James Taylor pokes fun at Clint Eastwood’s chair stunt

September 7, 2012 | 7:32 am

Singer James Taylor performs during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—Headline music act at the Democratic convention, folk singer James Taylor, poked fun Thursday at Clint Eastwood’s bizarre cameo at the rival Republican gathering last week.

The 82-year-old Eastwood chatted with an imaginary President Barack Obama in an empty chair next to him on stage, in a routine which raised eyebrows and was lampooned by critics as the ramblings of an iconic but aging actor.

Opening his act hours before Obama was due to make his case for re-election to the American people at the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Taylor couldn’t resist having a dig at the Oscar-winning Republican.

“Empty chair, kinda makes you nervous, doesn’t it? I’m not gonna talk to it, I’m gonna sit on it,” the five-time Grammy Award winner said, before doing just that and launching into one of his greatest hits: “Carolina in My Mind.”

On a roll by this stage, the long-time activist for environmental and liberal causes added a quip related to the president’s struggle in appealing to certain demographics.

“I’ve been watching the coverage and I don’t get it. I mean, I’m an old white guy and I love Barack Obama,” he said.

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Tags: Clint Eastwood , Democrats , Entertainment , James Taylor , Offbeat , politics , US Elections

marionics

There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range. His horse and his cattle are his only companions.
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons, waiting for summer, his pastures to change.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire, thinking about women and glasses of beer.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire, he sings out a song which is soft but it’s clear
as if maybe someone could hear…

Goodnight you moon light ladies, rock-a-bye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose, won’t you let me go down in my dreams?
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James.

Now the first of December was covered with snow
and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
Though the Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of that frosting,
with ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go.
There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway,
a song that they sing when they take to the sea,
a song that they sing of their home in the sky, maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep,
but singing works just fine for me.

So, goodnight you moon light ladies, rock-a-bye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose, won’t you let me go down in my dreams?
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James.
Karabukov

Obama’s got a friend.

James Taylor pokes fun at Clint Eastwood’s chair stunt

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