When Magic Backed Hillary, Did Money Buy Love?

In late-March 2007, Earvin "Magic" Johnson made his first ever contribution to a presidential campaign -- $2,300 to Barack Obama.

No formal endorsement accompanied the cash, but most political operatives thought that the famous Lakers point guard would be firmly in the corner of the first African-American to have a real shot at winning the presidency.

On August 28, Johnson made the second contribution of his life to a presidential candidate. This time, however, the recipient was Hillary Clinton. Johnson gave her $2,300 for the primary election and another $2,300 to use in the general election, if she won the Democratic nomination.

In addition, the contribution -- chickenfeed to someone of Magic's wealth -- was backed up with an all-star endorsement.

After Oprah Winfrey, the richest African-American in the country, announced that she would hold a September 6 fundraiser for Obama at her Santa Barbara home, Magic countered with an offer to host a Clinton fundraiser at his Los Angeles house on September 14. As the two candidates competed for the support of black luminaries, Johnson announced that co-chairs of his Hillary event included Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, musician Quincy Jones, and music executive Clarence Avant.

"Senator Hillary Clinton understands the domestic and international issues better than anyone," Johnson said in an August 12 press release announcing his fundraiser. "[Hillary] has the experience and knowledge to help lead our country and get us to a better place. We need a winner as our next president."

On December 17 and 18, Magic joined Bill and Hillary for a tour of Iowa. Speaking in Davenport, Johnson infuriated Obama supporters when he told the crowd, "You don't want somebody in there that is young or a rookie at politics" -- a direct dig at Obama.

What happened between Johnson's $2,300 contribution to Obama in March and his $4,600 donation to Clinton in August?

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Over the summer, a seemingly unrelated series of events intervened.

In June, Johnson, who is an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur, began talks with billionaire Ron Burkle about forming a joint investment fund of $750 million or more to take advantage of the growing and lucrative markets in inner city and minority-owned businesses, according to Eric Holloman, president of Johnson's Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund.

Burkle has been one of Bill Clinton's closest friends and supporters. Burkle and Bill Clinton were often seen together in and around Los Angeles, and Clinton frequently stayed at Burkle's mansion, which was the scene of much-reported partying. Burkle gave Bill Clinton a lucrative consulting job as a senior advisor to his investment firm, Yucaipa Companies.

When Hillary announced, Burkle became a strong backer and encouraged Johnson to support her.

Now, spokesmen for both Burkle and Johnson flatly dispute that there is any connection whatsoever between the Burkle-Magic investment partnership and Magic's Hillary endorsement.

"There is no correlation at all between the [Johnson-Burkle] private equity fund and him backing Hillary Clinton," said Eric Holloman. "No one has told Earvin what to do since Pat Riley [former Lakers coach]. Earvin needs no more fame, no more money."

Frank J. Quintero, spokesman for Burkle's Yucaipa Companies, described as "preposterous" any linkage between planning the fund and the endorsement. "Ron and Magic have been friends for a dozen years and have supported the same candidates," Quintero said.

Johnson's support for Hillary has been apparently unaffected by a separate development involving Bill Clinton and Burkle. In late September, well after Magic Johnson's Hillary endorsement and fundraiser, the relationship between Burkle and Bill Clinton was reportedly severely strained by a September 26 Wall Street Journal article detailing some of controversial dealings by Burkle's company, Yucaipa.

The WSJ story reported that a young Italian businessman had convinced Burkle and a Clinton aide to invest millions of dollars in a controversial and poorly-run venture buying up urban properties owned by the Catholic Church. Clinton, allegedly furious at Burkle, began the process of withdrawing from Yucaipa.

Comments

[synonys]

Maybe between donating to Obama and Hillary, Magic saw that Obama lack substance on the issues.

[Nutcase]

I always go to sports and entertainment figures to give me direction on complex issues. It's so much easier than thinking.

[fullkelly]

Obviously THE HUFF POST has became the "BASH HILLARY CLINTON POST". How long before RUSH LIMBAUGH & Co. begin to Write and Post here?

ADIOS huffington

[itsnotmyfault]

Thomas B. Edsall, Columbia journalism professor should probably know better than to present this sort of contemptible piece of yellow journalism.

Clearly the intent of the inflammatory headline,"When Magic Backed Hillary, Did Money Buy Love?", is to imply that something nefarious happened and to pillory, Ms. Clinton. Magic simply made a choice.

The team of HuffPost editorialists have practiced this type of non-stop scandal-mongering, sensationalism targeting Hillary, as there standard fare, once it was decided to make HuffPost the all Obama all the time website. It is a strategy that does serious harm to the HuffPost's credibility.

[strifeknot]

Big money clearly wants HRC to win. That alone is reason enough for us leftists to shun her. But there are oh so many other reasons, too.

[KYJurisDoctor]

"Money, money, money. It's a rich man's world."

So money bought Magic". Oh well ... .

http:?OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org

[Zhonni]

I think Mr Johnson has a right to support whom ever he chooses. Not all blacks are going to support Barack, obviously, because it is not about race.

Why would he change his mind so quickly though?

[hlhicks]

Magic has the right to support anyone he wants for whatever reason(s), but it is intellectually dishonest to avoid the fact that his endorsement seems to be a quid pro quo. Is anyone really surprised that the Clinton's would use these tactics? That is not an indictment that is simply evidence that they will do whatever is necessary to win. It doesn't make me think less of Hillary (not sure that's possible), but it does make me think less of Magic, not because of his basketball achievements, but because of what he has done since retiring. As this makes the rounds on the "urban" websites, Magic's reputation in the black community might suffer a little.

[arethabaez]

MAGIC JOHNSON IS A BILLIONAIRE AND A PILLAR OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY!! not: just some dumb former athlete.
EAT YOUR HEART OUT HILLARY HATERS.
PS For timothedemocrat(Dimmy): Magic Johnson ("old people") is 48 years old, 2 years older than your youthful candidate, BO.

[UNCLEJOE]

Electability for the Democrats is the name of the game in 2008. Catholic Kennedy was a political fluke with some 60% of Americans being WASPs, and another large percentage being racists. Obama and Hillary are self destructing. That leaves WASP Edwards as the Democratic nominee and only electable candidate for the 2008 Presidency. If the Democratic really want to win, they will get behind the only electable Democratic candidate, Edwards, all other preferences aside for this one time.

This comes straight from the, 'The Prophecies of the Future' by Nostradamus: "Obama will be the 2016 elected President and Hillary will convert to the Republican Party and join her soul mates, Lieberman and Bush. And she will be a Republican candidate against Obama in 2016 and fade into oblivion.

[DudeE]

Yeah couldn't possibly be that in the midst of a campaign Magic evolved his opinion on the candidates. That would be acknowledging that some people actually believe Clinton is the best candidate and that's just too insane to possibly believe...

I can't believe this is what passes for journalism around here...

[Kreskytim]

Wow you guys at the Huffington Post must be really busy looking for any crappy little headline you can put up trashing Clinton. Do you ring a bell so everyone can jump up from their cubical when you have some "dirt" on Hillary?
I think it's funny how the right in this country thinks that HRC is a flaming liberal and the left thinks she's a right wing want to be, Bush lite war monger.
To bad that the left can not stand up for a women that has taken more crap from right wing freaks like Rush and Hannity et al for 16 years. She has done that as a Democrat. So I guess the left feels it's their turn to stick it to her too? Makes me really sick of the left wing of this party.
I've admired Arianna, I even voted for her for Governor for California but Hillary was standing up for Democrats when Arianna was a republican married to a Republican Senator.
For all those that support other candidates just remember your candidate hasn't stepped foot into the Republican hatchet machine. And when you candidate comes out the other side you won't recognize them. And I hope that as Democrats we won't start to believe the trash they throw at your candidate.

[MNmommy]

Don't y'all get dizzy with all that spinning?

Burckle is allegedly pissed at Bill Clinton nowadays - if Johnson were that concerned about his business dealings, wouldn't he have dumped Senator Clinton?

Curiouser and curiouser for the thinking person.

[barackoblogger]

I just can't wait to see how the Old Guard is going to try to start distancing themselves from their Clinton endorsements once Obama soars in the primaries.

I bet they're praying for a really good Clinton scandal so that they can legitimately run away... fast.

[KansAmerican]

Thomas B. Edsall doesn't much like Magic Johnson. However, if Magic liked ol' Tom, he'd buy him. Huffington post has joined with the MSM in trying to deny Senator Clinton the Democratic Party nomination. However, should she get the nomination, they will do their utmost to defeat her in the General election. Moreover, should Clinton be voted into the Oval Office, Huffington Post will direct themselves for four years, and possibly eight, in trying to destroy her presidency. The Huffington bias, even hatred, against Hillary is equal to that of Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson and others.