BET Founder Slams Obama in South Carolina (Clinton surrogate)

[jezebel]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/bet-chief-raps-obama-in-sc/

BET Founder Slams Obama in South Carolina
By Katharine Q. Seelye

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, who is campaigning today in South Carolina with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, just raised the specter of Barack Obama’s past drug use. He also compared Mr. Obama to Sidney Poitier, the black actor, in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
At a rally here for Mrs. Clinton at Columbia College, Mr. Johnson was defending recent comments that Mrs. Clinton made regarding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She did not mean to take any credit away from him, Mr. Johnson said, when she said that it took President Johnson to sign the civil rights legislation he fought for.
Dr. King had led a “moral crusade,” Mr. Johnson said, but such crusades have to be “written into law.”

“That is the way the legislative process works in this nation and that takes political leadership,” he said. “That’s all Hillary was saying.”
He then added: “And to me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood –­ and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book –­ when they have been involved.”
Moments later, he added: “That kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a guy who says, ‘I want to be a reasonable, likable, Sidney Poitier ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.’ And I’m thinking, I’m thinking to myself, this ain’t a movie, Sidney. This is real life.”
A former Clinton campaign official in New Hampshire had to resign last month after he publicly suggested that Republicans would probably use Mr. Obama’s drug use in his youth, which he first wrote about in his memoirs, against him.
We’ve reached out to the Obama campaign for a response.
(There have been a lot more developments on the Clinton-Obama front today and we’ll be back with more in a bit.)

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. So Robert Johnson can't think for himself? That's racist. eom

eom

[cali]

18. bwahahaha

coming from you that's rich. You've been insisting that Obama is personally responsible for Jackson's remarks (surrogate) and Clyburn's remarks (not a surrogate). Now all the sudden one of Clinton's surrogates says something and you not only claim it has nothing to do with the Clinton campaign, but you say that suggesting it does is racist. YOU?? You've been sanctimonious and accusatory and have run all over DU claiming that Obama is playing "the race card". This isn't even decent sarcasm.

[Anouka]

2. He shouldn't have sold out to Viacom.

I remember when BET was the station to go to. They didn't just have videos, they supported news and politics.

Now, BET is known for booty videos and X-rated rap. The legacy was destroyed a long time ago.

All that to say: how much did Hillary pay him?

[annie1]

7. He's a billionaire, i don't think he needs her $.

[MADem]

14. Pay him? He could buy HER.

He's rich as Roosevelt. Hell, richer!!!

[durrrty libby]

19. How sad for you

[antiimperialist]

3. BET=Big media n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. He is right.

Obama is using race while denying it. And while Clinton was fighting for civil rights, Obama was doing cocaine.

[annie1]

5. Wow, way to ramp it up Johnson. : /

I don't mind the 'doing something in the neighborhood comment' but what is with the "i want to be reasonable and likable" comment.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????

[ProSense]

6. "He also compared Mr. Obama to Sidney Poitier, the black actor, in 'Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.'"

Wow!

Moments later, he added: “That kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a guy who says, ‘I want to be a reasonable, likable, Sidney Poitier ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.’ And I’m thinking, I’m thinking to myself, this ain’t a movie, Sidney. This is real life.”

I can't wait to hear the responses to that comment!

[goldcanyonaz]

9. So, he can't compare Obama to an actor?

[Captain Hilts]

10. I'd think ANY man would want to be like Sidney P in GWCTD! nt

[annie1]

11. i almost feel sorry for hil for this one, cuz she couldn't stop that. daaaamn. what a crazy comment.

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. I admit that I am a bit dense: what does that mean?

[Renew Deal]

17. Rent the movie

Or watch it on Netflix. It's an excellent movie.

"Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star as wealthy Californians who consider themselves progressive -- until their daughter brings home her black fiancé, Sidney Poitier. Produced in 1967, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner took on pointed subject matter (for its time). Watching Tracy's and Hepburn's characters struggle with prejudices they didn't know they had is a powerful metaphor for a society's long-overdue awakening."

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Guess_Who_s_Coming_to_Dinner/564122?strkid=2058713781_0_0

Great movie. It's worth seeing.

[Renew Deal]

15. What the fuck?

First, that was a terrific movie. Second, the Portier character was likable and tough. He was seeking acceptance, but didn't require it. It sounds like the Clinton guy has a dimmer view of the movie. That comment is going to cause problems.

[peoli]

8. They cant stop the shit from flying out of their mouths!

Fuckin A!

[tammywammy]

27. I think it's called

diarrhea of the mouth.

[Reciprocity]

13. If Obama is our nominee what the hell do you think

the republicans are going to say about his past drug use? It is better for him to talk about this now than later.

[peoli]

20. Thats the point. Republican attacks from Hillary campaign.

[Reciprocity]

23. Oh yeah the republicans are Hillary's lap dogs.

:sarcasm:

[Nedsdag]

16. Bob Johnson's ex-wife (a rich woman in her own right)

is supporting Obama.

[ProSense]

21. Obama secures endorsement from BET co-founder

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Obama secures endorsement from BET co-founder

NEW YORK (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama has picked up the endorsement of Sheila C. Johnson, the ex-wife of media pioneer Robert Johnson who is backing rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid.

"Barack Obama's campaign of change brings hope to America," Sheila Johnson said in a statement Tuesday, praising, among other things, the Illinois senator's opposition to the Iraq war. She also announced she will co-host a luncheon fundraiser for Obama in Washington April 19.

Robert and Sheila Johnson co-founded Black Entertainment Television in 1980 and sold it to Viacom for $3 billion in 2000, making them among the few black billionaires in the United States. The couple divorced in 2002.

Sheila Johnson now runs Salamander Hospitality, a resort and retail chain, and is president of the Washington Mystics basketball team.

Her spokeswoman, Martine Charles, said Johnson has supported both Hillary Clinton and former President Clinton in the past but shifted her allegiance to Obama after meeting with him to discuss issues facing the next president.

"She was really taken with him and thinks he has a fresh perspective on how to bring change to the country," Charles said.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

30. I vote we set up a small debate between

Sheila C. Johnson and Robert Johnson :)

Should be an interesting thing to watch :popcorn:

[lurky]

22. Robert Johnson campaigned for the Bush tax cuts.

Took out full-page ads in NYT and WP (see http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=103874).

So he's calling himself a Democrat now?

[annie1]

24. i think i might puke. ugh. this is so bad for hillary. is this the best she could do?...

get this stupid f--k to introduce her? ok. as a hil supporter, i am really really really dissapointed. like, extremely. :(.
i'm not gonna forgive this one.

[indimuse]

25. finally a voice of reason.....I love BET ...

Music and Movies.....snap!

[indimuse]

26. this will mean a lot to the YOUTH vote as well...

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

[NobleCynic]

28. Who cares what that sleaze merchant says

I am with Aaron McGruder on this, BET is bad for the community, bad for America, and just plain bad.

[AnnieBW]

29. BET portrays Blacks as Pimps and Ho's

Okay, I'm white, and I've never watched BET in my life. But I did see on the Washington DC news the other night that there was a protest against the BET Awards because they portray blacks as pimps and 'ho's. So, instead of lifting up others of his race, Robert Johnson makes a whole lot of money off of the "ghetto culture".

He's one to f*cking talk.