Bob Johnson says Geraldine Ferraro was right

First of all, most blacks did not support Obama when he began his campaign. Blacks don't automatically support someone who is black as evidenced by the campaigns of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Second, through his past ownership of BET, Johnson is responsible for the negative portrayal of women in the numerous airings of inappropriate videos. Therefore, I can not honor his opinion.

Is this the same guy who made a fortune from rap videos and trash TV at its lowest form that have sent around the world the most negative image of black men and women around since black face minstrel shows. Sorry boo, you have not one shred of credibility, and, yet another nitwit who used affirmative action for his own gain, and, now has the gall to say that Obama has as well. Beyond trifling, and, why is it that the HRC camp just can't muzzle all this race talk???? Oh, yeah, they are getting big bucks from these chumps and have promised them either a job or a contract if elected. Bob Johnson is as out of touch as those poor misguided girls that he made a fortune off degrading themselves by prancing around half naked to some gold toothed stereotypes. Hardly the person to be discussing "race, " sounds just like Clarence Thomas.

Really, there is no need to comment. ..Bob Johnson of BET fame, YAWN!!! @'dre and And another thing: I must echo your comments.

This guy is a major f***ing chump. You talk about house Negro, this guys owns the plantation.

There is a comical side for all of this; Obama is not black nor has Obama led the life of a typical black American. Actually, Obama has not led the life of most typical Americans, regardless what crayon color. Ferraro is correct, Obama claiming to be a black American does lend well to his popularity. To a measured degree, success of his presidential campaign can be contributed to his playing on race issues. I read commentary around here, read some writing Obama is today's Martin Luther. This is comical. America needs to realize Obama is not a messiah rather Obama is a stereotypical politician just like Clinton, just like McCain, just like Kerry, just like Bush. Obama is simply another politician tossing out meaningless but fancy words, no differently than all politicians. If there is a difference between the politician Obama and other politicians, I have not yet witnessed Obama kissing babies. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

Bob Johnson, a guy who got all sorts of breaks, perks, (on corporate level) in all sorts of ways from Government because he's (BET) is Black. This guy is turning out to be a real N____. Thank you Bob Johnson for bringing into the households of millions of Americans 'Ho's with No Clothes'. You've done a great service to your people with dignity, honor, and respect.

It is interesting that Bob Johnson would make that comment as a Black man in America about another Black man. Since he believes that nonsense does that mean that the same applies to him and every other successful Black man or woman. The comment is demeaning and appears to make those of us who are supportive of Barack seem stupid, uneducated, uninformed and simply don't have clue. As my pastor often says "everyone your color ain't necessarily your kind". Oh, by the way Purl Gurl, Barack is a Black man. He has bi-racial heritage but he is indeed a Black man. Then again, none of us are 100% anything when it come to genealogy.

Keep in mind also that on and the immediate days following 9/11 BET was the ONLY station on the cable networks that aired uninterrupted music/dance/rap videos. We are talking 24/7 here. Bob it is time to wake up and smell the coffee. I personally find it hard to believe that a joint or two did not pass thru your hands when you were younger. If you did not participate in it that way I find it very hard to believe that you were not at a party or two where it was present and people close to you were using some type of drug or pissy drunk. To even bring b/s like that (drug useage) up regardless of it being Clinton, Bush, Obama, Dan Quayle, Oprah or whoever is now irrelevant. We all lived through it one way or the other and managed to get on with our lives. It just gets bad and in most cases downright hypocritical to use it to try to destroy others. In your case help destroy a promising black man. You would have been the first to scream racisim if cable operators had told you no and you know it. Remembering how god awful the majority of your programming was when you sold BET I am not surprised at all that you do not realize just how unentertaining you yourself really are.

I concur with Ron. It is ridiculous that Bob Johnson would make such a statement. The truth is, if being black in America was such a privilege wouldn't we have more black elected in congress? Wouldn't we have had a black president by now? the notion that Obama is pretending or trying to black is silly.

Ron writes, in part, "Barack is a Black man." I understand. Obama grew up in Harlem, or maybe grew up in Detroit, maybe even grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Obama experienced poverty, crime and racism, all of the most horrific genre. Ron, did you attend the finest and the most expensive boarding school over in the Hawaiin Islands during your formative years? Ron, did you attend Harvard during your young adulthood? Is not the measure of blackness based upon life experiences rather than upon genetics? I submit Obama is a sheltered spoiled brat! Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

hahaha- purl gurl of the choctaw nation said 'typical black american'... then you came back to say all black people's experience resides in cities which have experienced urban decay! cuz of course, NONE OF US EVER LIVED IN THE COUNTRY... you could've SUBMITTED that 'obama is not a messiah' and called it a day, without that other silliness. ps. charismatic young politicians have been known to make meteoric rises, color notwithstanding... 'tis not the first time nor the last pps. guess it'd be better if obama had used his advantages to get paid by mainstreaming strip club culture

dp adds to reader value, "purl gurl of the choctaw nation said 'typical black american'...." Careful, dp, I can quickly and easily trivialize the Black experience here in America. What your peoples experienced more than pales in comparison to what my peoples experienced, so much so, in comparison, the Black experience, over the centuries, is almost meaningless. You write, "you came back to say all black people's experience resides in cities...." I did not write this. You are practicing deceit. I do not much cotton to those who practice deceit. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

To me elitism is alway going to be a heavier burden for blacks within the black community than anywhere else except for maybe poor blacks who live in rural majority white areas... the mainstream media does not care to address it when it's happening to us by us and can't figure out when it' happens to us by others.(is it racism or elitism) chances are blacks will get both from blacks and whites Yet it only becomes a big deal if they can manage to twist Barack Obama's words into something that sounds elitist against poor whites?? Come on now. From where I sit, Bob Johnson of BET is the living breathing "black elitist thinker" that the media erroneously questions Obama about. Johnson gave a speech in front of hundreds of white people on camera mind you, and he proudly let it be known that he won't hire black folks at his company BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION unless they have ivy league degrees. Only the best blacks for his company will do. And not one person in the media objected black or white,..nobody thought "this guy is using elitism against other black people how strange!" they were probably more in awe of a well dressed highly articulate and successful (rich) black man denouncing Obama and backing Hillary Clinton. It surprises me that black folks would attack Tavis Smiley of all people for sharing a point of view leaving us free to think for ourselves but lack the courage and wherewithal to take this black media mogul (Johnson) who has much more power and influence to task for the elitism he openly administrates and perpetuates against less affluent black Americans. Can black people boycott a black owned business when it fails to meet the standards of our communities? Yes We Can!

What I am reading, up to my typing this article, is most people killing the messenger rather than killing the message. I do not know much about Bob Johhson and I am not really interested in Bob Johnson. However, I am interested in this message of Obama gaining significant popularity based upon his alleged being a Black American. Why are you people attacking Bob Johnson rather than supporting or discounting the message delivered? You cannot claim to be intellectually discussing an issue but you can claim to be degrading another which requires little or no thinking. Turnabout is fair play. Jessie Jackson is a fake. I will play your game. Jessie Jackson, during his earlier life, is fairly much a failure. He did poorly in school, had problems with nearly being kicked out of college. He is not a true minister and Jessie Jackson is a well known racist based upon his historic anti-semitic comments. Jackson is also not faithful to the word of God, despite his being labeled a minister; he has an illegitimate child, he cheated on his wife. Are we to give Jesse Jackson more respect than Bob Johnson? Reads to me, based on comments here, both Johnson and Jackson are about equal related to moral values. Strikes me some here are hypocrites. Strikes me some claim one is bad, claim the other is good, while both are quite bad. Strikes me you are presenting highly biased viewpoints, highly hypocritical viewpoints. The topic is Obama playing upon racial issues to gain popularity. Am I to be amongst the very few around here who is willing to approach this issue with honesty and with integrity? I do not care about Bob Johnson. I do not care about Jessie Jackson. Both men strike me as being very typical people prone to the same weaknesses we all experience and we all have. I care even less for hypocrites. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

hmmm- true, you didn't write it, you implied it... IN WRITING: "Barack is a Black man." I understand. Obama grew up in Harlem, or maybe grew up in Detroit, maybe even grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Obama experienced poverty, crime and racism, all of the most horrific genre. Ron, did you attend the finest and the most expensive boarding school over in the Hawaiin Islands during your formative years? Ron, did you attend Harvard during your young adulthood? Is not the measure of blackness based upon life experiences rather than upon genetics? I submit Obama is a sheltered spoiled brat! now, if i've misinterpreted your statement and you didn't just superimpose obama's background OVER ron for the purpose of distinguishing ron and obama's black experience, lemme know- i'd like to get it straight... again, i think it could be left at 'obama is no messiah', or 'never forget that obama is a politician too', but discourse on the matter is what matters most. ps. eaaaasy on the 'quick & easy trivialization' threats! i merely found it amusing that a self-identified member of the choctaw nation was so proficient in identifying 'typical black americans'...

dp continues dialog, "...true, you didn't write it, you implied it...." No, I made no implications. My point about the Black experience is based upon the most common thought of Black experience, which is the urban experience. When we discuss black issues, racism and all those wonderful notions, most people think of Harlem or Los Angeles, or similar urban centers. Most people think of urban strive when thinking of racism. Centuries back, this is not true; slavery in the rural South, freedom in the industrial Northeast. Nonetheless, we are dealing with today. Demography has changed. Today, the most concentrated regions of lingering racism are found within our poverty stricken urban centers. Highly logical of me to use urban centers as an example to present a message the greatest number of people will understand. dp adds some closing thoughts, "...on the 'quick & easy trivialization' threats! i merely found it amusing that a self-identified member of the choctaw nation was so proficient in identifying 'typical black americans'...." No threats on my part. The Black experience during our American history is horrific, simply sickening. This can never be discounted. I am not discounting the Black experience rather am reminding readers yours is not a unique experience nor as horrifying as the experiences of other peoples, such as the Jews and my Indian culture. My point is we engage in wrongful behavior to focus only upon experiences of select peoples rather than focus on experiences of all humanity. All peoples during history suffered greatly and still suffer today. Skin colored, over the long view, is of less importance than is how we treat each other as people, as equal people. A closing example, to turnaround your Black experience, is Zimbabwe. Over there, hard working honest white families are being driven from their farms by less-than-honest black peoples. For all readers here, are you sure the only issue is white racism? Perhaps this is there are no white devils rather devils of all colors. By-the-by, I was raised by Anglo grandparents and raised by Choctaw elders, equally. I also grew up working shoulder-to-shoulder with reds, blacks and whites in rural farming Oklahoma. All of us, no color distinction, worked together to survive a harsh life. If you, the reader, are under forty years of age, I know racism much better than you. Seems the problem is many around here cannot accept viewpoints about racism from those who are not black, or in my case, red. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

Does the media really still not understand why white students are rallying behind Obama? Can they really only see past their "white guilt" talking points? If Obama were white "Jerry Smith" he would still be owning this campaign because he would still be the furthest removed and honestly distinguishable from George Bush. Please Mr. Johnson, stop flattering yourself thinking your skin color, or Obama's, is something to consider. Not when 2 million Iraqis, 4000 soldiers are dead and so much of our country has been bought and sold to the military contractors.

To simplify Obama to Jerry Smith is just ridiculous. This is a movement about CHANGE in political operations in Washington. CHANGE is not about bringing a brown skinned person to a big White building as a symbolic gesture. No one is thinking about some superficial CHANGES, we are pushing for transparency and better decision making in Washington. Diplomacy over War, and domestic spending over war spending. When one has experienced discrimination and racism, but they find a way to share in the American Capitalist's Dream, they see life through their "lense of the past." Wealth gives us confidence, and confidence can lead to being set in our ways. Twenty years ago it might have been fair to say Obama's race is a quota vote. Well, Bob didn't say it was a quota vote, he said, ["In an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Johnson says that former vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro was right." "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," she said, just before the resulting firestorm forced her to step down as an adviser to Obama rival Hillary Clinton." "What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant (is) if you take a freshman senator from Illinois called 'Jerry Smith' and he says I'm going to run for president, would he start off with 90 percent of the black vote? And the answer is, probably not. Would he also start out with the excitement of starting out as something completely different? Probably not. He would just be a freshmen senator ... "Geraldine Ferraro said it right. The problem is Geraldine Ferraro is white. This campaign has such a hair trigger on anything racial. It is almost impossible for anybody to say anything."] Bob and Ferraro are wrong because they see White voters through a racial prism of the past. They see White voters through a prism of racism and discrimination, quotas and favors perpetrated against people like themselves. They are still waging that battle with the same kind of warfare. If they were Grassroots Volunteers for Obama they would come to understand that an extremly diverse group of people are not looking at Obama's race. When you bring it up they say to themselves, "He may be Black but he is clearly like me, and not like the old style Black populus that has been demonized." The diversity in Obama's background allows the voters psyche to accept this man. It helps that Obama embraces his diversity and doesn't over-embrace his Black identity unlike Bob. Embracing Black identity is a defense mechanism. There is nothing wrong with embracing your identity to thrive in a racist world, but the majority of liberal Americans are moving on. They seem to feel it is time to move beyond Black and White racial politics. It may be racial politics, but it is not the Black-White, assimilation choose-a-side politics. Having experienced less acceptance than Obama, Bob and Ferraro are jealous, and think Obama is getting his quota seat before them. This will be the case for People of Color in each new generation. Obama isn't taking a quota seat. He happens to be the leader in a movement for CHANGE. He has a thought leadership advantage, not a racial advantage. He could easily be White and male, just ask John Edwards. Edwards is probably saying to himself, "Damn, I didn't see the paradigm shift in thinking." Obama has young people around him and he was able to see mindset change daily at the University of Chicago. The voters don't identify with this older way of thinking. Blacks were late to the party, not early as Bob says. Bill Clinton took them for granted and started criticizing Obama in race code. It is like calling a Black man an Uncle Tom, and thinking you, a privileged White man, know Black people so well that they will support your statements. Bill Clinton actually believes in the ghetto pass. Most people will not support criticism of way someone succeeds outside of the de facto segregated Black paradigm. Obama has tried his best to embrace his Blackness, and he is getting criticized from both sides. That kind criticism is in the minority among all people today, and it turned Black voters toward Obama in a voice of support for succeeding period. The extreme Whites don't like Reverend Wrights comments, and old style Blacks want him to get in the quota line behind them. Cornell West could tell it better than me. "Get off of his back," as race is a factor that has been less of a factor than anytime in history. Hiram Revell knew that in 1812 and became the first bi-racial Senator. Voters see life through Obama's lense and it has made voters happier, optimistic, confident, and they embrace the NEW Diversity beyond Black and White. It is going to help us all, like a tsunami, a big tide will lift all boats, unless you have been a Pirate.

Hey Purl girl, why not try to help the Native Americans who still suffer from racism, alcoholism, worse poverty and a lack of health care that is more disgusting than blacks, take a drive through the Navajo nation or Hopi area's and see just how poorly they are living, many without running water or electricty. So spare me the nonsense, since I live in Arizona, and, the racism towards Native American's here is as bad as yours against blacks and many here have no problem saying out loud just how they feel about Native Americans and usually its pretty vile. Kind of like how they are cleaning the books in Oklahoma of blacks who were slaves of the Native Americans, but, want to make sure they don't get any of the casino money, keep it real, no one has dibs on who was treated worse, and, who can be the biggest bigot. Bob "I made it with affirmative action" Johnson, please, go back to kissing the feet of those white folks who love you for keeping the stereotypes alive, black women are loose and the men trifling thugs, thanks but, your opinion means nothing, except to HRC and her ilk.

If the measure of being a Black man was limited to either being poor or being born in the ghetto then I must not be Black either and I've been kidding myself for several decades now. Hell since I have a college degree like Obama has I must've been spoiled too since most Black people can't afford the luxury of a college education or a comfortable living. Being Black is more than just where you're from, or you're life experiences. It's about your self identity, who you are and who you relate with as well as your genetics. And as far as experiencing racism, if you take the time to read "The Audacity of Hope" you will see that he mentions more than a few instances of racism. One thing that he doesn't do is us it as an excuse. At the same time one thing he hasn't done is say "I got mine, now you get yours" He says that we all can get ours no matter what so long as we have a fair chance and do our part to work to make things better. That is what in part it is to be Black... Being able to overcome.

So let me get this straight. Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, Alan Keys, and Shirley Chisholm had an advantage when they ran for president? Now Americans are overwhelmingly supporting Barack Obama because he’s Black? Even though Ferraro had the same divisive comments, suddenly it’s ok for Johnson to parrot this line because Johnson is black? He wants us to believe these comments are ok; after all he should know because he’s the official, certified, “Voice of Black America”. For that reason, we should give him a pass? After all, Hillary said so, so it MUST be true! LOL. Wow. These comments should not really surprise anyone coming from Bob Johnson. He is trying to categorize Obama in the same traditional way. Fortunately, Obama is not a traditional candidate. Despite multiple efforts to pigeonhole Obama, he has proven through his enormous grassroots campaign that he is running a presidential campaign that represents ALL Americans; he does not pander to any special interest group. The problem with Johnson, Tavis Smiley, and other “Black Leaders” of this type is that their “position” in the hierarchy is being irrevocably threatened. They are used to be the “Prominent Black Leader” that politicians, pundits, cable tv talking heads and others “look to” when they are taking the pulse of the “Black Community”. They are looked upon by the “establishment elite” to “Keep us in line”.They shudder to think that fraudulent positions of presumed power and influence will no longer matter. Witness Smiley’s “Forum for Black America” where he roundly criticized Obama for not attending. Of course Hillary attended, she panders to anybody. Hear anything else from that conference? In their position, they never actually benefited African Americans, only their need for wealth and pseudo power. Obama’s election would change the equation, finally ending this repugnant style of pandering self serving fraudulent politics Johnson’s BET network, then and now, propagated some of the most harmful and disgusting racial and sexually demeaning stereotypes; he did not care then, and does not care now. It is extremely refreshing that we have a candidate that practices the politics of inclusion; as opposed to the politics of diversive race baiting division. Hillary/McCain/Bush/Cheney/Ferraro/Johnson/Smiley are products of the same system of bankrupt ideas, pandering, divisive and dangerous politics. It is time for a change. The American people deserve better.

If the measure of being a Black man was limited to either being poor or being born in the ghetto then I must not be Black either and I've been kidding myself for several decades now. Hell since I have a college degree like Obama has I must've been spoiled too since most Black people can't afford the luxury of a college education or a comfortable living. Being Black is more than just where you're from, or you're life experiences. It's about your self identity, who you are and who you relate with as well as your genetics. And as far as experiencing racism, if you take the time to read "The Audacity of Hope" you will see that he mentions more than a few instances of racism. One thing that he doesn't do is us it as an excuse. At the same time one thing he hasn't done is say "I got mine, now you get yours" He says that we all can get ours no matter what so long as we have a fair chance and do our part to work to make things better. That is what in part it is to be Black... Being able to overcome.

Bobby Johnson: Founder of BET and owner of Bobcats. You are where you are because of your intellect. Any black person can achieve what you have if had your intellect. Although you have never been vocal for any social or political issue in the nation you have lately been very vocal in support of the Clintons! That is what friends are for. Good job.

I happen to also be one of those people who could care less about what Bob Johnson has to say and we certainly don't need his negativity. Bob, stick with what you know best---making money. If you are not in it to help Barack, then shut up and move out of the way because there are some of us who want him to be President and not because he's black but because he's running a great race against some folk who really are elitist; i.e., the Clintons, the McCains and contrary to what most people think, America is an elitist country.

Not quite sure why people like to Bob Johnson don't realize or give credence to the fact that there things that only Barack Obama can do because of his unique background. He's a bi-racial, bi-cultural, son of an immigrant, Harvard educated, inspirational, apparently decent, intelligent guy who seemingly has the entire civilized world pulling for him. That gives him credibility with all kinds of people that Hillary and McCain can't even dream of. That's certainly part of the reason I'm voting for him. But I also like the grassroots approach of his campaign. It's 21st century governance and it's an improvement over what we've had out of the Clinton and Bush era.

TDSmoove shares some critical thoughts, "If the measure of being a Black man was limited to either being poor or being born in the ghetto then I must not be Black either and I've been kidding myself for several decades now. Hell since I have a college degree like Obama...." This suggests there are different degrees of blackness and different perspectives about what is blackness. In one case, we have a poverty stricken young girl living in Harlem with almost no hope of escape. In your case, life circumstances provided a chance at an education and betterment. Who is more black, our young girl or you? I ask this from a perspective of intensity of experience. Would I be fair to suggest our young girl trapped in Harlem more deeply experiences racist oppression associated with being black? This is, clearly, a very difficult issue with no clear answers. Obama, we do know enjoyed a relatively decent life from a financial point of view. His experiences with a dysfunctional family are common to all peoples; no race issue there so I am focusing only on opportunity for betterment during his life. Very few of us attended a fine boarding school, very few of us managed a Harvard education, and even less of us enjoyed world travel and living in Hawaii. I am of mind Obama is somewhat removed from the dire circumstances of our tragic young girl trapped in a life of poverty in Harlem. I am of mind Obama enjoyed a classic middle class lifestyle. This indicates to me there is a disconnect between Obama and the direly poor. Could this be Obama has not fully experienced a lifestyle of Black America which is inflicted by poverty and racism? During the days of Martin Luther, I was a young girl. An uncle, a white man whom I dearly love, took me along up to a big city, Broken Bow, population about two-thousand. Visiting a city was a rare treat; we had little money much less a car. Our task was to buy corn seed to plant. We stopped at a café there in Broken Bow. Upon walking in, I see a long pony wall and two signs. One reads "Colored" and the other, "White" sorting out this café into two parts. We sit in the white section. Right off the café owner lays into us. I am of darker skin, obviously Indian. My uncle, about as white as a white boy can be. We are told to move to the colored section. Argument ensues, my uncle almost ends up in a fist fight. We did without lunch on that day. I question if Obama has experienced this type of racism. Can Obama truly feel the depth of pain so many of us experienced during our lives? Can Obama truly understand racism? I am not sure but what Obama is simply a middle class boy enjoying a good life, sans color. An important point which emerges from my dialog is escape from poverty and racism, is education. Should not Black America be fighting for a good education for all peoples, and fighting less to prove Black America suffered racism in the past? Disparaging remarks are made about my peoples Indian casinos. This remarks are made by those who would deny the good coming from our casinos. This good is building homes, building schools, building hospitals, building fire stations, helping law enforcement, creating thousands of jobs and much more, for all peoples, not just our tribes. We are a very generous peoples and, according to our traditional ways, go about our business quietly. I believe what America truly needs is less yelling and less hatred, and more quiet hard work intended to benefit all our peoples. TDSmoove, yours is a good read. I much enjoyed learning of your personal thoughts. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

So, can someone please explain to me why Ferraro was subjected to a witch hunt, when Obama says this (and he must agree with it's accuracy cause this article is posted on HIS Senate website): Quote: "Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race. If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?" http://obama.senate.gov/news/050626-...race_obama_ma/ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,7205709.story Let's be fair here - cause she got totally and utterly trashed and ruined for expressing the same concept he did. SHE IS OWED A BIG, FAT, GIGANTIC APOLOGY!

Miss Nation Girl, Obama did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. Did you read his firt book? You obviously don't know anything about him. You are unlike any First Nation person I have ever come across. Why do you beleive you have to measure a peoples suffering? Opression is opression and it has the same effect on all peoples. You don't have to discredit our expereince to bring light to your own.

Teri B. comments on rancid American hypocrisy, "Let's be fair here - cause she [Ferraro] got totally and utterly trashed and ruined for expressing the same concept he [Obama] did." Yes, very much a witch hunt as you write. This serves well to highlight this rancid hypocrisy of the many. Ferraro spoke the absolute truth, a truth spoke by Obama much earlier in time. In return for Ferraro being candid and honest, she was burned at the stake. I am dismayed Obama is not gentleman enough, not ethical enough to stand in defense of Ferraro. In fairness, all politicians are hypocrites. Obama could have scored a lot more votes had he pursued The Good by defending Ferraro. Obama missed a perfect chance to ratchet up his standing and ratchet up his respect. I question if Obama is quite as smart as many believe. He is certainly well educated and is smart, but I do not think Obama is shrewd nor politically savvy. Again in fairness, Clinton should have jumped all over this by making a comparison, just as you did, Teri. Clinton could have painted Obama a hypocrite. Appears you, Teri, are more shrewd and more savvy than both Obama and Clinton. In debate, this type of displayed weakness is to never be overlooked. Both Obama and Clinton missed a wonderful chance to score votes. Along the same line as your tact, Teri, currently I question if Obama truly represents Black America. These are words of Obama addressing my precise thoughts shared with readers, "Certainly my experience isn't equivalent to someone who grew up in the housing projects of Chicago or the poorest inner cities, but I think the people have a sense that I have some experience to draw on." I pleased to discover another, you Teri, who has a cow lick of common sense and a strong sense of decency. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

Wait before we criticize Mr. Johnson, check this site out: http://obama.senate.gov/news/050626-when_it_comes_to_race_obama_ma/ In Obama's own words in 2005 he agrees with Johnson. Folks you must seek out the truth inorder to be well informed. www.andwearenotsaved.blogspot.com

WE, AS BLACK PEOPLE, HAD BETTER WISE-UP QUICKLY...WHY DO SO MANY BLACKS IN PUBLIC LIVE HATE THEMSELVES...BOB JOHNSON IS A SELF LOATHING BLACK BASTARD!!! HE DOESN'T VALUE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE LIKE HIMSELF. THERE ARE SOO MANY SELF-LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE US. LIST OF SELF LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE: CLARENCE "LAWN JOCKEY FOR THE RIGHT" THOMAS OJ "WHITE WOMEN LOVING" SIMPSON DONNA "WHITE BULL-DAGGER LOVING" BRAZILE TIGER "WHITE WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM IF HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY" WOODS ARMSTRONG "SNOW QUEEEN" WILLIAMS MICHAEL "HATE HIS ETHNIC FEATURES" JACKSON BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO THE SELF LOATHING DYSFUNCTIONAL BLACK TRASH LISTED ABOVE...

WE, AS BLACK PEOPLE, HAD BETTER WISE-UP QUICKLY...WHY DO SO MANY BLACKS IN PUBLIC LIVE HATE THEMSELVES...BOB JOHNSON IS A SELF LOATHING BLACK BASTARD!!! HE DOESN'T VALUE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE LIKE HIMSELF. THERE ARE SOO MANY SELF-LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE US. LIST OF SELF LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE: CLARENCE "LAWN JOCKEY FOR THE RIGHT" THOMAS OJ "WHITE WOMEN LOVING" SIMPSON DONNA "WHITE BULL-DAGGER LOVING" BRAZILE TIGER "WHITE WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM IF HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY" WOODS ARMSTRONG "SNOW QUEEEN" WILLIAMS MICHAEL "HATE HIS ETHNIC FEATURES" JACKSON BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO THE SELF LOATHING DYSFUNCTIONAL BLACK TRASH LISTED ABOVE...

WE, AS BLACK PEOPLE, HAD BETTER WISE-UP QUICKLY...WHY DO SO MANY BLACKS IN PUBLIC LIVE HATE THEMSELVES...BOB JOHNSON IS A SELF LOATHING BLACK BASTARD!!! HE DOESN'T VALUE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE LIKE HIMSELF. THERE ARE SOO MANY SELF-LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE US. LIST OF SELF LOATHING BLACK PEOPLE: CLARENCE "LAWN JOCKEY FOR THE RIGHT" THOMAS OJ "WHITE WOMEN LOVING" SIMPSON DONNA "WHITE BULL-DAGGER LOVING" BRAZILE TIGER "WHITE WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM IF HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY" WOODS ARMSTRONG "SNOW QUEEEN" WILLIAMS MICHAEL "HATE HIS ETHNIC FEATURES" JACKSON BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO THE SELF LOATHING DYSFUNCTIONAL BLACK TRASH LISTED ABOVE...

Well, all one has to do is thank HRC, her man, and, all of her nasty little surrogates for the race trash that is in the race faster than the GOP could. Enough of these life long, public servants who want to employ the same old divisive tactics. HRC knew this was her last chance to get nominated, and, is going to continue with it until the convention, she is going to do all within her power to make sure McCain gets elected. And, funny how Pearl Gurl didn't reply to the real issues that affect real Native Americans in his or her haste to bash Obama, not the half white ones who seem to have taken all wrong things they had to offer and then spew it out like at a meeting of the US Army at the Battle of Little Big Horn, typical of the hypocrites and race baiting trolls who hide behind a computer claiming to be fair minded, yeah right. And, schools really do need to start back up with civvcs classes, the inspid qusetions that some pose prove it. When elected to office, you represent ALL the people, not just the ones of your "tribe" for crying out loud.

Married to Bill Clinton - the reason Hillary is a candidate and the reason she is still in the race. Hillary is reaping the "I owe Bill" and the recognition of Bill's name. Hillary has repeatedly played the "woman" card. There are many white men that would have voted for Obama if he appeared to be white. There are many people that still believed that Obama is a Muslim when they voted in the primary. What will Johnson get from the Clintons for his comments that were designed to keep the race issue in the headlines. Designed to give Sean Hannity and Limbaugh more material for their rants. Without Hillary's nonstop attacks against Obama. She would have lost Ohio and she would have lost Texas by a larger margin if she had not done the NAFTA false attacks while her campaign manager was working against the American people. Obama has a rare special gift to inspire our country to work together and to help heal our reputation with the rest of the world. As a white woman almost Hillary's age, Obama is the first candidate I have ever been excited to support

A snake's venom.

at the end of the day, i'm choosing to focus on the face value of the comments: -yes, obama's lineage has helped him stand out as a candidate. on that point, i agree with ferraro and bob johnson -i feel that both are using this stunningly simple observation to imply that obama would not be a competitive candidate but for his lineage; i don't agree with this -bob johnson's comments, outside of the 'lineage makes him unique' are not on point: 1) it is not unheard of for young charismatic politicians to rise quickly in their party; 2) no where near 90% of all black folks were not in support of obama when he announced; and 3) bj admitted he really was referring to obama drug use earlier this year however, i'm cool with him not supporting obama- that's his right. (but i was also cool with rush limbaugh claiming d mcnabb's reputation as a good qb was due to the media... he shouldn't have been fired immediately, he should've been ridiculed for the remainder of his 1yr contract for revealing an utter lack of football knowledge)

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@ Mrs. Mavis Gibson - Thank You. ditto for Karen Yes Civics should be re-instated in the middle and high school curriculae, INDEED. @ PurlGurl - Please read Obama's first book. Most of your questions will be answered. @ Walt, ds and TDSmoove - I appreciate your comments. I won't waste keystrokes to echo your intellect. The Hill-pill Fan Club, ain't they sumthin'

6 years ago Bob Johnson was kissing Bush's ass and even sat on a Blue Ribbon Panel or two. Now he's sucking up to Hillary Clinton. His opinion means NOTHING, especially in the Black community. And Purl Gurl--you need to shut up about the Black experience if you are not Black. You don't define who or who isn't Black--No more than I can decide who is or is not a real Native American. A whole lot of Blue Eyed Indians have started showing up at the reservations lately now that Casino money is involved, but I digress.

Seems like some of these comments have gotten a little off point. So let's see if we can get back to the topic: 1. Bob Johnson is a misinformed, less than intelligent person--Obama did not start off with the African American vote. He earned that vote. 2. He'll be apologizing for this remark within a week.--just like he did for the last unintelligent one. 3. Senator Barack Obama did not, and does not deserve to be demeaned and diminished--since when has it been an advantage to be ANY type of minority in America? 4. If your experiences are different from mine, do you truly feel it's wise to say yours are worse when you don't personally know what mine are? 5. If minorities ever realized that working together was better than being divided, ohhhh the great things that would be accomplished. 6. Whether you like or do not like, will vote for or will not vote for Senator Obama, you still have to respect the fact that he has done well in the political process and has run a fantastic campaign--even Republicans agree on that point. 7. Intelligent people can always agree to disagree without personally attacking each other--unless your name is Bob Johnson God Bless

cmoney works at spreading hatred and racism, "Purl Gurl--you need to shut up about the Black experience if you are not Black. " My, how mighty white of you. Based upon your logic, Obama should shut up about the Black experience; he is not black. Inherently, a more famous man, Jesus Christ, should also shut up about the Black experience; he is also not black. I am delighted to learn your personal viewpoint is Black America is a Good Ol' Boys Club which effects very strict qualifications for membership. Your attitude serves well to promote understanding between and friendship between all peoples. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation

Damn, ya'll are bitter!(laugh) What the hell? Okay, firstly...this choctaw nation person? Really...why is anyone commenting? Obviously he/she is a plant to rile everyone up. Any person of color who wants, really, to minimize the pain that black people have gone through by pointing out the struggles of their own probably isn't a person of color. (smile) Am just saying. Secondly, Geraldine Ferarro is jealous of no one. Really. She's got more money than God, lots of power, she's a consultant, for God's sake, in New York! (She was also asked to be VP, she didn't run for the job.) She just found out that, god forbid she comment on the flavor of the day. I DO love Obama, but really, can we all really come to terms with the fact that it's NOT a movement? It's really not. He doesn't really say much of substance in his speeches. Honestly,it reminds me of Halle Berry--she's beautiful as a supporting character, everyone wants to sleep with her,but she can't carry a movie to save her life. We're living in an MTV nation, a TV Nation-- really, would a senator with one term (not even that) under his belt really do so well, if it weren't for his charisma? If it wasn't for the Internet? Shoot,I'm not even saying it's his blackness; with Halle, it's not her blackness either, although it lends something. But it's the flavor of the day. Really-- bare bones--once you get past how he looks, and how he talks, his and Clinton's voting records are identical. So WHAT change are we talking about?? Thirdly, Bob Johnson, BET, etc...of course, it (and he) are run by white folks. Has been for decades. That's a given --Viacom, to be exact. Why are we so angry about it? And why, oh, why,does it seem that every hillary supporter ends up being called an Uncle Tom? Lord knows I'm not, and Obama looks like he could be my brother. I simply don't support him in this primary because, honestly, he and hillary have the same voting records, and he's not spent his term in Senate; he started running for president immediately. That's more than a bit disingenuous-- I'd really liked for him to build up more of a resume as a senator. But I'm a political person; just my opinion. Thirdly, I'm sorry, but Obama is not the endallbeall. What the HECK?? I'm glad a black man is in the position he's in, but let's be honest (and I've read his books), his mother was not on welfare, didn't have to be in Indonesia, considered it a "cultural experience," his grandparents weren't poor, he was in contact with his father...I'm sorry...while I don't subscribe to him being an elitist, he also was not a poor black child of a single mother who couldn't support herself. Come ON!! Anyone out there of mixed heritage from the Bay Area knows what I'm talking about...(laugh) White mothers and/or fathers who consider it the thing to do TESL programs to travel the world, or some such,and take their children with them. It REALLY wasn't that serious. As far as being somewhat raised on Oahu, well, you need to go, rich or poor, to appreciate the cultural experience that is there. It's a privileged existence, I'm sorry -- and I've lived many years there with no money, so I know from whence I speak. ESPECIALLY being someone who comes from the background Obama does; everyone is biracial or multicultural there. White people are the minority. The only thing I can't understand is why he doesn't adopt that universal healthcare program available in Hawaii as his platform? It's wonderful-- work anywhere for two weeks, you have healthcare. And while we're blaming,why is it such an issue for the Clintons to have made the money that they did? Shoot, I hope when I write my bestseller I come close to a mil--they AREN'T elitist, by any stretch of the imagination, both of them. (Shoot, especially Bill, with his alcoholic stepfather.) They've done well, as the Obamas will-- regardless of whether or not he'll be elected, both of them simply have to do speaking engagements for the next five years or so to amass the fifty million mark. And they'll only be hitting fifty, not the Clintons' sixty years of age. So again, why are we tripping?? Everyone seems to remember from whence Oprah came, or Alice Walker, yet they have millions (or, in Oprah's case, billions), so what makes Hillary such a bad person for having money now? So can we take it down a notch, and just all agree to vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is? Hearing all of this, you'd think it was between Jesus and the AntiChrist. (laugh)

Oh, one more thing? While folks are talking about Hillary sitting on a "cushion" of being first lady while Bill worked...do a little research. Until he asked her to give up her job in Arkansas, Hillary supported the fam. How many black families does THAT remind you of? Even in the White House, his advisors asked her to step down from any "serious duties" because it wasn't her job as first lady. Funny she gets blamed for not knowing enough now. Also, how DID hill and bill get to go from being the "first black presidency" to racists? I'd really like to know -- are we really going to discount everything he did while in office for people of color, and all Americans?? Just one issue, and one issue alone, I have,because it's a biggie, and no one seems to want to discuss it, but he DID it: Bill Clinton not only balanced the budget, something that hadn't been done for decades, after a serious deficit of Reagan/Bush years, but he gave us a surplus. Are we really going to take that impossibility (that he made possible before his second term) and say that all he was was a philanderer, and all they are is racist? Really? We're REALLY doing that?? As Americans? Considering our economy now?

I have to agree with the others when I say that Bob Johnson has sold out his race. His achievements have disgraced his people and his words have no value in the black community.He is an exploiter and a greedy businessman with no regards for anyone else but himself. Way to go Bobby!

I have to agree with the others when I say that Bob Johnson has sold out his race. His achievements have disgraced his people and his words have no value in the black community.He is an exploiter and a greedy businessman with no regards for anyone else but himself. Way to go Bobby!

Purlgurl: You are the on spreading racism. And you do need to shut up about the "black experience" because you don't know what the hell you are talking about. You started off with this racist tripe: "There is a comical side for all of this; Obama is not black nor has Obama led the life of a typical black American." You are an idiot. Obama is Black in the United States. He is a Black American and is regarded as such by most Blacks and certainly by all White racists. You don't know the life of a typical Black American. I'm Black and I do. In fact, there are thousands of Black attorneys in this country--just like Barack Obama. Thousands of Black elected officials--just like Barack Obama. Millions of college educated Black men and women--just like Barack Obama and his wife. We don't all live in the projects like on "Good Times". Maybe you should get off the reservation more often and stop talking trash about people you know nothing about. Your views would be more respected if they were not based upon such utter ignorance and stereotypes. So STFU!

I'm not surprised by Bob Johnson's comments at all. Bob Johnson owes the success of BET to a white man that gave him the seed money to actually start the network. So his history of feeling indebted to the "white cause" is something that will inherently be apart of him and also his children for generations to come. You can support whomever you like, but the way in which Mr. Johnson goes about critiquing Barack Obama seems more so from a place of self-hate. Here's Barack Obama - a strong black man - with a beautiful black wife and children - leading a whole generation of young people (especially black young people) into a whole new uncharted territory. I think Mr. Johnson feels that maybe he should have been the person to have lead us in a more positive direction since he had the pulpit (BET) to preach from. Yet out of fear he never took BET where it could have truly went. He ran a Black "owned" network which I felt never really did as much as it could have to shine a positive light on our community outside of the world of celebrity. Mr. Johnson is mad because he dropped the ball, and instead of trying to do something to bring a more positive light to the community he buys a sports team so he can have his own plantation of modern day slaves working for him. Doesn't he feel good being the present day "Massa?" Mr. Johnson is who he is and it's not up to us to focus on his distractions and detractions of Obama. "YES WE CAN" do this with or without Mr. Johnson and we will.

Too bad he couldn't have jumped in about the degradation of black women and the buffoonery that made him rich off of young black men on that thing called BET, he is yet another bad joke and Uncle Tom trotted out by the race baiting Clinton's to get a vote, too bad, no one told her he is not relevant to any black person and his speaking on politics should be left out as he is not at all qualified to make a judgment on anything other than how to make some money off of rap "music." And, of course his need to placate the whites who let him get rich off of negative sterotypes. Anybody but Hillary Clinton 08.