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zondag 4 maart 2012

Obama Gives Aziz Ansari Shout Out at Fundraiser

Obama Gives Aziz Ansari Shout Out at Fundraiser

The president said daughter Malia is “a big fan” of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”

If any part of Aziz Ansari is like his status-obsessed character on Parks and Recreation, getting a shout out from President Barack Obama was likely the highlight of his week.

On Thursday, the comedian spoke at a New York fundraiser for Obama, where the president revealed daughter Malia, 13, is “a big fan” of NBC’s Parks and Rec.

"So having Aziz here is like the only thing she thinks is worth me doing,” Obama said. “I want to thank him for what he said earlier. I know he's backstage, but I just want to say that I have more Twitter followers than you, man."

The $1000 per-head fundraiser was organized by Ansari and other notable supporters, including Russell Brand and Deepak Chopra. Music was provided by the Roots, and proceeds went to the Obama Victory Fund, which splits donations between the president’s reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

As THR reported last month, Obama’s fundraising in Hollywood was down dramatically in 2011. This year, his campaign has been courting deep-pocketed Hollywood supporters by offering donation packages priced in the tens of thousands, which give access to exclusive fundraising events.

For Ansari, being one of Obama’s Hollywood admirers does not make him a polished political advocate by any means.

“I'm the guy that makes a living saying things like ‘What's crackin' boo?’ on TV” he told Yahoo News ahead of the event.