club. i am in reporter for bloomberg news. the the 106th president of national press club. we are eworld's leading professional organization for e urnalists forthe -- th world's leading professional organization for journalists. please visit www.press.org. worldwide, ithose would like to welcome our speaker. applause from the audience, members of the general public are also attending. it is not necessarily evidence of a lack of journalistic on to activity. i would also like to welcome our

c-span and public radio audiences. an hour lunches are speedster to what featured on our weekly podcasts, which are available on itunes. after our guest speech concludes, we will have a question and answer session. it is time to introduce our head table guests. please stand up briefly as your name is announced. of the sex, politics and religion hour on the voice of russia radio. the ceo and founder of brown capital management.

the senior vice president for corporate communications for the rlj cos. , former for usa today president of the national press club and the speaker's committee chaired this year. president and speakers' committee member. deputy news editor for al jazeera media network. the move to rector four wpsw fm, doyle, ceo of the principal network. [applause] our kids today became the first black billionaire in the united states, the first african- american to list lumpen on the

new york stock exchange, and the first black majority owner of a professional sports team. robert johnson found the black entertainment television, which e sold to viacom in 2001 for about $3 billion. he has made his fortune target in a black urban audience, audience withbet, the nation's -- with bet. debut, the980 company went public in 1981, channels.. he took it private again seven years after its ipo. it is now part of the viacom empire. off critics ofok the years, including spike lee, who complained that b.e.t.

include too much sex and violence by pointing out that in the name stood for entertaining. thesold his stake to -- in shot about cooks to martin -- to michael jordan. the charlotte bobcats to michael jordan. announced itlj was acquiring two content companies to create an online distributor. in february, the company announced a website to match minority job seekers with employers and minority business owners with applicants. mr. johnson said a chief reason he created the site was to reduce the disparity for

unemployment for african- americans. mr. johnson is known for his 15th hour work days and 60 workweeks. he is a native of mississippi and grew up in illinois. his early work included delivering newspapers. something was required him to get up too early to do. after college at the university of illinois and graduate school at princeton university, he found his way to washington and into a series of jobs, including as a lobbyist on what including as a lobbyist. survey of 1000 african american adults to gauge the community's sentiments on politics, the economy, and social mores.

a welcome toe give robert johnson. [applause] >> thanks, angela. the afternoon, everybody. i am delighted to be here. i was sitting here talking to donna and she said you know you have to live when your face is on a cookie. april told me she was going to tweet it. recognizeso like to allyson fitzgerald, the chairwoman of the speaker's and the woman who put this speaking events together. angeles, thank you for that kind introduction and members of the press club for being here this afternoon. there was a national poll that i

commission last month. it was conducted by zogby analytics. they have conducted and produce pulled for over 30 years. they are well respected for their record of accuracy and reliability. the poll was conducted by telephone and online survey with a random sample of 1000 to half an american adults across the country to gauge their opinions -- 1002 african american adults across the country to gauge their opinions. as the founder of b.e.t. and the rlj companies, which include investments in rlj notch trusts. -- lodge and

mcclarity, the largest african-american owned automobile company in the country. rlj quity, and entertainment, the largest independent distributor of entertainment content, which is traded on the nasdaq. i am when you might call the serial entrepreneur. i get a vision about something that should be done, usually in an area where african-americans are economically under represented in the try my best to create a business solutions to help address these social and economic problems. example, a year ago we launch an online job and business side specifically designed to introduce minority individuals and minority

businesses to large u.s. companies to encourage and play -- to encourage employment. in addition to increasing in value, investors and shareholders, these businesses have the goal to empower african-americans to create wealth for themselves and this nation. make no mistake, there are millions of african-american men and women who have the talent, the ingenuity, into the work ethic to fulfil these goals. i think you would also agree with me that the station has created the great society for individual economic opportunity that mankind has ever seen. despite the fact, there is the troubling question then have to be asked. dot is, to what extent

african-americans fully participate in this equation. my primary concern is why spending more money on african american students at all levels than any other time of the history of this nation's and having twice elected an african- american president, black american families are still experiencing a growing disparity in employment, access to capital, wealth accumulation, and as a direct consequence, stagnation in economic opportunity in quality of life. in an attempt to answer these questions, commissioned the poll with the following political and economic and --ements in a month to number

in mind. -- the number one, we have experienced the election and reelection of the first african- american president, barack obama. because of this, this monumental occurrence, i wanted to find out how african- americans today feel about the obamas's presidency and if they feel their lives are better off having lived under the first four years under zero, and the prospect of an obama mensuration for the next -- first four years ofer obama and the prospect an obama administration for the next four years. question, most african american families fall within that category.

the debate raises a question of how much entitlement security the government should make available to these citizens and who should bear the costs of such transfer payments. the issue being raised is whether this country's economic future is at risk because of the rising cost of entitlements heavy debt and deficits that follows. this dispute, no matter how it is resolved, will directly impact african-american families, more so than any of the population. his country has recently experienced the worst economic downturn since the great depression. we are seeing a decline in economic growth and opportunity for all americans. but african-americans have been the hardest hit. this has been true in the past and it is true today, as the most recent economic data clearly drives home the fact. here are the facts.

african-americans of double to double the rate of unemployment as white americans. to be honest, it is probably greater than that when you count the number of african-americans who have simply given up on finding employment. sadly, this is not a new fact. according to the u.s. bureau of labor statistics, african- american unemployment has been double that of whites for over 50 years. the income gap of white americans is 10 times that of black americans. the net worth of the median white household is one and $18,000. the net worth of the median black household -- is $108,000.

the net worth of the median black household is $11,000. again, according to be pew research center, nearly half of african-americans born to middle the 1960'samilies in will never attain the wealth of their parents. 3, african americans were once the largest at -- ethnic minority group and the dominant political force in this country dating back to the civil rights movement. african-americans are now confronted with the growing influence of the hispanic population, the largest minority population group. i wanted to gauge african- americans sentiment about the political and economic changes that could result from hispanic

americans being the largest minority. this demographic that could lead to hispanics potentially exercising greater political influence within the country on key issues of importance to african-americans, namely competition for jobs and minority business opportunities. and perhaps even hispanics becoming the dominant ethnic voice on cultural and social issues. four, i also wanted to find out how african-americans felt about their political leaders and organizations are represented their interests and assess the attitudes about key social and cultural issues of the moment. for example, immigration reform, marriage equality, the gun and assault weapons ban, and the 2016 presidential election. five, i did not know of any organizations that a

recently conducted a poll with this combination of economic and social questions so as an entrepreneur i decided to do it. i want to create discussion in the black community and the broader community to bring to the forefront of public debate, he issues of primary concern to african-americans. i am pleased to say that i am pole by the result of the and i am believe that they are informed. and i am believed that they are informed. i hope you do also. what trillion treated me about the poll was that people result -- what truly intrigued me about opoll ll was that -- the thehe poll revealed that

majority of african-americans believe their lives are at a glass half full. african-americans have an immense sense of pride in barack obama as president of the united states. he read seem to a 91% favorability rating. -- he received a 91% favorability rating. consistent with the data that shows that african-americans believe president obama believes president obama's election has helped them. 72% are optimistic about a place in the next four years. 30% of respondents say they are they areter off -- doing better financially than they were four years ago. 25% say african-americans in general are doing better and 44% say they are doing about the same and 21% say they are worse

off. on race relations, to this feeling that obama's presidency has been positive for african- americans, 53% of african- americans say whites-african- american relations will improve. only 23% are pessimistic. when asked what they believe the black and a plate was double that of whites, responses include the best unemployment was double that of whites, responses include lack of corporate commitment to hiring african-americans, lack of good government policies. respondentsr believed they were overlooked as serious candidates because of their race, 47% said yes and 39% said no. why the wealth gap

mostncreased by $70,000, respondents said lack of jobs and lack of access to capital on the blame for the wealth gap between black and white americans. i agree that unemployment and access to capital are the most pressing issues for african- americans. i also ask about something i have been promoting for the last two years, what i call the rlj rule. two years ago at this press club, i spoke about the rlj rule at this press club. the 32ney mandated that team owners must give interviews to qualified minority candidates whenever a head coaching with general managing position became available before making a new hire. unlike the rooney

is a voluntary rule to establish best practice policies to an unidentified at least two african-americans at the managerial level and to interview qualified black businesses prior to awarding a small business procurement contracts. we could face -- we included a description of this rule in the pull. -- poll. 45% said it could help african- americans be hired and 53% said they would like to see the rlj rule enacted into law. also asked who was a

personal organization that would insure their voice was heard that the national level. an 83%cp received favorable rating. -- national urban reagan national urban league receiving 69% favorable rating. when respondents were asked for the names of individuals who best represents the interests, an overwhelming 40% said no one speaks for them. a segment of people focus on issues of the emergence of hispanic populations, race relations, the levites, and the 2016 presidential election -- gay rights and the 2016 presidential election. most african americans favor a path to full citizenship within two years for aesthetics and are here illegally.

never0% say they should achieve full citizenship. 51% oftingly enough, african-americans believe hispanics will achieve greater economic growth and african- americans over the next five years. 29-year-old share this feeling and 69% of those years or older. some of the reasons for this include, hispanics face less racism than african-americans. the hispanic lifestyle and work ethic, hispanics are given more opportunity and education is better. of african- americans favor a ban on assault weapons while 20% oppose such a ban. this includes a majority of all age groups.

aboutsing a deep concern the reaction to the gun crimes in the black community, 75% of african-americans believe the nation play -- pays less attention to black on black crimes than black on white crimes. african-americans are italy split on the issue of same-sex marriage. -- are equally split on the issue of same-sex marriage. 40% with support the marriage have been the same rights as an essential couples. abouto have the question ministers who oppose homosexuality in gay marriage. the results were also equally split. 31% say the ministers are wrong.

on the 2016 presidential race, we ask the question, and the democratic primary for president was held today, for whom would you all today and who should president obama and dorris to succeed him as the next president of the united states to succeed him as the next president of the united states. more than half said they would support hillary clinton for president of the united states if the democratic primary were held today. about one in five which supported vice president biden. poll clearly, the demonstrates that for african americans, having an african- american president elected to the terms as created a tremendous sense and feeling of unparalleled political pride. because of this feeling and

despite all the economic challenges before us, i believe that african-americans are uniquely hopeful about their future. , hisestingly enough demotion and belief was expressed by president obama during his recent speech to the people of israel. speaking about the african- american experience, the president said, to african americans, the story of the exodus told a powerful tale about emerging from the crypt of bondage to reach for liberty and human dignity, a tale that was carried from slavery to the civil rights movement. for generations, this promise weather poverty and persecution while holding on to the hope that a better day was on the horizon. i completely agree with the

president. however, my concern and may be fear is that if this faith like hope of promise of a better day on the horizon is not rewarded with real and measurable economic change during and after the obamas presidency, the failure to do so -- and it would be regrettable for african- americans and regrettable for the nation, will result in a major shift from home to despair for millions of african- americans who look at this nation in the age of obamas and say our classes have filled and we are still hopeful. think you for your time this afternoon and i will be glad to take questions. [applause]

>> one can presume the poll was conducted for more than just the sake of inside. you do have a specific plan of action that would be informed by the survey results. can you tell us what you plan to ?o now you have the results >> i have always been vocal on the issue of african-american empowerment. i have always been perplexed as to why we always have this gap, this disparity. i figured with some of the changes, ranging from the presidential election and the growth of the hispanic election and everybody else in asserting their rights, somebody's to

start talking about this. person andod press she got it out all over the land. i hope people will start talking bout it. at the end of the day, my goal was to provide fodder for the discussion that somehow it will steer us in the right direction as a people and the country. >> of the results you just told us about, what parts were most surprising. not any real surprises. of gay rights, african-americans are more conservative than the general population. i was surprised but the one that african americans believe hispanics will outpace them economically over the next four years. i did none expect to see that.

i was a little bit surprised on the fact that they were big supporters of immigration reform. question we did not put in the speech, did african-americans believe can rise for the same as african- americans. theire to rule that rights atenolol to african- american's civil rights. the whole mix of it is the thing. most compelling was the undouble faith that african-american people have that there is a better life coming and that things will get better. a wonderful thing to think about. my concern is, at what point does the shifts? if it does not shift, what does it mean? you tell us a little bit

about the nuts and bolts of the pull? double what was the margin of error and where can we find the full -- when was it done? what was the margin of error and where can we find the fuld results? results? zogby has great credibility for the analytics. we are called to we got it right in terms of their opinions. all of the data will be available for anybody who wants to look at it. we did it by telephone and online because we recognize the shift our online access.

the telephone, you get an over skill. we came up with a measurement allows us to weight it. opinion on ther answer that no one speaks for the end? african-americans like to be their own boss. they do not want anybody to tell them what to think or what to do. proximity breed contempt. a lot of times, we get associated with these leaders and we see them up close and we see their phones and we say, we like them today, but we do not like them to model.

we had a list of 10 or 12 names of what i call the usual suspects. nobody jumped up high enough for us to say, this person, this man or woman is a leader. the 40% son was significantly -- the 40% was significantly higher. one person was to know about and aged cut -- and educational background of the respondents. another prisoner wants to know about the geographical representation. got easte sure we coast, west coast, north and south.

there are 75% of african- americans east of the mississippi. you could said it has a south or east coast skew. wanted to start discussion and your here at the national press club doing that. bill cosby sparked discussion a couple of years ago when you did that. how're you going about the different or do you not mind having criticism of that is what comes jim >> -- criticism ifhaving that is what comes? >> i am used to criticism. ien i wrote that speech, could have set my concern is, which is a light version of fear. you go from concerned to fear. literally troubled by the fact -- if you ever go to the

pew research center and ask for some and data, african- americans and decline in upton, it will relief hear you. think of the amount of savings that people do not have to plan to retire, would you think of all the medical expenses that could confront a family for everything from alzheimer's to other kinds of medical diseases that could be falling family, when you think about putting took cuts in the social safety net and that jobs are facing competition in the united states and globally, you have to ask yourself the question, how are african- americans going to make that transition with all these headwinds against us if somebody does not focus on this need to put african-americans and other minorities to work in this country. you can do a whole lot of things in china, in vietnam, in brazil

and sub-saharan africa. you can do it cheaper. at some point, we have got to address that problem or else we are going to be in a position fewer children who are born today will not attain team will of their parents. creates an effect of a continual downgrading of economic well-being. it clearly troubles me that we withbe happy for 50 years 50% unemployment. this country would not tolerate white unemployment at 14% or 15% .e we have had a double unemployment for over 50 years. that is what i am looking for, somebody to say, why has this 50 years?or

we have done it with dignity and hope. change,does not somebody is going to have to pay 34 -- somebody is going to have to pay. 34 million african-americans are not want to leave this country. somebody is going to have to take care of them. whoever is paying for it is going to be upset about it. we cannot be competitive if we do the put all of our people on the field to work. african-americans cannot be consumers of they do not have jobs. the reason the wealth gap is so high is that we do not have home ownership, we do have savings or investment. part of that is because we do not have capital. now it is even more difficult to buy a home. there is talk about taking the home deduction away as a chance

to balance the budget. comes out, solution it is going to impact us. if they borrow more debt, interest rates are going to go up. on ourly need to focus well being in a unique way and come up with solutions the are unique to us. every other interest group in this nation is doing that. we are way behind the curve in the vocal compared to gay americans. usc the resurgence of hispanic americans at the democratic -- you have seen a resurgence of hispanic americans at the democratic caucus. the swing states are the states where hispanic americans are dominant. if you want to get those votes and you are in eighth party, not going to court -- in a

party, you are not going to court the black folks living in trenton. nothing against hispanics. they deserve the day in the sun shine and they should go for it. interests inct our an active way to make sure our voices are not lost in this graph by interest groups for their particular voice. groups forinterest their particular voice. >> how should african-americans respond? is it a larger national policy issue 2? issue?cy in and take ono a company as a black folks do not buy this stuff because they do not do business with minority

businesses. it really did not solve the problem. what you have to do is put more capital in the hands of african- american entrepreneurs and businesses. i know they are out there because a lot of them work for me. of these solutions, and i hesitate to say it, some of have solutions have to -- a pivot toward race solutions. some of these solutions at the college level are under assault. sandra day o'connor ruled in a case that set before you can have any kind of set aside program for a minority country to get a benefit for a contract over a white contractor, there must be a compelling national interest. i think there is a compelling national interest if there is a

90% wealth gap and they can% income gap, when there is a and a 10% income -- income gap, when there is a decline in income to this degree. that is why i brought up the jlj -- the rlj rule. what is wrong with the government saying, adopt this rule as a voluntary thing? what is wrong with companies embracing it as a thing? nobody is asking anybody to force a minority into a job. interview them. they did not qualify for that job, but they qualify for another job. this is that to be a national position. you cannot say boycott company a and make them turn around. that is not going to work because the messaging is wrong and it does not solve a problem.

to be chairman of the house ways and means committee a allle of years ago about this money sitting on the sidelines in foreign banks that companies do not want to bring back to the country because it will be heavily taxed. why don't you go to the companies and say, you capital back into the country? we would like you to set of multibillion-dollar funds to put money behind minority in entrepreneurs. eitherdo that, we will eliminate your tax or reduce your tax dramatically. if they take their money and bring it back, taxes cut in half. they take the money and give it to small entrepreneurs and they make money that way. it is not like they are losing money. they are taking a bet on a different set of people. now you have trillions of dollars sitting in foreign banks and foreign companies

because they do not want to bring it back to the united states. the question is, how you do that? you cannot charge an unadorned -- target minorities because you cannot use tax policy to help one group over another. this is something special for african-americans. but we have the special since we have been here. [laughter] it started with the declaration of independence and when all the way to the war and civil rights. you have to go back to special. if you can come up with ways to make it palatable to people because it is based on an economic model, then you have to do it. otherwise, in my opinion, not much will change. there is nothing on the horizon see that is changing the

economic opportunity growth for african-americans. 62% say they believe they will kill jobs in the next four years. do you realize the unpleasant -- they will get tough in the next four years. key know what the unemployment rate has to drop to? it would have to drop to 2%. there is no way this country in the next ability or three years can get to 2% unemployment. we have to engage the sandra day o'connor arguments. she says one day 25 years from now we will not have to have these race issues because everybody will be happy and nobody will be treated differently. i do not see it coming. i see it going the other way. should african-americans stick with the democratic party in the community's interests are being ignored?

could they get more attention of the consent throwing their support elsewhere it? week, reince priebus was standing when you are standing say he wants to get more votes from minority communities. >> let me say this. here is the thing. it is a little bit too late for that dam bit. gambit.ot do it -- that you can do it. republicans ignore us and democrats take us for granted. that is locked in stone. that is brazen, bare knuckled politics. the primariest in to get there, to be elected, but thehe general election, electoral college is controlled

by the swing states and that is not where we are. we do not have the kind of leverage to do that. i often talk to the congressional black caucus. i say, you should think more like the israeli knesset and shipped back and forth from party to party and key vote back and forth from party to party on key voted issues. andome big issue came up they said, we are going to go and cut a deal with boehner and the next day we will cut a deal with pelosi and we will go to black folks and explain it. we can always come back and swing this way and swing that way. you might be able to shake up things that way. themselves as of a commentary system opposed to locked into a party.

it would be hard to motivate the of thisf these -- country to say, vote for the minority party. you have 36 million hispanics and growing at a faster rate than the country as a whole. what is your leverage? push within your own community to build your own sense of who you a liar and make everything you to let the local, national and every other level in focus on your issues. there are communities that have done this. the gay-lesbian community has done a terrific job of focusing on their interests and never let anybody get away from the notion that they want to be treated equally in every aspect.

it is working. if anything, we should all a case from what they are doing. -- we should all borrow a page from what they are doing. de vote for their best interests. we need to adopt some of that -- for their best interests. we need to adopt some of that. >> what is your opinion of dr. comments andon's his criticism of the obama administration? flavor of theis a month i the thing. of thing.o i know ben pretty well. i do not think he has an intention of projecting himself

as a national spokesman. it will go around for a while. this is sort of like a man bites dog kind of thing. if anybody says something and they happen to be black and is critical of obama, that is a news story. i am not trying to make a news story. did, he fell into that man bites dog fame. a year from now, he will be doing when he does as a great surgeon and nobody will be thinking of him running for president or being a voice. he is a great guy who has an opinion. maybe it is a slow news day and they grabbed it. >> speaking of news, you are speaking at the national press club in a room filled with journalists.

our industry is in decline. losing americans are positions in newsrooms. what do you say should be done so that black american journalists do not go the way of orter.llman p >> good analogy. you are sort of in an industry that is changing. it is changing in terms of requiring less heavy reporting, less costly reporting, more technology-driven, more media- driven. newspapers are facing that challenge. when companies see themselves facing a decline in revenue or market share, they start cutting.

they start cutting when they can to maximize their business. you are noty, essential or low on the totem pole or last hired. you will be the first fired. that is what is happening. it is playing out in corporations as well. i have seen a rise in black bloggers in using the internet to build a business. if you have the skills of tennis and a business month, i would a business- skills of model, i would urge you to go to a social business website and apply your trade them. at one point, three of the largest companies in the country were black magazines targeted

only to black people. essence and black enterprise. it is not impossible to create a business small going after the 12 million or 13 million african american households who spend a lot of money and our major cultural drivers in this country. i would not fret too been much of a decline of a business that you cannot refurbished. much for a business that you cannot refurbish. of anld be election hispanic president said that african-americans? why or why not? >> it depends on who it is. if it is a republican hispanic,

the natural instinct would be to say it is bad. if it were a democrat, they might say, do you think we have a voice? coming after obama, in the election of anybody is a ploy to be a feeling of a setback for african-americans. -- of anybody is going to be a feeling of a setback for african-americans. the thing that i am most concerned about, something i wanted to create a discussion for, i do not know when the last time the rest in a major confab between the dominant hispanic organizations and the dominant black of innovations. when you think about it, we need to be meeting every day to let the other side figure out what we are talking about. we are staying away from each other and not embracing each

other. i've that -- i have been in business 30 years. lasty anybody to mamie the time an african-american business and the best i defy anybody to name the last time an african-american business and an hispanic business immersed. -- merged. i do not know how much social interaction takes place between african-americans and hispanics. part of it may be language and cultural and income. their incomes are still below hours on a national basis. that is changing. around and you think about -- when i first came to washington, i walked into a parking lot and 60% of the guys were black.

30% were white. there were almost no hispanics. you walk into a parking lot in d.c. today -- the first guy who did my lawn was african-american guy. he retired and now there are hispanics. these things change. the daughter of mine is that a housekeeper who came from health at mitdor is working former doctorate program. -- working at mit going for her doctorate. the point i am trying to make is that this is a resurgent population. to buildl in life is strong families and to build wealth. they are not going to sit back and say, we are going to do it and take into account african- americans. we have to figure out where we have a common cause.

the gay community made it a common cause that we are aligned with african-americans. you with through what we are going through. we need to go to the hispanics and say, what you are going through, we have some experience doing. we need to get together. the fspanic caucus and american caucus ought to start the meeting every week. -- and the african-american caucus should start a meeting every week. if you want to talk about a voting block, that is an voting block. >> you said you were planning to companies public. what would be the impetus for that? >> we have a couple companies that are public and that is enough. >> i would like to remind you

about our upcoming luncheon speakers. on april 9, we have the president and ceo of e-mail clinic, who will discuss issues facing the health care -- of the mayo clinic, who will discuss issues facing health care. on april 17, we have the director of the office of national drug control policy. i would like to present our guests when we traditional national press club coffee mug. [applause] one last question. someone in our audience asks, from where will the next robert johnson,? who is likely to be the next black media mogul? is, i do not know. thank you very much. i appreciate it. [applause]

>> thank you all for coming today. i'd like to thank the national press club staff, including externalism institute, for helping organize today's events -- including its journalism is to, for helping organize today's , for helpingitute organize today's event. thank you. we are adjourned. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013]

>> next, live, your calls and comments on "washington journal." en "newsmakers" with richard rumka. >> mr. secretary, we're going to put them down as undecided.

mr. chairman, as i listen to ose comments, it struck me what a wonderful thing free speech is. >> that was the hearing where donald rumsfeld was making the justifications for making the attack on iraq and we asked him how much money is halliburton going to make from this war? how many soldiers will be killed in this stpwhar and i'd like those questions answered now by mr. rumsfeld. >> this morning roll call ender and an color peter