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Barack Obama and the Black Vote

BET News Special

Catch the encore Monday at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

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Updated Jan. 21, 2008 -- BET News profiles the man on a mission to become the first Black man in the White House: Presidential Hopeful Senator Barack Obama. Tune in to "WHAT'S IN IT FOR US? BARACK OBAMA AND THE BLACK VOTE," re-airing Monday at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

A revealing half-hour sit-down interview provides a rare glimpse into the Illinois Senator's life, his family, and his political aspirations as he embarks on an impressive quest to change the complexion of politics forever.

Obama, who made history by winning the Iowa caucuses, is praised as both a political rock-star and a refreshing voice in the democratic party. Beyond the media hype and hysteria, what will Obama's candidacy mean for African Americans? His campaign dubs him as the Pro-change President, but how would life for Black America change for the better should Obama win in 2008 ?  Obama's future will hinge, in part, on how much Black support he receives. What's in it for us?  BET’s  Jeff Johnson  gets up close an personal with a side of Barack Obama few have ever seen.

Catch the encore of "What's in It for Us? Barack Obama and the Black Vote" Monday at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

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USER COMMENTS

  • "obama's plan for america"
  • read barack obama's 64 page blueprint for change and you'll understand why he is the best choice for america. he has a plan. show our strength bp family at your polling or caucus location. if you don't participate, don't complain about the state of america. http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/obamablueprintforch ange.pdf obama won more delegates in the nevada caucus. it's a shame that the mass media is reporting her winning and no reference to the fact that he's in first place with more delegates. (michican won't count at the national convention for moving up their polling date.) i recall when gore
  • "obama is the real deal"
  • please black america get behind this brother. he is the real thing. i am so embarrassed by the comments made by bob johnson. leave it to a black man to bring another black man down. obama came clean about his drug use and here comes bob johnson, founder of black entertainment, throwing salt in the wounds. the clinton's had their time. let's get behind the soon to be first black president. obama stands for the change we all need in this country!!
  • "obama is the real deal"
  • please black america get behind this brother. he is the real thing. i am so embarrassed by the comments made by bob johnson. leave it to a black man to bring another black man down. obama came clean about his drug use and here comes bob johnson, founder of black entertainment, throwing salt in the wounds. the clinton's had their time. let's get behind the soon to be first black president. obama stands for the change we all need in this country!!
  • "discouraging people"
  • why is bet discouraging its voters by running subtitiles abut hilarys win, as obama talks, diluting his message.....that is wrong....very wrong!!!!!!!
  • "get real"
  • listen to hilary...she thinks blacks are fools...she failed in law school, sat for her bar exam three times!!!!!obama didnt..he was top of the class!!!passed his bar the first time!!!!!without bill, who is hilary??????
  • "hopecampaign"
  • hilary does not want to give obama a chance she has been in the white house....its now time for change people!!!!!!tell your parents and grand parents who worship the clintons, that they really are not supoerior...!!!!!!what will she really deliver?????????
  • "hopecampaign"
  • remove bill from hilary, remove bills experience from hilary's resume, and what is left????
  • "obama/hilary"
  • i find it really hard to believe hilary. she started the race card, how can you guys really believe her. obama has integrity!!!obama is genuine. i am not originally from the us i am an immigrant, thus cannot vote, but seeing the games she plays (i am from britain) with her husband to win the vote just makes me wonder why black people should vote for her. she has no respect for obama!!!!!i dont belive a thinbg she says...cmon guys, its time for change...and obama is the right person..look at character. hilary is a junior senator, just like obama...her advantage is she is married to bill...thats
  • "michelle obama, phenomenon w."
  • so maya angelou the phenomenon woman is behind hillary? so where are all you 'real phenomenon women'? i want to see you behind, the soon to be first black lady, michelle obama.
  • "it is time for a change"
  • one of the rappers should rally the youth people who listen to rap to vote for obama when the primaries come to new york and shock hillary, she thinks she got new york in her pocket. lincoln freed the slaves!
  • "wake up black people!"
  • why are all these black men voting for hillary clinton? blacks need to stick together one of us is trying to win and what do we do? its the old people like al sharpton amnd mr. johnson thats trying to recapture their days! its time to move on! this is what martin l king stood for, he had a dream, all the other races stick together except the blacks wheres p diddy? getting the youth to vote for obama! its time diddy!!!!!!
  • "shame on you bet"
  • shame on you bet, you praise your fools and you crucify your saints. bob johnson you are misguided by taking a jab at obama. honestly you are jealous because he knows who he is, his name is native and the rest of the world can't confuse his name with the 'former masters names, he knows where he is from. bob johnson you like the clintons because, if i didn't know what you look like, i would think you are related to the 'former masters' going by your name, may be that is is why you are attacking your black brother. southern evangelicals are not even debating race because they know, what they wil
  • "shame on bet"
  • of the clintons - get out and vote for obama and make a difference
  • "shame on bet"
  • obama is in this race to win as an american. he has never used his race as a platform. hillclinton brought the issue up and is now trying to turn the tables on obama and the african americans. now is the time for the clintons to be stopped. get out and vote against hillary clinton - she is a user and liar. a lot of black americans talk about how they can't get a head or be knwon for anything in their lives, well my friends here is an intelligent, dedicated, professional, good and kind man "obama" whom wants to make a difference in this country. this country doesn't need another round wit
  • "bet sabotage trick"
  • bet is using an old sabotage trick. focusing and making obama a black candidate instead of american one. viacom (cbs)is using our field hands to scare the white vote into feeling obama is an special interest only candidate. regardless on what is actually said its the perception
  • "b.e.t. being absent minded"
  • i don't watch bet like i use to but i did catch a glimpse of it earlier today. on the t.v. they were promoting "the black vote" by voting for obama. i blast bet for being so selfish by doing that. you think that they would be promoting black people to watch the primary and choose the candidate they want and not forcing black people to vote for obama because he is black.
  • "obama win prove usa not racist"
  • if the actions of a few people in a truck or a town or a on any given day are all the proof you need to come to the conclusion that america is racist and white people are racist... then why doesn't the actions of a whole state also prove that america and white people are not is not racist? ponder that question grassshopper!
  • "wake up and smell the coffe"
  • this is a wake up call.i give this men alot of credit its time for black people to wake up and get involved in politics not just buy voting but by running for different positions in the gorverment like congress.face it we dont have a large representation in the goverment.bet should be more open to the idea of endorsing obama.i'm very dissapointed that bet have distint them sefl's from this man.watch the show at 10 pm
  • "disappointment"
  • i'm some what disappointed with bet. i dont know where their priorities are sometimes. this show tonight needs to be on at 8pm not 10pm on the bet news that no one watches, or at least does not get as much viewing time. its like what are they thinking about sometimes. "got to have my hell date and american gangster first". i wonder if they really want people to watch the show.
  • "obama"
  • for bet to ask the question of what's in it for us can't seal sen obama's fate quick enough. this coming from people who actually had the gumption to hold a forum about hip hop in america while playing the videos. why not ask this question of all the candidates? it wasn't that long ago that john edwards was asked that question by a white man who fears if sen. obama is elected he's going to be giving out favors to all the blacks in the public eye particularly sharpton and jackson. it's not him who's banking on the black vote it's sen. clinton. like do you guys think before you put these shows t
  • "obama: true perspective"
  • i think also when will black america (african americans, afolatinos,creoles etc) start understanding the rules of economic politics. listen to obama, not the same race tactics, we have to progress forward from that. look at the big pond to catch the big fish
  • "yes he is safe: and so what"
  • so what america thinks obama is a safe bet....so was jackie robinson, and look what that has done with people of color in sports. dont let this proganda fool you. he can win. he can win on his issues. just listen and follow through
  • "semi black"
  • ok here's the deal,everyone seem to be making a miracle out of the fact that obama seems to be making some progres in the polls..well, don't be decieved by the polls..the polls are doing exactly what the republicans anticipated for them to win the white house again.."independent" voters simply means "republicans in waiting to vote when it actually matters" and that is the vote for the big prize ie. the white house..in addition, it's no secret that wite voters view obama as a safe bet,i mean after all his own mother is white so why shouldn't he be trusted? if only jesse and al had the luxuary o
  • "semi black"
  • ok here's the deal,everyone seem to be making a miracle out of the fact that obama seems to be making some progres in the polls..well, don't be decieved by the polls..the polls are doing exactly what the republicans anticipated for them to win the white house again.."independent" voters simply means "republicans in waiting to vote when it actually matters" and that is the vote for the big prize ie. the white house..in addition, it's no secret that wite voters view obama as a safe bet,i mean after all his own mother is white so why shouldn't he be trusted? if only jesse and al had the luxuary o
  • "obama and the black vote"
  • when will the press stop making everything about color? obama did not win the iowa caucas with the black vote, he won with the young vote. if you are going to make this about his dominance among one segment of the population, should it not be about the one that put him in first place in iowa? but, more importantly, should not this documentary be focused on him as a presidential candidate who happens to be african-american? one would hope that the american population will continue to vote as the iowans did, based on whom they believe is the better canidate, and not based on race or sex.
  • "truth2"
  • i've been reading over some of the comment,concerning "obama"and what is expected of him that in fact he wins primary and possibly presidency, i sincerly believe this senator" will make a great impact for america's creditability,im hoping that he view the issues of all peoples, their are adverse conditions within every ethnic culture,im hoping finally he will bring to the table fairness affordability and opportunity, america is ready to go to work for better hope, better comfort,to bargain with our nieghboring countries with reasoning for the better future of all counties
  • "encouraging everyone to vote"
  • everyone must register to vote to nominate the candidate for president of the united states. please check your local primaries and caucuses for deadline to register and nominate your candidate. our people have endured far too harsh circumstances for the elite of us to just do nothing. it is your responsibility, and if you do not take responsibility, your spirit should convict you. your spirit should convict you for the thousands of people who died just so you could have the pleasure of being a person, not property. it should convict you when you look at the educational accomplishmen