BET Founder, Bob Johnson, criticized Senator Barack Obama for his characterization of Hillary Clinton's remarks about the Civil Rights Movement.
Speaking and introducing Clinton on Sunday, Johnson said he was insulted by the statements from the Obama camp, and even seemed to hint at Obama's alleged drug use as a young man.
Johnson was America's first black billionaire and founder of Black Entertainment Television.
Hillary Clinton had been quoted on Fox News, a network that Obama has refused to appear on, as saying that Martin Luther King's dream of racial equality could not have been realized without the help of Lyndon B. Johnson. Some argue that the message implied that African Americans would not be able to achieve their goals without the help of white leadership.
"That kind of campaign behavior would not be reasonable with me for a guy who says 'I want to be a reasonable, likable, Sidney Poitier,'" said Johnson. He also said that voters should be critical of Obama's record.
"To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted 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 — when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book — when they have been involved," Johnson said.
Johnson was referring to Obama's book "Dreams of my Father", in which he mentions teenage drug abuse: marijuana, alchohol and some cocaine. Johnson did not mention the indiscretions of the Clinton family, including confirmed sexual promiscuity on the part of Bill Clinton during his time in the White House and the Governor's mansion.
Johnson later claimed that he was referring to Obama's work as a community organizer in Chicago "and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect," he said in a statement released by Clinton's campaign.
Obama's campaign declined to respond.
"I'm not going to spend all my time running down the other candidates, which seems to be what Senator Clinton has been obsessed with for the last month," Obama said.
Obama's strategist had more to say.
"I don't see why this is so much different from what Billy Shaheen did in New Hampshire. Senator Clinton apologized for that. It's bewildering why, since she was standing there, she had nothing to say about this," David Axelrod said.
Last month, a top Hillary Clinton advisor, Bill Shaheen, resigned after suggesting that Obama's past drug use could be used against him during the campaign.
Obama supporter "I.S." Leevy Johnson, a former South Carolina state legislator, told the Associated Press that it was "offensive" that Clinton stood by during Johnson's "personal, divisive attack on Barack Obama."
"For someone who decries the politics of personal destruction, she should've immediately denounced these attacks on the spot," Johnson said in a statement issued by Obama's campaign.
Some have also criticized Bob Johnson as being a man who has earned billions while hurting the black community. His network, Black Entertainment Television, has been considered to be responsible for a decline in the value systems of black youth in America.
16 comments:
BET IS THE BIGGEST MYTH GOING RELATIVE TO BLACK WOMEN. THIS BAST---WILL BURN IN HELL FOR HIS WONDDERFUL BILLIONS. THE BLACK COMMUNITY HATES HIM. WHY DO YOU RELATE ANYTHING HE HAS TO SAY, AOL?
HE IS JUST A BLACK, NON-COMMUNITY CAPITALIST, UNLIKE OBAMA--A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
WHAT IS THIS BOY'S PLATFORM? HAS HE TRIED TO GET BLACK WOMEN FROM DRINKING AND GLORIFYING ALCOHOL AS SEEN IN THE VIDEOS ON BET. PLEASE DON'T SHOW HIS UGLY PICTURE ON AOL AGAIN--IF SO, AFTER OVER 10 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP, I WILL BE READY TO TERMINATE MY 2 ACCOUNTS. THERE ARE FREE ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE, AOL. GET THIS UNCLE TOM NEGRO OFF OF YOUR FRONT PAGE. A BILLIONAIRE IS GENERALLY A PERSON WHO GOT SOME MONEY FREE THROUGH INHERITANCE, A MONOPOLY, OR IN HIS CASE--A SELL-OUT. I CAN'T GO TO ROME WITHOUT BEING CALLED A HOE THANKS TO THIS STUPID BILLIONAIRE.
BILLIONARE MEANS NOTHING.
Mr. Johnson, you are one of the main reason our people (African American) have not prevailed against this unjust system. You are one that's considered the House Negro. I pray that you statement regarding Mr. Obama be judged not by the power that be, but by the Almighty God himself. We have all did something in our lives that were not right. Bill Clinton smokes marjuiana. He committed adultery, however; you choose to judge Mr. Obama by his past sins. God has thrown them into the see of forgetfulness, so it doesn't matter if you come before His Throne day and night accussing me fellow brother. You are a disgrace to this country, and I pray that God correct you suddenly for this crime, if you do not Repent!
Bob Johnson, how much did the Clintons pay you to come out in this fashion? Shame, Shame, Shame! after all black people have endured in this country, figures in your position are still moving to divide instead of uniting people of color. Have you looked around you lately? People of color are no longer the minority. I am a proud black woman who is voting for honesty and representation in the White House, that is Barack Obama!!!!
Bob Johnson is a horrible man. BET has destroyed the black community, while that son of a bitch made billions. I can't stand Bob Johnson and I can't still Hillary even more, now that she has sided with a man who has done nothing but peddle poison to our children. As if that is not bad enough, he is now degrading one of our greatest heroes. He should be ashamed.
I am not sure where Bob is coming from in all this. You can't stand out there and defend the white woman while attacking a black man at the same time. He could have just said something nice about Hillary and left it at that.
This is getting way too ugly. Maybe they are doing some kind of divide and conquer thing.
I think the Obama campaign should take a black history. In my life time I have been labeled a Colored, born in Irmo South Carolina, then Negro, then my children came home from school day and said they were told in school they were black, now I am 65 and I am African American.
I have not read any of Obama's books, but I understand that Obama is of a different country then America, if his mother is American and his father is of another country, Obama would be American and that country heritage.
Someone should ask Obama what exactly is his heritage.
Hilliary is correct, without the Civil Rights act of 1964 being passed perhaps, Dr. King dream may not have been realized. Dr. King was a Visionary person, his movement was inclusive of all people, so why would anyone take offense to the truth.
I ask remember the Selma four, there were 3 African American students and one Jewish student. The group that murdered those students, didn't leave the Jewish student alive.
I might add, the white media does not seem to go after the Obama campaign the same as how they go after the white politicians. Why?
I was through with Bob Johnson when her sold out to Viacom...he's only out for himself and he got rich on the backs of black people and now all we've got is people shoving their butts in our faces and Snoop Dog...what happened to the excellence in news, dramas, comedy and pride in black ownership we used to have?...Bob Johnson is no better than Clarence Thomas...a sell out!...and shame on the Clintons for not speaking out against this...It has changed my view of them forever
Some negroes just need to be slapped.
Bob Johnson just can't win in this conversation. He already has such a bad reputation in the black community and standing with Hillary on this is only going to make things worse. I guess because he has money, he thinks he can say whatever he wants. I think people should stop going to see his movies.
I wrote Bob Johnson a letter about what he said about Obama. I am sure he is not going to read it, but he needs to realize that he is not good for the black community.
In fact, I can't think of one thing he has done that has been good for black people.
The hypocrisy of it all is that Johnson speaks of running a moral campaign. Yet, he was completely immoral when when running BET, when dealing with his wife, and in his business practices.
I really don't know what Bob Johnson have contributed to the black community other than music videos displaying black people in a bad light. I don't think anyone actually takes him seriously.
"Hillary Clinton had been quoted on Fox News, a network that Obama has refused to appear on, "
That's not true. He was on FOX and Friends after he lost the NH primary.
It is only logical that the white managers of the black community, the Clintons, be connected to Bob Johnson. Johnson is worse than a drug dealer when it comes to what he did to black people through BET. This should be a wake up call.
I agree with the divide and conquer comment - this tactic has destroyed the aspirations of people of color all over the world for centuries - please wake up!
While I agree Johnson's a butthead, I wouldn't go so far as to say BET is destroying our community and our youth. Things were on the decline long before then. The Black Church has not stepped up, and Black parents seem to have given up. I personally don't watch BET for the same reasons others have expressed. I believe it has contributed, but it's not the cause. The concept of "keeping it real" has narrowed the focus on BET to "hip hop" and "inner city" themes, not higher learning and achievement in spite of obstacles, such as The Great Debaters, w/ Denzel and those young actors. Why couldn't that be on BET? I didn't know so many people felt BET was a negative, but it's obviously not enough because it's still on the air. Even so, Obama has lost the last 3 races, which indicates America would rather have a white woman than a Black man as President. I'm voting for him anyway. I hope he can pull it off.
We have been in this country to long to expect anything from whitey. In the words of Stokely, (Kwame)"I ain't gonna ask the white man for nothin'. I'm gon' take it."
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