Mr. Sowers Goes to Hollywood

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Emerson campaign contacted the Southeast Missourian to correct the record regarding this story. The Howie Mandel who hosted the fundraiser is a prominent Los Angeles doctor, not the comedian and TV personality. The campaign asked to have the story pulled from this web site, but it is the policy of the Southeast Missourian in such cases to maintain the originally submitted story as a matter of public record, with the inaccurate information noted.

As Jo Ann Emerson joined supporters last Tuesday in Dexter at the Stoddard County Fair Parade, Variety.com's Wilshire and Washington Blog reports Tommy Sowers was jetting off to raise yet more money from some of his biggest supporters: liberal-elites in Hollywood.

According to Variety.com, Sowers was headling a fundraiser last Wednesday at the home of Howie and Susan Mandel in Los Angeles' Hancock Park, one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods. As part of the blog's Wednesday Itinerary, Ted Johnson wrote:

"...Tommy Sowers, the Iraq vet running for Congress in Missouri, raises at the Hancock Park home of Howie and Susan Mandel..."

Mandel, the host of "Deal or No Deal" and a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," was also joined by Curt Smith, the former lead singer for the band Tears for Fears, and a vocal supporter for the repeal of the U.S. Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. Smith tweeted early last Wednesday morning:

"Late night last night, long day in studio today and @strippedlive, tomorrow more studio and fundraiser for @sowers - see u tomorrow Tommy!"

The former lead singer tweeted again Thursday morning calling the evening with Sowers "inspiring." Smith, who on his twitter page encourages followers to direct profanity laced tweets at Senator John McCain (R-AZ) over his opposition to the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' was an early Sowers supporter. According to financial disclosures filed by the Sowers Campaign, Smith contributed $500 on November 12, 2009, $1000 on March 25, 2010, and another $500 on June 29, 2010.

The Variety.com report can be found here: http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/2010/09/roundup-recap-hollywoods-angst-over-jobs.html