Magic's got some 'splaining to do

Well, we can use you to provide free promotional advertisement in the theaters and the campaign staff will be needing some TGIF daiquiris at the end of the week. Oh, and bring the basketball; we'll be using it at the indoor court at 1600.

Magic like so many other African Americans did not believe Sen. Obama could beat the Clinton machine. He had a right to choose Sen. Clinton but as he said the primaries are over and now we are to unite and if Magic can help the process let him on the bandwagon.

Within the Black community (the concentrated demographic where Magic leverages his branding and enterprises) his maximum value is to speak to the crisis, I repeat, outright crisis & epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Yes I've seen some posters of Magic addressing this issue in urban centers recently. However look at the stats, the leading cause of death of Black women betweeb aged 24 & 44, look at the sheer numbers of HIV/AIDS infection in Black communities. It's clearly a crisis, epidemic, in explosion and warrants-needs a "field general" working on this and nothing other than this 24/7/365. If Magic wants to be a foot soldier, make him a General and send him to this Battle. His mission? He'll already be serving Obama voters or "speaking to the choir", his job is to exite & maximize voter turnout and work to save a generation (from the crisis & epidemic).

Magic does not have to explain sh**! He supported Hillary and she lost. It happens.

I disagree with JoJo in that Magic does not have to explain ****.I feel that he , Calvin Butts and the rest of her black Celebrity supporters were negligent in their responsibilities to her and the community when they watched the racist tenet of her campaign and she and Bills statements and said nothing. By not doing so they allowed their celebrity to be used to endorse racism and all of its manifestations including those and not exclusive to the ones made by Geraldine Ferraro. I must say that I am happy that Laura Bush showed herself to be more of a lady than Ferraro and the lot Magic, Butts and the rest in reference to even the attacks on Michelle.

Ramses, valid and solid point. The Clinton and their supporters at numerous points said numerous things that were founded and framed in racism. Maxine Waters, Bob Johnson, Charles Rangel, Magic Johnson, Shirley Jackson Lee, Maya Angelou, NONE OF THEM, not a single one had the courage and character to 1) step up and 2) separate themselves from the tone and speech of Team Clinton. Hillary herself said many divisive things, justified staying in the race by referencing the process could meet a fate like Bobby Kennedy and Obama could be assassinated in June, etc. No matter how racist Bill Clinton was, no matter how racist and vile Hillary Clinton was, there is a class and type of "Negro" that accepted all of it, that's the Magic Johnson type. Only 1 person I know who was on the fence spoke up, and that was S.C. Jim Clybourne. No matter how outrageous or offensive, these supporters like Magic Johnson did not have a problem with Hillary. I've met Magic, and if I meet him again, I will ask him, ".....was there no point in the Clinton Campaign, despite all the things that came out of her mouth, Bill's mouth.....was there no point where you felt marginalized as a Black person..."?

I believe magic had just as much right as anyone else to support Hilary. In the beginning there were a lot of us who went with the familiar Clinton brand as opposed to an unfamiliar Obama platform that wasn't very forthcoming with policy details. However as the campaign unfolded it became obvious that the Clintons were old skool politics and white entitlement while Barack was a new, fresher, more relevant force. I dont think anyone should support Barack solely on the basis of his race. Just as I dont beleive anyone should vote against him solely on the basis of his race. We all had to accept this thing in our own time, Magic included. Now I do agree that once bitter, entitled Bilary showed up Magic should have jumped ship but......no harm no foul. Welcome to Obama mania Magic!!

He does not have to explain anything, he couldn't tell the truth about his private life, so, why would he have anything to say now that would matter on any level? And, he is free to support whom he wants, even if its the race baiting HRC, McBush or anyone else, but, should be mocked when he is as vocal as he was about that woman. Sorry, Magic is no better than Bob 'booty shaking' Johnson, all that money and still no class and both have forgot, they are still black men in America, maybe a trip to her bastion's like West Virginia to stump for her would have reminded them of it.

Anonymous I agree and I believe in this one Rep. Clybourne showed himself to be a true example of community leadership honesty, integrity and manhood. He stood with dignity and made me proud to be a southerner and a Black man. I am most disappointed that Mr. Calvin Butts first endorsed and said and did nothing as the sh***t of those comments of Ferraro, hardworking Americans i.e. is white Americans hit the fan. Perhaps after the Wright and Butts the Church folks will tell their preachers to inform and not endorse. That the pastors political feelings are and should remain personal. Perhaps now they will use their influence to inform, mobilize and inspire their parishioners on the issues and not tell them how to vote.

The one who should get hung out to dry in this aftermath is Maya Angelou. Lets not forget that hurtful moment. I sure am not about to forget it. She of all people. As in the case of Magic and every other endorsement from hoop stars and football players, rappers and so forth my view has not changed. Who cares?

I guess we have an answer to Keith Boykin's question, "Now what are we going to talk about?" We are still going to talk about Obama vs. Clinton.

I believe people should have the right to endorse whoever they please. However, I also believe that those black politicians, community "leaders and other prominent people did themselves a disservice by standing by Hillary as she brought out and banked on white America’s worst character and fears. Maya wrote a piece on this blog right in the middle of the race baiting. I just see these black people as self serving sell-outs it's as if they think racism can not have an affect on them anymore even if it still affects other black folks. That all being said I still love Magic because of the work he does in our communities

I wouldn't be surprised when Maya's new book "Why The Caged Negroes Are Loosing Their Audience" gets very little publicity and sales are few.

Alexander I believe the reason this continues is because many black people were hurt and disillusioned by Hillary& Bill Clinton. By the prejudice and racism of her campaign, and the blatant racism and hate filled spruings of her campaign spokespersons and surrogates. Hilary and Bill we felt were a part of our community (family).It was akin to having a brother or sister joining the Klan. The media once again has been concerned about Hilary's supporters and as usual the voice of our pain is silenced and we are left to deal with our pain and disappointment on our on and we will. So we write, talk, share and the hurt because as quite as the media may keep it healing is a two way street. We have forgiven Hilary but it is harder to turn a blind eye to the treasonous behavior of those Black Americans who like Clarence Thomas, make folly the suffering of our parents and disrespect the pain, blood sweat and tears of our ancestors. Who their by silence during West Virginia /Kentucky by example taught the next generation to be men and women of cowardice rather then courage. But thank God they were not the only examples though history may remember them as such.

I diasgree Ramses. Black people got far too emotional and were the true race baiters of this campagin. And Rev Clybourne spearheaded the whole movement with the "I told Bill to chill" crap after South Carolina. PLEASE!!! We became so sensative to fact that Barack is STILL a politician in a POLITICAL race, that no one could offer the slightest criticism (factual or otherwise) without being labeled a racist. The truth is, WE as blacks were the true racists of this primary. If it were down to Hillary and Edwards, we would have been singing praise to her as we always have. But all of a sudden, somehow, we viewed every word uttered out of her mouth as racist and that's just bull! If Barack loses in November it will be because of us because we still do not get it as a people. We still suffer from the same victims mentality that was inflicted on us and somehow we just can't get past it. Other races who were oppressed, ostrisized, and killed (i.e. the Jews and "Native" Americans - what's left of them) have managed to go on and live! But not us. We want equality on all levels, but as soon as the heat is on, we cry racism. Politics is a tough game. And if you are talking the race for President... My God, it gets nasty and heated. But it doesn't mean someone is racist. Hillary is a brilliant woman and good politician. She got 18 million votes and had the entire country - the world by the balls waiting to see how she was going to respond to Obama's victory. That's true power! And a political force. But we cannot see that because we are so caught up in a "black man" running for president. And don't get me wrong, I do love Obama and hope he wins in November, but we as blacks need to get it together. And stop whining "racism" everytime we are challanged!

What I really dont get is how most public racist confrontations in America have a Reverend at the centre. Otherwise, America is a racist environment, but Hillary's desperate attempt to ride that board paid minimal dividends, that WE got to be greatful for. Most America, which is millions of white people, has embraced Obama inspite of his race. That's the most significant outcome of the race. And it is big of those many white people who have done so despite the history and the current racist psyche of most America. We have to acknowledge that. But even Bigger is the message on how to accomplish it. The point being, that Black Americans should take that lead from Obama, on how to handle the psyche of America, with real dividends. That would be the greatest support for this man. Somehow, however some people, and it seems especially reverends, dont get it.

Anonymity once again it appears you hit the nail on the head. The day is now coming where black males in their 20's will not only be able to name every major black player in the NBA and his jersey number but will be able to name the local alderman, state senator, congressman and so forth. In Louisiana one would think they are asking themselves how was it possible that blacks make up the majority of the population but elected a governor of Indian descent. The reverends were able to rally the masses and took to the streets for the Jenna 6 foolishness but could not do the same to elect one of their own as governor. I am sure we all agree something is wrong with this picture. I look at this election as a chance for black america to correct many of the mistakes that black america made in the past due to the leadership that it had unfortunately chosen to follow. Leadership that was deeply fragmented and extremely territorial. The mentality "those N-words don't live down here or in my neighborhood so why should we bother" existed behind closed doors and we all know it. Jessie Jackson was despised by the majority of reverends around the country and he knew it. However for far too long he was the self declared king of black america. Al Sharpton had to publicly say that it made no sense for black leadership to go around acting like the bloods and the crips when he called for a boycott of Burger King. Though he never named Jackson publicly a calculator was not needed to figure out who he was referring to. Now along comes an ivy league graduate who gets elected to the senate and is obvious not out there for just himself and look at the damage that was almost done courtesy of the two minstrel shows performed by a white and black man of the cloth. They know their days as the king makers are numbered and we are seeing desperate acts by desperate men. The day Barak Obama accepts the nomination it will be 45 years to the very day of MLK's I have a dream speech. Hopefully it will not take another 45 years to correct the mistakes made in the community due to bad leadership.

Chief Executive Barack Obama is pleased his record of accomplishment . Watch his first advertisement of the 2012 political campaign presented by the National Republican Senatorial Committee .