First lady Michelle Obama told Democratic donors in Los Angeles on Wednesday to “write a big, fat check” to help the party win in this year’s elections.
“There is something all of you can do right now, today, to make a difference. … You can write a check, do you hear me?” Obama told them, according to the White House pool report. “I’m serious, write a big fat check. Write the biggest check you can possibly write.”
She told the group of donors that they should be as “passionate” and as “hungry” as they were in 2008 and 2012.
The 2014 midterm elections are “at stake,” Obama said. Democrats are 17 seats away from taking control of the House, she said, but warned that they’re only six seats away from losing the Senate.
{mosads}“What I want all of you to think about for just a minute is what could happen if we lose those six seats,” clarifying that such an outcome could mean the repeal of ObamaCare, bans against same-sex marriage, obstacles for women to receive contraception, and cutting off unemployment benefits.
In addition, the first lady said 37 governor’s seats are also up for grabs.
“It’s simply not enough to elect Barack Obama president if we don’t also elect leaders in Congress and in our state houses who will work with him to keep making the change we all believe in.”
Obama thanked the donors for their past contributions toward President Obama’s and other Democrats’ campaigns.
“Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal hosted the fundraiser at his home with his wife, also an actress, in the affluent L.A. neighborhood Hancock Park. It had originally been scheduled for Oct. 11, but had been postponed because of the government shutdown.
Actors Barbara Streisand and James Brolin were among those who attended as well as L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Donors had to pay at least $1,000 to attend the reception, and could pay as much as $32,400 for a more intimate meeting the first lady. The money will benefit the Democratic National Committee.