Hollywood Resists Obama SuperPACs … for Now

Hollywood routinely shows President Barack Obama the money.

But when it comes to Obama’s SuperPAC brigade, those very same power players are keeping their hands in their pockets.

TheWrap.com reports the entertainment industry is taking a wait and see approach to the president’s SuperPAC support system:

With rare exception, the president’s BFFs in Hollywood have resisted going big and seem content, for now, to give individual donations.

Under current rules individuals cannot give more than $46,200 to all candidates and $70,800 to all PACs and parties – a $117,000 maximum — within a two-year cycle.

They can give whatever they want to a Super PAC — Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino owner and one of the wealthiest Americans, has already given the Gingrich Super PAC more than $10 million, with more expected.

Data from the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign finance, shows that of the top 50 donors to Super PACs whose identities are known, only 10 are supporting Obama and other Democrats, and just two of those come from the entertainment community – Jeffrey Katzenberg, who has kicked in $2 million, and Stephen Bing, who gave $425,000. Bill Maher’s $1 million contribution will show up when more recent contributions are counted, along with $50,000 each from director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen McGrath and director Lenny Mendonca.