BET billionaire Sheila Johnson endorses Obama

[jefferson_dem]

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

[Ethelk2044]

1. Amen!

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I agree with her 100%

[journalist3072]

4. Why?

It seems to me that Sheila Johnson is saying nothing of substance about Obama. Just simply that he's an "oustanding" guy. And????

For her comments to carry more weight with me, it would have been nice for her to outline what policy positions Obama has, that she agrees with.

It's a huge disappointment to me that some of my fellow African-Americans (i.e. Tom Joyner and Sheila Johnson) seem to be asking us in the African-American community to unite behind Obama simply because he's the African-American candidate. And I think that does a great disservice to our community.

Read the thread I started here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1107089&mesg_id=1107089

[KoKo]

3. Do some research on her.........and not just the press releases...n/t

[journalist3072]

5. THANK YOU!! eom

[MonkeyFunk]

6. Can you fill us in a bit?

I found some articles about here that discuss her charity work, her basketball team, etc. What should I be looking for?

[KoKo]

7. If I can dig it up...I'll post... Did alot of research on her...she was a hero to me...until...

I can't do it now...but I'll get back to it.

[MonkeyFunk]

8. oh come on....

just a one sentence summary.

The only thing I saw that was possibly negative was that she married the judge who presided over her divorce.

[tammywammy]

9. Scandelous!

:)

[Bullet1987]

10. Seems like the Johnson's are trying to have it both ways...lol

[MonkeyFunk]

12. Huh?

What? how?

I'm so lost here - I wish somebody would just come out and say whatever it is they feel we should know.

[Ethelk2044]

14. They are divorced

[KoKo]

19. See post 17 for a summary......

[MonkeyFunk]

20. Post 17 is somebody else's post

saying you don't support Obama. That doesn't tell me jack about Johnson.

[KoKo]

23. Sorry...Just look for KoKo01 at post #18 for the summary after Subject Line.

[Ethelk2044]

11. Clinton Supporter trying to Bash Obama Supporter

People are getting funnier everyday

[Bullet1987]

16. What are you talking about?

I read that the guy is supporting Clinton and she is supporting Obama...it was a bad joke I guess (or people are too serious).

[Ethelk2044]

17. KoKo is not Supporting Obama

[KoKo]

18. I've always been honest on DU....I'm hanging in for Gore...

You don't see me bashing other candidates in GD Politics. But, I will post occasionally if there's something I find interesting. You missed my post with all kinds of Dirt on Gore that got "disappeared" by mods. I posted negative article about Gore because I knew the RWers would get to it eventually. It was so bad that mods must have thought I was Freeping and I've been here for years.

So...I'm not dissing Obama. The article I posted was from Firedoglake...(Liberal Site) and I did some research on the Johnsons a couple of years ago....because of a real estate matter I was checking out.

I don't have a problem with her supporting Obama or Edwards or Gore or whoever...but she's not a saint. But, then, who is these days. She had some problems in buying up land in Northern Va.... for an enterprise that caused a lot of problems for the local folks. Driving up land and forcing farmers out of their homes because of the tax increase. She was putting in a SPA and a big estate and going to use it for commercial purposes. She threw the weight of her money around in the deal and it didn't reflect well on her. The "enterprise" was supposed to have an environmental angle but it turned out it was a place for the Rich and Famous to use as sort of a resort. Not what it was promised to be. That doesn't have anything to do with Obama...but if she's a big backer it might be worth knowing for the future. :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

21. That's it?

I can't believe I even checked this thread again to find out your complaint.

[rinsd]

24. KoKo is not a Clinton supporter (nt)

[Colobo]

13. Good for Mrs. Johnson!

[Colobo]

15. Let's kick this.

[a kennedy]

22. What about Oprah??? isn't she a billionaire too???

and who really is the first black woman billionaire??? Just asking... :blush: :shrug: :dilemma: