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Title: Johnson cites race in Obama's surge
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URL Source: http://www.charlotte.com/559/story/581394.html
Published: Apr 15, 2008
Author: JIM MORRILL
Post Date: 2008-04-15 17:39:28 by Peppa
Ping List: *Obama Reality Check* Subscribe to *Obama Reality Check*
Keywords: Obama
Views: 176
Comments: 12
Wading back into the Democratic presidential race, billionaire businessman Bob Johnson said Monday that Sen. Barack Obama would not be his party's leading candidate if he were white. Johnson's comments to the Observer echoed those of former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro. She stepped down as an adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton last month after saying Obama wouldn't be where he is if he were white. "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?" Johnson said. "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, who made a fortune after founding Black Entertainment Television and now owns the Charlotte Bobcats, is a longtime friend of Clinton and her husband, the former president. It was during a January appearance for the New York senator in Columbia that he first stepped into controversy, referring to Obama and "what he was doing in the neighborhood." Many took that as a reference to Obama's acknowledged drug use in his youth. But in a statement, Johnson said he'd been "referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a community organizer and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect." On Monday, Johnson alluded to the incident. "I make a joke about Obama doing drugs (and it's) `Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man'," Johnson said. The Obama campaign 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." Johnson disputed the notion that Obama has built a broad coalition. Most of his support, he said, comes from African Americans and white liberals but not white, working-class Democrats. "I don't think he has that common -- what I call `I-want-to-go-out-and-have-a-drink-with-you -- touch," Johnson said. An Observer/WCNC Poll this month found Obama and Clinton splitting the votes of white North Carolinians who say they'll vote in the May 6 primary. Obama led 59 percent to 7 percent among African Americans. Johnson said Obama is likely to win the nomination and has had the support of "the liberal media." "They sort of dislike Hillary for her vote on the war. They don't want to see Bill and Hillary in power again," he said. "So Obama comes in and runs a smart campaign. But that's not the Second Coming, in my opinion, of John F. Kennedy, FDR or the world's greatest leaders."
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#1. To: Peppa, Jethro tull, FOH (#0)
Good heavens. Lynch Johnson. Call the FBI. What a white trash bigoted racist. Off to the gulag. What??? Johnson is black???? Ferraro is a racist and a bigot for saying the same thing. What will we call Johnson for speaking the truth???
What mullets to choose from...
Aint none of 'em keepers.
It's very sad.
Lod... This nation has 300 million citizens...are these three the best we have to offer? Somewhere along the line the selection process has been hi jacked and the people have no choice whatsoever. Money speaks and in this election it will be at least a quarter of a billion dollars.....that is a shame. We see here today that people actually support this or that candidate because they speak well. They all arrived via money, not yours or mine but money that will own them and operate them.
Only BHO has any speaking skills, but your money observation is the bottom line. Whores will always book the highest paying customer first. And perform any trick requested, if the money's right.
One day the elite rulers will do away with this expensive charade of having the "people" pick a president.
I wonder if anyone will notice? It looks as if the 'Grand Experiment' is about ready for a bullet to the head. Put US out of our misery, and get on with whatever. (I am not in the finest of spirit this evening.)
There are people in fine spirits tho, those sipping the grape and the sheep busy grazing away. A thinking man at times has problems trying to cope.
I knew that you would discern the difference - the plural is going swell here. Cheers.
Wading back into the Democratic presidential race, billionaire businessman Bob Johnson said Monday that Sen. Barack Obama would not be his party's leading candidate if he were white.
#2. To: Peppa (#0)
Bump to the most entertaining election in my life.
#3. To: lodwick (#2)
#4. To: Cynicom (#3)
Is it time, Claire?
#5. To: lodwick (#4)
#6. To: Cynicom (#1)
What North American Union? STOP the North American Union!
~~~~~> Have you seen THIS yet? TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
#7. To: Cynicom (#5)
They all arrived via money, not yours or mine but money that will own them and operate them.
#8. To: lodwick (#7)
#9. To: Peppa, Cynicom, JethroTull (#0)
What North American Union? STOP the North American Union!
~~~~~> Have you seen THIS yet? TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
#10. To: Cynicom. anyone who cares (#8)
One day the elite rulers will do away with this expensive charade of having the "people" pick a president.
#11. To: lodwick (#10)
#12. To: Cynicom (#11)
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