What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant is that 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....
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.
Johnson, the billionaire owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, also suggested that Obama is an elitist:
I don't think he has that common -- what I call "I-want-to-go-out-and-have-a-drink-with-you – touch."At the American Society of Newspaper Editors' panel discussion on race and the presidential campaign, Donna Brazile, Al Gore's former campaign manager, observed:
It's very important 40 years after passage of the Voting Rights Act and 88 years after women gained the right to vote, the oldest political party in the United States is about to nominate the first woman or first minority.Brazile was asked about the impact of "Bittergate" on Obama:
Every four years we have these Harvard-educated or Yale-educated, I-know-everything- about-policy but they don't know how to relate to ordinary voters. They lack that common touch.Brazile noted that Obama is half-white. To bridge the racial divide, she said he should "stop denying people his whiteness."
Obama is leading in pledged delegates, leading in popular vote, and has raised a lot of money. He's already captured the white vote, white people and white money. He was trying to let the folks in San Francisco know that these people are not voting against him because he's black.
Comments: (58)
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By: DarkNLovely on 4/16/2008 10:13AM
It's not hard trying to figure out what she meant. The fact that this is the first time we are seriously looking at voting in an extraordinary man, who just happens to be black, for president has brought a sense of awareness concerning politics to the forefront of many who might have otherwise, under normal circumstances, simply ignored it.
Ferraro was just so beside herself, she couldn't help but acknowledge out loud, directly to the public, no less, that such a large fraction of the population, including mainly people of color, would not have responded so positively had this man been our average run-of-the-mill, middle-aged white man (or even white woman, as far as that goes), saying-what-they-always-say type of candidate.
And now, Mr. Johnson, wants to co-sign while attempting to clarify, in case we didn't know? It's far more suspicious coming from him...she's just an old white lady, frustratedly trying to deal with the world in the new millenium that includes having a black man seriously run for the highest office in government - I'm 'yawningly' not surprised at her response - but Mr. Johnson, on the other hand...just sounds downright envious or jealous, if you will. I chalk Ferraro's statement up as plain ignorance...Mr. Johnson should know better and keep in mind that there's obviously room for more than one successful brotha at the top, be excited about the grand possibilities for all of us, and congratulate instead of spewing off the hate-or-ade.
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By: asante on 4/16/2008 11:34AM
Johnson is the worst kind of house negro. A cultural pimp who got rich exploiting his own people by promulgating the worst kinds of racist and sexist stereotypes imaginable. He suffers from Stockholm Syndrome, identifying more with massa than with his own people. Materialistic people will consider him successful, but he is just another pimp not really worthy of intelligent consideration in matters of politics, redemption or the empowerment of all working class people worldwide.
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By: jane on 4/16/2008 12:32PM
Bob Johnson has made million off of Blacks. If it wasnt for the blacks watching BET, he would be where he is today. One he is to dark to be a house negro, so the field negro is trying hard to move into the house. Its sad that Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lost his life for the kind of blacks like Bob Johnson, Magic, Maya Anglo, and T. Smily. Where were the Clintons when we were being denied jobs, sitting in the back of the bus, being denied an education, when the water hose and dogs was being turned on blacks, because they want just. One thing I have realized in this world we will never be considered equal. One its people like Bob Johnson and others Blacks that have the JIM CROW MENTALITY. One thing all people need to realize whatever you gain here on earth, by lying, stealing and cheating when you close you eyes forever you cant take it with you, however, the biggest reward is that you will be judged by GOD and on that judgment day you want have choices becasue you have already made it while here on earth. Belive that. Where will you go then! Only you can determine that. Good luck greedy Bob Johnson.
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By: Greg on 8/17/2008 10:38PM
Bob Johnson is not the brightest person in the world. He is living proof that the most righteous and virtous are not big money makers in this world. I consider him to be an old negro buffoon.
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By: TerrellS on 4/16/2008 2:25PM
I grew up to appreciate BET for what it was. I woke EVERY Sunday to watch and record Bobby Jones' Gospel. Bob's network was an embarkment of huge proportions. Wlong with BET, we have cultural, ethnic networks such as Univision and Telemundo (an NBC-affiliated Hispanic station). BET put on display to the world all elements that make up our fashion, tastes, music, political and social views, and values. Coming to my point, Bob created a mega empire on BET. But what happened to serious significant programming such as Our Voices, BET News, and Teen Summit. Bob endorses the notion about Barack and how his race plays out in this presidential race. You know, we can easily say the same thing about Bob Johnson and BET- the FIRST successful BLACK cable network.
Then, when the mountain got so big for Bob Johnson, the network was sold off to Viacom. Of course, after he fired Tavis Smiley, a voice of the community, but who also doesn't support Barack (another story, another time), and there's more degradation of the black community on one network than any other! Bob Johnson, now 'Mr. NBA Owner' sits there and with a multi-million smile can't see that Barack's story is Very similar to his own. Not only he, but other prominent upper echelon African-Americans were trail blazers in their own right and field choose not to endorse Barack.
I don't feel they ought to discredit their relationship with the Clintons-we all have friends we agree to disagree with as well as friends we love, but we know what their capabilities are...and mind you, the same community who is backing and supporting Barack, Bob Johnson and other big shots came to for support of their ventures. Bob Johnson was OK with Blacks wacthing BET's booty shaking programs and ghetto award shows he once owned and buying season tickets and merchandise to Bobcats, but we ought not support a capable, qualified African-American to be commander and chief of our nation? Barack wants to be a agent for change in America and what we want to pursue as a nation, Bob Johnson just wants to make some 'Change...and dollars'. I'm All for Black entrepreneurs, but not if it means to kick over the ladder others use to achieve.
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By: Al on 4/16/2008 12:47PM
Fools come in all colors and hues; Bob Johnson is a black one.
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By: Bob Poropatich on 4/16/2008 1:05PM
All of this from a man (Bob Johnson) who is where he isbecause he IS black and EXPLOITS Blacks!
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By: Angel on 4/16/2008 1:51PM
Okay Bob, how much did the Clintons agree to pay you? I am sick of people basing Obama's success on race! The man is not just winning the African American vote; he has supporters of all races. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee...people want change and that change and they want someone in the White House who will bring change. It's not a black or white thing - it's a change thing!
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By: Tabetha on 4/16/2008 2:21PM
Mr Johnson's comment's are ridiculous!! He has made billions exploiting Black people on his Black Embarrassment Television net work. He perpetuated the negative stereotypes of the black community and has done nothing on that network to change and educate the african american youth of this country. It sickens me that he would publicly tear down and insult a TRUE roll model for African American young men. Mr Johnson would not be where HE is if HE were not Black also. I think Mr. Johnson is a disgrace to continue with this display of self hatred that is so engrained in african americans today. Mr. Johnson why don't you try to be a roll model for today's youth and rise above the self destruction and destruction of our black youth by tearing down your people.
Mr Johnson should also do some research and recognize that Sen. Obama did not get the black vote until after he won the Iowa primary. He never had 90 percent of the black vote. But also, NO one, especially the Clintion camp expected Sen. Obama to run such a well organized and well funded campaign. I guess entitlement is Not apart of experience!!
So Mr. Johnson why don't you congratulate Sen. Obama for winning not only North Carolina but the Nomination also!
Obama'08 YES WE CAN!
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By: brent conley on 4/16/2008 3:51PM
Capitilism is a great thing when it serves to bring the best product or best service to bear to serve the people it profits from, the underbelly of capitilism is best illustrated in the depraved greedy self interest shown in the character of those individuals who have amassed wealth and even noteriety. To be so utterly seduced by the combination will leave you with no inner moral bearings,your allegiance unanchored to anything but your unquenchable ego and greed. Bob Johnson is such a common statistic," ive got mines you get yours, and dont mind my foot on your shoulder".Bush used his generic whiteness with the aid of some props {cowboy hats, flight suits} to put the race majority of america at ease and confident with his image. Speaking of image , I like Baraks Image, its a lot better than the imagery that Bob Johnson sold america ,when he was in a position to influence how Blacks should be percieved. In closing Bob johnson has manifested one of the main reasons why blacks as a race , culture and tribe are doomed and will not survive as a people but merely as a remnant of a people that survived the most vicious form of slavery, but were unable to gain there blance afterwards....
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