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BET Founder Apologizes for Obama Remarks
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters
Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama,
for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate
herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to
assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.
Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for
comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday
that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
Johnson initially denied he was talking about Obama's drug use, saying he
was referring to the Illinois senator's days as a community organizer.
Johnson backed away from that explanation Thursday, two days after Hillary
Clinton said during a nationally televised debate that she considered his
comments "out of bounds."
"In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate
remarks for which I am truly sorry," Johnson said in a written statement. "I
hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail."
Johnson's comments and remarks by both Clintons before the New Hampshire
primary last week had alarmed several black leaders and drew a rebuke from
Obama and his top aides.
It began when Hillary Clinton gave an interview in which she seemed to
discount King's role in the civil rights movement. Later, former President
Clinton cast aspects of Obama's candidacy as a "fairy tale."
Obama and Clinton later called a truce in the controversy.
Johnson's apology and Clinton's visit to Compton was her latest effort to
reconnect with the black community after she and Obama engaged in a bitter
exchange of words over the issue of race.
In Compton, Clinton praised King and promised to assist with this city's
rebirth.
"'Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by those who are
doing it,'" she said during an appearance at a church, quoting noted black
novelist James Baldwin.
Clinton pledged to help Mayor Eric Perrodin with his goal of "birthing" a
new Compton, which has struggled with crime and poverty.
"I know something about birthing," Clinton said. "You need a president who
will be a partner. Who says, 'What is it I can do to make sure this birth is
easy and successful?'"
Among other things, the New York senator said she would open opportunities
for young black men in the so-called "green collar" jobs program she has
said she'll create to help develop alternative sources of energy. She also
pledged to commit $200 million over five years to help ex-offenders
transition from prison.
"A lot of our young people, disproportionately young people of color, are in
our prison system and they don't belong there. They are non-violent
offenders," she said to applause. "I believe strongly that when someone has
served his or her time - her debt or his debt to society - then they ought
to have the slate wiped clean."
It was the first of several campaign stops for Clinton in California, which
holds its primary on "Mega Tuesday," Feb. 5. She was set to hold voter
roundtables on the economy later Thursday in Northridge and Santa Barbara.
The campaign also began airing its first ad in California on Thursday, a
spot called Voice that first aired in Nevada this week. Clinton talks about
the ailing economy, home foreclosures and the rising cost of health care and
gasoline.
Obama was the first Democratic hopeful to go on television with a commercial
that began running in the Bay area last weekend.
A large number of the state's Democratic voters reside in the San Francisco
Bay area and Sacramento, as well as in Chico and Eureka.
Clinton planned a final day of campaigning Friday in Nevada, which holds
presidential precinct caucuses Saturday.
BET Founder Apologizes for Obama Remarks
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters
Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama,
for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate
herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to
assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.
Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for
comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday
that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
Johnson initially denied he was talking about Obama's drug use, saying he
was referring to the Illinois senator's days as a community organizer.
Johnson backed away from that explanation Thursday, two days after Hillary
Clinton said during a nationally televised debate that she considered his
comments "out of bounds."
"In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate
remarks for which I am truly sorry," Johnson said in a written statement. "I
hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail."
Johnson's comments and remarks by both Clintons before the New Hampshire
primary last week had alarmed several black leaders and drew a rebuke from
Obama and his top aides.
It began when Hillary Clinton gave an interview in which she seemed to
discount King's role in the civil rights movement. Later, former President
Clinton cast aspects of Obama's candidacy as a "fairy tale."
Obama and Clinton later called a truce in the controversy.
Johnson's apology and Clinton's visit to Compton was her latest effort to
reconnect with the black community after she and Obama engaged in a bitter
exchange of words over the issue of race.
In Compton, Clinton praised King and promised to assist with this city's
rebirth.
"'Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by those who are
doing it,'" she said during an appearance at a church, quoting noted black
novelist James Baldwin.
Clinton pledged to help Mayor Eric Perrodin with his goal of "birthing" a
new Compton, which has struggled with crime and poverty.
"I know something about birthing," Clinton said. "You need a president who
will be a partner. Who says, 'What is it I can do to make sure this birth is
easy and successful?'"
Among other things, the New York senator said she would open opportunities
for young black men in the so-called "green collar" jobs program she has
said she'll create to help develop alternative sources of energy. She also
pledged to commit $200 million over five years to help ex-offenders
transition from prison.
"A lot of our young people, disproportionately young people of color, are in
our prison system and they don't belong there. They are non-violent
offenders," she said to applause. "I believe strongly that when someone has
served his or her time - her debt or his debt to society - then they ought
to have the slate wiped clean."
It was the first of several campaign stops for Clinton in California, which
holds its primary on "Mega Tuesday," Feb. 5. She was set to hold voter
roundtables on the economy later Thursday in Northridge and Santa Barbara.
The campaign also began airing its first ad in California on Thursday, a
spot called Voice that first aired in Nevada this week. Clinton talks about
the ailing economy, home foreclosures and the rising cost of health care and
gasoline.
Obama was the first Democratic hopeful to go on television with a commercial
that began running in the Bay area last weekend.
A large number of the state's Democratic voters reside in the San Francisco
Bay area and Sacramento, as well as in Chico and Eureka.
Clinton planned a final day of campaigning Friday in Nevada, which holds
presidential precinct caucuses Saturday.