Abdul-Jabbar To Magic: Obama's No "Rookie"

Unbeknownst to him, basketball legend-turned-author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was pulled into the 2008 campaign fray this week.

In a radio ad airing in South Carolina, Abdul-Jabbar's former teammate Magic Johnson endorses Hillary Clinton and suggests that her chief rival, Barack Obama, is an overreaching rookie.

"We won our first game on a last-second shot," the former L.A. Lakers point guard 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."

The team captain that Magic is referencing: Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, who told the Huffington Post that Magic has it wrong about Obama. "I don't think he's a rookie. He's served as a senator very capably, and he is very skilled in terms of his ability to organize and lead people. And that's what we need right now."

Abdul-Jabbar, who recently authored a book charting the lasting impact of the Harlem Renaissance, said he doesn't fault Magic Johnson for his endorsement. "Mrs. Clinton is not a bad choice, I just think Mr. Obama is the best choice."

But he noted, "Unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton has been at many times a divisive figure, and I don't think that's intentional on her part, but I do think that's the case."

Abdul-Jabbar's book "On the Shoulders Of Giants" addresses the legacy of key African American leaders (in a glowing book review, the Washington Post said the author had transitioned from "iconic professional athlete to astute cultural historian.") But he chose not to weigh in on the recent racially-loaded spats between Obama and Clinton.

Instead, he pointed to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's false claim that his father had marched with Martin Luther King Jr. as the "most outrageous attempt to use Dr. King's legacy in a very fraudulent way." He also described as "disgraceful" former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's recent embrace of the Confederate Flag as a political issue.

Abdul-Jabbar saved his sharpest criticism for the Bush administration. "I don't think a country that practices extraordinary rendition and has denied people habeas corpus and has practiced torture, that is not a country I am very proud of," he said. "We need people that can reach out in various directions and make the case for our nation both internally and in terms of foreign policy. I think Obama's the right person to do that."

Comments

[gerrylong]

Right on Kareem:

I'm so sick of Bushes and Clintons in presidential politics I could throw up on all of them.

Jesus, we got 300 million people in this country, some brilliant people all over the place, and we've had Bushes and Clintons hanging around like mosquitos. Get 'em out of there.

[hank48188]

Kareem must be going blind and deaf, all you had to do was watch Obama stumble into Hillary talking about Obama's friend "SlumLord" Tony Rezko after Obama's Wal-Mart comment about Hillary. Google the name Tony Rezko and at the botton of the page you will find a link to mydd.com and it has about 100 pages about the relationship with Tony,who is now under Federal Indictment for political corruption in the Chicago area. Rezko raised over $180,000 for Obama, maybe Obama has some trouble if Rezko turns rat.

[teahead]

Jabbar better endorsement than the AIDS-stricken Johnson.

[nomobull]

AND HE MANAGED TO MAKE HIS POINT WITHOUT NAME CALLING.THANKS FOR THE EXAMPLE ON HOW TO ARGUE IN FAVOR OF YOUR CANDIDATE.

[CalculatedRiskTaker]

He's no Super Star either !

[zelduh]

Thank you, Kareem! I don't think I can stomach 8 more years of the divisive, polarizing Clintons! Another Clinton administration will be nothing more than fights, fights, and more fights with the Republicans. Absolutely nothing positive will be accomplished for eight years of Left v. Right misery (save, possibly another Clinton impeachment action if we don't get enough Democrats with spines into Congress.)

I heard today that the LA Times is leaning toward an endorsement for Billary. (Please, God; say it ain't so!)

If Billary wins the nomination, again, a Bloomberg candidacy is looking better and better. (Ralph Nader is also considering running again...)

[manndan]

Somehow I think Kareem's endorsement carries a lot more weight than Magic's.

[HuffingtonGlue]

Kareem would make a fantastic Senator or Congressman, imo.

[rini]

Kareem is the man!!

I totally agree with everything he said.

Good luck to Obi in the coming months. It would be a beautiful thing if he were elected president. I would actually have hope for this world.

[lynnn]

Okay I know I posted this on the Obama Bill post, but this just really speaks to me. This quote needs to be posted everwhere in the U.S.

"At this stage, we are in a state in Pakistan where so-called democratic forces are only interested in coming into office. So ultimately, they only prop up dictatorships," she told CNN from her home in Karachi.

She raised her voice as she described what she feels is the core of Pakistan's political problems: the lack of a true democratic culture. Instead, she said, the country is run by power grabbers.

"Ultimately to them, it's a game of revolving chairs. As long as they get to be in one, they don't care who's in the other one."


http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/22/bhutto.niece/index.html

[Rubiconski]

Rookie mistake Magic. Should have stuck with the winner.

[JohnofWoodstock]

I need to agree with Kareem. I was a Clinton supporter but I don't think she can really bring change and she is definitely not inspirational. She is a very divisive person. Her negatives tell that tale. Her arrogance in claiming experience is a lot of bunk. As M. Dowd noted in the Times if experience is what we want, maybe we should elect Cheney. Barrack is fighting two ruthless politicians who, like the Bushes, think they are entitled. Out with old, in with the new.

[ptarantino]

I love Kareem Abdul-Jabar, he is truly the center of a winning team.

[enyapjeff]

Beyond the Magic vs Kareem issue, I am glad to see that another man of wisdom, a calming voice has given is support to a new voice.

It is no wonder why so many young people are supporting Obama. Hope is based upon a belief in the future, not remembrance of the past.

[USA1Observer]

What real credibility does Magic have? He's no different than Bush as far as putting people far more intelligent then himself around him. Educated? Barely! Dude had keys to the local community center and played B-Ball all the time. Cookie did his homework in high school and college. She's still married to him right? Donate any large sum to his alma mater? Nope! Dis his hometown on numerous occasions? Yep! Has he learned how to speak the english language correctly yet? Why give any credence to this dimbulb who is totally all about the Benjamins. Thank You Kareem, Magic is still a "Rookie" in the game of life. Obama '08