Some of the performers at tonight’s White House tribute to Motown don’t seem to have much obvious connection to Motown. But they do have a connection: to Obama.
Tonight’s East Room event is titled, “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House – a Thank You from the Obamas to Their Supporters.”
OK, actually, it’s only titled, “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” but that hardly seems to do the event justice.
Let’s start by wondering what white teen idol Nick Jonas is doing on the line up.
The Jonas Brothers perform one of their classic Motown hits.
I can’t say I’m completely familiar with Mr. Jonas’s ouvre, but what I’ve heard of it sounds like standard teeny bopper stuff to me.
It would seem he has as much connection to Motown as Lawrence Welk. But it turns out his band, the Jonas Brothers, sang at a celebration of Obama’s inauguration.
It appears the Obamas have been carefully cultivating this megastar. Many of the delirious fans he’s had over the last few years, of course, will be of voting – and canvassing – age in 2012.
Nick Jonas, who has diabetes, has joined Michelle Obama’s “Lets Move” anti-childhood obesity campaign. The Obamas even forced him to play ping pong with their daughters.
Okay, I’m sure it was a friendly, spontaneous pickup game.
And what exactly is Sheryl Crow doing on tonight’s bill? Her music is somewhat bluesy, but Motown it ain’t.
Well, she’s been in the tank for Obama for a long time, even supporting him in the Democratic caucuses over Hillary Clinton.
She sang at his inaugural, helped him raise money for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and contributed a track to the Obama celebration CD, “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement,” which also featured Lionel Ritchie, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, and John Legend. The album was sold by the Obama campaign to raise money and is STILL for sale on the website of Organizing for America, Obama’s grassroots outfit.
John Legend, by the way, will also be appearing tonight.
As will Natasha Bedingfield, the white British chart topper who also has little obvious connection to Motown, though she’s a big Obama supporter. She appeared on the “Yes We Can” video, and she sung at a concert to celebrate his award of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Another British Singer Seal, who lives in the United States, has a more soulful cast than most of the rest Obama backers appearing in the East Room tonight.
So do lots of singers. But Seal distinguished himself with his vow to scoop up wife Heidi Klum and leave the United States if John McCain was elected.
And he said Obama inspired him to write a song.
Awwww.
A big hat tip to several astute White House Dossier readers who first pointed out to me that some of tonight’s performers didn’t seem very Motown-friendly.
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This event sounds more like a CommandPerformance for the enjoyment of the O family and friends than a thank-you. These entertainers are professionals who get paid to perform, so….are we paying them to perform or even their expenses?..
This event was promoted by the WH as a tribute to BlackHistoryMonth.
One might imagine a tribute to the great MarionAnderson and other historic Black opera singers or LouisArmstrong and others who helped bring Black performers into the mainstream of entertainment. But, no.
As LionelRichie predicted “we’re going to party, party, forever, fiesta, all night long”.
The Motown performance will be broadcast on PBS the first week of March (so we can see how much fun everyone had at the party).
Thanks for this heads-up. I was worried that it would be on cable and that my family wouldn’t be able watch. We had to give that up (and a lot of other things too) in order to keep a roof over our heads…
Frankly, m’dear, I don’t give a rat’s butt.
in answer to your question… yes, your tax dollars pay for the musicians at obama’s private performances.. and the kobe beef, lobsters and champagne, btw…
Let’s see. The One wants to reward his celeb backers with a trip to the White House. What better way than to concoct a program that also placates the AfAm voting block?
I want to hear more about the Derby trip. How is MoochMO justifyng this? It can’t even be distantly tied to “Move Yur Kid *ss” intiative unless MoochMO plans to run the track with the horses.
Keith — how many private “vaycay” can the First Family take and use the taxpayers’ dime to pay the flight, security, and hotels costs? Is the White House offering any justification for the Derby Indulgence except that MoochMO and her Chicago buddies jes wanna hav fun?
Was Obama even living in the US during the Motown years? Seems he doesn’t grasp the American culture very well…other than the spending part of it.
He’s a pip–isn’t that sufficient? This is making me laugh–esp Mrs Obama running at Churchill Downs–hey, Churchill…isn’t he a no-no?
As long as you like this couple and contribute, you’re in. Zzzz… What is it they used to say–a good time was had by all?
Bravo Keith, command performance. Nick Jonas has a solo group and guess what his band is called, “The Administration.”
Ha! I am not suprised.
This generations crop of impressionable youth are busy getting “degree’s” at topflight universities so they can be melded into the mindless, spineless masses that is the microcosm of the Obama voter. Had Mr. Jonas known *anything* about American history, he would named his band something else and he would never have rubbed elbows with an extremist, Marxist, anti-Semitic prig like Obama or his hypocritical wife.
Interesting dicotomy here: Government is “cool” and hip when liberals are in power, but not when conservatives are in the oval office. Was Government still hip when 45 children were burned alive in Waco by ATF agents? Wait … those children were Christians, so they don’t count. Never mind.
Obama is the establishment and we are anti-establishment. They never acknowledge that.
GJ: Great point. I remember when the hippies rebelled against “the establishment.” Now the hippies ARE the establishment and, are dedicated big-government Fascists.
Hey, I was at a party (with the movers and shakers of the Texas Democratic party) and several told me, -and I quote-, “… all we really need to do is shutdown FOX, arrest Limbaugh, Hannity and Savage and seize firearms. After that we could get our agenda through.”
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Can you see Obama with an AK?
Secret to getting the truth:
5 martini’s + good music and a smoke …
Of the Democrat Party, 20% (in my book) are closet Fascists who would suspend habeas corpus, the internet, talk radio and attempt to seize fire arms if given the chance.
Barack H. Obama is not only a closet Fascist but see’s his fascism as “necessary” for the welfare of the country.
If this were WWII, Mr. Obama would have been a high-standing member of the SS.
So cliche, but so apropos, another day, another party, vacation, etc., etc., etc.
MEMO TO JONAS BROTHERS: Gentlemen, please. TURN your straw hats AROUND so that they face the right way (both cowboy hats are worn backwards). I know that you don’t give a damn …. but to those of us in Texas who wear them, do yourself a favor son and at least LOOK the part, even though your a liberal weeny-supporter of the administration.
@Tom, a true Texan. I can’t say I would look good in one or ever wore one but I can tell you that I would definitely know the front from the back. I took a look at the photo before reading your post and I thought they kinda looked funny but couldn’t put my finger on it till I read your post. Thanks for pointing out the faux pas.
I wore one for several years as a Texas peace officer and occassionally put one on during road trips during the summer (keeps the sun off the face).
I *despise* the use of the cowboy hat by ‘musicians’, especially anyone who plays for the Marxist-in-Chief. I also despise *new country music*. It’s rock, its not country and they were cowboy hats to make it ‘sexy.’ I guess i am just a mean bastard.
Well the guy on the right has his hat on properly but the one on the left??
I am amazed that someone cant tell the difference between the front and back of a hat. If you can’t tell by looking, check the tags and size label inside the band. Common sense says they go at the back of your head
Oh wait. Common sense. White House. Obama…sorry. I got carried away
LOL LOL LOL
I noticed that too and I am not a Texan or that familiar with cowboy clothing. That is just too funny. I THOUGHT something looked odd, but at first glance it was just a couple of posers. What else would you expect from this batch? Even more appalling is the President when he tries to dance along with his peeps. The white grandma comes back to haunt him. The “brotha” has no rhythm.
The entire world is going up in flames and this swamp runnin, jive talkin, bojangling geechee is partying at the wh? Hope you idiots are happy with your vote but swamp runnin geeshes are good for nothin but fertilizer…
Does this man NOT get it?!!! With the financial crisis we’ve been dealing with and a bleak future for our nation… WHY?!! WHY is this administration doing this? I wonder how much this is REALLY costing us?
Fraud works for this guy. Why give up the gig now?
They ought to put a flashy neon movie marquee on the White House, announcing the next event. Every time you turn around, the nation’s top welfare recipients are hosting yet another expensive performance, for their enjoyment.
If you are going to have a Motown tribute how about including some Motown: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Four Tops, Temptations, Funk Brothers, Rare Earth, etc beyond just Smokey Robinson. Motown is Motown not Sheryl Crow, not the Jonas dweebs, and not some silly Brit ex-pat and his supermodel wife.
…and he played the fiddle as Rome burned
“We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For”
YES WE CON!
YES WE CON!
http://www.AmericanPatrol.com
The Obamas are becoming more and more like the French Royalties that earned themselves a one way ticket to the chopping block.
They have time to party it up while I am spending my time trying to figure out how I am going to afford $4/gallon gas. Does Obama have any clue that there is a world on fire, outside of his little White House bubble? This is effing ridiculous!
You party on Obumbles. Don’t worry about the middle east in turmoil. Don’t worry about the price of oil. Don’t worry about the economy. Yeah you get your party on you racist fool. Will you celebrate white history month? Oh, sorry, a white history month would be racist.
*Anything* white is considered racist and bigoted. Our past history is racist. The South is racist. NASCAR is racist. The word “black hole” is racist. Sheesh….
About time Obama got a break! That guy has tirelessly been working the middle east crises (plural). Now that it’s all under control, time to honor Motown by getting bubble-gum rockers to sing songs – to Obama.
We pay $3.40 gas while Obama parties. I don’t like the man, as a man.
Just another huge waste of money. The name Obamination to this country fits to a T.
From my observation, Obama has thrown a party nearly every week since he has been in office, some of them costing well into the millions of dollars. I’m glad our King is so well fed and entertained while his surfs are suffering.
Sheryl Crow and I will be doing a http://www.liveshot.cc via CNN during a break in the performance tonight.. As you know, Sheryl is great advocate for the planet and will demonstrate how we can limit our use of toilet paper to stop global warming.
But I wouldn’t shake her hand afterwards, were I you.
Sorry wont see it. At that direct moment I will have *exlosive diahrrea* my friend.
…as a former Motown performer and studio musician, I can only say this; to the degree that this is definitely not a real Motown concert, is to the degree that Obama definitley is not a real leader. Just as his policies are phoney, so is this deceptive Motown thing he’s trying to pull off.
I have simply run out of words to voice the absolute disgust I feel for this “man!” We are watching our country and the world crumble around us, yet these folks are fiddling while Rome burns. Saul Alinski… disrupt, disrupt, disrupt until the system crumbles! He is actually pulling it off… it shows us how stupid and self-indulgent we have become as a nation to allow this to happen to our country.
Ahhh great. Another party. While the Middle East Burns. Funny how he has time for parties but doesn’t have time to respond to the American people about Libya, 9 days. We all know where his priorities are. What an empty suit commie.
Why join CPUSA when you can destroy free enterprise from within?
Coming from Detroit it seems a little more consideration of the ethnic/regional roots of this music would be respected not exploited. I’m white but this sure looks like another case of Blacksploitation. Literally stealing our music and giving it to white bread musicians? Maybe the Monkees could sing for us too. Great thinking!
Lenin: Class-based International Socialism
Hitler: Race-based National Socialism
Obama: Class- and Race-based Post-National Socialism
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury.” ~ George Washington
http://911essentials.com
“Guard your possession. Guard your freedoms, Congress is back in session.” -Benjamin Franklin
Glad they published the list of performers…. won’t be buying their music ever again nor listening to them.
Here here… I like motown, but anyone in the “tank” for Obama is an enemy domestic IMHO.
What a joke. While Rome is burning….the pseudo-Motown gang plays on! My God, Mr. President, wake the hell up!
I am surprised he is not sponsoring a marathon at the white house for all his dem brothers….
YES WE RUN!!!
YES WE RUN!!!
YES WE RUN!!!
Seal and Heidi run back to the UK if a Repub won? Kind of like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, et al, did? I’m not a McCain guy, but I’ll say that it’s too dad-gum bad he didn’t win. The fewer celebs in the US, the better off we are. Maybe he could have even talked Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman and a large pack of their ilk, to slink off to the formerly Great Britain and put down some roots. Kind of a reverse immigration wave, only this time we benefit from it.
The world burns,
Chaos ensues,
Freedom fighting,
Death and Protest,
Wisconsin, Indiana,
India, China, Libya,
Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi,
Obama is entertained.
WE ARE IN DESPERATE TIMES AND THIS IDIOT OF A PRESIDENT IS HAVING PARTIES AND GOING ON VACATIONS??????WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN???????
You know Laurie – after reading your feelings on Obama and what is
going on in these horrific times all over the world – the only conclusion that you can actually come to is………he does not have any connection to the American people. This man gives no thought to any of the sufferings people are going through. Job loss, loss of homes, loss of income. Take a look around, we have never had so much violent crime in our own country. It has esculated beyond anyones imagination. God help our country if he would get voted in again in 2012.
I just learned of this CD . . . how “grassroots” can a movement be if its got the president’s name on it, along with a bunch of really rich pop performers?
What a life, getting elected as President by buffaloing a gullible population into believing you are the second coming, all the while doing the bidding of America’s enemies with the assistance and blessing of the entertainment and media elite. No wonder he bows to Arab terrorists, they are showing him a grand old time and probably filling his bank account with cash for when he returns home to the third world toilet he came from. So climb on the SOUL TRAIN brother.
thanks for the tip on the Yes We Can CD!
let’s see Rome is burning and our leader is having a Motown concert??????
Born in a 3rd world country and now celebrating “MoTown” aka Detroit.
Our 1st 3rd world city that Mr. Obama is “Celebrating”.
Cheers,
The Maltese Falcon
Ho hum! Now that they’re back from their ski vacation, the O-dumbo girls are bored.So, let’s have some liberal musicians come over tonight!
When my kids were bored, I got them a McDonald’s Happy Measl. Oh, wait! Those are banned by Moochelle~ Hurry up 2012!
Meanwhile, the Invasion continues and the Obama lawsuit against the state of Arizona proceeds.
USA: THIRD WORLD RISING – http://www.BorderInvasionPics.com
They remind me of, trained monkeys, ready to perform at his command. At least he isn’t pimping the bedrooms like Clinton did.
Well not yet anyway, that will come during the campaign for 2012. It will be whoever donates the most to my campaign will be able to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom!
As the world and WI burn, barry and moochelle party with their hollywierd buddies. Gag me with a spoon.
What can you say after reading this? Jonas Brothers…thank God my daughters think you are geeky- looking idiots! Natasha…that’s a disappointment but she does come from socialist UK so I guess this can be forgiven. Seal….is he still alive? The most famous thing he ever did was marry a Supermodel (though I don’t classify her as one). Suggestion for an Oshama inspired song……probably an idea somewhere in the Koran!
“At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill disciplined, despotic, and useless.
Liberalism is the philosophy of sniveling brats.” – P.J. O’Rourke
What the F@@@ does any one from Kenya know about Old Motown? I grew up listening to it and you do not just listen to Motown, you feel Motown, if you know Motown then it is in your soul. Great singers with a super band (Funk Brothers). There was only one white band on the Motown Label and is sure wasn’t the Jonus Brothers. Oh yes that band was Rare Earth, of course you knew that right Obama?
So now the Career Criminal Imposter is partying like its 1999. The US is bankrupt, they have poisoned the food, the air, the water. They made billions off of their Gulf Oil destruction and depopulation plan. They have syphoned off the resources of the people. They steal and launder their money through the Vatican Bank. They occupy over 200 countries in the world murdering, raping, slaughtering children and innocent people. They have a police state in US. They have raped the earth of its resources, having their Agenda 21, following the Iron Mountain Report of GENOCIDE. And this joker is having a party. People Rise UP, it is time. The masks of hypocracy are coming down. Game OVER!
Sounds like a nice party, but there’s something to be cleared up, just so there is no confusion, and bad feelings.
The Detriot newspaper, in their coverage of the party tonight, said
“President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host “The Motown Sound….”
As everyone knows, when one hosts a party, that means they are paying for it.
So I hope they have a lovely evening, and as a tax payer, I’m thrilled that they’re hosting, and I don’t have to pay for it this time !
No telling what the final cost of this shindig will be. While our nation suffers mightily Down Low and Low Rent are busy hosting yet another party.
Special Guests include Mobarak from Eygpt and Kadafi from Libya joining Obama on a live version of “Ball of Confusion” by the Temptations…. Everyone will be dressed up wearing their little “Monkey Organ Grinder Hats” supplied by Kadafi…. I cant wait to see the special on PBS….Propoganda Broadcasting System. This show sponsered by Obama Motors….I mean GM ,Government Motors and every other liberal socialist s.o.b. that has money left in their pocket while we are eating Alpo.
I always wanted to meet Sheryl even if she only uses 1 toilet sheet can I sing too.
Please Check out song called teapartiers I can’t hear you at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfboOindCo
Here’s a verse
Doctors are retiring earlier but we’re getting 17000 new IRS
This is how Obama creates health care jobs I guess
For 234 years this country’s been God’s blessing.
Now he’s following Cloward and Piven’s to bankrupt the country I’m guessing
If Obamacare gives Grandma and Grandpa a scare
Think how when their rationed and die earlier we’ll save on healthcare
Hey guys if you fought at Iwo or the Chosen
when they stop giving your wife her meds and her last breath comes over her face
you’ll find comfort knowing Nancy’d gladly take her place.
This will be a very beneficial photo op for Obama, the Voters will see him doing something he is actually qualified to do, hanging with the bros.
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