(By Norah Mallaney and Jonathan Eyler-Werve from the Global Integrity Commons for The Talking Points Memo Online)
It is now conventional wisdom in right wing press (and has been repeated in major outlets) that Johnson and Obama are “basketball buddies”, but characterizations of that relationship prior to Rush Limbaugh’s comment on the issue do not seem to support this. Like most Democrats, Johnson supported Obama’s presidential bid and was a donor to his campaign. Johnson attended a meeting with Obama along with other mayors while in town for the inauguration. Prior to this, the former NBA star turned mayor tried to get media attention by suggesting he would beat the President at hoops. There’s no indication they ever played, and the group meeting at the inauguration appears to be the only time they have ever met. Johnson, like many local politicians has publicly described himself as “like Obama“, but despite Obama’s popularity, Johnson never suggested that the President was particularly aware of him. The former basketball player won his first election in November 2008.
Editor’s Note: We would second this opinion, based on previous suggestions made here at Baller-in-Chief. And he’s not exactly gushing about Obama in this piece.
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