Obama, Al Green Tour? President Jokes About Being 'Opening Act' For Singer

SAN FRANCISCO -- President Barack Obama and the Rev. Al Green on tour?

Obama was joined by the soul singer at a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday, a month after the president launched into a brief, impromptu version of Green's "Let's Stay Together" at New York's Apollo Theater.

Obama thanked Green, prompting a member of the audience to shout, "Give us a verse!" The president declined to sing this time, telling about 70 campaign donors that he "took a chance at the Apollo and I'm not going to take a chance again."

"After re-election I might go on tour with the good reverend – be his opening act," Obama said.

But he warned, "I don't want to lose any further votes because of my singing voice."

Obama's crooning of "Let's Stay Together," starting with the vibrato "I" and finishing up with the line "so in love with you," quickly went viral on the Internet following the New York City fundraiser. His campaign released a ring tone of the president's turn as a soul singer.

Prior to the president's remarks on Thursday, Green was overheard singing his classic song at the fundraiser in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood.

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Comments

[tom high]

02:24 PM on 02/19/2012

You must be crazy toImmigration: The unlawful, immoral
Published: February 19. 2012 4:00AM PST
President Barack Obama recently assured El Salvador that the United States would not deport more 200,000 Salvadorans residing illegally in the United States. As the election nears, and the president looks to court Hispanic voters, he also created a new position of “public advocate” for illegal immigrants. His duties would appear to be to advocate that millions circumvent, rather than follow, current federal law.

The administration has also said it will focus enforcement only on those who have committed crimes — with the implicit understanding that it is no longer a crime to illegally enter and reside in the United States. In contrast, Obama has caricatured those supporting completion of a fence on the border as wanting to place alligators in the Rio Grande.

It is time that Americans revisit the issue and ponder very carefully the morality of entering the United States illegally. vote for Obama, as he sells America out for a vote .

[nq5511]

12:36 AM on 02/18/2012

We're so in love with you too, President Obama.

We'll make sure in 2012, you'll be singing this part of Al Green's "Love and Happiness"

We'll be together…..Walk away with Victory

Oh the power, power of Love. Power of Love…power…power…

Obama 2012!

[tom high]

02:26 PM on 02/19/2012

Obama won't win bottom line!

[nq5511]

04:38 PM on 02/19/2012

Not according to GOD! Obama is HIS chosen for His purpose FOR what HE is doing in the earth presently.

[itznotabtme]

03:46 PM on 02/17/2012

he should be acting like a pres and not be schmoozing

[GraphicMatt]

04:08 PM on 02/17/2012

Huh? Every politician schmoozes......it's called raising campaign donations. Tool.

[reggieb]

05:18 PM on 02/17/2012

Well I suppose he could throw up on the Emperor of Japan......

[VietVet67]

02:25 PM on 02/17/2012

Looks like the Rev. Al will be in Houston in April. Gonna get tickets.

[goodnana]

01:48 PM on 02/17/2012

Love the Reverend Al Green!

[enigma2]

02:00 PM on 02/17/2012

Me too, I've got quite a music collection and he is in it..Love and happiness is one of my favorites.

[Sistagirl Young]

02:42 AM on 02/18/2012

Hello enigma2; You gotta go some to get betta than Belle though. And Back Up Train. In my opinion anyway. Life.

[stopthemadness69]

01:19 PM on 02/17/2012

I wish this was available as a ringtone for non smart-phones:(

[Theatrixnyc]

12:43 PM on 02/17/2012

Lots of us knew he could sing, way back....when he visited New Jersey on a campaign stop before becoming President, Dionne Warwick was in the house, and he sang "Walk On By" back to her....smooth..very smooth......

What do Republicans have this year? "Wasted Days & Wasted Nights"? Well, we can give that one to the 'Super-Congress'

[reggieb]

05:19 PM on 02/17/2012

lol. Not to worry! The Republicans will steal many musicians work just like they do every year.

[Bruce Kilmury]

09:35 PM on 02/18/2012

Repulicans are going to steal musicians work, I have heard it all now. Last time i checked the only person stealing is Obama and his administration. How bout the so called tax cut that puts an extra $40 in you pocket. Where is that coming from? Well, by reducing the FICA tax taken out of your check. So, who is destroying SSN and passing it off as a tax cut. Well, a person so narcistic that his only concern is how he is perceived by Americans and the world. He is unable to stand up and accept responsibility rather than blame an event (ie: the sunami, oil spill) or someone else.

[Lost Nation]

12:30 PM on 02/17/2012

It good he has plans for a new gig in 2013

[TXconfidnz]

12:44 PM on 02/17/2012

So, you basically went for option 1 from my earlier posted list of typical conservative responses. Any particular reason or was it really the best you could do?

[goodnana]

01:46 PM on 02/17/2012

WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[txscubarat]

12:58 PM on 02/17/2012

YEP...POTUS - 2.0 (four more years in case you have to be reminded) For the GOTP, it's RIP!!!

[Bruce Kilmury]

09:37 PM on 02/18/2012

Lord help us if he wins another four years. If so, our truck will be dead in the ditch and due to his programs and failed policies.

[jonesygal]

12:19 PM on 02/17/2012

God I love that man. :)

[redsongia]

12:29 PM on 02/17/2012

He's mastered the art of being a giant nerd, but also cool.

[stape45]

01:18 PM on 02/17/2012

Coolest "nerd" you'll ever meet. :-)

[amaboss52]

12:05 PM on 02/17/2012

I really love this President, he's a good man and has been a good leader. And to top it off he can sing! WOW 4 MORE YEARS!!!

[Bruce Kilmury]

10:01 PM on 02/18/2012

A good man? Yes !! A leader? No! If he was trying to get the horse to water and did not succeed he would blame someone else for not getting the horse to drink. It is never his fault, it is always an event or someone else's fault if his policies fail. The Democrats had control of The White House and both houses of Congress and President Obama could not get a budget passed. Has folks go out and outright lie that Reid can't pass a budget now because he does not have 60 votes. He does not need 60 votes only 50. The house has sent proposals to the Senate and Harry Reid will not even allow the bill to come up for discussions on the floor. President Obama is too busy campaigning rather than leading. Everything he does from here to November will be directed to re-election which he has been doing since 01/21/2009.

[amaboss52]

11:05 AM on 02/20/2012

Blah blah blah, go back to fox for new talking points these are old stale and ridiculous. The house is full of losers, who will be kicked to the curb come November.

[stopthemadness69]

11:50 AM on 02/17/2012

I would settle for al green and obama singing the entire song together at the election night ball after he is re-elected.

[proudamericanblkwoman]

11:55 AM on 02/17/2012

Here, here! :)

[mom2sons]

12:50 PM on 02/17/2012

I think I'm going to have to take Megabus to the convention. It will be my third wedding anniversary...lol....any excuse will do.

[TXconfidnz]

12:03 PM on 02/17/2012

And then he should address Congress with ANOTHER song from Al Green: "I'm So Tired of Being Alone"...

[njborne]

12:16 PM on 02/17/2012

Boehner would start ballin'!

[lillyhammer]

11:32 AM on 02/17/2012

Someone needs to get those bumper stickers, pins, and t-shirts going! "Let's Stay Together – Obama 2012!" I'm putting in my order.

[kwhitney333]

11:34 AM on 02/17/2012

I will second that!

[enigma2]

11:47 AM on 02/17/2012

Third it!!

[NANCI2SING]

05:47 PM on 02/20/2012

I WANT ONE!!! PLEEEEEEAZE!!! I LUV HIM!! HE'S THE BEST, FINEST, SMARTEST, HONEST, COOLEST, PREZ EVER!!

[ondbuyu]

11:32 AM on 02/17/2012

TXconfidnx........You NEVER answered about you living off the system instead
of working for a living and paying taxes like I do? You only drew in support of
the other Biase Bloggers to support YOU.......
Another Obama Entitlement Non-Working living off the Working Class Blogger
is what you must be... You are probaably here Illegally in Texas anyway..
Get a Job and pay taxes before you throw my name around... OR show
some backbone instead of getting your liberal friends to speak for you.

[TXconfidnz]

11:42 AM on 02/17/2012

Can I submit this entire post in my "Typical conservative response" list?

[keith1963]

01:44 PM on 02/17/2012

The one that kills me every time is the "teach you how to fish" line.

[reggieb]

05:24 PM on 02/17/2012

I don't speak Teabonics. What did he say?

[pammiethekid]

11:45 AM on 02/17/2012

Now wait a minute, are we elites, or are we welfare sponges? You can't have it both ways.

[MInchau]

01:27 PM on 02/17/2012

They haven't noticed the hypocrisy.

[MelanieMatthias]

11:21 AM on 02/17/2012

President Obama makes me want to be a better person, makes me laugh, and makes me proud. He is the best!
http://www.keepinghisword.com/

[realpolitic]

11:17 AM on 02/17/2012

Obama is a natural politician. His presidency has been a good one considering the depths of the mess he inherited.  He has a  natural reserve and distance that keeps him sort of an unknown quantity to many, for example, he does not have Clinton's famous "I feel your pain" empathy and loquacious small talk.  Where Clinton was supposed to have called people in the middle of the night just for the joy of discussing policy details, Obama seems much more private, even guarded at times.  He will surely defeat the Republican candidate at election, though.

[Marchioness]

11:33 AM on 02/17/2012

His presidency has been a good one, and he isthe right president for this perilous time. It is good he is the president now and for the forseeable future. The good thing also is that he will hopefully be around a good while after as well for the next generations.

[realpolitic]

12:01 PM on 02/17/2012

Yes, he will do a lot of great work after his prescidency is finished too.

[Bruce Kilmury]

02:03 PM on 02/19/2012

Right president for this time, Please! He has never held a position of leadership which is why he has no clue. You will know who I am by whom I surround myself with. Least we list his czars etc. He has this country on the brink of disaster and bankruptcy and yet folks are gullible enough to believe his double talk and desire to divide this country. He was to be the person that would end the division of citizens and yet he is the biggest divider of the masses.

[Bruce Kilmury]

03:48 PM on 02/20/2012

Yep per that he is. However, it would better to say he was your typical politician. To borrow a line from "Hunt for Red October" something like: when I am not kissing your baby I am stealing their lollipop. He says what you want to hear not what you need to know. Well I would rather hear a fair and balanced debate and not listen to foks read copy someone else wrote.