Clinton Surrogate Bob Johnson Says Ferraro Was Right, Obama Only Is Where He Is Because He’s Black

He is black so I guess he has a right to say it. I am sure Mr. Johnson had a much harder road to the top.

Thank You Bob Johnson, for speaking some commom sense!
Jake and ABC, please get this out in every media outlet. People need to wake up and think rationaly about who is best prepared to lead our country.
Hillary and McCain have the experieince it takes.

I wish someone could explain to me why mentioning Obama’s drug use is a faux pas that requires an apology? How is it that there are so many of Obama’s issues that no one’s allowed to mention without being vilified by the media, and chided by Obama?
As far as I can tell NOTHING is off the table where Clinton is concerned – they’ll attack her child, bring up her husband affairs renlentlessly, her clothing, her hairstyle, her laugh, anything. I’m pretty sure they’ll be commenting on her bathroom habits before it’s done, but don’t mention Obama’s drug use, his pastor, his gaffes, cause that’s just being vicious. Am I the only one who finds this baffling and suspect?

bob johnson speaks the truth. for that, he will again be vilified.
obama himself said he wouldn’t be where he is if he weren’t black. it’s ok for him to say it, but not for anyone else.
tavis smiley had to quit his radio show due to death threats from african-americans mad that he didn’t toe the line. wonder if bob johnson will receive death threats?
sadly, not only will bob johnson be vilified, but hillary will be blamed. and the press will be all over it, to take the focus off obama’s snobgate problem.

If he were Jerry Smith, an inspiring, charismatic white freshman senator from Ill, he would probably get a lot more than 30% of the white vote in Southern states.

Ferraro is RIGHT … Obama wouldn’t have done this well if he hadn’t being BLACK ….
If he had not being BLACK, he would definitely have not won 90% of Black votes ..
Except for about 10 – 20 % Blacks, the Blacks are voting in mass …
So why should Ferraro apologize … ? It is a FACT …
Good for you, Ferraro … !!

If he was a young WHITE Senator with THIN or NO experience he wouldn’t even be able to get past Iowa and much less have TWO books written!

Why is it that Obama is treated with kid gloves? If he is questioned about his record, or lack of, his camp cries foul or
or says the questionaire is racist or blames clinton. I am getting so tired of the blatant media bias for Obama. As for this story, sadly Mr. Johnson will probably be receiving hate mail for his objective and honest thoughts he is portraying.

the sad part of this is the black people were told to help obama get into the white house
but obama has not said or shown that he is going to do anything to enhance the quality of their lives.

which websites are censoring anti obama statements?

Obamaknew – TELL ME ABOUT IT! I was on staff at a political newsgroup website, and the owner got so Obacrazy, he broke his own rules to endorse Obama and sports Obama’s logo on the site, not like anyone in the wide world gives two hoots about and endorsement from that insignificant website. So, I quit, and he pretty much ran off all the Clinton supporters and conservative – talk about a lack of challenging discussion. I think the guy might set himself on fire if Obama doesn’t win.
And OpEdNews – Jeezz – that place is an Obasewer. They stopped publishing my pieces, relegating them to my “diary” section, for no reason that I can tell, other than they weren’t pro-Obama.
Does our society still believe in free speech, a free press, and elections, or are we just going to crown Obama our new monarch or something? It’s pretty scary really, and it’s not like Bush hasn’t left us in a scary enough situation.
Just keep your fingers crossed I guess, cause I for one feel pretty helpless against the onslaught.

I agree with Mr. Johnson, they made it into a race issue, Jesse Jackson Jr. said “where were clinton’s tears for katrina”…she spoke out and yelled at bush to do something… oabam’s people showed the wright’s videos in SC, Charlie rangel said so… OBAMA used the race card FIRST!!!!!!

I am not sure if Mr. Johnson is helping Mrs. Clinton with this remark. Certainly, this would divert the media attention from Mr. Obama’s negatives to Mrs. Clinton’s “evil and cruel” nature.
Both the democratic candidates have flaws and strength. Both certainly will have an agenda that will be kept to themselves. It is up to the voters to figure what the untold agenda would be. But if the press is biased it will be nearly impossible to arrive at an informed decision.

Unbelievable, and the timing is all wrong. This was not the statement we needed today. I could do a better job than this. Right when Obama is blowing up this is what we do. The R’s are not any better, with the “boy” comment, talk about the worst timing ever, however, I believe that one was designed to blow Obama’s bittergate off the market. But this, what is the guy thinking?
========================================
What can I say, Hillary Clinton stands up for all voters!
========================================

Sen.Clinton has already shown she can work with rep.
she is the first and only person that was asked to be a part of the sen. foreign policy comm. she can work with them
after this hard fight if she gets in I believe her common sense will win out
I know she will have it hard. she has had this harder from her own party-which should be more difficult to accept
goodnight

Here’s what I don’t get – there are hords of people lining up to defend Rev. Wright, Obama’s “bitter” statement, and “his typical white people” statement, but God forbid anyone should defend Ferraro?
It’s like some kind of mass brain-damage has caused double standard turrets.

Johnson is a sellout and has been for a long time. This is the same man who has promoted degrading rap videos, while removing positive images of black people on the BET network. He does not surprise me at all but only punctuates the real problems in the black community are the sell- outs.

Dear Mr. Johnson,
From the bottom of this Obama supporters heart: THANK YOU!
Thank you for allowing the bitter remark to be come yesterday’s news. Thank you for reopening an old wound and showing that Senator Clinton cannot even control her own campaign. But most of all thank you for now knowing when to simply say nothing.
Now let us see if the MSM jumps on this remark, made on the record, like they did an off the record comment. My hope is it will.

Finally someone black validates what white-folks have known all along…Ferraro was right, and bho has gotten a free pass. Bob Johnson a sell-out, momuv2? seems blacks are only sell-outs to blacks if they say some thing against a black….that is why 90% blacks vote bho, “group think”, not independant thought.

This story will not gloss over Obama’s remarks about small town folk,nor will it hide his arrogance. The longer this campaign goes on-the more we will see and hear the truth come from both Obamas’ mouths. They are revealing their true mindset and it is not pretty. This man is unfit to be the leader of our country.

Yes it will Treading – yes it will. They’ve glossed over everything else, and they’re already glossing over this by saying everyone’s being unfair and mean to Obama.
Somehow, a whole lot of people are still voting for Clinton, but will there be enough and will it even matter? They’ve managed to justify taking from her two states in which she was heavily favored on a technicality, so I don’t think she’ll win even if she does get more votes.
It’s a done deal I fear. It seems the media is selling us this sham of an election as sure as the media in Iran sells their sham elections to the populus.
When I think of all the people who have given their lives, are giving their lives, for our freedom . . . it’s just soul crushing, isn’t it?

Mr. Johnson’s assessment, like Ms. Ferraro’s, fails to take into account that Sen. Clinton had every advantage going into this primary season: 250 Superdelegates…the name recognition, the national profile of being the first lady…the title of presumptive nominee awaiting coronation…but in this process, the “junior Senator from Illinois” has managed to galvanize the Democratic Party, bring about excitement and interest in the issues that affect America, and the world, and has managed to be the front-runner for over two months. By disparaging Sen. Obama for being where he is by saying it’s because he’s black, is to discount all of these triumphs and moreso speaks volumes about Sen. Clinton’s inability to seal the nomination. The last time I checked, the only people voting for and contributing to Sen. Obama’s campaign were not blacks.

Not only will the coverage of this election be criticized as an example of irresponsible journalism in journalism classes of the future but the Psychology of Women classes will have enough factual data for a lifetime. Anyone who says gender is not an issue, in this primary. is grossly mistaken.
I disconnected our satelite television months ago due to the outrageous, unfair coverage of the primaries. I found myself so angry everytime I would turn on the evening news to find yet another Hillary bashing minute and a glowing five minute report of Obama’s momentum, massive crowds, unifying speeches….. The glow in the reporters/analysts faces made my stomach turn. Media manipulation at it’s peak.
It is such a critical, critical time in our country to make the RIGHT decision about who is most capable to start on day ONE.
Ms. Hillary Clinton is ready!

Per Barack’s own words from an article published in the Chicago Tribune on 6/26/05 by Jeff Zeleny entitled “When it comes to race, Obama makes his point–with subtlety”.
These comment from Barack pertained to his Senate race in Illinois.
Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race.
If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?
Now, if Barack Obama believed this to be true in 2005 concerning his US Senate race in 2004, it is very fair for someone to believe these same comments to be true in 2008. What makes this election any different than an election that was not even 4 years ago? Geraldine Ferraro basically said the exact same thing. Shame on the Obama spin to this story, and to his supporters who have maligned Geraldine Ferraro for saying something that Barack had said about himself in the past.

Yeah, gosh Bob if he just couldn’t give great speeches, run a campaign organization that’s whupping the crap out of the Clintons, manage to mobilize an entire new generation of voters, take on the most ruthless candidate we’ve ever seen, mobilize African-Americans, and win across the country, North, South, East and West he might not be so good of a candidate.
Yeah, right . . .
Do the Clinton surrogates even realize how ridiculous they sound anymore?

This guy likes nice suits.
His wife likes all the trappings; she suffered a lot with her dad’s inadequate salary.
Could someone just make him an offer, take up a collection and get this over with?
BO is unelectable.

Anyone who tells me a white duplicate of Barack Obama would still be in this race is LYING or ignorant to identity politics.
Even John Kerry said he would bring people together …..because he is african american…………
Obama cant use the race card against the Clintons if he is white. African americans would still have their ‘black president’.
Clinton would have the african american vote . In fact, all Obama would be is a non experienced John Edwards.
Clinton would have won the nomination by now.

Obama has held elected office for 11 years (four more than Hillary). Obama sponsored over 820 bills while serving in the Illinois senate (serving 8 years, from 1996-2004). He introduced 233 bills regarding Healthcare reform, 125 bills regarding Poverty and Public Assistance, 112 Crime fighting bills, 97 Economic bills, 62 Education bills, 60 Human Rights and Anti-discrimination bills, 21 Ethics bills, 20 Environmental bills, 15 Gun Control bills, 6 Veteran Affairs bills, and many, many others. He authored the most sweeping ethics reform bill passed into Illinois law in over 20 years. He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform and promoted increased subsidies for child care. Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.
In 2002 Obama spoke out publicly against the war in Iraq, saying he does not oppose all war, just dumb wars, and proceeded to accurately predict the quagmire of Iraq.
Obama was elected to the United States senate in 2004. In his first year (before he decided to run for president) he authored 152 bills, and co-sponsored another 427. These included the Coburn-Obama government Transparency Act of 2006 (signed into law by Bush), The Lugar-Obama initiatives (working with republican, Richard Lugar) aimed at nuclear non-proliferation and conventional weapons threat reduction. He is one of only 2 lawmakers sponsoring a campaign finance reform bill that currently sits in the senate. There are 890 bills in Obama’s name since he entered the Senate. He has Cosponsored 1096.
Obama currently serves on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans’ Affairs. He has a degree in International Relations, a Law degree, and taught constitutional law for 10 years. On Obama’s website you can read detailed information regarding his positions on all the current major issues.

Both Bob Johnson and Geraldine Feraro are correct in their assessment. He even choose his church because he knew the church members would vote for him and the district he represented is 65/70% black. He has definitely used his race when it was to his advantage and it got him elected. His oratory skills are good and he made people believe in his ability to lead. But did he really improve his district with jobs, etc.?? The answer is no, it economically worse off now. He does not possess the intergity, judgement or experience necessary to guide this country to better times. I will vote for Senator Clinton; someone who better understands the average American family’s hopes, dreams and needs. I also consider her to be much more honest and compassionate.

Thank you JB-very well said and absolutely correct. I too beleive the GOP will handily defeat him in the GE

BET is not about educating, entertaining, etc. or even showing positive representations of blacks. It is a twentyfour hour STEPIN FETCHIT courtesy VIACOM and CBS. I recall during the early days of AIDS the arm twisting we had to do to make it address the issue. The resulting special wasn’t the most accurate, but it was about all we could get. And when Ed Gordon left, we knew the credibility left with him.

Wrong-O !! He’s where he is because he’s gifted and courageous and the times need this step upward into a literate, articulate, visionary to sort of clean the global palate after this ridiculous sort of creepy governance we’ve been getting and giving.
Despite being a person of mixed race, not because of it.
How can people not see that we are people first with gender assignments and racial heritage next? What time is it? Haven’t we learned anything on thie good earth?

Courageous!!! Surely you jest! How much courage do you need to go to the best prep school in Hawaii? And how much courage do you need to go to Occidental and Columbia and Harvard? You make my laugh-

Is it stupid because your candidate can’t win or is it stupid because all of it adds up to GOP win?

you are all right obama is there because he is black,so what?
you have a choice vote then for mc-cain and we’ ll have a new war against Iran;bomb,bombbombbommbbommbbommb IRAN
Amen
what about the argument Hillary is where she is just because her name is clinton?;i never wacthed OBAMA USED such an argument come on folks
Give me a Break

jb – great analysis.

I disagree if Jerry Smith started his campaign with a vision and hope and a strong desire to make america and its government better for its people ,he would have this black vote and yes probably 90% of other black votes.This is why Obama is in the position he is in.Hillary Clinton is a blatant opportunist who will do or say anything to win. She is not for the people of america she is in this only for her own selfish desire for political power. I do agree with part of Ferraro’s satement in a sense,if Obama was white he probably would be the nominee by now.
Obama 08!
Yes We Can!

Barack Obama said the same thing about himself in the Chicago Tribune: “If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?”

What’s the use of all this?
Where would Hillary be if she hadn’t been married to Bill, a former Arkansas Governor and United States President?
Where would McCain be if his airplane hadn’t been shot down in Vietnam, if he hadn’t had the opportunity to sing his own war hero songs all the time; or if he hadn’t left his poor first wife for a daughter of the Rich and Powerful?
Why arent’t ALL black men as succesful as Barack if blackness is the ticket to succes in America?
Why all the distractions from the issues themselves and the candidates’ agenda for America?
There is only ONE reason for Bob Johson’s remark: Barack Obama has beaten crown princess Hillary Clinton in the nomination race, and the hillbillies can’t stand Obama for that reason. They are bad and sore losers; that’s all there’s to it.

Would it have mattered if he (Obama) was white and is in the position that he is today? Would it have been an ISSUE at all? It is outrageous and un-uniting when people in authority that are suppose to do all that they can to unite all and sundry preaches divisiveness. Bob Johnson and Ferraro are suppose to know better. I am deeply disappointed by them.

LOL!
It wasn’t Obama who started off with the large majority of the black vote, it was Hillary Clinton! As everybody knows.
And as Johnson no doubt knows better than anyone else, for he himself, together will Bill and his Jesse comparison, made such a fine contribution to her losing that segment of the American vote. Haha.
Now he’s trying to make her lose the last remaining 10%, so that the Clinton campaign will be able to explain her loss by saying that a full 100% of the black vote has been going to Obama ALL the time…
What a joke. One must be pretty dumb to believe this guy.

The black vote at this point is ridiculous. Clearly blacks are being racist in their voting. Many of them can’t articulate a damn thing Obama stands for except that he is 50% black. Unfortunately they have thrown in the garbage, Kings word of judge by character not color. Not only is Obama doing well because of his color with blacks, he also doing well because of his color with whites. There are so many white voters, who are literally tripping over themselve to prove they are not racist by voting for Obama. These whites have foolishly been suckered by their deep seated white guilt over slavery, that they could care less if the black guy they are voting for is a racist himself and could care less if he totally lacks experience to do the job. I guess you can call it affirmative action voting!

Barack Obama would never have been able to run for the highest ofice in America had he not been black. I heard on a call in talk show all blacks stick together called in by a black person. I am not a racist. I have black friends. However, I feel if we had known all about Obama before he started, he would never have gotten this far. The Jeramiah Wright story would have ended it for me. I am a Hillary supporter and beleive she will win. I know she is the best candidate.

I just realized that Lincoln was black. So was JFK. You see, according to Johnson, if you got your Party’s nomination without too much Washington experience, you must be black.

Natalie,
Your “Wright” comment is fair enough, but I disagree with you. Abraham Lincoln was a freshman Congressman at the time he was elected President. Our constitution does not give an “experience” requirement for running for president. Also keep in mind that Blacks did NOT vote for Alan Keys (a black man) both times he ran for president. Blacks also showed Al Sharpton to the door when he ran for president. Clinton had the majority of black support before Iowa. Obama’s appeal to whites turned the heads of Blacks and they took a closer look at Obama.
regarding rev. Wright, blacks would NOT have been offended by this. people outside of the black community do not understand black churches. That is why Obama gave the speech that he did. On paper, what Wright said was very bad. But when you look at the bigger racial division that exost in the country, Wright becomes a bigger issue, worthy of discussion.

“Let the voters decide!!!!!”
They already did, to the extent that Hillary can no longer win the nomination. Even if she would bow out now, people in the remaining states would still be able to vote for her to express their support of her candidacy.
But since she can’t win this race anymore, why stay in it as a candidate and spend millions on hurting the DEM frontrunner and winner? Hard to understand.
I foresee a financial disaster for the Clinton campaign this month; in two weeks of April she has not even been able to raise 2 million for PA TV ads online! She is spending millions however on airing them. And the debts, the unpaid bills are piling up. What’s the rationale here?
I look forward to Day 1 of the Democrats’ full focus on McCain and the prevention of the 3rd term and even more disastrous GOP Presidency. Small town America btw is desperately looking forward to that as well. We need to unite, as Democrats, and fight.
So please let Gore and Carter convince her that she’d better bow out now than fall very hard and deep later, in the public disgrace of a bankrupt campaign.

I am soo tired of that fat old nasty Bob Johnson opening his mouth showing the very idiot he is every time he spews words out his mouth.
Go fix that broke down BET Network of yours and stop spending time trailing behind Hillary for political gain.
Tired ole fat slob

Bob Johnson is the same guy who made his fortune bringing us the booty shaking videos and glorified gangster rap on BET.
What idiot would ever listen to HIS explanation of politics?

Bob Johnson,
We already KNOW that Obama is black. You do not have to keep reminding us that he is…LOL!

To diminsh Mr Obama’s achievements to a skin tone, is elitist don’t you think? It doesn’t matter if he is black, the guy is an intellegent, fair, and a unifier! maybe thats why he has such an appeal, along with his great skills of oratory. I think Mr Johnson should be praising his fellow black brother in stead of diminshing it to a skin tone, as a black man i am appalled by such people of my own race ! before we lift each other up we carry on like crabs in a barrel ! Mr obama is no means perfect! We have had White leaders before with great skills such as obama, such as the Kennedy’s Rosevelt etc, but yet you never hear such ridiculous statements! Obama is balck and speaks really good and intellegent and love his wife, and charismatic GET OVER IT PEOPLE!!!! he is a man not just a skin tone or the projections of your fears!

Look at how the news is reluctant to show anything about race. Rev. Wright appears w/o the sound on and the uproar over bitter remarks when bitter or religion or guns isn’t the issue.
Is this Obama calling the people in small towns that don’t vote for him bigots? “antipathy toward people who aren’t like them”
Seems like it to me, I’m just curious why the press is on the guns and religion part of his statement and avoiding the racist part. The press needs to get a little backbone.
He has simply enjoyed too much success too soon and is suffering from a minor messiah complex much like you see in rock stars.
Obama in that recording was responding to a question by those California folks asking why those small towns weren’t supporting him…..
Obama was faced with a segment of voters that didn’t rush to form a pep rally for him, so he figured there MUST be something seriously wrong with THEM
Larry B
San Antonio, TX

I don’t know why white people are listening to anything Bob Johnson has to say. He has no respect in the black community and hasn’t had any for years. He is a man with no morals or integrity. He and always will be a sell-out and white people you can have him.

how can this country even begin to have someone as president who does not even call themselves an american? the president represents the american ppopulation, and therefore, should be an american, as per the constitution. African-american implies dual allegiance in some proportion. where does bho priority lie? I will never vote for anyone who cannot just call themselves “AMERICAN”. (Even Oprah and Montel say the are Americans, not AA.)

This is clintons type of people who fund her and she is a snob and I hope she has pushed this to far…See they can say anything and it is ok two sets of rules one for us and one for them..
This IND will not support Hilly so you can wager that Mc Cain will be our next president……

So look in the mirror and ask yourself. Did I bite on this race bait?

We need more people like Bob Johnson and Mayor Nutter to stand up and say things like this. They are allowed to say things that much of the country is not. I think they are smart, brave men.

To R Brown from Canada
We wish he was Canadian too!

Ohio Knows What Obama’s true allegiance is
Primary Night he got a court order to re-open polls in Ohio, 3 polling places in Cleveland, due to weather. All 3 were in the highest population of black area.
All of north ohio had an ice storm, he did not re-open any other polling places.
Sheer discrimination in Action.
A man God Damn America, He called you Racist for getting upset about someone Damning Your country.
Then came back and Forgave the man who was unpatriotic Damning this country.
Your still a racist though.
His web site, categorizes everyone, Breaks you up into groups, Labels. List all except a white man.
So it is Quiet evident, if he becomes president, That you can not Disagree or get upset with a black person. You will live under your Category. Or be Condemned for being a racist.

VND…I think they are predjudeous and vindictive…they all thought Hillary had it wrapped up. SURPRISE…!!!

stephany…RIGHT ON!!!

it’s ironic everyone call’s rev wright crazy-but rev wright talked about guy’s like johnson–who use black people for power and money–this guy attack for using drugs when he was younger and is supporting the clinton’s–i wonder if he still was involved with BET and he was receiving money from the network he would never make these comments. What we really need to ask ourselves is why is this man attacking obama–lets face it the clinton first attack obama saying he is a fairytale–then they said this young man–then he is a muslim-then he wears tribal outfits when he is at home–then he is a black panther following the black muslim party–then is a crazy black man in a cult(trinity church) now they say this young man,muslim,african,black panther,cultist is really this harvard elitist who is out of touch with working folks–what next he really isn’t black he wears makeup so he can get the black vote–who knows the clinton’s will say anything to get in the whitehouse-afterall hillary wants to make 50 million on speeches also–yeah know it’s sexist for bill to make all the money–it is hillary time so step aside obama and mccain this is hillary time. so what if she lies does’nt everyone–she is really just a fighter and all fighters lie and cheat right?

Bill…I guess you didn’t watcht he “Compassion Forum”. Obama belw her away!!! She is so false. She is such an intelligent person to let her campaign fail so badly.

One only has to read these comments to realize that race is a factor – one that is working against Obama!
If Obama were not black, he would already be confirmed as the Democratic candidate!
If Hillary was not a Clinton, she would no longer be in the race!

Obama will never be MY president. Let him be the black president for the black people; that is what he is anyway. Thanks to the black people wanting a man of color as president they have chosen an arrogant ,self centered Harvard educated person who thinks he is smarter than anyone else and who definetely thinks the black people are all stupid.I cannot stand to hear anymore of the bull s— that comes out of his mouth.

In an age of identity politics (Is there any other kind of politics?), once Obama became known as a viable candidate he had the Black vote.
Thanks for enlightening us, Capital Obvious.
What is truly amazing is the press has let Obama call the Hillary campaign racist for stating this obvious fact of life. It is also amazing that Hillary is running nearly even with Obama in the face of a press, and a left wing establishment, that simply hate the Clintons.

Obama is nothing but a radical leftist. He is a Stalin in the making.
Wake up America.

Bob Johnson: Bob is Uncle Tom at best a phony exBET owner.

Bob Johnson sound like he forgot is meds.

David H: I disagree; Obama will get the entire Black vote and half of the white vote.
Obama all the way!

Obama won Iowa, which set the tone for the downfall of the Clinton campaign, as the result of a very simple seed. Two questions that were posed to Clinton in commentary of the Des Moines Register in early-mid July 07 in response to her address on her Iraq withdrawal plan.
1. What can be done to lessen the impact of ‘big interests’ on campaign financing, as this is a conflict of interest and more should be done to find ways that average American people can support who they chose so the people’s voice comes through.
2. What would Clinton do to improve America’s relationship with the rest of the world, even including Middle East countries. Did foreign policy require a critical review?
On the first one – within a week or two, both Edwards and Obama were firing at her on it. Because she had already taken money from such sources but they had not she could do nothing but defend the position.
Obama 1, Edwards 1, Clinton 0
On the second question – a very similar question was asked of Obama – I think we can all remember Hillary blasting him as naive. Edwards didn’t take up the issue – well, if he did I didn’t notice it. But Obama stuck his guns on the topic and developed his articulation of why. He turned it around.
Obama 2, Edwards 1, Clinton 0
That pretty much reflects the Iowa outcomes.

PS. I was the person who left those two questions.

PPS. The reason I knew those were extremely challenging questions for Clinton was that I had spent my free time over the preceding year listening to a Democratic and a Republican lawyer attacking and counter-attacking each other over Bush and Clinton.
From looking at everything that came out of this it became clear that the underlying sickness in the system spanned both Clinton and Bush administrations – it had no party affiliation.
Those two questions struck at the heart of the sickness in the system. THAT is what is keeping the American people down.

Bob Johnson is a smart man…. he has built an empire.
He has givin jobs to thousands of people. He is an executive who has done his part to this country and his family, in supporting capitalism and the American dream of making it on his own……
This man Bob Johnson earned his right to say whatever he wants, to support whoever he wants.
Bob Johnson EARNED it, worked for it…… which is NOT what we can say about Obama…. He is lucky to be in the position he is in, and what is amazing to watch is this Obama shows no HUMILITY…… just pure ARROGANCE.
Can’t wait for the one degree of separation of Obama and AUCHI to unfold.
( Obama claims now to have known Rezko for 20 years— Hello…… )
Obama-Rezko-Auchi-Gate….lol

PPPS: It is clear that both Clinton and McCain have brought into the ‘sickness in the system’.
Has Obama? He says he hasn’t, he talks like he actually understands the issues, and now we have Clinton and McCain double teaming on him. Sure sounds like the ‘Special Interests Party’ teaming up on the threat to their multi-million kickbacks and the people who effectively ‘own’ them.
To me, this is a pretty strong indication that you should put your heads down and pull the lever for Obama.
I say put your heads down because the closer the American people actually get to sticking up for themselves and choosing a leader that will put their interests first the more hysterical and shrill and dangerous the people with power will become.

The race card has been played several times before Obama speech on race. It was bound to come out , espically since all blacks except for a hand full vote for Hillary. Obamas supporters brought out the race card right after the New Hampshire primary on Msnbc. Obama wife brought it out when she stated ‘there ain’t no black people in Iowa”. All along Obama planned to give his speech on race, just waiting for the right moment. After all he is the gifted one on words, but not on action. Look at his Illinois legislative record, 2003 his only good year.

carpenter.nyc: Nafta gave away Jobs and Billions of dollars to Mexico, South American, Bush I, Bush II and The Clintons, Iraqi War, Bush/Clinton/Bush will run about a Trillions Dollars. Illegel Immigration, Billions of dollars and messed up communities, Bush/Clinton/Bush.
WTO/MFN, Jobs/Technology to China (Communist State), Clinton/Bush, Billions of dollars lost to China. China has one thing in mind dominating the world.

All this money that the Rich are making… ( and getting richer all the time ) has a trinking effect on us… the working class….the Corporations are not just the rich execs…. they are also part of the thousands who get a paycheck from them.
NAFTA has allowed us to become part of the GLOBAL ECONOMY….and as a Country, we are smart enough to compete— and if it isn’t Manufacturing (cause of the Wage War) we will find new ways…..
We always do. We are a country of INNOVATORS and Survivors.
And as far as comparing Rendell to EMIL JONES ( this guy is very powerful in the IL Political scene)…….paaah leeeese….. Rendell was not in charge of laws to pass where he slipped in Clinton’s name to give her credit……. lol
Obama is so out of his League.
AXELROD has spun a web around Obama so thick —- the vetting must continue.

I applaud Hillary and her surrogates for keeping the focus on the truly important issues.
Not.

Ferraro and Johnson are both right and anyone with a brain knows it.

Obama is a fantasy candidate that Axelrod–( being the great AD Man that he is ) CREATED.
There will be a movie made about how it is not the individual but the MACHINE behind it.
But thank God for the internet and the wonderfully curious folks who blogs and searches and chats so that even if a genius like Axelrod tries to portray an ideal—- We will see that it is what it was from the beginning. A FARCE PREYING ON THE MASSES….

Carpenter: If the Corporations are keeping people employed in the US, are paying them fair wages and not stiffing so as to gain outsized profits, are not putting those profits in tax havens leading to the gains not trickling back down for the American people – then fine. What we need is business in balance. It is blatantly clear that things are not currently in balance so something has to be done to restore balance.
It is in everyone’s interests to restore balance economically because the fabric of society begins to fall apart when things are not in balance – rising crime, families torn apart, increased joblessness and homelessness. Greed trickles down to create that – that which is created trickles back up to take down greed. Everybody suffers.

What does Bob Johnson have against Senator Obama? And why does he feel he has to explain what Geraldine Ferraro said?

JK
Greed and Corruption are Problems of the Individual….
Which allows me to interject—why it is important to see these Candidates as Individuals………………. TO : question their motives, their true interests, their ASSOCIATIONS and their HISTORY …….
Talking about what they’ll do and giving speeches is Politics 101……Look at all the Senators in office now. (not the brightest bulbs nor very trustworthy)
I want to be able to TRUST the PERSON who will run this Country— to Protect our Land, To Support the MiddleClass—
( and part of me believes some of what Bush has done was to protect us in some ways…… People can not forget 9/11— they attacked us– RIGHT HERE!!—)

Does anyone care what Bob Johnson thinks? BET sucks anyway.
This is a bad argument for the Clinton campaign to engage in, yet again. After all if not for Hillary being the wife of a former president she wouldn’t be where she is. At least Obama got to where he is a completely on his own accord.

Everyone seems to be missing the larger point. It does not matter whether Hillary or Obama deserve the votes they get. What matters is what demographic each dominates, and what this means for the general election. Because he is Black, Obama gets 90% of the Black vote, which gives him the edge in the primaries. In the general election, however, Hillary has the edge because she will draw more White voters and women. There are many more White and women Democratic voters than Black Democratic voters in traditionally “blue” states, so Hillary has a better chance of winning a general election than does Obama.
This all seems pretty obvious.

Bob Johnson hopes people are ignorant of the fact Barack Obama initially trailed Hillary among Black Americans.
You may recall pundits asking the question is Barack Obama black enough?
Yes Bob Johnson comments like Geraldine Ferraro are intended to be racially divisive. Ferraro said the same thing about Jesse Jackson. In 2006 she said it would be easier for a woman than African American to be elected.

Bob Johnson has NO credibility, who can believe this crap, this is the same man has owns a station (BET) that protrays black as whores, drug dealers and pimps.

“Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race. If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?”
The above quote is from Obama’s own Senatorial website. Google it.

Bob Johnson is as delusional as Hillary. He really believes Bill Clinton is Black. And Hillary is still ducking sniper fire. Does she really think we’re going to forget all her lies. We don’t want you Hillary, so stop trying to force yourself on us like someone with a fatal attraction! And for the record, yes I am bitter!!!

We all know that Obama’s African American support has increased over time. Its super silly season now!! The Clintons are bringing the surrogates out again to play the race card, and now they are doing it under cover, with the Black Man, Bob Johnson. Lanny Davis, last weeek, “we have not heard enough” about Rev. Wright. Get over it…you lost Hillary and Obama will be our nominee.
Dems need to unite to beat McCain

Bob Johnson(That man with dirty money who pimped black women for profit)thinks he can just open his mouth and say any nonesense and would be believed. Barack will have been where he is whether he is black,white,blue,green, yellow or pink. The guy is just brilliant and inspirational and that is why people are flocking to him. If anything at all, if Barack was white he will have already wraped up the nomination. Let me use myself as an example. When I first heard of Barack was when listened to his speech at the 04 democratic convention and I was blown away. The question is, was I blown away because of his color? The answer is no. Its because of what he said. And consistently, he has delivered similar speeches all across the country. That is the reason why people love him. He brings out the best in us and we love him for that. We don’t love him because of his color. Bob Johnson,that professional pimp, is wrong. And he knows it

The problem with Bob Johnson’s comments is that Obama did not “start off with 90% of the Black vote.” Many Black people did not believe he could actually win, so they backed Clinton. And, well, then came ol’ Bill riding into the Carolinas and the rest is history…

It’s moments like this, I thank GOD I am a REPUBLICAN!!!

Bob Johnson is right.

I am so saddened that Mr. Johnson would make the assumption that we in 2008 can’t see the content of Barak Obama’s character rather than the color of his skin.
To think that Americans can’t support someone is more of an outsider to Washington, someone who just paid off their student loans, someone who is young and vibrant….
Mr. Johnson I guess we have to respect your loyalty to the Clintons while you support our support for Barak Obama, the candidate who DESPITE the color of his skin, is leading the Democratic primary.
I guess we will see who Americans really favor…

Ron M
Obama is an arrogant opportunist.
End of story

I love what the commenter Stupidity had to say, they are exactly right. As far as Bob Johnson, well what you say, I really don’t believe he deserves a response. At one time I recall I might have had some admiration for him as an entrepeneur, but now he has exposed his soul and it is so dark, it would take me into the darkness with him.

Hillary Clinton was leading Barack Obama in all polls–I was a Hillary person–until her dear husband opened his mouth and and injected race into the campaign in South Carolina.

Ferraros rather extensive comments at the time about Obama’s “historic” candidacy implied that she thought America was ready for a Black President and not ready for a woman president..I think the fact that she was branded a racist by Obamas campaign is one of the dirty tricks he’s used to try to minimize and vilify Hillary.
I don’t agree with her but her comments were harmless.
Is is OK for a Black man even though he’s a Hillary supporter to state his opinion? Yes!
There is a difference between being attacked for talking about race and being racist.
Wright was profane and he attacked people personally from his pulpit (I’ve listened to the whole sermons and that fact doesn’t change) His attacks were anti- White….and anti Jewish in his writings…and also directed to Obama’s political opponents…Is this OK because he’s Black?
Obama’s comments in San Francisco were not just about guns and religion (although they are being watered down for public consumption) He also was saying that small town America is racist and anti-immigrant…basically because they are bitter. Is he right…Because the Obama campaign is spending a lot of energy judging others and pointing fingers. I believe he’s wrong about small town America.
I also think that with the help of the media that he’s going to convince some people he was complimenting them.
If Obama is elected America will suffer greatly(not because he’s Black but because he has been playing the “race card” all along. He is the most inexperienced candidate in recent history. He has a thin record of accomplishment that has been propped up wherever he goes…..He reminds me of Bush more than Kennedy.
In my opinion Obama became the “establishment” candidate in Iowa…and the reason Kennedy suggested he run in the first place was because he had no record whatsoever and they thought there would be no way that the voters could fault him on position because he had never stood up for anything. He also has a lot of charisma! His speech making overall in this campaign may not even be his views…..Even his webpage in the top right hand corner has a quote from Devall that he used in his MA race and as usual it is not credited.
Obama is not exactly an empty suit rather he is a marketed product by a really slick Axelrod machine that has built in the premise that no one can attack him because that makes them a racist.

I find Robert Johnson more aggravating than Geraldine Ferraro. At least with Ferraro, she had years in elected office (ie. should have known better) and being a past Democratic standard bearer (I feel the same way about Joe Lieberman). I neither liked what she said then nor do I want to hear another word from her on any issue. But I think I understood where she was coming from and would not label her a David Duke racist.
What does Robert Johnson have or know to support his beliefs or leanings? He founded BET. Before the push of skin on BET, he had the beginnings of an alternative press like theroot or blackamericaweb except readily available for couch potatoes that don’t usually read the newspaper. He merged with a monopoly, had his power subsumed in the corporate structure, and has ego to fall back on.
He lied when he said he wasn’t referring to Obama’s experimentation. He then came back and said he apologized because no one believed the first statement. Either he knew what he was saying and got caught or he didn’t know what he was saying and is posing as a Hillary surrogate.
Either way, I am tired of him. I want him to take his opinion and those other big wig Democratic donors away from the policy dispute in the primaries. If he wants to distort and lie, he should keep it within the conglomerate he is now a part of. They might be able to put it to good use.

Both Bob Johnson and Geraldine Ferraro are absolutely right: If Obama was white, the nomination would long since have been decided, and Obama would be the Democratic candidate.

The black people that voted in the same precinct that I voted in were voting for Obama because he is black. No one is making a secret of that. For the most part there are a large number of black voters who heard their was a black candidate running for president name Obama and they vote for him. If they were asked to identify three additional thing Obama not including race and gender the majority could not name three things. For the most part since a whole lot of black people spend their time trying to get to minimum wage jobs riding public transportation the don’t have time to keep up with what happening on the political circuit. Obama “hope” resonates with them/us however ill protrayed it may be given by the candidate. What Bob Johnson did not say is that Obama’s expect the black vote as if it is his right even though he know that he only be able to throw crumbs in our direction because he will owe so many rich white people for their support. So once again we end up with “Reagans Trickle Down Effect”. A vote for Obama by a poor black person is irresponsible and a betrayal to our children.

… Before Obama….. did you hate Johnson?
….Before Obama……did you hate Bill Clinton?
….If 88% of the Afro -Americans vote for Obama, should 88% of all the other colors of citizenry vote for Clinton?
… Is this not the most uniquely ridiculous display of racism yet?
Sort of like Michelle’s saying, during a recent photo opp, “we need another white face over here”.
….Did you know that your beloved Barry was the ONLY candidate who could not make time for ceremonies memorializing Martin Luther King… either on the anniversary of his birth, or on the date of his assassination because he was too busy campaigning?
….Do you know how well he treated the Afro-Americans in his district? The ones who froze in Rezko’s tenement while Obama pocketed the gas money?
….Do you not feel comfortable in the the company of people like Louis Farrakhan, Rezko, Reverend Meeks and Pastor Wright? Have you ever read the writings of Farrakhan? Can you picture the group of them in the oval office setting the protocol for CHANGE?
….Do you really think that Obama has the best healthcare and economic plans for our beleagured country?
….Did you really not enjoy life during the prosperity of BIll Clinton’s Presidency?
….Be careful who you vote for.
….Be very very careful!

Mr Johnson would not be where he is if he was not black. Funding from BET came from minority grants, grants not accesible to the people that lack color. We all know what BET has done to improve the imge of black people. Give me a break.

jgaw-Of course the media does not want to discuss this issue. I guess it would be bringing to the forefront the numerous and many obstacle and deficit black people face in this country. It would prove that racism is alive and well no matter how you much it is ignore and swept under the rug. The thing is black people have been consistently exploited by black politicians. This is how sad the representation in my neck of the woods is. For twenty-three years one of our black state rep. was re-elected. He only sponsored and pass three bills, all related to one unfunded Holiday. Two years ago, he was defeated because of his inept platform. The person who won the election managed to sponsor three bills during the past two years but could not control is conduct. To make a long story short our lazy non-effective politician ran and was re-elected. Of course another black politician stay in office for twenty-five years without any real results. For years he was unopposed on the ballot. He was finally defeated but only after he betrayed his constituents by voting with the Republicans against the welfare of the people who put him in office. Currently he is a lobbyist for the Rep. This is the same way that Obama has handle his political career exploiting the people who entrust him with their welfare. Just another exploiter and then want to send the black people to the back of the bus. Let the white people sit up front.

Of course obama would not be anywhere near where he is if he wasn’t black. Everyone knows this, but the black people in this country won’t admit his only qualification is the color of his skin.
He has done more to divide this country right now than bush ever did. obama in maybe 8 years might make a very good candidate, right now he is not ready.
A lot of democrats are disgusted with the campaign he has run. And that because of this McCain is going to win the election. It seems that every single time the Democrats have a change to win something they shoot them selves in the butt and spew that crap all over the place…just wait and see when McCain wins.
Remember most of the states that voted for obama are mostly republican. And after you count their votes, the Democratic votes won’t be enough to over come them. And 2/3 of the country including Democrats won’t vote for obama. That’s the problem and the Democrats are going to loose again and it is not fair.

Over 90% of Black Americans voted for White guy with no senate experience.
His name, Bill Clinton.
Hey ABC look at what Al Jazeera is
covering, the economy. How about that?
Video: Pennsylvania voters hit hard by US downturn – 15-04-08 AlJazeeraEnglish

Can you all please stop insulting the intelligence of black voters.
Hillary started out this campaign with a majority of the black vote, it was hers to lose.
So 1, Obama didnt have the black vote from jump. 2 the black vote was Hillary’s to lose and she did.
3, what makes black voters any less informed or their choices any less important than other voters?
Think about that before you let a republican hack, Bob Johnson, twist your thinking.
Surprising enough black people like all other people can and do think for themselves.

So the African American media mogul Bob Johnson thinks Ferraro was right: that the only reason Obama is on his way to the nomination is because he’s black, in other words, affirmative action?
How pitifully uninformed. Even I, a middle aged white man, know that the biggest recipient of benefit from affirmative action always has been and continues to be white women.
So if that ridiculous remark applies to Obama, it must apply “in spades” to the white woman in the race, who shall go nameless lest he who speaks it turn to stone. What utter filth.

And we’re supposed to take anything a Clinton supporter says that’s being reported by another Clinton supporter about Clintons Dem. competition seriously? Yeah right!

Bob Johnson has done more harm to the black community with his acceptance of buffonery and mysogynistic behavior on BET that he need not dare act as a voice of cultural reasoning for anyone. He fired Tavis Smiley for stirring the waters a bit too much. He failed to mention women voting for hillary because she is a woman. Blacks voting for her because she is a clinton. Hillary would be nowhere wihtout her name . She rode that to a senate seat. And a presidential nomination.
Hypocrites

Bob Johnson is a very smart person but he should know that telling the truth about obama and black voters could put him in much danger. All of obama black supporters must agree with rev wright and the relationship of obama, Louis Farrakhan, Rezko, and rev meeks. The white supporters must be just plain stupid. Obama has lied several times during this campaign to blacks and white over the rev wright issue, doing drugs and the list goes on and on. Most of the time, obama has to go back and say I DIDNT MEAN IT THAT WAY.

I respectfully disagree with Larry. As an African American woman, I do not vote or make my decisions — especially political — based on the color of my skin or anyone else’s. I’m much more intelligent than that. All politicians say things on the campaign trail that they later regret. Politicians are known to spin the message to the audience…including Mrs. Clinton, which has been proven time and time again. Bob Johnson’s comments should not be taken as truth — it is just his opinion like the rest of ours. Because he is a black man talking about another black man does not translate into he knows what he is talking about. That’s what makes the ability to have these kinds of exchanges so sweet. We can do it in a country through a medium that provides these opportunities. A white woman and a black man…I didn’t think I’d see it in my lifetime. I was a Clinton supporter (and still admire both Clintons for many reasons), but changed as she, her husband and surrogates like Mr. Johnson became acid in their attacks with so much entitlement injected in their delivery.

So, can someone please explain to me why Ferraro was subjected to a witch hunt, when Obama says this (and he must agree with it’s accuracy cause this Chicago Tribune article is posted on HIS Senate website):
Quote:
“Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race.
If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?”
(I’m leaving out the links – cause this post keeps getting deleted, and I think that may be why).
Let’s be fair here – cause she got totally and utterly trashed and ruined for expressing the same concept he did. SHE IS OWED A BIG, FAT, GIGANTIC APOLOGY, and I emailed every news outlet with a computer to tell them so.

For Bob Johnson it is paytime. It is not about supporting Hillary. It is about Obama having for so long against the culture BET is spreading in Black communities.

Bon Jonhson is not only a sellout but he is also behave like the typical “house negro” that used to work inside the slave owners house because of his sellout abilities. Obviously such slaves received better treatment than the slave working on plantations because they were always keen to denigrate their own in order to retain preferential treatment. From now on I will be watching Fox News and CNN and will request my cable network to remove BET from my channels.

The problem with Bob Johnson speaking out and believing that he has any right to speak on what African Americans thinks is riduculous. He completely sold out African American this was displayed througout he time with BET by the programing he allowed to pollute the airways. He couldn’t beat MTV head to head so he reach out to the lowest common demonitor in the African American coulture and put on shows like BET after dark that portrays women and men in the worst light possible. So all I can say to bob johnson is shut the he– up no one respects what you have to say and you are using this as way to gain attention for yourself because no one I can think of in the African American is listening or cares what you have to say.

Bod Johnson is a sellout, we have been voting for white candidates all of our life and Bob Johnson never had a problem with that…. Now he’s going on TV talking about black people voting for Obama because he’s black… So??? I don’t see white folks going on TV debating they’re voting for McCain because he’s white… Bob Johnson is a true sellout… 40 years ago we were asked to move to the back of the bus by our white brothers, unfortunately today we are being thrown under the bus by our own black brothers…. It’s a shame

People saying that it is fine because white people vote for white people are missing the point. It would be a useful statement if only 10 percent of whites were voting for Obama. Clinton has supporters because of her issues, Obama has supporters because hes new and smooth.

Again the race card is being played loudly to confuse people. I really hate the words “Back and White” When are humans going to learn that in the eyes of God these colours do not exist. Only bigoted people keep these words as fuel for the fire. No wonder the world is in a mess and no nation knows what to do next.
Obama is as colourd as Clinton. The truths are that Clinton is a woman and Obama is a man. What people should be voting for is the intellect, the vision for the world and the ability to correct this white and black anathema, including the ability to unite people of all races. BARACK OBAMA has these qualities, but unfortunately CLINTON does not. Just think for a minute what she said about Iran “… she would use nuclear weapons to wipe Iran out of existence” are these words for a sane person? As a Presidential candidate such words should not have been used. What she forgot she was saying is if the leadership of Iran does attack Israel she will finish Iran which includes innocent children and mothers. Is this craziness or cleaver politics? Personally I HATE WAR and HATE TO SEE INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE FOR NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
BARACK OBAMA as president of the America will be for a united America and more peaceful world. Mrs CLINTON as president of America will continue the status quo.
I must quote Martin Luther King Jr word from his I HAVE A DREAM speech and see whether we are heading that direction
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — “We hold these these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.
For those who want to keep race in their heart please go on.

The Black Obama race started with his affiliation with Trinity church and Rev Wright. Obama and company called the race card, nobody else.