New York Post [Page Six] - December 2, 2003
BIG NIGHT FOR DUBYA DETESTERS
"CURB Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David's wife Laurie created an enviable buzz for tonight's political powwow of liberal Hollywood activists after she dubbed it the "Hate Bush" event.
While the strategy session at the Beverly Hilton actually has the considerably less-inflammatory title, "A Mandatory Meeting to Change the Leadership in America in 2004," Laurie, an avid environmentalist, caused a stir when she forwarded invites with the e-mail heading, "Hate Bush 12/2 Event."
Internet gossip Matt Drudge gleefully seized upon the "Hate Bush" story yesterday, noting that the meeting will be chaired by Harold Ickes, Bill Clinton's former White House deputy chief-of-staff and Clinton/Al Gore campaign manager, and Ellen Malcom, founder of Emily's List, a group dedicated to electing pro-choice, Democratic women. Former AFL-CIO political director Steve Rosenthal will also chair, according to an invite obtained by PAGE SIX.
But Ariel "Ari" Emanuel, a founding partner of the powerful Endeavor talent agency, brother of Clinton White House staffer Rahm Emanuel and agent to Larry David and "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin, bristled at the "Hate Bush" hullabaloo.
"People are assembling over a political issue - the 2004 election," Emanuel told us. "I didn't know that free assembly was a bad thing. The invite didn't say 'Hate Bush,' and I don't think the [Drudge story] was productive." Emanuel declined to say who he'll support, but assured us, "It won't be Bush."
Others expected at today's 7 p.m. session include "Seinfeld" co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Julie Bergman, producer of "G.I. Jane" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys;" Naomi Foner, screenwriter for the Halle Berry flick "Losing Isiah;" Scott Burns, creator of the "Got Milk?" ad campaign; former "T.J. Hooker" actress Heather Thomas; Jamie Mandelbaum, an entertainment lawyer who represents Hilary Duff; and United Talent Agency agent Jay Sures, who recently hosted a fund-raiser for Democratic presidential wannabe Gen. Wesley Clark at his Brentwood, Calif., home.
Speaking of Clark, the button-down military man engaged in a 90-minute policy discussion with Madonna in her L.A. home in a bid to mobilize celebrity support. Clark has also wooed the likes of Ben Affleck and J.Lo, Steven Spielberg and Norman Lear.