Robert Johnson's Explanation vs The Truth and The Political Spin

On January 13, 2008, Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), campaigned in South Carolina with Senator Hillary Clinton.

In an effort to defend Clinton’s recent statements relating to Dr. Martin Luther King's and President Johnson roles in the Civil Rights movement, Robert Johnson stated in part: " 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.”

Some interpreted Bob Johnson’s remarks as a reference to Obama's admitted past drug use.

By that afternoon, Johnson insisted that he had not been alluding to Obama's youthful drug use. “My comments today were referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a community organizer, and nothing else," he said in a written statement issued by the Clinton campaign. "Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect."

Clinton spokesman Jay Carson was asked about Johnson's comments, he denied they referred to Obama's admitted drug use. "That's not what he was talking about," he said.

Mr. Johnson quoting you in part I am frankly insulted that you and the Clinton’s campaign would think that Americans in general and Black Americans in particular are so stupid that we would believe your deceitful statement explaining what you really meant.

Black people are intelligent enough to understand your remarks. We are also smart enough to vote for the Presidential candidate that will best represent our interest in Washington. This year we have a true choice we can elect one of our own Senator Barack Obama.

This latest chapter in the 2008 election process is the primary reason that I don’t want another Clinton in the White House. Hillary Clinton’s polarizing effect will ensure another 4 to 8 years of the political spin, dirty, unproductive, and divisive politics that has crippled this nation.

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.”



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