Sheila Crump Johnson (first black female billionaire/Co-Founder BET) Endorses Bob McDonnell for Gov.

McDonnell for Governor ^ | 7/20/09 | McDonnell for Governor

[ReagansRaiders]

Sheila Crump Johnson Endorses Bob McDonnell for Governor

Middleburg Resident is Co-Founder of Black Entertainment Television, a Local Business Owner and Noted Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

RICHMOND- Sheila Crump Johnson, co- founder of Black Entertainment Television, local Middleburg business owner and noted philanthropist and entrepreneur, today endorsed Bob McDonnell in his campaign for governor. The announcement was made at a mid-afternoon press conference in downtown Richmond.

Speaking about the endorsement, Johnson said, “Make no mistake, these are tough economic times for all Virginians. Unemployment is on the rise and families are struggling to stay in their homes. We need bold and innovative leadership to move our state forward and that’s why I’ve chosen to support Bob McDonnell for Governor. He has shown me that he has the right vision and the executive leadership skills that will guide Virginia through these challenging times. He understands that we have to help businesses in our state - both big and small - thrive so that we put Virginians back to work. I’m proud to endorse Bob McDonnell to be our next governor.”

Bob McDonnell noted, “Sheila Johnson is known worldwide for her business acumen, artistic talent, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to helping others. Here in the Commonwealth she is one of our leading citizens as a businesswoman, employer, developer, charitable donor and passionate advocate for her many causes. I have gotten to know Sheila, and I know she takes her political endorsements very seriously. We share a mutual commitment to revitalizing Virginia’s economy, getting Virginians back to work and ensuring that the same opportunities that we have both been blessed by will still be there for future generations.”

McDonnell continued, “We are running a positive campaign dedicated to bringing people together to create new jobs and more opportunities in Virginia. Today’s announcement speaks to the growing support for our effort. I am tremendously honored to have received Sheila’s endorsement. I look forward to working with her in the years ahead as we get Virginia’s economy back on track and our citizens back to work.”

About Sheila C. Johnson

Sheila C. Johnson is the CEO of Salamander Hospitality, a company she founded in 2005. As CEO, Ms. Johnson oversees a growing portfolio of luxury properties including Woodlands Inn in Summerville, South Carolina and Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (a 900 acre, 72-hole resort) in Innisbrook, Florida. In 2008, Salamander Hospitality began construction on Salamander Resort & Spa, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Middleburg, Virginia. When the resort opens in spring 2011, it is poised to become one of the most unique and sought after retreats in the world. Ms. Johnson presently owns Market Salamander and Salamander Touch also located in Middleburg.

As a partner in Lincoln Holdings, Ms. Johnson is the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Ms. Johnson serves as President and Managing Partner of the Mystics. Ms. Johnson is also a partner in ProJet Aviation, a comprehensive aviation service company specializing in aviation consulting, aircraft acquisitions, management, and charter services based in Winchester, Virginia.

Ms. Johnson has long been a powerful influence in the entertainment industry as a founding partner of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and most recently as a film producer. In partnership with other investors, her first film, Kicking It, premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. She served as sole executive producer on her second film, A Powerful Noise, which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. As a philanthropist, she has been a strong advocate of CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. An avid supporter of the arts and an accomplished violinist, Ms. Johnson serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York, a board member of the Americans for the Arts, and a supporter of VH1 Save the Music Foundation. She sits on the boards of the Tiger Woods Foundation, The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Johnson is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Illinois, as well as honorary degrees from numerous other institutions. Ms. Johnson lives in Middleburg, Virginia.

Bob McDonnell: Business Background, Experienced Leader

Bob has undergraduate and graduate degrees in business. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army, both active duty and reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1997. He worked as a corporate manager for American Hospital Supply Company, a then Fortune 500 Company. Bob has a lifetime rating of 91% from the National Federation of Independent Businesses and his Virginia FREE lifetime business rating and effectiveness rating were consistently in the top 10% of the House of Delegates. As Attorney General he managed a large state agency with over 300 employees and a budget of $30 million. During his time in office he created the Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force with the purpose of reviewing Virginia’s regulatory framework to find those regulations that can be improved, updated or amended in order to (1) better involve the people in their government, (2) ensure that regulations do not unnecessarily hinder free enterprise and (3) ensure that regulations do not place undue costs on Virginia taxpayers. The Task Force reviewed over 8700 pages of regulations, passed 4 significant legislative initiatives and made approximately 350 recommendations for changes to sections of the Administrative Code.

[ReagansRaiders]

She supported Hillary in the primary over Obama.

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=VA&last=johnson&first=sheila

[TribalPrincess2U]

Gotcha!

Thanks

[pburgh01]

Looks like we may just get New Jersey back in the little “r” column also. Obama keeps up his stellar impression of Chariman Mao and 1994 may look like just an off year election. Nancy Pelosi and Adolph Hitler share similar aproval ratings and in my travels Democrats are about as hated now as Pubbies were October of last year.

[TribalPrincess2U]

You can still donate to individuals you want to win.

[truthguy]

I guess this is good. I'm not a fan of BET. There are very many shows on the network that have very negative images for young blacks. Are they worse that the average Cable show? Yes definitely although there are worst shows and networks on Cable. For example MTV and E! Channel are worse.

As a side note, what do you think the reaction of the general public would be if you created a WET equivalent? The chattering classes in the MSM would go ballistic. There would be Congressional Hearing, Lawsuits, you name it. You could set off a nuclear explosion in a major city and it would cause less commotion than what would happen if you tried to establish an equivalent WET (white entertainment network).

I never miss an opportunity to point out double standards which exist everywhere today.

[ABQHispConservative]

I know, but the co-founder of BET. I just assumed she was a big time lib. I am genuinely surprised.

[PhiKapMom]

That is AWESOME! The worm is turning — thanks for the update.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Headline?

Sales of Oreo cookies to soar
Former Black Endorses Republican
"She's a house n*****," says state Democrat civil rights leader.

[TribalPrincess2U]

It also depend upon how much some are willing to sell their soul for.

I truly believe that bribes are given freely with this administration.

[Paved Paradise]

Well, it’s good news that’s for sure. I think people like this encourage others to speak out. Not everyone is a new age goof like Oprah.

[Bulwinkle]

DOUBLE WOW!!! She’s a big time DEM donar!!!

check this:
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=VA&last=johnson&first=sheila

[Bulwinkle]

DOUBLE WOW!!! She’s a big time DEM donor!!!

check this:
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=VA&last=johnson&first=sheila

[CaptRon]

They should clue the rest of us in.

[ronnietherocket2]

I think so, since he is getting a high profile endorsement and the party isn’t mentioned.

[Bulwinkle]

See the Post! Like be BIG local news in Virginia and DC:>>>

Sheila Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and the former chairwoman of Democratic Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s inaugural committee, crossed party lines today to endorse Republican Bob McDonnell ...

...Johnson, who has been Kaine’s second largest individual donor and has contributed more than $600,000 to Kaine since 2000 (Adding Feathers to Her Cap — Post, January 2006),

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/07/bet_co-founder_backs_mcdonnell.html

[Corin Stormhands]

FWIW guys, the press release is from the campaign. He doesn’t need to go around telling folks every day that he’s a Republican. But this is not the media “hiding” his party affiliation.

[Zhang Fei]

She endorsed Hussein for President.

The whole point of BET is black separatism. I have a feeling you lose viewers if you endorse the white candidate. With on-line search capabilities with respect to campaign contributions the way they are, you can't even secretly contribute money to the other side. I'm surprised she endorsed the GOP candidate. It would have been easier to keep her mouth shut.

[ottbmare]

I very much admire Mrs. Johnson. She’s a lady of real taste and discernment, and she has done good things for Virginia despite encountering some terrible, vicious racism in Middleburg. She has also done a good job of raising her daughter, Paige. Yes, her insistence on developing some beautiful and historic land near Middleburg is deeply disappointing, but on balance she’s good people. And despite her wealth, she’s a very kind, unpretentious person.

[FreepShop1]

Here she is next to her husband (co-founder of BET, Robert Johnson) at a White House event.

Remember Robert? He was the one who supported Hillary over The Chosen One and suggested that while she was working hard he was snorting coke...

"To me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood –­ and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book."

[Steelfish]

The article is somewhat deficient is not telling us the party affiliations of the two main candidates. Were it not for the other posts many of would be kept guessing.