Clinton Embraces ‘Elite’ : Politics: Candidate calls entertainment-industry backers ‘gifted, creative and caring’ at high-profile fund-raiser.

In a presidential campaign that has put Hollywood’s “family values” on trial, Bill Clinton took care Wednesday night to line up with the entertainment industry and against the barbs of Vice President Dan Quayle.

Calling the Hollywood supporters attending a high-profile fund-raiser “some of the most gifted, creative and caring Americans in the country,” Clinton said, “I have always aspired to be the ‘cultural elite’ that others condemn.

“I have known many of you a long time because I have seen your movies, sung your songs,” Clinton told a crowd of more than 1,200 gathered on the grounds of producer Ted Field’s Green Acres estate. “My wife knows that I have been, since childhood, an inveterate moviegoer. And now the whole world knows I am a mediocre, but passionate, musician. . . . Did you see Whoopi Goldberg in ‘Sister Act’? I wanted to be in that choir so bad I could spit.”

The “Voices for Change ‘92” gala, organized by the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee, was delivered by satellite to fund-raisers in New York City, Washington, Atlantic City and San Francisco, and is expected to generate $1.1 million, which will be divided among the Clinton-Gore campaign, the California Democratic Party and U.S. Senate candidates Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.

Guests, who forked out between $1,000 and $2,500 to attend, included a substantial number of political luminaries as well, including National Democratic Party Chairman Ron Brown, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), state Treasurer Kathleen Brown, state Senate candidate Tom Hayden, Sen. Timothy E. Wirth (D-Colo.), as well as Feinstein and Boxer.

Though Hollywood was slow to throw its weight behind Clinton, the turnout--including some of the industry’s biggest names--indicated that it’s firmly in his corner.

Barbra Streisand, giving her first public concert since her 1986 Malibu Democratic senatorial fund-raiser, performed seven songs, including “It Had to Be You,” with new lyrics specifically tailored for a beaming Clinton. “George Bush and Dan Quayle / they golf and they sail / one doesn’t look well / the other can’t spell / those fellas won’t do,” she sang.

Explaining her decision to shelve her well-documented stage fright and venture into the spotlight again, Streisand said: “Six years ago, I was motivated by the disaster at Chernobyl. Now I’m motivated by the possibility of another disaster: the reelection of George Bush and Dan Quayle.”

In addition to songs by Streisand, Dionne Warwick and Quincy Jones protege Tevin Campbell, the briskly paced program featured a number of celebrity speakers. Countering Republican charges that liberals in general--and Hollywood folks in particular--are less than “American,” the stars emphasized their patriotism. The program, beginning with a rendition of “America” by country singer Tammy Wynette, wound up with Streisand--joined onstage by the Clintons and many of the performers--singing “God Bless America.” Quincy Jones began his remarks by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance--a promise of “justice for all,” he said, that hasn’t been met for the bulk of Americans.

Many of the celebrities sported Hillary Clinton buttons and almost all wore red ribbons demonstrating support for AIDS research. Mike Nichols and Elaine May, reuniting for the night, performed three skits: one targeting the bureaucracy of the current health care system, another on the high cost of dying, and the last their classic telephone conversation between a Jewish mother and son.

Among the speakers, Annette Bening spoke out on freedom of choice, Michelle Pfeiffer on education and illiteracy, Dustin Hoffman on AIDS, Rhea Perlman on child care and Danny DeVito on ecological issues. “In selecting Al Gore as his running mate, Bill Clinton has done more for the environment than George Bush has in four years,” DeVito said.

Actress Geena Davis told the crowd, tongue in cheek, that given all the voters the President has alienated (“women, 51% of the population, right there”), the Bush-Quayle ticket has no chance of reelection in November. “There’s a lesson in all this,” she said. “You don’t bash the citizens of the country you’re running in.”

Whoopi Goldberg drew parallels between Washington and Hollywood, pointing out that, in both places--for better or worse--someone can come from nowhere and go on to become a “somebody.” “Bill . . . babe,” she began, to great laughter. “I’ll be watching you, honey. I’m not playing. I’m as serious as a heart attack, honey.”

Warren Beatty observed that the Republican Party has moved so far to the right “that Richard Nixon disapproves” and forecast that the election would be closer--and nastier--than anyone expects. A past participant in campaigns for Democrats ranging from George McGovern to Michael Dukakis, the actor had high praise for the current nominee: “I haven’t seen a presidential candidate with as much perseverance or as much of a plan as Bill Clinton,” he said. “And this process has shown his strength of character.”

Nearby, the press was watching the proceedings on TV monitors set up on Field’s basketball court (“This event is as controlled as any Republican affair,” complained one disgruntled broadcast journalist). “L.A. Law’s” Michael Tucker told the journalists that Republican jabs at the show-business community are old news. “Hollywood has been a campaign issue before,” he said. “And it will be again.”

Added Richard Dreyfuss: “Hollywood has always been politically active, but for the last 12 years, our spirit--along with the rest of the country’s--has been damaged. For the first time, we’re beginning to think that things might go our way.”