Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder performed a short set for a Barack Obama fundraiser last night (Sept. 20) in Tampa Bay, Fla. Along with playing for President Obama and a crowd of 85 guests, who paid $20,000 per-person to attend, Vedder had some choice words for Republican candidate Mitt Romney and his recent claims that 47 percent of Americans consider themselves as victims who are entitled to government assistance. According to Rolling Stone , Vedder addressed Romney’s words during the Obama fundraiser. “It’s very upsetting to hear a presidential candidate be so easily dismissive of such a ginormous amount of the population.” As a supporter of government-funded programs and someone who benefited from those programs before hitting it big with Pearl Jam, Vedder recalled signing up for a government security guard training program. “I’m an example of someone who never made it to university,” Vedder told the crowd. “I did have this dream to be a musician. I felt that this dream had an expiration date … It was that job which allowed me to keep affording to guitars and microphones,” the Pearl Jam frontman said. “For me, it all began with that ability to get the proper training for a decent job.” President Obama went on to thank Vedder for his words, while praising the musician’s grassroots rise to fame. “For you to share that story with us, Eddie, speaks volumes not only about you but about this country,” Obama told Vedder. “That story captures better than anything what this campaign is about and what this country is about.” Pearl Jam are scheduled to play a handful of U.S. shows to round out September, before Vedder embarks on a solo tour, which begins in Las Vegas on Halloween night. Check out those dates here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/2013-albums/” title=”See Pearl Jam on our 10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2013″ align=”center”] Eddie Vedder Obama Fundraiser Setlist: ‘Rise’ ‘Without You’ ‘Millworker’ ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ (Neil Young cover)