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Magic Johnson, in Ad, Suggests Obama Is a 'Rookie'

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January 18, 2008 7:49 PM

ABC News' David Wright reports: The Clinton campaign is crowing about its new radio ad in South Carolina featuring hoops star Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

According to an AP report being circulated by the campaign, Johnson reminsisces about his rookie year as a point guard for the L.A. Lakers, offering some locker room advice to Barack Obama.

"We won our first game on a last-second shot," he reportedly says in the ad.  "I was so hyped.  But the captain of my team said, 'Take it easy rookie, it's a long season, it's a long road to the championship.'

"He was right," Johnson concludes.  Keep that in mind, Mr. Iowa Caucuses.

But a quick Google search of the Lakers 79-80 season suggests the analogy may not be so good for the Clinton campaign.

The Lakers faced the '76ers that year for the NBA championships.  Even though the Lakers star player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went down with a sprained ankle during the championships, the Lakers prevailed in the best-of-seven series thanks in large part to Johnson's razz-mataz.

Johnson went toe to toe with "Dr. J," Julius Erving, scoring 42 points, with 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, leading the Lakers to a 123-107 victory in the final game, despite Philadelphia's home-court advantage. 

Sportswriters still regard Johnson's clutch performance as one of the finest individual games in NBA history.

So, yes, it's early. 

But, then as now, perhaps there's still time for a rookie to show his stuff.

January 18, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (45)

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And a lot of folks are pointing to Iowa and saying: See, Iowa is 97% white and they voted Obama.

Does no one realize that Republicans can cross over in Iowa AND New Hampshire - and vote Anti-Clinton for the good ole days? Obama won because Republicans voted in the DEMOCRATIC caucus and primary. You get to Michigan and 4 candidates Put Together cannot beat Hillary? 4 candidates supporters ALL vote for uncommitted and they can't overcome?

And it would have been worse AGAIN because Republicans could vote Democratic by signing up as Independents to vote uncommitted.

So now African Americans say OBAMA CAN WIN - look at Iowa, and N.H.!

Then the republicans laugh as we fall into a race war, and kill each other. Then the person with absolutely no experience or evidence that he has a clue what to do once he's there, wins. Even Obama said he is no manager, he is no administrator.

How in the hell do you run the oval office if you can't run your own lower status office? It's W Bush all over again. Someone without a clue, pretending to be a uniter and not a divider, inspires racial votes to divide his way to victory?

This is a disaster folks! And they are looking at Iowa as proof whites voted FOR Obama? They voted AGAINST Hillary because they were Republicans in Democratic clothing. We are going to lose :( bigtime :(

Posted by: Edge-Of-The-Abyss | Jan 19, 2008 12:38:21 PM

Remember people, we are in the process of electing someone President of the U.S. of America. This is not some basketball game where the game is over when the game ends. The Presidency is too important and serious to trivalize as being a game of basketball which is only a game after all, and nothing more.

Posted by: benvictor | Jan 19, 2008 12:51:15 PM

I love the "Republicans crossed state lines to vote for the democrat" BS.

Repubs don't waste their vote on LIBERAL Democrat pukes you idiots.

Get it through your LIBERAL heads. Your canidates are a disaster for this nation. You will do nothing but TAX and SPEND into bankrupcy with your "Universal Health care" and the "Bail out the poor home owner" crap.

You are economic idiots.

Posted by: Riteaidbob | Jan 19, 2008 12:54:29 PM

Hillary, Obama, Rommey, Guiliani will never win in the general election, not matter how much money they have, how much free media they have. The bickering between Obama and Clinton are dividing the Democratic party to the delight of the Republican, thats the only hope the Republicans have of winning the Presidency again. They feared Edwards and they helped created the Obama buzz, to use him as a weapon to hit Hillary from both sides, then this Obama-Hillary bickering and hatred is making the things worst for the Democrats. Obama was the Trojan horse the Republicans need it to divide and conquer!
Aren't they clever...you go Rove...you are about to do it again!

Posted by: The real choices | Jan 19, 2008 12:59:07 PM

Bottom line is that Hillary is not electable. Her negatives are too great to win a national election. She can't bring about change simply because she has no possibility of getting elected.

Posted by: Terry | Jan 19, 2008 1:00:22 PM

This is such an incomplete article. So Magic is backing Hillary. We knew this. What I want to know is where cam I go to find out about James Worthy, A C Green, Byron Scott, and Kurt Rambis? That would be true journalism! Heck, you don't even tell me who Kareem is backing!? I guess Fletch will have to come out of retirement and THEN we'll be talking Pulitzer!

Posted by: TSnow27604 | Jan 19, 2008 1:06:58 PM

So now Majic Johnson is a bad person? Anyone who supports Hillary is a bad person? Those Obama supporters are really smart. Is Rezko a bad person? Obama has been named in his indictment. You Obama supproters should go over the The Chicago Sun Times and read the story. This is just the beginning of the end for this 'perfect candidate'. He is just as dirty as the rest of them. He has been dealing with this guy for over 15yrs. He will say he didn't know anything. Honesty from Obama.

Posted by: Bret | Jan 19, 2008 1:19:00 PM

Does this mean if Obama gets elected no one can ever use the words “fairy tale” again, or any other words that might suggest he doesn’t know what he’s doing or what he’s talking about or that he might be full of BS, because that might be perceived as racially insensitive?

That’s a serious issue, regardless of Obama’s politics, if political speech is going to be curtailed about something as important as the performance in office of the president of the United States, because someone’s feelings might supposedly get hurt.

I’m guessing anything remotely resembling any of the delightful remarks about Bush's chimpy appearance, intelligence, preparedness for office and performance in the last seven years would pretty much be out with poor old Obama.

Can you imagine four years of an Obama adminstration's racial slicing and dicing? What a mess. No way.

Posted by: Ben | Jan 19, 2008 1:23:14 PM

TO BEN:can you imagine, another four years of bush-like rule under hrc? its obvious since her voting record is very similar to that of most republicans!

Posted by: JACOBS | Jan 19, 2008 1:30:42 PM

Edge-of-the-Abyss:
You should learn some history.
Lyndon Johnson was at one time a racist!
There was a clause in the deed to one of his houses that said it could not be sold to Blacks(Negroes).
Johnson signed the civil rights act for the same reason it was passed as a tribute to the recently assassinated,
JFK! Also in case you didn't know it,
Senator Robert C Byrd was a member of the KKK(Grand Wizard)!
Considering the fact that most if not all of the Southern Governors who were holding back blacks in the 1960's were
Democrats, they shouldn't boast about their abysmal record!

Posted by: reaganfan | Jan 19, 2008 1:31:34 PM

So Obama's going to win, without knowing what to do, when to do it, who to have help him, where to go first?

Is there no need to know how to run anything anymore? He hasn't completed a term in office yet and he's running for the top spot? And ideology is going to spring forth and we are all saved by an outsider who doesn't care to know how to manage anything, words out of his own mouth? And this is the formula to victory?

Let's say he wins. Then what? Another George W. Bush without a clue what to do. Over his head. Out of his element. No allies because he divided the country to get a win. No achievements in office to show everyone he can win. I mean it is a disaster. We already elected a clueless non-manager and it has been HELL. And now we are supposed to do it again. I mean at least Bush was a Governor. Obama has what credentials? People would never hire such a person to run a grocery store, let alone President. Have none of you ever seen the Classifieds for employment, asking for proof of experience? Why now, for the most important job in the country, should we accept someone without proper credentials and zero experience?

No company would hire a person with that resume. He may be a professor. He may be a State Legislator. He is a Senator without having completed a term. But he is now qualifed? Rubbish. The Republicans will kill him; every debate he will be stumbling, uh uh uh, um um well uh, you see, its, its well . . . that rubbish is never going to fly. Searching for terms. Pausing to find the answer. Hesitating. Scanning the brain. It shows that without prepared notes and scripts, he is fumbling and they will expose him right away.

Posted by: Edge-Of-The-Abyss | Jan 19, 2008 1:36:59 PM

Johnson may have been a racist but at least he FAKED it enough to sign the bill into law. MLK was not a legislator. Never was. Never had the power to sign bills into law. Couldn't force anyone to sign it if they didn't want to.

The President has to enact all those good intentions. Period. If they can still fly that flag in the south, despite all the protests, then those in power can force things on the nation even against their will. Just look at S. Carolina. The flag still flies, even in the face of those that cried out. The flag is that of an enemy nation that made war upon the nation, and the flag, that you live in now. How is it any different to fly an Iranian Flag, or a Chinese Flag, if you can allow that rag of disgrace to fly in the south? You live in the nation that was formed from the victorious north, and yet you people still support that flag? And we are traitors?

Posted by: Edge-Of-The-Abyss | Jan 19, 2008 1:42:04 PM

Teddy Rosevelt and Abe Lincoln were republicans in name only.

Ronald Regan has his moments of dishonesty under oath. No one says a word. His health precluded him from continuing in office, as the law states, one must step aside if they are impaired, and now republican health experts somehow claim that Altzheimers ISN'T an impairing disease. It is treasonous to remain in office when you are aware that you cannot continue. But republicans are heros.

Iran Contra allowed weapons to fall into the hands of our Middle Eastern enemies and then were used against us killing our troops, but Ronald's a hero?

He cheats on his wife and marries Nancy, but he is a man of god despite committing adultery?

You people have your own version of history and morality and it is a joke. You have Gingrich impeaching a president for having an affair with an intern while he is having an affair with an intern. But he gives it to Jesus and is forgiven. Clinton gives it to Jesus and he is a liar.

Clinton sells the Lincoln bedroom you say, while George W. Bush gives the attorney who argued before the Supreme Court to get him elect, the Chief Justice's seat. And THAT'S NOT INSIDER ACCESS? That's not prid quo pro? (spelling, sorry :()

Bush family has their fingers in a bank that fed Hitler money, but they are good Christians?

You have the Bush Baby trying to run a failing oil biz with money from a Bin Laden and he is a patriot?

You have Bush veto healthcare for 10,000,000 children because there's no money, and then in the same speech demand 140 BILLION for war? And he is a uniter not a divider?

If you were an elected official or whatever, I hope to hell you never hold public office again. You are a danger if you believe that the above mentioned is patriotic, christian, and somehow moral.

Posted by: Edge-Of-The-Abyss | Jan 19, 2008 1:52:51 PM

Can someone explain to me why Clinton is the "experienced" candidate when she's only held elected office since 2000? Obama was elected to US Senate in2004, but was an Illinois senator since 1997.I agree with Cassey, ABC seems to favor Clinton. The night before the NH primaries, Terry Moran was calling Obama "cocky" on Nightline.

Posted by: Sara | Jan 19, 2008 2:05:36 PM

Who does Magic think he is? As one of the previous posters pointed out..where does he get off trying to bad mouth Obama? I guess there are Clinton clones just like there are Bush clones. Look whhat happened inthe last eight years. Who care what 'Magic'' thinks? I sure as heck don't.

Posted by: Hollyinla | Jan 19, 2008 2:23:11 PM

Magic was a rookie when he led his team to the NBA Championship and was MVP against the "veteran" Dr. J's Sixers. When the stakes were high, a rookie produced - bad example Magic is using to try and prove a point.

Posted by: Kevin | Jan 19, 2008 2:23:42 PM

Obama has more experience than some of our presidents have had. Some of who were very famous. Guess it doesn't really matter. What matters more is the intelligence and ability to lead. And of course the issues.

Posted by: AnnD52 | Jan 19, 2008 2:40:13 PM

A couple of days ago, a person on CSPAN stated that Hillary’s turn-outs (speeches and town hall meeting) are as large as Obama’s turn-outs but the media outlets want to give more coverage to Obama. Because, they feel Obama is at a disadvantage compared to Hillary. Hillary (formal first-lady) is well known because of her husband. If Hillary is given a speech or conducting a town hall meeting, the media will only show Hillary. If Obama is giving a speech, then the media outlets will show the crowd of people cheering for him. Has Obama every done any town hall meetings? The media outlets should state the facts on each candidate not pick our next President.

Posted by: suzelee | Jan 19, 2008 3:08:31 PM

I have a question: How does her husband's years in the becomes her experience? She was not the president. Yet everyone assumes that being the spouse qualifies. What about all the other wives of past presidents? Would they qualify?

Posted by: Angel | Jan 19, 2008 4:48:18 PM

HA! HA!
you guys were wrong about hillary! she has the experiance,the brains, and we need a woman in the whitehouse to get us out of this mess georgie w. put us in. give her credit where credit is due.
she will do just fine!

Posted by: ellie | Jan 19, 2008 5:51:41 PM

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