COMMENTARY: Eddie Vedder's $20,000-a-person fundraiser for Obama in South Tampa not for me

Better play the most awesome, spine-tingling, soul-stirring, jaw-dropping version EVER of "Yellow Ledbetter."

And cover "Masters of War" (which he first did in 1992).

Those were my first thoughts when I learned Eddie Vedder was performing at a $20,000-a-person house party in South Tampa.

To be specific, it was a fundraiser attended by President Obama.

A reliable source told me who held the private shindig and where.

As a former South Tampa resident, I know the location. But I have only read about the host.

So even if I had $20,000 (ha, ha) to spend on a night of entertainment (ha, ha, ha, ha), it's doubtful an invite would have come my way.

Read more.


—Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder performs at the Voices for Justice concert in Little Rock, Ark., in 2010. AP Photo | BRIAN CHILSON

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/23/4209892/eddie-vedder-plays-20000-a-person.html#storylink=cpy

President Obama a country music fan?

President Barack Obama is greeting country music fans tonight.

So is likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Both have taped humorous video segments that will appear as part of the opening segment tonight on the CMT Music Awrds.

Obama has sung a snippet of soul master Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," performed "Sweet Home Chicago" with blues greats B.B. King, Buddy Guy and more — the prez even landed an invite last month from Jay-Z to perform at the hip-hop king's new music festival.

But what does he think about country music?

"Now, I know folks think I'm a 'city boy' but I do appreciate listening to country music because like all Americans, I appreciate the broad and indelible impact that country has had on our nation," Obama said during "An Evening of Country Music" at the White House in 2009.

"It's touched countless lives, it's influenced all genres of music, it's helped us make the American people more hopeful, it's captured our restlessness and resilience, and told so much of our story in the process."

Alison Krauss and Union Station, Brad Paisley, and Charley Pride were the performers that evening.

"Harlan Howard proclaimed country music "three chords and the truth," Obama said. "Garth Brooks said it's 'honesty, sincerity, and real life to the hilt.'  And Dierks Bentley called it 'the best shrink that 15 bucks can buy.'"

Then in November of last year,  as part of their “In Performance at the White House” series, the President and First Lady invited Bentley, Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker and James Taylor to perform.

Watch for Obama, Romney, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson at 8 p.m. EDT from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on CMT.



—Photo of President Barack Oabma copyright 2011 The Associated Press.