Bob Johnson, founder and former CEO of BET, echoed former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro’s sentiments that Sen. Barack Obama would not be the leading Democratic candidate if he were white.
Johnson told the Charlotte Observer:
“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? 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, a Clinton supporter, in January, slammed Obama and mentioned “what he was doing in the neighborhood” which appeared to take aim at the Illinois senator for his admitted drug use. Johnson later apologized and stated he’d been referring to Obama’s time spent as a community organizer.
On Monday, Johnson alluded to the incident:
“I made a joke about Obama doing drugs (and it’s) ‘Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man’. He added, “I don’t think he has that common — what I call ‘I-want-to-go-out-and-have-a-drink-with-you — touch’.”
Obama’s camp dismissed Johnson’s comments:
“This is just one in a long line of absurd comments by Bob Johnson and other Clinton supporters who will say or do anything to get the nomination,” said spokesman Dan Leistikow. “The American people are tired of this and are ready to turn the page on these kind of attack politics.”
TAVIS SMILEY UPDATE
Radio and television personality Tavis Smiley speaks to guests during the Dr. Cornel West “Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations” event last year.
( Photo: Wireimage )
Earlier this week we mentioned Tavis Smiley would be leaving the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Smiley addressed a few issues in his commentary on Tuesday morning.
“There is no way to put into words the love and respect that I have for Tom Joyner or the love affair that I’ve had with Tom Joyner Morning Show listeners for almost 12 years now.
Tom’s announcement last Friday about my decision to leave this morning show at the end of June came, I suspect, as a surprise to you and, honestly, as a shock to me.
I had no idea that my dear friend, Tom Joyner, was going to share with you Friday morning what we had just discussed barely 12 hours earlier Thursday evening. But I have accepted Tom’s apology and that is for me, now, old business.
Words cannot convey my abiding appreciation, my deep gratitude for the man who allowed me to express myself: before BET, before NPR, before PBS, before PRI (Public Radio International), before my New York Times best selling books, before my own imprint SmileyBooks, before my High Quality Speakers Bureau, before … well, I think you get my point.
Sometimes I joke that my life is really divided into two periods, ‘BT’ and ‘AT’, ‘Before Tom’ and ‘After Tom’.
Smiley mentioned numerous projects on Tuesday as his need to “clean some stuff off [his] plate”: three documentaries; America I Am: The African American Imprint on America, “the biggest, baddest, boldest, Black exhibit ever created”; and SmileyBooks, in addition to other endeavors.
The complete transcript is available online.
“Well I guess you really can’t disagree with that point of view”… “Interesting”! I’ll have to do a little more thinking about that comment…
TTavis Smiley has always been hit and miss for me…all over the board with some of his viewpoints….
DJ MTUHA
and whetherr u agree or not…Bob Johnson makes a compelling point….
DJ MUTHA
Every biracial person knows what Obama is going through (and feels represent by him) and as a biracial person myself I love how he handles it. I’m from holland, but if i was american he would get my vote. He represent people of all kinds that’s why he got ahead start. That BOB JOHNSON guy is plain a selfhater.
Bob Johnson has a vendetta against Obama and I wonder why?
okay yea i think that if obama was white he wouldnt be leading but the thing IS HE IS BLACK and nobody is trying to except a black mean winning or leading period
when he made that comment about him doing drugs way back i think it was a good thing to do because with the sneaking things the clinton campaign are doing just to get a vote it probally would have came out anyway all he said he udes to do was smoke a little weed not do crack aint no tellin bob as probally did to
im not going to say that obama go 90% ofthe black vote just cuz he’s black but look at what hillary is doing and not doing to get the vote and the racial comments her party have been making ITS HER FAULT SHE ISNT GETTING IN WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY
STOP HATING ON BARACK FOR SUCCUESSFULLY GETTING SOME WHERE THAT OTHER BLACK POLITICIANS TRIED TO GET BUT DIDNT DO ENOUGH TO GET THERE
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT BARACK OPENING UP ABOUT HIS PAST CHANGED ALOT OF VEIWS WITH THE KIDS IN MY COMMUNITY WHO USED TO SAY FUCK A PRESIDENT. WHEN HE OPENED UP IT SHOWED THEM THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AROUND EVERYBODY ISNT PERFECT ITS THE CHOICES YOU MAKE THAT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE OUT COME
I understand Bob Johnson point but it is what it is Obama has made it this far based on what he stands for.
SO I guess according to Ferraro and Johnson any black person who is ever successful playing this white mans game is only successful because of his race. Not because of his intelligence or ability to do the job. How quickly have we forgotten about Jesse Jackson and all those other black presidential candidates in the past who did not come withinh 100 miles of touching a presidential nomination. They were black too. So its not simply his race its more than that. Not to mention that black people only make up about 13% of the population so where the hell else are his votes coming from since he is the front runner.
Shit Hilary is only where she is because she is the wife of an ex President!
@ 9 i agree WITH EVERY WORD YOU SAID
Johnson, shucking, and jiving for the white folk
Tavis needed to sit his arrogant ass down! Glad he got put in his place.
I am sorry but its hard for me take anything serious from anyone who got rich for exploiting the Black community! The political cartoon speaks for itself! Bob Johnson rage against Obama and his “kiss the BUTT of the Clintons” attitude makes my vote for Obama more valuable! I love how these haters can not find nothing on the man himself, so they create and attack whats around him. That is an INFORMAL FALLACY, DONT FALL FOR A TRICK, FOLKS!
Bob Johnson made a point but he needs to make a new point.
N
The New point should be that no one would vote for Hillary if her
husband wasn’t a good President or if her husband was not Bill Clinton.
Is there anyway you can fix your website. The pages are
Always outside the writing margins. I love this site but it
hard to communicate effectively.
regarding the margin issue:
I suggest using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer hasn’t updated their web 2.0 formats, so people who are using lower versions of the web browser will experience some difficulty. Also, screen resolution may be a factor. I never have margin issues with my browsers (and I use them all), so I’m not sure why many people are. Remember to update every browser you use with the latest version.
I apologize for the inconvenience, but please use the contact form if you have any other issues with viewing the site.
@ 9 you spoke the muthaFing Truth
@ 9 you spoke the muthaFing Truth
@ 9 you spoke the muthaFing Truth
SO I guess according to Ferraro and Johnson any black person who is ever successful playing this white mans game is only successful because of his race. Not because of his intelligence or ability to do the job. How quickly have we forgotten about Jesse Jackson and all those other black presidential candidates in the past who did not come withinh 100 miles of touching a presidential nomination. They were black too. So its not simply his race its more than that. Not to mention that black people only make up about 13% of the population so where the hell else are his votes coming from since he is the front runner.
Shit Hilary is only where she is because she is the wife of an ex President!
@ Greg_Arious I co-sign with you. Also, nobody didn’t care about numbers when different groups of americans were not allowed to vote thereby giving them 100% of the vote, so if Presidential hopeful Mr. Obama starts with 90% then it is what it is…. the universe always makes it right! Yes we can!
And you know what? It bothers me that people want to just label Obama as just a Black Man, ignoring the fact that he is also White! One could argue that he is more White than Black since he was raised by a White mother and her White parents. Brought up in Hawaii (I dare you name another Black person from Hawaii,lol). He had few to no contact with his Black biological father (look it up).Obama is just as White as he is Black! By America labeling him just solely Black, just confirms to me, the race issue still exists. How can you deny that? Obama is damn near perfect, but they still want to tarnish his character based on his ethnicity. Meanwhile, Uncle Bob reports to the Master/Media that Obama is no good because he wants so desperately to earn their respect and inside hating the fact that he could never be Obama. This is all a game! It’s up to us to hold these players accountable for their actions and let them know that we live in the real world with real issues…not this political theatre they are engaged in.
BOB IS SO CAUGHT UP IN MAKING MONEY OFF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND KISSING ASS TO WHITE MAN WHO GOT HIS FAME OFF HAVING ORAL SEX IN THE WHITEHOUSE . IF THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN CARED SO MUCH ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE WHITE HOUSE THAT WOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED./
ITS NOT OBAMA’S FAUGHT HILLARY HAS LIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND HAS FAILED TO REACH THE BLACK COMMUNITY
HE HAS CLEARLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIS OWN
OKAY BET DID PAVE A WAY FOR BLACK ARTIST BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT ALL BET DID WAS COPY THE WORKS OF ANOTHER PRODOMINATELY WHITE TV STATION
OBAMA HAS CLEARLY BEEN A SUCCESS AT WHAT OTHER BLACK POLITICIANS COULDNT DO. AND THATS BECAUSE AL SHARPTON ISNT FULLY FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY THE ONL TIME YOU SEE HIM IS WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WITH HIGH PUBLICITY WHERE HE CAN COME TAKE THE SHINE OF ANOTHER MANS WORK SO WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO CREATE HIS OWN HE LACKED
@ 19.
Funny enough. I grew up in Hawai’i. I lived there for 7 years. The high school I graduated from wasn’t that far from Obama’s childhood stomping grounds either. But you’re right though, there aren’t many black people over in the 808 (especially since many of the black people there are there because of the military bases).
As for Bob Johnson.. why is he always running at the mouth? Is he vying for the vice presidential spot if Hilary wins? Damn!
i agree FULLY WITH # 6,7 & 9
7.
MIKEY-ROCKS
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 /
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT BARACK OPENING UP ABOUT HIS PAST CHANGED ALOT OF VEIWS WITH THE KIDS IN MY COMMUNITY WHO USED TO SAY FUCK A PRESIDENT. WHEN HE OPENED UP IT SHOWED THEM THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AROUND EVERYBODY ISNT PERFECT ITS THE CHOICES YOU MAKE THAT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE OUT COME
personally i think that if obama was fully black, he wouldn’t be in this position. the fact that he is biracial makes black ppl love him and makes whites more comfortable with him. if he won, i’d be happy BUT i’d never for get that a full black man probably wouldn’t get the same treatment. i think johnson and ferraro have it wrong imo.
Why is Bob Johnson still talking. I mean why is his opinion so important.
@ 21, thats interesting!l Especially about the military base thing. I am just curious though, is being raised in Hawaii the similar to being raised in the suburbs? Because some reason I just always viewed Hawaii as foriegn to other American states.
Pingback: A Couple of Uncle Toms - Bob Johnson + Tavis Smiley Updates | THUG FICTION
I was disappointed with Mr. Johnson’s comments because, the shit did not need to be said! Why can’t he support Sen. Clinton without attacking Sen Obama?
And why shouldn’t African Americans or black people all around the world feel a sense of pride or hope because after everything our people have been through, the adversity and a lifetime of feeling less than our white counterparts after Dr. King, Malcom a black man in America, has been acknowleged as an equal and may well be the President of the USA in a country that took your freedom and tried to oppress you for years a Black man may save it all. That shit is beautiful!! OBAMA 08
Bob Johnson is so unimportant and Tavis please go kick rocks!
Bob Johnson sounds like a very Bitter Man.
Why is he so angry at Barack Obabma ?
AnAnd another thing, Barak Obama is American, Hawaii is named as one of the 50 states and if you never saw a picture of his mama or no one knew about his ethnic make up if you saw him on the street you see a black man, because he is not 100% does not negate his balckness!!! The reason he as made it this far, farther than Jessie, than Sharpton is because this is his season, nothing happens in this life without a purpose and an appointed time. Not just blacks are backing this dude, everyone except most rural Americans, and Latinos which is understandable because of pre-existing bias.
He appeals to the masses and he dares you to believe he is on your side and can do something diff for a change!!! And let’s face it after the last 8 shitty years America has had we need something diff!
You don’t have to like or love this man, but respect him and what he has done. DO NOT try to label of pigeon hole him.
I am sorry to inform you bandwagoning jiggaboos that Bob Johnson is right.
I wish the world wasn’t so affected by skin color. Then maybe, just maybe we could focuse on the real problems at hand instead of all this bull crap which really is just a distraction
I I think this is wild. OKAY I am going to ask Johnson for his black card and I do not mean the credit card. LOL he is a loser, keep it up and maybe you will get an appointment of the black speaker of America you know to tell your girl what we are thinking and why because obviously you like them think we all think and act alike. I would not care if Obama was white I would still vote for him because unlike the rest he is the best candidate for the job hands down and I still wonder what the hell experience Hilary is claiming other then have 2 years more in the Senate, give me a break and hosting whit house dinners as first lady. Whatever!
AS for Tavis Smiley I do not like how he came at Barack, but the brother has been one of the best commentators on the lives of black america that I cannot even diss him right now. Its sad about him leaving the morning show but sometimes you have move on and I am sure the door is not locked. My whole point is lets all move on and anticipate the next bog thing for them both. Good luck Tavis.
i agree if Obama was white he would not have all this support from the black community.
also wanted to say that Obama will get the nomiation but i’m not happy about it.
thank you so much, @ #9
I think that Bob Johnson is right in the fact that he said if you mention anything slightly about race in this politics, things go hay wire. But thats where my agreeance with him stops!
True Barack is half black, but in my opinion he got where he is becuz of what he stands for NOT becuz of his skin color. PEOPLE are tired of the same ol shit goin on in this country. Is it wrong of us to believe in Barack when He talks about change so passionately? When he himself has been in the \”real” world and knows what it takes to survive. So Bob Johnson is full of SHIT in that regard. BARACK is the front runner becuz he deserves to be. Simple as that
smdh, bob johnson is a disgrace…
i’ll leave it at that.
Well, Hillary wouldn’t be in the same spot she is without her last name, so who cares. If he wants to continue to make remarks, why not focus on making supportive comments for Hillary, and not degrading comments for Barack, because there is an ethical difference! And on his comment about “it is almost impossible for anybody to say anything.”
It should be, when what that person is saying is irrelevant.
Bob Johnson sold out his race through BET so long ago that anything he says now is just like his former network-irrelevant.
Any man who dishes out the amount of degradation that he condoned during his career does not represent me.
Obama’s chances are hurt because of that condenscending comment he made last week. People are watching him very closely and he will begin to lose support in the final stretch of this campaign. He is not the “best” presidential candidate, not even by a long shot. A black president will not make your lives easier as Black Americans, sorry.
Obama didnt originally have the majority Black vote in October/November……
I think that the population of this country is increasingly mixed. I am of mixed heritage and although growing up in a black neighborhood, i wasn’t in touch with the other parts of my genetic makeup, still I knew there was a common “humanity” about us all.. Obama brings that perspective to the table.. I always felt, if i, being Black, Indian, Caucasion, could live in one body, why cant we get along in the world? Obama embodies a new generation of mixed race Americans who really can claim no other origin but the US.. we are a product of the migrations of the planet.. Its time.. more power to Barak Obama… the NEXT President of the U.S.
so, BJ and Ferraro.. it is not because he is Black but because he represents the people of the US more than any of the other candidates can… across the board. I put my whole hand on that.
Bob Johnson is our real like Uncle Rukus. He hates people who look like him.
Lance Scurvin …Good Art Work ….
http://www.ScurvOriginalz.com
When has being black in America been any sort of advantage?
Barack has made it this far because he is intelligent, charismatic, eloquent, kind and just magnetic. He’s offering the American something they crave after what we’ve gone through the past 8 years. CHANGE!
Unfortunately Bob Johnson is entitled to his opinion but he really seem alil jealous to me. He probably wanted to run for president… but it didn’t work out like he thought. Now he’s sayin all type of stuff out his mouth. Oh well, where ever there is greatness… there will be haters as well. It comes with the territory..
Mr. Johnson, why is it that BET never granted the black community with the opportunity to have meaningful discussion surrounding presidential elections?
Now, it seems, you want to speak your mind and tell us all how you really feel (which you have every right to do). But, why didn’t you make that happen some time ago so we all could have shared in the discussion?
Some time ago, Forbes Magazine named your company one of the “best” small businesses in America, but in my eyes, it has become one of the worst. Your communications empire could have made a difference…well, a positive one.
I don’t have an issue with you because you bash Sen. Barack Obama. My issue with you is that you’re an opportunist: Geraldine Ferraro made that statement early last month. Why are you only now adding your two cents?
I admire a sound business mind, but Mr. Johnson I do not admire you nor do I support any of your endeavors. Some might ask, “Well, who are you, J. Dakar?” or better yet, “Who do you think you are?” And, right now, I can respect and accept that. But one day, I will be in a position where I can and will make my voice heard and I promise you that I’ll use it for good…unlike you. Additionally, right now, many others share my sentiments regarding you, Mr. Johnson, and the company you founded.
FYI: I loathe BET and everything in which it stands because it could have been so much more. You, Mr. Johnson, could have been so much more…
Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar
I don’t really know what the whole Tavis Smiley thing is about. Everything that I heard from Joyner and Tavis seem like crap. It’s a big elephant in the room that only those two truly know about. They are just trying to smooth it over in the public eye. All I know is that if it’s time for Tavis to move on then he’s entitled to that. Sometimes when u mix friendship and business over a long period of time things get sticky. I think he just need to move on and Joyner can’t really accept that.. but change is good sometimes. They ll both look back on this years from now and laugh.
BOB JOHNSON GOT REACH OFF THE BLACK COMMUNITY BET AND KISSING THE WHITE MANS ASS. BET WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOWCASE THE TALENTS OF BLACKS INSTEAD ALL BET DID WAS COPY THE SHOWS FROM MTV AND OTHER STATIONS THAT WERE PRODOMINATELY WHITE AND HAD MAJORITY WHITE VIEWERS. HE IS JUST LIKE AL SHARPTON AND JESSE THOSE HOW YOU NEVER SEE IN LESS THEY ARE THERE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING.
Bob is a Coon.
@J. Dakar, Well said!
I wish Bob Johnson would just shut up! It’s bad enough that his former television network did nothing within the past 10 years to further Black people and our youth and now he wants to put down the only Black man that is showing young Black boy’s you can be more than a rapper, basket ball player, or football player and he has a problem with it.
Nobody talking about how white women are the only reason Clinton is still in this race, yet Black’s who are voting for Obama are some how wrong and voting just of color? Nobody wants to put White women voting for Hillary on blast they just want to focus on Black ‘s for Obama smh.
I hope when Bob johnson show up to the BET awards this year they boo the hell out of him. lol
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE ADVANTAGE IS TO BEING BLACK IN AMERICA BECAUSE I AND OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT?
honestly who is Bob Johnson?? Why does what he have to say about Obama matter? He sold out his own black people for a profit. When asked why he sold B.E.T. and to white people at that, he stated “its only business, and it was a good business move.” He has no principles or morals, so at the end of the day who is he to attack what Obama’s done in the past, or judge his character on how well of a president he would be.
It’s black people like Bob Johnson, why so many young black people with potential will never get a break. I understand what he is saying about the whole example, if Obama was white would he have as much support, but you would never know if Obama is suited for the position until it happens. And honestly, I dont understand why everyone is so upset about voting Obama and why there’s so much controversy over who will be the next U.S. president, when ya’ll already voted in Bush TWICE!!! And he was the worse candidate. None of those running can be worse than the devil himself. So be happy that you can’t vote in another Bush and get over it. Bob Johnson should be kicking himself, cause theres no doubt in my mind that he voted Bush in too, instead of slandering Obama.
Thanks J Dakar for putting it into perspective for me. For a while I didnt fully understand why people hated BET because it shows most of the same things other networks do but you cleared it up for me. The reason why is becuase it had the opportunity to be “so much more” than what it is today.
Angel I agree with you, but Bob feels that his place in lil miss masters house (Hilliary) is not solid, he is trying to win some place in her cabinet if she gets elected. She is not geting the black love Bill got during his run. Hell Bill seems so white know for some reason?
i just got to keep it real its time to move on mr.smiley said he had to much on his plate so off the plate goes the collard greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread. he shamelessly self promoted his other projects the documentarys, the book publishing, the movie deal etc. which i’ve labeled tavis the “black micheal moore”. yes tjms was his springboard and he’s acknowleged it. also as far as barack face it people if elected he will be another tool of this gov’t this system who the congress and the president really don’t accomplish much when it comes to the real folks,the have not’s. mr.smiley is MOVIN ON UP fish don’t burn in kitchen , beans don’t burn on the grill took a whole lot of try’n just to get up that hill. i can’t hate cause tavis has got that deluxe apt in the sky. SO COME CORRECT MR. SMILEY . iask you to do a documentary on the MISEDUCATION of black america. tell them that unless you MASTER ENGLISH LANGUAGE and the comprehenion skills that goes hand and hand you way of living and coping w/ the way america runs you will be limited. also do something on the black on black hate which is unheard of in the cacuasian race. how this system has got us [blacks ] turning on ourselves. and by this we are creating our on demise. one more thing roland martin i forgive you . i don’t think you meant i have to share or be satisfied w/ a pc. of chicken that the white man throwed out the back door when it comes to being at the table w/ a lateeno race who hates me cause his master does . CAUSE I WON’T. think about this when you defend them brown people .blacks need to get our on house in order first before i talk about brown folks white folks whatever. black unity first or we fail. don’t forget about us little people MR. [BLACK] MICHEAL MOORE. GOOD LUCK
Black people have to understand that this Bob Johnson thing is the precursor to the anti-affirmative action agenda that the powers that be will soon be implementing. They will use, like they always use, a sambo coon negro that they have allowed to eat at their table and wax fat to show his gratitude by assisting them in one of their strategems. This has nothing to do with Barack Obama. He’s a means to an end and he’s willfully being used himself. Bob Johnson is one in a series of prominent black moneymakers and politicians that will be used as mouthpieces for the white man’s anti-quota-based hiring movement. Most caucasians believe that the few blacks in prestigious universities and corporate America are only there to fill a number so that speaks volumes on the chances to attain employment that black people (particularly black men) will have once they eradicate affirmative action. White people in America have convinced themselves that they know what racism is through this new “reverse-racism” madness because they do not know how to react when everything doesn’t go their way.
Bob Johnson is a coon, there is no doubt about that, but he is well-versed in his Americanized indoctrination and will defeat most negroes out here in a debate regarding this election because he’s taken that “color doesn’t matter” mentality to it’s ultimate. There isn’t the contradiction with him that you see with the average black person. The average black person in America that wants “unity of all races” but still wants to be “pro-black” is confused because that is not possible. I have more respect for Bob Johnson because at least he’s consistent in his coonery. Once you partake in the electoral process and whole-heartedly believe in it, color is not supposed to be a factor (allegedly). A black person is not self-hateful because they don’t want to vote for Obama. The powers that be are anti-black and Obama is a low-level member of that power structure.
And this black woman and agrees with Bob Johnson’s statement.