President Obama hit up Harlem's Apollo Theater last night in a first ever fundraising event. Known for emulating Martin Luther King Jr's oratory delivery, this time Obama took a stab at impersonating Al Green.
Obama, apparently on a dare, sang a line from Al Green's 'Still in Love with You" (1972). It was an impressive moment. The crowd loved it.
President Obama's presence at the Apollo Theater, last night January 19, is historic. It's the first time a sitting president has visited the Apollo. But it's not the first time Obama's been in Harlem scouting dollars for his re-election party. He held a $38,000 a head dinner in Harlem a year ago.
Last night's Obama re-election campaign fundraiser, formally titled, President Obama ‘s Victory Fund Concert at the Apollo Theater, sold surprisingly affordable tickets at at $100, $200, $300, $500 and $5000.
America knows President Obama is a skilled orator. He proved it in Philadelphia (March 2008) after the Jeremiah Wright controversy. And after his wife made the eye-brow raising comment that she was, for the first time in her adult lifetime "really proud of her country."
After the Philly speech, Obama delivered again in June of 2008. He took his brand to the world. He spoke in financially stable Germany where he introduced himself as Barack Obama, the slightly different candidate than the usual slew of men running for American President.
Last night at the Apollo, President Obama, the professorial politician, preached much of the same inspiring rhetoric Republicans do: hard work, motivation and talent equates to success in the United States. Obama, the skilled orator, politician and college professor, trouble-free and ever hopeful, returned.
Obama conceded the financial crisis has been a “wake up call.” But he added that other nations still regard the United States as their “last best hope.” He said that fellow citizens are counting on us “not to give up.”
Obama’s harsher critics would say that Obama was preaching to the choir. Harlem is one of the more resilient neighborhoods in the United States. It underwent gentrification threats emerged decades later as second renaissance home of Harlem’s cultural and intellectual elite and maintained its African American identity that it grew to symbolize in the early 1900s.
Yet, Obama encouraged supporters to “send a message” in the 2012 re-election campaign. Tell the other side that you “will not back down,” he said. He told the audience to keep hoping, keep pushing, keep fighting as hard as they did four years ago and keep believing.
He urged the theater to garner 2008’s passion and commitment to his re-election.
Yet, numerous Democrats have called for Obama to stand up and take progressive measures in response to Republican opposition. In many ways, Obama’s fundraising speech was a speech that inspired the candidate who needs it most, President Obama.
“I’m not a perfect man,” Obama said. He added that in many ways, he not the perfect president. But he said he promised in 2008 that he’d always tell the electorate what he felt and maintains that he's kept that promise. He also said that he wakes up every day fighting as hard as he can, “for you.”
The President also said he is “just as determined now, as he was then.” Obama’s speech was met with great applause and soon the candidate moved into the Martin Luther King, Jr. type rhetoric and tenor that prompted unending 2008 conversation, comparisons and criticisms that wondered aloud whether or not Barack Obama’s delivery is simply strikingly and naturally similar to Dr.King. Or a skilled imitation.
Obama, it seems, will stick to his 2008 campaign message of change, this time adding that change comes from within and with hard work. Obama told the Apollo Theater last night that “if you work harder this time, then change will come. If we finish what we started in 2008 then change will come. If you fight with me, and press on with me, then change will come. “
You can watch an edited version of last night's Apollo speech from a CNN clip posted to youtube clip here.
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