After visiting New Orleans Thursday afternoon, President Obama flew to San Francisco to headline two Democratic fundraisers. The evening event was a VIP dinner at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square for about 150 people, with couples paying $34,000 to attend and have their picture taken with the president. Later, a larger, general reception at the St. Francis cost attendees $500 to $1,000 and featured speeches by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (a San Francisco resident) and the president, as well as entertainment by singer Tracy Chapman.

Addressing the reception, the president had kind words for Pelosi, praising her generosity, intelligence and her toughness. "I mean, every day –- every day –- she is subjected to constant criticism and griping," he said. "And then there's the other party."

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He then updated donors and activists on the latest news from Washington and told them his plans for moving his agenda forward, particularly health care reform, improving the economy and achieving his goals in Afghanistan. He also told his very friendly audience that the problems he is working on are not of his making.

"I do think it's important for all of us to remember, even though it's been almost a year, what was happening in this country when we walked through that front door," he said. "Because, you know, people seem to have a sort of selective memory. People seem to forget. They seem to think that suddenly I was sworn in and there was this big financial crisis. So let's just do a little walk down memory lane."

Obama described the state of the economy when he was sworn into office and touted the passage of the $780 billion stimulus bill as legislation that has helped Californians by extending unemployment benefits, saving jobs and getting cash to states like theirs, which are in dire need.

Overseas, Obama told supporters, he had began a new era of engagement. Among his accomplishments, he said, are efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and work with other countries to stem the global economic downturn and confront climate change. "We banned torture," he continued. "We're closing Guantanamo. We're rebuilding our military. We're reaffirming our alliances. We are drawing down responsibly and ending the war in Iraq."

"So just in case you're wondering what we've been doing over the last nine months," he said to laughter and applause. "I thought it might be useful to check in with you. You wouldn't always know it watching cable."

On domestic policy, Obama focused mostly on health care reform, promising the audience, "We are going to get this done." But with a showdown looming between moderate Democrats and liberals in Washington over reform details like the public option, Obama said any of the bills in Congress would be an improvement over the status quo. "Understand that the bill you least like of the five bills that got passed would all provide millions of people who don't have coverage, coverage," he said.

The president also had a message for Republicans. While he believes a strong political opposition is key to moving the country forward, "what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure on health care or on energy or on our economy. What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place."

He continued, "Another way of putting it is when I'm busy and Nancy is busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else's mess –- we don't want somebody sitting back saying, you're not holding the mop the right way. Why don't you grab a mop, why don't you help clean up." After a little more riffing about mops and messes to the applause of the crowd, Obama finished, "Grab a mop –- let's get to work."

According to the official pool report, Democratic officials said they expected Thursday's events to raise $3 million.


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