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President Obama Takes Apollo Crowd To Church With Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’

video
» 125 comments

While the Republican candidates for president duked it out in South Carolina at Thursday night’s debate, current President Barack Obama commanded the stage at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater, and in the spirit of the venue, briefly showed the crowd his Crooner-in-Chief skills with a soulful rendition of Rev. Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together” that was good enough, as the President noted, to avoid the Sandman’s hook.

Of course, he only sang a (perhaps SOPA-conscious?) eight-second snippet of Green’s classic quiet storm, so there wasn’t much time for the crowd to turn against him, but I think he definitely left them wanting more. Say what you will about the President, but singing “Let’s Stay Together” at the Apollo Theater, with Al Green in the room, takes more balls than a bowling alley.

Reaction  to the performance from Republican candidates was swift and negative, until reporters explained to them that it wasn’t that kind of “Green energy.”

Here’s the clip, via CNN:’


(h/t LGF)

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  • Anonymous

    Way to go President Obama; you’re going where no Republican candidate or Presidential candidate has gone before, THE APOLLO THEATER in HARLEM.

  • Anonymous

    SWAG!

  • Anonymous

    Obama actually sounded pretty darn good actually

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Such a real and decent man.

  • val smith

    This is why the GOP FEARS Obama-he’s as cool as they come. Al Green?

    That was smooth.

  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

    Well Obama has always been a racist and he said he felt uncomfortable around white people;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XPaSSUR_Y

  • Anonymous

    But you republicans said that he’s half black and half white… what side is he racist against?

  • Anonymous

    way to take the video out of context… good try though.

  • Anonymous

    Obama is a self hating racist.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XPaSSUR_Y

  • Anonymous

    lol…actually you can’t take his OWN words out of context. He says what he says…and it is RACIST.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XPaSSUR_Y

    So….why do you Liberals support and vote for someone who is OPENLY RACIST?

  • http://www.facebook.com/andrew.sappington Andrew Sappington

    STFU loser.  Obama is not a racist.  You are.  

  • Anonymous

    I don’t get it.  So appearing at the Apollo makes him racist?

  • Anonymous

    awww… need a kleenex?

  • Anonymous

    I was responding to the 1st post. Obama HIMSELF said he felt uncomfortable around white people….now tell me…is that racist?

  • Anonymous

    lol…pointing out a racist, like Obama, is not racism…lol

    You Liberals. You sure are stupid.

  • Anonymous

    lol…I am not the one who voted for an OPENLY racist guy. That being Obama.

  • Anonymous

    again… you are taking that video out of context….

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Your right… What a great argument…. I’m going to repeat the same phrase over an over, real fast with my eyes wide open… Never quite closing my mouth… Clever stuff. Now take a breathe and wipe the drool… Your head is leaking. Hit your head less. Eat protein when available. Water is important. Sleep comfortably. Exercise is key. Memory should be challenged. Clothing clean. Gums take special care at your age. Stretch the back. Not too much butter. Music calms. Nature heals. Breathe. Breathe…

  • Hout Bosques

    Yeah, screw the inevitable bigotry below – man’s got nice tone, there. Bet after he gets re-elected, we’ll here more from those soulful pipes.

  • Anonymous

    I am repeating the same argument…because you Liberals WON’T ANSWER THE QUESTION.

    Why did you vote for someone who OPENLY said racist comments?

    Does that make YOU a racist for supporting him?

  • Anonymous

    Explain what he is saying then?

    Explain why Obama said he secretly had a disdain for white people?

  • Hout Bosques

    There does appear to be the odd whitey in the hissy, though. 

    Anyway, you gots to provide links when you’re laying down trash like this, or you lack cred – which you do.

  • Anonymous

    The balls?   He already has told us he’s the 4th best President in the history of the United States.  It doesn’t seem confidence is a problem with this guy.

  • Anonymous

    lol….once again a Liberal PROVING MY POINT. Right away you use race as a typical Liberal would.

    I am not white.

    …and here is the link…with the racist Obama….in his own racist words…coming from his own racist mouth;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XPaSSUR_Y

  • Anonymous

    he was talking about his father…. quit reaching… its not working.

  • Hout Bosques

    Thanks for the link. Yeah, this is part of the audio of his muchly praised, justly praised first book. Now, consider the context: he’s discovering what it means to be regarded as black in America – which is something, as he discovered, that foisted on him by the pre-existing cultural synergy BETWEEN blacks and who THEY call “white folks”.  

    You must really be a terrible reader if you didn’t get that from what he wrote. I mean, it’s actually explained quite cleanly in even the passage you linked to. Did you have trouble in school generally, or just with reading skills?

  • Anonymous

    You mean this bigotry?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XPaSSUR_Y

    Obama the bigot

  • Hout Bosques

    Because liberals, & others who can actually read, see that in this passage he’s actually addressing the roles of BLACKS in creating this attitude towards “white folks”. And given he’s both black & white, even you would have to grant his perspective on that phenomenon is, uh, somewhat more acute than your own. 

    Are you planning on going thru your whole life carrying this sort of misconception as part of your resentment baggage? If so, you’re only to be pitied. 

  • Anonymous

    Actually he was talking to his friend he wrote was black about white people.

    How he secretly had disdain for them…now try, but you fail.

  • Hout Bosques

    Ah, there we are at last: projection. One of the classic signs of the authoritarian mentality.

    I suspect you weren’t alive when Nixon was president; you would have had some fun with your resentments in those days. Mmmm mmmm delicious resentment. 

    Rule of thumb, lala3: stupid is as stupid does.

  • Anonymous

    In his book Obama was making a GENERALIZATION about ALL white people.

    uh..that is racist.

  • Anonymous

    uh generalizing about one race, like Obama did…is racist.

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Oh Lala3, you are asking me to peer into the soul… To understand how one man’s mixed race, bi-national origins cast across an international geography and the ever challenging arc of time have crafted a particular vision neccessarily not my own. Oh Lala3, i understand your thirst. I do! The question nearly pulls the soul from the tender fiber of the chest! I scour every text! Digest every quote! Meditate on every appearance and still the mystery evades me slightly! The outline of an attitude blurred when close to a condition. Opinions formed mostly through the bulk but wavering like a mirage at the extremities. Alas… I can’t answer your question. I return in defeat. A perfect picture of the mans soul I hold not. You must continue without me. Only in honest pursuit?

  • Anonymous

    Not only did Obama say that about white people, that he secretly DISDAINED them, but while he was a rep for his district he tried to protect African-Americans from the rapidly growing Latino and Asian population.

  • Anonymous

    lol…not only did Obama say he secretly disdained white people, but he also was concerned about the rapid growth of Latinos and Asians in his mostly black district.

    So he is a racist.

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Your confusing Obama with William Dawson, but go on… Explain.

  • Anonymous

    uh…you didn’t read the quotes above….how Obama was concerned about the growth of Latinos and Asians in his mostly black district.

  • Henry Wood

    You’re having a little bit of a freak out, aren’t ya? Maybe some valium would help with that.

    I wasn’t able to stomach most of that video full of distortions, but the part I did watch was CLEARLY intended to criticize some black people who “blame whitey” for everything.  I guess he should have known that the fake outrage brigade would take that out of context.

    But what you really show on this thread is that you ONLY see Obama’s race.   Black president…SCREAM ABOUT RACE.  I mean you’ve got about 30 comments on this thread alone, all of them about race. So when you accuse libruls of doing this, it is clearly projection on your part.

  • Henry Wood

    I love when white racist conservatives tell us they aren’t white.

  • Anonymous

    Actually I am having fun.

    When did I write that I only saw Obama as a black president…that is Liberals who do that.

    You liberals still have not explained why Obama said that?

  • Henry Wood

    “When did I write that I only saw Obama as a black president”

    About 20 times on this thread, maybe a dozen more on others.

  • Anonymous

    Lala3….you need to provide full quotes. You have cited a link with a person hostile to Obama who has truncated the quotes in the beginning and end of the paragraph…..in a video. It is obvious we lack the context of the major point he was talking about. The first sentence starts from nowhere.

    This was routinely done even in Jeremy Corsi’s own BS “Obama expose” book back in 2008. After close scrutiny, the “racist” inferences were found to be fictitious when laid out in their proper context. Selective editing. Now…go away. 

    More examples….
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/coilofrage.asp 
    Never trust a dishonest rightwinger.

  • http://3chicspolitico.com/ SouthernGirl2

    Stop your dm lies!  The President is not like those nasty racists republicans. Watch yourself before you get sued for libel.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_45S32GWGDRUJIL6E2U4HOZW4BM Bob

    Republicans get scared when a bunch of African-Americans gather in the same place, and immediately assume they’re plotting against white people.

  • https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmS1H0GlNDiHCXlUQxKLF8-_OhSQfgcNpg Orktane

    Oh you forgot, Romney is a Socialist too (per his own words).. 
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjJorv8HBU4

  • https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmS1H0GlNDiHCXlUQxKLF8-_OhSQfgcNpg Orktane

    And, Romney wants to raise your taxes (per his own words)..  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjJorv8HBU4

  • Anonymous

    She’s just having fun with you knee-jerk reactionary liberals

    Lala3 is is an out and out jewish-euro supremest and has written what’s akin to treatise in her comments dehumanizing anything that’s not white or Jewish

    Arguing with her only gets her to spit on more Palestinian farmers on her way to work

  • Anonymous

    That was very good

  • Anonymous

    I have always admired for the speech of Obama.
    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111126010814AAEpcI9

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Clark/100000610136790 Arthur Clark

    lmao…. you’re white. lying that you’re not. A person of another race would bemoan the fact as much as you have. you are clearly a white person.. It’s too obvious and whomever you are. you look real bad…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Clark/100000610136790 Arthur Clark

     Mr. Christopher. How can singing AN R+B song by Al Green be taking the Apollo to church. Dumb ass headline…

  • Anonymous

    but libs “project” racism on ALL republicans….. Is that your authoritarian mentality coming through?

  • Anonymous

    Have to give you Kudos. Even in my best days of my, what I now believe feeble, attempts at satire, I cannot top what you put out there

  • Anonymous

    Dear Mediaite Gods: Please get rid of this LALA3 ASSHOLE. We talking bout Obama singing and he wants to present his StormFront/Aryan Nation opinions. HELP US

  • Anonymous

    ah, I am a she, and I am a person of color.

    Why can’t I post things that are facts? Since when is showing Obama’s racist past racism?

  • OSTL

    the whambulance is cooooming!!!!

  • RW

    “rah rah sis boom bah.  GO Obama!   We love you.”  – That is what I read into Tommy Christopher’s latest slobbering love letter to his idol.  President Obama is so lucky to have the liberal media behind him.  He would be nothing without it.

  • http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    that was pretty good! fun moment.

  • Windolyn Mosely

    President Obama did not take audience to church!

    He swooned the ladies and showed the men how it should be done.

    My toes curled! Hard.

  • Vyas Anand

    Lala3 – you sound like a sad Grand Old Party broken record, except in your case you also sound certifiably insane.  Everyone on here has tried to coddle you and answer your ridiculous singular question, from a statement you clearly took out of context.  You’re sad, a liar, and have at least one other psychiatric condition.  I suggest you meditate, expand you mind, and take a course in critical thinking.  Taking one statement out of context like we can with Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich,  and any candidate does not make you intelligent. Now go kill yourself. You’re useless, to either side.

  • http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    you are joking, aren’t you? 
    please say you’re joking.
    or admit you are 13.
    or you’re this lady: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXhCGjCOh0

  • Windolyn Mosely

    This is only about 1 minute of footage.  

    The rest of the right wing corporate media were doing “out of breath” coverage of the republicans all day.

    Just give yourself a break and drop the hate…for just one moment.

  • Windolyn Mosely

    Including being uncomfortable around his white Mom!

    Lala3 your reaction makes me think you liked it maybe so much that it frighten you that you could get a boner off when the President sang that high note.

    Is that why you are so hysterical and  hyper reactionary  

    Take some Valium and halcyon…you will be fine in a few.

    Take your hand and pry the toes back out…but slowly, OK. 

  • RW

    I see the hate – it comes primarily from the left directed at conservatives.  Unluckily for you, the left doesn’t control the message any longer.  We see the bias in the media daily.  Now, however, all stories, including the stories that don’t see the light of day in the MSM, get covered by new media.  That is why the bias is hardly even denied as of late.  Take Arthur  Brisbane of the New York Times this past week.  He admitted the paper’s overwhelming left-ward slant in its opinionizing made for “predictable and sometimes very dull reading,” “and there can be little doubt that the Times ownership and editorial page ascribe to a liberal perspective.”  The liberal slant creeps into the news reporting as well.

  • OSTL

    He’s a phony sock puppet.

  • Anonymous

    Where’s Sandman when you need him?

  • Anonymous

    The significance of that is what?

  • Anonymous

    Have you read his books?

  • http://twitter.com/wikibacher Goody

    So true. Amen.

  • Anonymous

    Assume too much, aren’t you?

  • http://twitter.com/wikibacher Goody

    Lala3,

    You are being really naive about politics and your fear and hatred are showing. You are self degrading yourself. It brings to mind “indecent exposure”.  I don’t know whether to be annoyed with you or feel sorry for you.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe he found his calling because, it sure as hell isn’t as a leader of this Nation.

  • http://twitter.com/wikibacher Goody

    You know what, I’m complex enough that I can feel both sorry for you and annoyed by you.

  • Anonymous

    Aloof is not cool! It’s unseemly!

  • Anonymous

    Just answer the question posed. Stop skirting the issue. Did Obimbo say what he said, and is it racist? The question is simple stop trying to attack the messenger.

  • Anonymous

    Is that your answer? You must be feeling pretty foolish.

  • http://newsbusters.org/ AliveStiIIKickin

    Only a man with no balls could have a voice that soprano.

  • Windolyn Mosely

    The reaction to this performance by our President has been viral.

    I’ve ask a number of people and they all know about this and loved it.

    Great contrast to what is happening on the right. Crooner in Chief in the President verses Philanderer in Chief in Newt G.

    But the right has a major war of women going… the only thing Obama has to  do to get Women’s votes in his arms is belt out I’m so in love with you.

    So Women what will it be……in 2012 are we going to throw our legs open for the GOP to screw us….or be treated like a princess by the most Pro Woman man that has ever graced the presidency!

  • Anonymous

    Jealous because you’re not as talented and liked as he is? Well don’t take it out on me & go back to your little corner & resume your sobbing

  • http://twitter.com/TommyBennett Tom Bennett

    He’s got soul! Ha. And a damn good voice!

  • http://twitter.com/TommyBennett Tom Bennett

    OOH, you seem to be self-hating. If not, I’m sure many people in your life hate you. Take solace in that.

  • http://3chicspolitico.com/ SouthernGirl2

    My heart absolutely melted! I’m still swooning!

  • http://3chicspolitico.com/ SouthernGirl2

    I read where one woman wrote…”whoops, there goes my pants”. LOL

  • Anonymous

    But you loved that trait with George W.

    What’s changed?Bet I know.

  • Anonymous

    edit

  • Anonymous

    “Only a man with no balls could have a voice that soprano. ”

    And you know this from experience,eh?

  • Anonymous

    im with southrnn girl 2; he was wonderful; to heck with those gop bozos; they wouldnt get it no matter what.   keep on keeping on mr. president.  you are loved.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IBK2R32XUPC44XTUGHWCQ5SH4Y Tonya Webb

    STFU!!!! Jealousy is not cute and neither are you in any situation!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IBK2R32XUPC44XTUGHWCQ5SH4Y Tonya Webb

    Damn! I did not mean to LIKE Lala3′s comment…how do I undo it? Help because she or he is an IDIOT to the heart and there is no helping her or him.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IBK2R32XUPC44XTUGHWCQ5SH4Y Tonya Webb

    Lala3 go somewhere and hide…no one likes you, not even your friends and family. Go find a story about Romney or Gingrich. You have serious psychological issues. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mushu-Friend/100000649994164 Mushu Friend

    Lala3: We can tell you are NOT WHITE by your Aunt Jermina photo. (Now, that is a racist comment.) The comment Barack Obama made in his book was simply truth. — And if the shoe fits, wear it.

  • http://3chicspolitico.com/ SouthernGirl2

    Smack him again!

  • http://3chicspolitico.com/ SouthernGirl2

    I concur. The troll Lala is mucking up the thread. Enough of the bs.

  • http://twitter.com/TommyBennett Tom Bennett

    I assume you are a castrato?

  • http://twitter.com/TommyBennett Tom Bennett

    You’re a person of color like I’m God. Please shut up.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tonykoch1 Tony Koch

    how was this even news… oh i know why the media is in love with this president!

  • Anonymous

    Hey TeaBag, go spread ur hate somewhere else! 

  • Anonymous

    Great Slogan for 2012… Let’s stay together! Not bad Mr. President, Not bad at all!

  • Anonymous

    Teabagger BS … Paid Bagger Beetch 

  • Anonymous

    Since Mediate obviously isn’t paying attention to these comments… Can I say F*ck You!?!

  • Anonymous

    Hey Lala3 – why don’t you take some quotes out of context from Obama’s book(s) and post them here so that you can mislead people into thinking Obama is a racist…oh wait, you’ve already done that. 

    Only desperate people with no evidence post lies to make their point Lala3…you’re pathetic.

  • Anonymous

    “That was smooth.”

     Agreed. 

  • Anonymous

    And again you’re giving these cretinous troll the jollies by responding to his bile.

    Want to drive him crazy? Ignore him!

  • Anonymous

    The only words I want to hear Obambi sing is “I am Resigning for the Good of America”!

  • Anonymous

    “I concur. The troll Lala is mucking up the thread. Enough of the bs.” 
    I think that’s what the plan was. Too bad, though, that few of the comments relate to the event itself.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VDFFJHWCSKTBPCN7X6O3LWDOJU Scarlet Begonias

    wow.. all this over him singing a snippet of The Reverend at the Apollo?  Ya’ll need Jesus.. shooo….. *and yes,. he actually did the few bars justice.. left me wanting to hear more..  and so what if he was singing falsetto? that makes him less of a man? get over yourself.. sheesh!

  • http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    “the only thing Obama has to  do to get Women’s votes in his arms is belt out I’m so in love with you.”

    And you’re proud of that? I find that statement completely insulting to intelligent women everywhere.

  • http://mrfunn.myopenid.com/ mrfunn

    Wonder if anyone any of the groupies fainted?

  • http://mrfunn.myopenid.com/ mrfunn

    Yeah, let’s stay together as Obama leads us into oblivion.

  • http://newsbusters.org/ AliveStiIIKickin

    You “asume”……LOL!!
    There is a joke about that….just leave “me” out of it.

  • Anonymous

    Your kidding….right?

  • Anonymous

    Reaction  to the performance from Republican candidates was swift and
    negative, until reporters explained to them that it wasn’t that kind of “Green energy.”                                         Hahahahah!    That was great Tommy. Mr. President that was awesome.

  • http://mrfunn.myopenid.com/ mrfunn

    Yep, awesome if your 14 years old.

  • david r

    Al Green for President.

  • Anonymous

    You here are just jealous.We have a cool man as the President and you can’t stand it.I don’t blame you to much.The GOP losers running  for President verses to cool for words Mr.President Obama. No comparison.

  • Windolyn Mosely

    Not insulting if you knew his policies and vision for Americans including Women and their children.

    Sum it up to President belting out I’m…..sooo in LOVE WITH YOU!

    Any American women with half a brain would be his supporters.

  • Anonymous

    Lala3, I’m sorry but you have misinterpreted the term ‘racist’. The term ‘Prejudice’ would apply if we were saying Obama favors one race while disdaining another. Actually that seems to apply more to you. I can understand however, because when we hear what we think is an attack on our own race we cry foul. However, ‘Racism’ is saved for one who has the power to act as a hinderance to another race as a whole. For example if Obama were to take the Tea Party route of trying to keep immigrants out of  Arizona, or the act of Republicans, past and present, of trying to limit legitimate voting rights of individuals by enacting ‘Jim Crow’ laws, or denying a man’s role as President by insisting he is not a citizen and calling for his birth certificate during a time of global political unrest. Really Lala3, I think that would ring a bell with you. All this accusation of you being a White conservative on this site, I realize is untrue. I believe however that you are instead a misled, misinformed Hispanic, who has been tricked into fighting against the one candidate in this race who would wish you Godspeed in this country instead of shipping your family back to….? (wherever).
    Really hon, stop biting the hand that would wish to feed you, unless of course if you are one of the esteemed 1%.

  • Anonymous

    Again, while crying foul and pointing a finger at one you would like to label as racist, you gotta look at the three fingers pointing back at yourself, ‘caconservative’. Racists often try to project that quality onto others, while themselves being disrespectful, spiteful and hateful. They focus on physical qualities they can make fun of, call names, change names to taunt and humiliate while trying to ‘talk about the issues’. Tell you what, change your tactics and learn how to spell President Obama’s name without a sneer in your tone and learn some respect yourself then come back and join the party.

  • Anonymous

    And oh, didn’t want to skirt the issue….
     ’Racially charged’ as he was discussing the unique predicament of the bi-racial child in this US and the propaganda we hear from BOTH sides?   maybe yes….’Racist’ as in actively smearing another race and backing it up with actions? Not a chance. Not even by YOUR definition of racism. He has even tried to help YOU…

  • Anonymous

    Hmm, a black man with balls is a problem isn’t it? That darn 60′s generation never learned the rule of humility and staying in one’s place…. I remember in high school a friend of mine and I joked constantly that one of us would be the first ‘black’ president of the US. Funny, it was a mixed race man of color from that same year graduating class that finally did it.

    Yep, he has balls alright…..viva los huevos!

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know Lala3, but we’re not alone, you conservatives do it all the time. Shame though, you don’t even know who is really on your side, just bought into the hype of the hateful conservative machine. If you were a true conservative christian you would be worried about love and christian values, not spreading hate and inflammatory ideas…. hmm…just a thought

  • Anonymous

    I see the problem, you are hiding behind two races and not revealing your own. Your concern is not President Obama’s alleged disdain for whites, but his perceived slight against your race, hispanics. 
    Honey, he isn’t against your people because he wanted to preserve the voice of the black americans. He’s not crying for you to be sent back across the border. He is fighting to legalize the masses born here, including your people, and give them citizen rights… why is that racist? 

  • Anonymous

    Makes no matter to me if you love him or hate him – he IS cool.  Even an old lady like me can see that.

  • Anonymous

    there’s nothing racist here… he just means he doesn’t feel fully accepted by them… which is the truth. he didnt say he was scared that a white person was going to beat him up… there’s a huge difference

    http://www.baby-breathing-monitor.com/ 

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