BET anchor Jeff Johnson bizarrely likened the popularity of President Barack Obama to the reaction many Christians have to the name of Jesus during a segment on Tuesday’s Larry King Live on CNN: “There’s a joke sometimes -- when you can be in a church, and if you just say Jesus, the people will shout. I mean, now, if you just say Obama, people will shout.”
Johnson, who was the main correspondent for BET during the network’s coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign, participated in a panel discussion during the second half-hour of the CNN program with Democratic strategist Paul Begala and former McCain campaign advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer. King’s program aired immediately after President Obama’s press conference on Tuesday evening, and the three participants gave their reactions to the reporters’ questions and the executive’s answers and main issues.
King brought up the issue of race, since President Obama had touched on the issue during the press conference. He asked the BET anchor, “Jeff, has the race issue been severely diminished?” Johnson actually denied that race had been a serious issue during the campaign, and proceeded to make his odd comparison:
JOHNSON: Well, I don’t know if the race issue was ever really an issue. I think that there were points in the campaign where it was talked about as a result of Reverend Wright and Obama’s, quote unquote, race speech, that really wasn’t as much about race as people said it was about race. But America never really talked about it. I think what I like about this comment is that, you know, there’s this energy around the African-American community. There’s a joke sometimes -- when you can be in a church, and if you just say Jesus, the people will shout. I mean, now, if you just say Obama, people will shout.
Well, at least you can credit Johnson for not going the Chris Matthews route in his Obama/Messiah analogy.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Please, please, please
March 25, 2009 - 14:28 ET by HeavyChevybefore anyone answer this post just remember "WE" are all not in agreement with BET.
→ Of course Chevy
March 25, 2009 - 14:30 ET by Cool ArrowBut at the mention of Obama, I'm likely to shout.
Of course I'd be shouting things I wouldn't say in church.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
You took the words right
March 25, 2009 - 14:31 ET by moderncommentaries83You took the words right outta my mouth.
I sure shout when I hear Obama, things I wouldn't say in church that usually include a lot of four-letter explatives...
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Exactly
March 25, 2009 - 15:19 ET by YahooWatcherThe words I use would make my mama go look for the bar of soap.
Don't Tax Me, Bro.
As usual I can always depend on the NB folks..
March 25, 2009 - 15:59 ET by HeavyChevyto be the voice of reason. Thanks. Now that is out of the way let the flailing of the Obama butt kissers begin!
I agree 150% Cool
March 25, 2009 - 16:04 ET by HeavyChevyNo doubt!
→ Plan the party
March 25, 2009 - 16:20 ET by Cool ArrowFour years from now, we all need to get together and raise our Steins to the end of tyrrany.
Long as it's Pork Ribs, Tater salad, and Red, White, and Blue bunting, I'm home.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
EU leaders starting to shout, down with O'Dumbo...
March 25, 2009 - 23:49 ET by ScrapironNice speach in the UK that applies to O'Dumbo and Brown. You have spent all of 'our' money. Our great-great-grandchildred not yet born are in debt hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Statement out of Germany that the last time anyone did this stupid sh** a little man with a mustache took over. O'Dumbo is repeating the 30's so look out for the fall and the world war that goes with it. Can we impeach him now or do we have to wait and let out children try him as a traitor to the American people and watch him shot at the wall?
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Don't worry Heavy
March 25, 2009 - 15:15 ET by RukusI think all of us here put you only in one group:
Red-blooded, patriotic American. We're all in this together my freind.
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
Amen to that Rukus!
March 25, 2009 - 16:04 ET by HeavyChevyeach and every last one of us!
Agreed Heavy
March 25, 2009 - 15:39 ET by ksimm81This Jeff dude (and BET in general) is an embarassment to black folks everywhere.
I am a black woman and Obama nauseates me.
Tell me about it!
March 25, 2009 - 16:01 ET by HeavyChevyHey makes sense
March 25, 2009 - 14:30 ET by MillerTimeWarpwhenever I hear a libtard say the word Obama, I immediately will respond with [censored] !
Same thing ?
Obama!
March 25, 2009 - 14:48 ET by blazermaniacWhen I hear the name, I just want to throw up!
He should be embarrassed
March 25, 2009 - 15:04 ET by katiejaneto say that and embarrassed by the people who do that.
"don't bring politics up at the dinner table"
March 25, 2009 - 15:10 ET by katainkentthat's what I shout :)
Looks like it was Jeff
March 25, 2009 - 15:24 ET by celatorLooks like it was Jeff Johnson's turn to move the Old Media's agenda to propagate the political holiness and salvation offered by The Nutty President. Just doing his job.
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded
Media Susidized Blasphemy
March 25, 2009 - 15:31 ET by nofateI'm putting this up on every post put up today. Our side needs to find someone, anyone in the political class that is not afraid to talk to Obama like this-
A little off topic, but I just watched this video at American Thinker, "If Republicans Had Any Guts", of Daniel Hannan, a conservative member of Parliament that our pols all need to watch. Where are the conservative members of our House or Senate that would stand up and say this to Obama and his henchmen? Instead our Republican so-called conservatives use Rush, Hannity, and Levin for cover so they don't have to appear to nakedly against Obama. Do you want Obama to succeed or not??? Where's your balls??? Shriveled up inside, it looks like. Kudos to Mr. Hannan.
The pols are still leaving it up to the talkers with the targets on their backs, taking every opportunity to run the opposite direction and not cover their backs ala the "fairness doctrine". Read Mark Levin's new book. If the pols can't grow a set, the voters are going to have to.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
Daniel Hannan
March 25, 2009 - 20:47 ET by jdlybrandWould that we had a voice in our legislature like that of this man. Great link no fate. I'll be purchasing Levin's book as well.
"It's a World, World, World, World MAD"
Mad Magazine parody of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Mad World"
circa 1966
jdlybrand
March 25, 2009 - 22:26 ET by nofateHere and here are a couple of links to Bobby Jindal's speech to the Republican National Campaign Committee that I heard Rush talking about after I posted the above. At least he is a national political figure taking a stand instead of leaving Rush, et al to take the heat. He is actually offering cover for the oh so brave Republican congressmen. Where was Boehner on this???
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
Thanks again...
March 26, 2009 - 06:16 ET by jdlybrandJindal is a man I can stand behind. He speaks from his heart. His words reflect principles and values. Something Washington is sorely lacking in. I say throw the bums out.
The inmates are now running the asylum.
i shout
March 25, 2009 - 15:39 ET by ronto all those around me to get out of my way because i'm going to barf
LOOK IN MY EYES...
March 25, 2009 - 16:19 ET by danybhoy...what do you see? The Cult of Personality,
I know your anger, I know your dreams,
I've been everything you want to be, I'm the cult of personality...
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
The only shouting I have heard that includes Obama and Jesus is
March 25, 2009 - 16:44 ET by R D Helm...[comment deleted]! Obama wants to spend how much?
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Remember when Michael Jackson was venerated?
March 25, 2009 - 16:54 ET by ekslibWhy Are Michael Jackson's Fans So Devoted?
Despite His Legal Woes and Years of Bad Press, 'The King of Pop's' Fans Have Stayed in His Corner
By BRYAN ROBINSON
Feb. 23, 2005
http://abcnews.go.co...
Marion Berry
March 25, 2009 - 17:01 ET by RR GOPMarion Berry Syndrome.
Most blacks will support The One merely because he's black...some will deny that's the reason, and others will say, "Damn right that's why I support him."
Whatever.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
on your dime
March 25, 2009 - 17:08 ET by CatherwoodMore sugar! Just a reminder: all of you who are paying for DISH and DIRECT satellite tv are paying for BET with your hard-earned dollars. Every month you send in your money and BET, CNN, MTV and other liberal media take part of it. And, do you know what the really good part is? You can't do a thing about it. As long as you have these services, you're paying the bills for guys like Johnson to have a place to praise Obama. Amen
johnson
March 25, 2009 - 18:00 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby Who cares what he says, I never watch BET anyway.
Of Course! He's Their Substitute God, Like Hitler Was for Nazis.
March 25, 2009 - 18:11 ET by farstar99He is the cult leader, they are the cult.
And now, thanks to GOP bungling, the cult leader has his own army.
Amen to that
March 25, 2009 - 20:35 ET by jdlybrandIf John McCain and Barack Obama were the answers; it must have been a stupid question.
obama
March 25, 2009 - 19:58 ET by MaytagI read this just before leaving work today. I was sitting in the control room and thought I would try it out. I said obama very loudly the response was profane and varied, but was basically what did that mother------ mess up now. I do not think he is impressing people that have to work with his policies
Wonder how many black folks are embarrassed now...
March 25, 2009 - 21:03 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . . by Obama and stupid remarks by other blacks like this man from BET?
Seems to me that cheerleaders such as this guy -- Jesse Jackson Jr. also comes to mind -- are so uncertain or concerned about Obama that they must compare him to the Christ.
But, gee, do they look and sound stupid. Really stupid.
As for mentioning Obama's name and shouting: Yep, that happens. But not the shouting Obama or BET would want to hear.
Bottom line
March 25, 2009 - 21:16 ET by jdlybrandJesus didn't need a teleprompter. This stuff borders on Blasphemy. They may not be embarrassed, but they should be ashamed.
When I hear that name it makes want to SHOUT TOO!
March 26, 2009 - 06:49 ET by JaykeJust not the kind of things one would say in a church setting. BARRKY is an ILLEGAL ALIEN/FAUX PREZ and he knows it.