy the former motel, which he said was a drug den, and raze it.
Nets owner’s rap goes viral
Just over a week before Russia’s presidential election, billionaire candidate Mikhail Prokhorov’s rapping skills have made him an Internet star.
Prokhorov, who shares ownership of the New Jersey Nets basketball team with U.S. rapper Jay-Z, took to the microphone on a Russian television show two weeks ago. On Thursday, a YouTube video of his performance was widely circulated on Twitter by rap fans, sports writers and young Russians charmed by somber-faced Prokhorov’s rare moment of silliness.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win the March 4 election.
The birthday bunch
Bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley is 85. Actor Tom Courtenay is 75. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 75. Actress Karen Grassle is 70. Movie director Neil Jordan is 62. Rock musician Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) is 55. Actress Tea Leoni is 46. Comedian Carrot Top is 45. Actor Sean Astin is 41. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 39. Comedian-actress Chelsea Handler is 37. Actress Rashida Jones is 36. Actors Oliver and James Phelps (“Harry Potter” movies) are 26.