Few demographic groups are more faithful to the Democratic Party than black Americans. But one of the first black billionaires is suggesting that the party has moved so far to the left, it risks alienating them.
While Robert Johnson played a significant role in shaping black culture when it comes to entertainment, some politicos say he is out of touch about the politics of black Americans.
“The party in my opinion, for me personally, has moved too far to the left,” Johnson, the founder of the Black Entertainment Television cable network, told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Tuesday. “And for that reason, I don’t have a particular candidate [I’m supporting] in the party at this time.”
“I think at the end of the day, if a Democrat is going to beat Trump, then that person, he or she, will have to move to the center, and you can’t wait too long to do that,” the lifelong Democrat added.
Johnson’s belief that a centrist Democrat would have the best chance of beating President Trump is a common one, even among some black voters. Former vice president Joe Biden has been leading the Democratic field, including with black voters, for multiple reasons; among them is the belief that he has the best shot at defeating Trump.
Black Americans overwhelmingly back Democrats, even though most black Americans don’t consider themselves liberal. According to a 2018 Associated Press/NORC Center poll, more than a quarter (27 percent) of black voters identify as conservative, and 44 percent consider themselves moderate. Only 26 percent identify as liberal.
