From the night that Beyonce serenaded President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their first dance after the 2008 election, the Obama's and Beyonce along with her husband Jay-Z have shared a real connection you don't see too often between politicians and music mogul.
Tuesday night the President appeared on the Letterman show and spoke of the "bond" that he shares with hip-hop superstar Jay-Z. He had just come from a fundraiser hosted by Jay-Z and Beyonce, which raised $4 million for Obama's re-election campaign.
The $40,000-per-ticket soiree was hosted at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan and was attended by 100 people. During the party, Beyonce announced "I can't tell you how proud we are to host tonight's event with President Obama. We believe in his vision."
After thanking Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z, Obama admitted that his wife and daughters were upset with him because they couldn't attend the event and told Beyonce that she "could not be a better role-model for my daughters." He went on to explain how he and Jay-Z have a lot in common.
"Jay-Z now knows, you know, what my life is like," Obama said. "We both have daughters and our wives are more popular that we are. So, you know, we've got a little bond there. It's hard, but it's okay."
This isn't the first time the President has shown his respect for the rapper. At the beginning of September, during Jay-Z's "Made in America" tour performance in Philadelphia, big TV screens were rolled out so that Obama could deliver a pre-taped message to the fans at the concert.
"To me, the idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like or where you come from, you can make it if you try. Jay-Z did it," The President said. "He didn't come from power or privilege. He got ahead because he worked hard, learned from his mistakes and just plain refused to quit. That's what 'made in America' means."
The audience responded well to the message, cheering wildly as they chanted "USA! USA!"
Obama has been a Jay-Z fan from the beginning. In 2008, following a debate with Hillary Clinton, the President discussed "the same old Washington game of slinging mud and ignoring the real issues."
"You gotta expect it, and..." Obama paused as Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulders" started playing in the background, and then Obama mimicked Jay-Z as he pretended to dust the dirt off of his shoulders. Smiling, the President said "that's what you gotta do," and continued with Jay-Z's signature move.
Obama hasn't paid this much attention or shown this much respect to any other musician or celebrity in particular. It would seem he and Jay-Z do indeed share a "bond." Who knows, maybe in another few years we'll see Jay-Z and Beyonce in the White House.
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