A statement released by the White House this week expressed sympathy for critics of the legislation, known popularly as . Hollywood executives had assumed they would get the backing, or at least neutrality, of the president and are said to feel “betrayed.”
Several have reportedly pulled out of forthcoming fund-raisers and one anonymous studio chief told the influential Hollywood website Deadline that they would “not give a dime anymore.”
Mr Dodd said the issue went “right to the heart of this industry” and accused the White House of being “terribly negative to people in this community.” He said Democrats should not make the “false assumption” that Hollywood would be financially supportive this year.
Both Hollywood and Silicon Valley donated around $9 million (£5.8 million) to Mr Obama’s 2008 campaign and have so far donated around $4 million this time. He is expecting much more to come in over the next several months.
This week, after visiting Disney World in Florida to promote tourism, he attended a $35,800-per-ticket fund-raiser at the home of director Spike Lee in New York. First Lady Michelle Obama is expected in Hollywood on Jan 31 for two lucrative private fund-raisers at the homes of supporters. The president himself will visit next month and will have to placate his critics.
Barry Meyer, chief executive and chairman for Warner Bros Entertainment, told the Los Angeles Times he and others were “very disappointed” with the White House’s response to the bills. He declined to say whether he would not support Mr Obama.
“It’s important that we register both to the administration and to Congress that this is important to the industry and to the jobs it supports,” he said.
Mr Obama has faced increasing criticism from supporters in Hollywood, most notably from the actor Matt Damon who has accused him of “misinterpreting his mandate.”
Amid the debate over online piracy one of the world’s most popular filesharing sites, Megaupload.com, was shut down on Thursday and its founder and several company officials were accused of facilitating millions of illegal downloads of films and music.