by Crystal Tran

Here's a great first-hand account of Monday's O.C. Obama fundraiser - Todd

It seemed rather fitting that Senator Obama would select Newport Coast as the venue for his latest Southern Californian fundraiser. It's the kind of city that epitomizes images of the "The OC" that many have programmed into their minds. Fundraisers are common in the neighborhood that Kobe Bryant calls home. Its many multi-million dollar ocean view homes, nestled into hillsides and tucked into tree lined cul-de-sacs suggest exclusivity and make the $1000 ticket price for breakfast seem reasonable. For $4600, you could receive VIP status with extended face time and a personalized picture on the ocean-front balcony.

Luckily for me and the rest of the interns at the Democratic Party of Orange County, we were allowed into the event in exchange for our free labor. Security was tight, in order to work the event, all the interns had to be cleared by the Secret Service, when we got there they had blocked the entire cul-de-sac. Another intern and I were assigned to greet guests and divert them to either the guest check-in or upstairs to the VIP area where Barack was going to spend time meeting the hosts.

It's the third time I've seen Senator Obama as an intern for the Democratic Party. Each time I've seen him, I've always been impressed by Obama's ability to reach a vast and varied audience. The attendees of his events are always varied and despite the ticket price of $1000, this event was no different. Range Rovers and Mercedes Benz's pulled up to the valet but behind those were old Volvo station wagons, Toyota Camry's, and the liberal car-of-cars, multiple Toyota Priuses.