Obama Lays Down Rules for Oprah Bash

Oprah Winfrey is hosting a big fundraising party for presidential hopeful Barack Obama at her California home on Sept. 8 — and the Obama campaign has set some very specific rules for the gala.

First of all, the campaign is not calling the event a fundraiser — although each guest has paid at least $2,300 for an invitation — but a “celebration.”

And according to instructions sent out to invitees by Julianna Smoot, Obama’s national finance director, guests at the celebration need to wear “Garden Attire” — which the Los Angeles Times’ Andrew Malcolm describes as “summery, sheer, lots of linen, maybe some floppy hats, blazers, contrasting slacks, and open collars for the guys.”

Also, “comfortable footwear is recommended” for the event, which will be held in a meadow on Oprah’s Montecito estate. “Ladies, flat shoes are a must!”

Other rules, according to the Times: Due mostly to security concerns, no gifts for Obama or Oprah will be accepted. All purses and bags will be searched. No cameras or recording devices will be permitted. And a government-issued photo ID will be required for admittance.

Oprah’s support for the Obama campaign comes as no surprise to readers of NewsMax Magazine. The May issue’s cover story, “Obama & the Oprah Factor,” detailed the connection between the talk show host and the Illinois senator, and disclosed that Obama was Oprah’s choice for the White House.