BET backs Barack Obama

Published January 14, 2008 5:00am ET



– Carrie Devorah/For The Examiner

Star power

Sen. Barack Obama could have done some serious fundraising at the Warner Theatre on Saturday night, as nearly every VIP at the BET Honors was a full-fledged Obama supporter. We asked the celebrities for their 2008 candidate, and here’s the rundown:

In the Obama camp: Tyra Banks, Ne-Yo, Blair Underwood, Rahim Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, Hill Harper and Chingy. Some even explained.

Mario Van Peebles: “We need someone who can position us anew globally … someone who can bring about deep change. … He’s the one person I know who’s exciting. … He’s smart, and this brother also gets the street! I think he can do it!”

Wyclef Jean (although he conceded that Sen. Hillary Clinton was a close second): “Obama is like the voice of the new generation.”

Cornel West: “Many of us are fighting for him … but it’s getting tense … it’s heating up!”

Kerry Washington: “I’m actually going to go campaign for him down in South Carolina soon.”

In the Hillary camp:


Vivica Fox
: (“We never should have been over in Iraq in the first place. … I’d love to bring them home.” And why not a Republican candidate, Vivica? “They had eight years, and they screwed it up!”)

On the fence:

Alicia Keys (“I’m still deciding”); Richard Parsons (“It’s too early,” but “there are some very interesting candidates”); and Brian McKnight (“leaning toward Obama”).

Staying mum: Jill Scott.