| Submit your comments on this article | ||
| Home Front: Culture Wars | ||
| BET founder: black Americans should give Trump a chance | ||
| 2016-11-22 | ||
The BET founder — who met with Trump on Sunday at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey — described the sit-down as a "great chat" about "business solutions to social problems." During the campaign, Trump made the case to African-American voters that Democrats let them down, and argued repeatedly "what do you have to lose" by voting for him. Johnson, who had supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, said he told Trump over the weekend, "The real question you should be asking is what do African-Americans have to gain from your presidency." "Trump is a business guy, and I think he's going to tilt towards finding [a] way to use fiscal policy … to move the economy forward," he said. "Let's give him a shot. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt; see if we can find common ground." "That's what's best for African-Americans," Johnson added. To make his case, Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Cos., quoted founding Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Bill Clay Sr., a Missouri Democrat who served more than three decades in the House. Paraphrasing Clay, Johnson said, "Black Americans should have no permanent friends, and no permanent enemies, just permanent interests." "That's where African-American voters should be," Johnson contended, saying he does not view Trump and the Republicans as enemies or friends. African-Americans have "permanent interests," he said. Johnson said the country needs a leader, "not somebody who's going to sort of choose sides," and he hopes Trump fits the bill. As for whether his meeting with Trump might mean an administration job, Johnson said unequivocally, no. He joked about the odds being "subzero," adding he "never worked for the government … and never wanted to work for the government." | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 "Black Americans should have no permanent friends, and no permanent enemies, just permanent interests." A mature perspective. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2016-11-22 22:38 |
| #8 I was looking at some voter demographics today. Trump got more Hispanic, black and Muslim votes than Romney in 2012. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2016-11-22 22:38 |
| #7 So if he impacts the black community and sweet nags their vote it will be the death nail for the dem party. The republicans could own ny |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2016-11-22 15:58 |
| #6 I hope Trump does well by African Americans, so well none can deny it, and the plantation system the Democrats have been running is shattered. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2016-11-22 15:46 |
| #5 Expect the left to go after him with a fury. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2016-11-22 10:13 |
| #4 People are slowly but surely starting to realize there just might be a major realignment that's taking place. Trump is beholden to no one. Some heads are gonna roll... |
| Posted by: Raj 2016-11-22 01:09 |
| #3 He cares much more about you than democrats. They spent most of their existence fighting every real civil rights issue across the board. Slavery voting education segregation Womans Suffrage democrats fought all of this... and much much more. Trump said it himself: "You have nothing more to lose" |
| Posted by: newc 2016-11-22 00:54 |
| #2 All we are saying, Is give Trump a chance! |
| Posted by: Raj 2016-11-22 00:40 |
| #1 Maybe black americans should be Americans. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2016-11-22 00:29 |