J.C.Watts eyeing news network for blacks

Watts, who hopes to get one running by the summer 2009, tells The Associated Press that the voice of blacks is often missing from political debates, including the one over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"We hope to be the single destination for reliable, credible, informational resources for the African-American community," Watts says. "The critical thing is to allow the community to create a platform to be involved in the economic, social and political debates taking place across the country."

He said the Black Television News Channel will be added to Comcast cable systems in Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington, and would be available nationwide on Dishnet.

He's trying to raise $20 million to build studios in Washington as well as a "coast-to-coast high definition news gathering infrastructure."

Watts objects to some of the criticism Obama has received for his long association with Wright, who accused the government of creating AIDS and shouted "God damn America" in a speech posted on YouTube.

"I've not seen anything in his writings, in his speeches, in his books, in his public appearances, that would encourage me to believe that he views the world through the Rev. Wright's prism," said Watts, the last black Republican to serve in the U.S. House.

"I'm a Republican. Barack Obama is a Democrat. I am not taking a position in the presidential race, but I can tell you this: If people vote against Barack Obama because of what the Rev. Wright said, it would be unfortunate.

"I don't agree with what the Rev. Wright said, but I've said to some of my Republican friends: `Guys, it's a whole big world out there and I guarantee you, before all is said and done, there will be associations that a Republican has. You are going to be on a slippery slope.'"

Watts, a former star quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and a journalism graduate, would be chairman of the channel's editorial board. He says his goal would be to show the diversity of opinion among blacks.