Clinton Supporter Who Slammed Obama on Race, Drugs Has Not-So-Progressive History

[leftchick]

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/01/6855_clinton_support_3.html

After Hillary Clinton supporter Bob Johnson argued at a Clinton rally that Barack Obama has no standing on the issue of race because he was a teenager doing drugs "in the neighborhood" back when the Clintons were working on issues important to minorities, no one asked this question: What on earth is Hillary Clinton doing using Johnson, the founder of BET, as a campaign surrogate?

According to a 2001 profile in the New Republic, "Johnson is not a man with a deep sense of social obligation." He has a long history of teaming with the Bush Administration to fight against progressive goals (many of which would benefit the African-American community) in order to further his own financial ends. A few years ago, for example, he got a group of rich African-Americans together to falsify evidence and argue in favor of eliminating the death tax, a key Bush Administration goal. "As Robert Johnson of Black Entertainment Television argues," said President Bush, "the death tax and double taxation weighs heavily on minorities." This, of course, is false, and both Bush and Johnson knew it. The death tax only hits those who have large estates to leave to their children, a population far more white than black.

Johnson has engaged in union-busting. "On one occasion he laid off or reduced the hours of BET workers who joined an electricians' union, an action that a federal judge subsequently ruled illegal," writes Jonathan Chait in TNR.

And he fought for President Bush's Social Security privatization plan. Johnson served on the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security. From that post, he argued that blacks don't receive as much from the current Social Security system than whites because they are more likely to die before retirement age. That argument is specious for two reasons. I'll let Chait explain:

[babylonsister]

1. This guy is bad news, yet the Clintons agree with him? Hmmm. nt

[leftchick]

2. bad judgement

yet again.

[DJ13]

5. This guy is bad news, yet the Clintons agree with him?

The Clintons have co-opted Republican policies so long they've become Republicans in everything but party affiliation.

Why were the Republicans so pissed at Bill as President in the 90's?

Because he was adopting most every policy position the Republicans had been champions of from the late 80's through to their "Contract With America" BS, and thus stealing their thunder.

Hillary wont be any different as President, hell she'll probably co-opt Bush Republican policies and then we'll really be screwed.

[HeraldSquare212]

3. What's the saying, you'll be known by the company you keep? nt

[maddiejoan]

6. good to know

[Richard Steele]

13. I agree, it is GOOD to KNOW:

[Richard Steele]

4. Wow. A true BushBot carrying water for Hillary.

What a shock. :sarcasm:

[rox63]

7. Is it any worse than Murdoch throwing fundraisers for her? n/t

[Richard Steele]

8. Not worse, just part of the same unsettling pattern. nm

[KeepItReal]

9. Bob Johnson is the *last* business person of color I'd want repping me

Hearing the ex-owner of BET (sold it to Viacom, thus making him a billionaire) lecture Barak or anyone else on behavior or morals is a freaking joke.

[David Zephyr]

10. Mother Jones keeping 'em honest.

K&R.

[peacetalksforall]

11. How does the message get out to people who are not on the internet - without it coming from her

opponents?

[leftchick]

12. it doesn't

when the corporations that have bought her also own the media we are screwed. :(

[NYCGirl]

14. BTW, Johnson's ex-wife, Sheila (who co-founded BET) is backing Obama:

BET billionaire Sheila Johnson: Hillary's terrific, but Obama's her man

The first black woman billionaire in the United States says New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is "a terrific person" but Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is her pick in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Philanthropist Sheila Johnson was at the National Press Club today to announce a $4 million gift to CARE to improve resources and opportunities for poor women around the world, our colleague Barbara Slavin reports.

The "I am powerful" theme of Johnson's CARE campaign apparently doesn't extend to Clinton's White House aspirations, Slavin says. Asked to talk politics, Johnson called Obama "one of the most outstanding guys out there. He's fresh and I think the world is ready for him. It would be wonderful to have a first black president of the United States."

Johnson and her ex-husband, Robert, co-founded the Black Entertainment Television cable network. Robert Johnson is supporting Clinton.


http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/06/bet_billionaire.html