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Tavis Smiley Still Clueless in New Orleans
Tavis Smiley still doesn't get it. In an interview today on XM Radio's P.O.T.U.S. 08, Smiley continued to insist that Barack Obama missed an opportunity by not attending Smiley's summit in New Orleans. Smiley also tried to discount the negative buzz directed towards him on the internet for acting like an egotistic jerk towards Obama, who respectfully refused his invitation to the summit due to a scheduling conflict in Texas.
Somehow, Tavis thinks that Obama has to be in N.O. in order to to talk to Black America. Well Tavis let me holla at you for a minute. We have TV, radio, newspapers and the internet. We have heard Obama speak to Black America. Obama spoke to Black America when he spoke to White America, Latino America, Italian American, and all America.
For too long, there have been too much division in this country. Although quite a few of
us are cynics, we are hopeful that America can change for the better. That's why America is so captivated by Obama. Republicans wished for him. Now there is a good chance that they will get him. And to Obama's credit, some Republicans will defy polling trends and actually vote for him instead of against him.
There are many reasons to try and marginalize Obama. One reason might be that there will be a reduced need for bully pulpits...or bullies like Tavis.
Comments (31)
Yeah, Obama spoke to Black America when he needed their votes in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama. Back then he didn't have any "scheduling conflicts".
By the way, aren't "scheduling conflicts" the reason Bush tended to skip NAACP events to which he was invited?
February 23, 2008 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama was in Louisiana prior to the Louisiana primary that recently took place. If Tavis wanted Barack there, his piss poor planning doesn't constitute an emergency on the part of someone else who just happens to be busy in Texas now.
February 23, 2008 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a hypothetical question:
If Smiley's event had been scheduled for the same day as the Democratic debate in Austin, which would you have suggested he go to?
Now, Obama made many of his Texas commitments weeks or months ago. Tell me why any of THOSE people, who have been preparing for his arrival for all that time, should be slighted because of someone who showed a remarkable penchant for piss poor planning?
No, Smiley is simply trying to shout above the din because he has some overwhelming need to be heard. This is a non-issue. How many other Black History Month events did Obama not attend because holy crap, he's actually a human too and can't be 100 places at once?
February 23, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I sent Hillary an email inviting her over to my house in California for tea and cookies, and the campaign didn't even have the decency to respond. I guess she's just not interested in MY vote. If she wanted to, she could just get on a plane and head over here, it's just a 2-hour flight from Texas; it's not like she doesn't have a plane at her disposal. But she's not doing it. she's doing some rally or something in Austin instead. What a horrible person she is. Clearly she has nothing but contempt for my demographic. We voted for her in droves in California back on Super Tuesday, and now she just wants to throw us away like a used Kleenex. Well, that's it for me and Hillary. If she can't be bothered to show up at my house precisely when I want her to, she's not my candidate any more.
Geez. The Democratic party requires that candidates for nomination win elections in certain states in a certain order. The candidates don't have any control over that. The idea that winning a primary election is an all-consuming process shouldn't really be a big news flash for anyone with basic literacy skills.
February 23, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right, Smiley doesn't get it. Obama won the Louisiana primary two weeks ago. Why does that idiot Smiley think Obama should be interested in his little get-together in New Orleans now? I mean, just because there are people there in real need? Get real. Texas is where it's at now, man. Louisiana is so yesterday.
February 23, 2008 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama can help the "people there in real need" by becoming the President of the United States and placing competent people in jobs such as head of FEMA.
February 23, 2008 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please lay out for us the long list of people in need who have been delivered by the SOTBU who are not named Smiley.
February 23, 2008 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tavis Smiley should probably focus more on why year after year his conference yields nothing for the black community except book sales for Tavis. His convention is a mix of political small-wigs, poverty pimps, a few cultural icons and a few real people working for change. It seems pretty irrational to me for Tavis to take the position he has considering that many articles of his "Covenant" are included within Obama's position papers. Tavis has also declined Michelle Obama's offer to attend.
At one point in time I was a Tavis fan. I would record his SOTBU and watch enthusiastically while my community's finest* discussed how to heal our ills. Then I watched and waited. And waited. And listened to Tavis' radio show and reports and watched his PBS show. Then I watched and waited for another year. And another. And a pattern emerged. Soon as the SOTBU was over, so was the visible effort by most of those in attendance to accomplish the political goals they set for themselves.
Hillary is only attending because she tanked all goodwill in the African-American community via her own and her husband's racially charged/insensitive remarks, plus its free press. Obama already is in touch with African-America and millions of other Americans.
February 23, 2008 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tavis Smiley's behavior is self-serving. By his actions, he has created the same ground swell of contempt that Hillary and Bill received after an attempt was made to marginalize Obama by making him the Black candidate.
I think Tavis underestimated the Black community. Now when Tavis' name comes up, people are quick to ask "what the hell is wrong with Tavis." Maybe he'll explain his thought process to us in the next book he tries to sell.
February 23, 2008 2:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess this is the loyalty we can expect from Obama. "Thanks for your vote, but I'm too busy now to to see you. Been there already." Hillary has not and will not abandon the Black Community, even though, for the most part, the Black Community has abandoned her. I don't think Tavis underestimated the Black Community, if anything, he seems to have overestimated it.
February 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess this is the BS we can expect from Hillary supporters. Hillary cannot abandon what she never represented or supported. Name one thing Hillary has ever done to better the lives of African-America.
Tavis is just as out of touch as you and Hillary are. That's why he has a half empty auditorium for his do nothing symposium.
February 23, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who is "you"?
I hate to break it to you, but Tavis and the SOTBU are not "black America". I've never watched the thing and don't know a soul who does.
Obama would be abandoning my causes if he didn't reach as many voters as possible to secure the nomination, win the election and deliver for every American.
The opinions of the few on this post who attack Obama on this issue are in the minority. I look forward to the marginalization of such close-minded, ungenerous opinion.
February 23, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary forfeited her Black support when she and Bill decided to play the race card to promote a White/Latino voter combination which they thought was a winning formula. The line of thinking however, did not pan out. The race card thing by the way was a slap in the face to Black people who unconditionally supported she and her husband at their lowest point.
February 24, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give me a break. I agree with the writer. Barack speaks to all Americans everyday. We need him in Texas and Ohio where he needs to win. He is trying to get this nomination and shame on Smiley for behaving so selfishly. Or does he have another agenda? Barack made the right decision.
February 23, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a very smart attempt on the part of Smiley to get his name around and be spoken about.
I really like this from your post:
"Tavis thinks that Obama has to be in N.O. in order to to talk to Black America. (...) We have heard Obama speak to Black America. Obama spoke to Black America when he spoke to White America, Latino America, Italian American, and all America."
(By the way, who are you? I can't find your name in your post.)
February 23, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lookingin, the article was signed, by I'm Bussta Brown, so please click on one of the entries for more info.
February 24, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mr Smiley is another clueless Washington insider...
February 23, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
On second thought, why is anyone interested in what Smiley things... he is part of the problem, not part of the solution
February 23, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
More importantly, an Obama presidency renders Smiley irrelevant... he has a vested interesst in supporting HRC.... without HRC, he is nobody...
February 23, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Either Tavis is:
- stupid for not thinking that Texas would be important not and not reschedule this show.
- hiding his agenda, maybe he's on Hillary's payroll
stupid or devious, he's arrogant for dissing Michelle, what an asshole!
February 23, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tavis has no future in the post-racist era... he needs HRC as does Jesse and Al... the last thing Tavis wants is the realization of Dr King's vision... the central theme of Obama is grow up, get over the past, and quit dividing the people... again, Smiley has a vest interest in maintaining the status quo... he become irrelevant with Obama in the White House... but in reality, he's been irrelevant for for more than 20 years...
February 23, 2008 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tavis is right. Obama's decision not to attend one of the most critical sociopolitical events in the African-American community was an intentional snub. In truth, his ties to the traditional black community are minimal and by choosing not to attend the forum he sent the message that he has no real obligation to issues specific to black people. Seems like he he can't risk being seen with the more uppity Negroes.
Hell, most of the folks who participated in the discussions made tremendous sacrifices and paved the way for someone like Obama to have the opportunity to run for office in the first place. Some gratitude. His surrogates were at the Morial Center in droves, though. Talk about déjà vu, Clarence Thomas once had the overwhelming support of a lot of misguided black folks, too.
Code word: Oreo
February 23, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Goldspinner,
Getting past racism, is that an interest of yours at all?
Your code words are nothing but insults. You woud be more believable if you showed respect for others.
February 23, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Roland Martin:
Goldspinner I don't know what you're problems are, but my problems and every other black person I know, sound a lot like these.
The only thing I would add is gun control, but no candidate will be discussing that in front of any crowd.
February 23, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gold the spinner part applies. Are you working for Tavis?
February 24, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tavis is part of that 'vaunted', black chattering class that wants to dissect things to death, get rich doing it and balk at the prospect of the actual potential for change b/c it would up-end their apple-cart. So they yammer mindlessly while someone is actually doing it. To me, this is the biggest irony in Hil's 'talker not doer' pablum - and my reply is/would be, during primary and gen'l election season, 'doing it' is turning out votes baby - that's all there is at the end of this day.
This babbling cottage industry is severely threatened by the fact that Americans of all races and ethnicities and both genders are voting for a black man. Hence, the black 'establishment's' decision to be on the wrong side of history - only to be scrambling now to maintain relevance.
Great post!
February 23, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN asked some attendees of the event about Obama's absence and reports that they supported his decision to campaign in Ohio and Texas 100%.
Unfortunately, people have been so much on Obama's side that Tavis Smiley has received death threats amongst the many angry letters sent his way for criticizing Obama.
February 24, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gold,
Just admit you are a Hillary person and a crab. Let the man climb out of the tank.
Obama can do more for the Black communinty by getting the nomination and elected President than he can by attending Smiley's conference every day for the next 10 years.
Just let him win.
February 24, 2008 1:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Racist? I've been black my entire life, live in a largely black town in a majority-black county in a region in my state called the "Black Belt" where we send more than a few African-Americans to local, state, and federal office. Many of us here in the south, myself included, paid some serious dues to have the privilege of voting, so we don't take the process lightly. Most of the black people who make up the majority of MY community are proud to see Obama run but question whether he is truly committed to furthering issues SPECIFIC TO US AS BLACK PEOPLE! We're not that impressed with his decision to avoid being "tarred", so to speak. We don't care much for tokenism and if expects our support he damn well better earn it. He hasn't been annointed yet.
February 24, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goldspinner,
I'm going to ask you the same question I asked pmj6, above:
Here's a hypothetical question:
If Smiley's event had been scheduled for the same day as the Democratic debate in Austin, which would you have suggested he go to?
Now, Obama made many of his Texas commitments weeks or months ago. Tell me why any of THOSE people, who have been preparing for his arrival for all that time, should be slighted because of someone who showed a remarkable penchant for piss poor planning?
How do you answer that? You're bent out of shape that Obama is 'snubbing' the event, but if you were one of those other planners expecting Obama to show up, how would you feel if he suddenly called YOU and said "Sorry, won't be there, you're not important enough!"?
To get upset that he's not attending that event is a very one-sided view.
February 24, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brutus, I guess Hillary can wash her hands when a surrogate (Bill Clinton) takes care of the abandonment for her. Any way you cut it, the abandonment wasn't necessary because she had significant Black support, White support and Latino support. Why do you think the spread with Black voters was so wide. Looks like she followed some bad advice.
February 24, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
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