BET Co-Founder Backs Barack Obama

By: Rizoh

      Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama has been officially endorsed by Sheila C. Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and ex-wife of media pioneer Robert Johnson. Though Bob Johnson has decided to back rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sheila Johnson went with the Obama because of his “fresh perspective on how to bring change to the country,”

      Johnson will also co-host a luncheon fundraiser for Obama in Washington April 19.

      Robert and Sheila co-founded BET in 1980. They sold the company to Viacom for $3 billion in 2000, two years before the couple’s divorce.

      Sheila Johnson now heads Salamander Hospitality, a resort and retail chain. She also presides over the Washington Mystics basketball team.