Tavis Smiley's ATTITUDE toward Barack

[lizaa]

*This is according to mediatake out.com*

CRABS IN A BARREL!! Tavis Smiley Is Now GOING HARD AT Barack And Michelle Obama - MediaTakeOut.com™ 2008


February 14, 2008. MediaTakeOut.com is so sad to report this - but talkshow host Tavis Smiley is acting like a straight up BEE-YOTCH!!!

Here's what's going on. Apparently Tavis Smiley is upset that Barack Obama didn't come and kiss his booty before announcing that he's running for president. Since then, Tavis has been publicly criticizing the Democratic front-runner.

But things all came to a head a few days ago. You see, Tavis put out the word that he wanted both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to attend his State Of Black America conference in Louisiana this week. Barack reached out to Tavis and explained to him that he's busy campaigning in States with upcoming primaries, so he can't make it over to Tavis' event. And he offered to have his wife Michelle attend the event in his place.

Well that wasn't good enough for Tavis - who put the word out that Michelle Obama is not welcome at the event. According to Tavis - if Barack can't attend, he didn't want Michelle there either.

Can you believe this dude. We at MediaTakeOut.com used to have so much respect for him as a man. That's all changed now

[jamesfrmphilly]

if i were tavis i would chill out

[DBlack]

That's mediatakeout's view of it and they are certainly entitled to it.

Everyone should calm down and consider the following:

It was never appropriate for Michelle to be there by herself. The event was for Hillary and Barack to attend the State Of Black America conference in Louisiana and discuss issues relevant to blacks. We all need to know that Barack consistently has avoided discussing the black agenda or plights of black America. He is very concerned that doing so would alienate the white supporters. He's shunned a lot of black organizations. Sending his wife wasn't appropriate and I don't blame Tavis for being offended by it.

You can't have the wife of a candidate debating the opposing presidential candidate, that's foolish and that's how the media would have played it. And let's be honest, the black collective has already fallen for enough hype on Obama.

If I have to look at both men, Tavis gets more respect from me than Obama. Where as Tavis talks about and addresses black issues on a daily basis, Obama is just as ignorant or evasive on black issues as whites. Time to start really looking at the character of Obama and quit blindly making excuses for what he consistently demonstrates.

In regards to her 'explanation'. She was very clever in her connection between what Tavis is doing and what Obama is doing. They don't share the same ideals. Tavis has a specific pro-black agenda. Obama has a generalistic, populist agenda. There is huge difference between the two. Notice that when she talks about her husband she doesn't use the word black agenda or anything close. She, like any typical politician, is slick in her words.

She also points out the fact that Obama is focusing his tiime on winning the election, justifying Obamas shunning of an important Black conference. What she failed to disclose is that of all the Senators running for President, Obama attendence is less than half - far worse than even Hillary Clinton.

So, in a nutshell; Obama doesn't show that the black agenda is important to him. Obama is barely fulfilling his obligations as a Senator, where he has had years to invoke change via legislation. If he was a poor Senator, why would he be any different as a President?

My people; please start looking at the facts of the matter; stop letting the media define how we vote, why we vote and who we vote for.

the Truth is out there, seek it out.

[DBlack]

Originally Posted by jamesfrmphilly

if i were tavis i would chill out

What does Tavis owe Obama? Obama is not the representative of Black Leadership by any measure. As long as Tavis is respectful and honest, I'm all for him calling Obama out.

After all, so few of us are doing that right now...

[Moe17]

I'm so mad at Tavis..he was the one who spoke so highly of Barack Obama in the beginning. Now on the Tom J Morning Show he was saying Obama didn't have enough experience to be President. Also, Tavis said, how can a black man who grew up in Hawaii know anything about a black man who grow up in the hood!! What the HELL!! So I ask Tavis...a white women knows???

[jamesfrmphilly]

Originally Posted by DBlack

please start looking at the facts of the matter

ok, here are some facts.

fact: obama is far from perfect but obama is close to the nomination.

fact: we can support a not so perfect, half black guy or we can sit it out or we can support a white candidate.

you say do not vote for the half black guy. you say sit it out and do not use the vote that our people died in the streets to get. yes, black people, including me, fought to get the vote that you refuse to use. it's all good, that is your right.

lets get back to the facts. fact is, somebody will be elected president. that person will select supreme court judges among other things. this will happen with you or without you. in fact, if all black people follow your lead what we will do is guarantee the election of the conservative white candidate.

that is a fact.

i do not dis agree with any of your criticism of obama. he is not perfect. he has flaws. i get that. have you looked at the other candidates? what is you criticism of them? have you laid out your criticism of the other candidates or is it just Obama that you criticize? why is it that you critique one and not the others? have you compared Obama to the other ones and found him lacking? what are the complete set of facts? fact is, obama is a better choice for black people than McCain or Clinton. he is, at least, part black.

if all black people do not vote, the white candidate wins. you are effectively advocating for the white candidate.

that is a fact.

the effect of your not voting is to support the white candidate.

[ardamus]

Tavis, it sounds like, took it more of personal offense. I guess he felt his advocation of Barack's accomplishments and his non-attendance to his event really made him think that is wasn't appreciated. Obama sending his wife was an effort but not what Tavis wanted himself. I hate to say it but he's a politician focusing on running a country. It would've been nice for him to show up and its bad that he didn't. But I can't applaud Tavis's actions for bashing Obama. If anything, he should more so question Obama beyond the fact of him campaigning why he didn't show.

I have to agree with James, DBlack. You've really been outspoken on Obama but, at this point, Hilary's gotten weaker to me. And no way, do I want McCain or Huckabee in office.

[jamesfrmphilly]

bill goes all over subbing for hillary and no one raises an objection. what's up with that?

[Mattylock]

I wouldn't have such an issue with it if I didn't think it was more about Tavis' ego and his own political aspirations. I mean, how dare Obama come out of nowhere and start this movement of hope, pulling in record numbers of voters, especially among the young people. No presidential candidate in recent memory can boast that.

Frankly, I've watched SOBU the past couple of years on TVOne and it often deteriorates to buffoonery. And I have yet to see it impact our community in any way. Mostly, I think, it helps Tavis sell books. Obama is behind in Texas and Ohio and should focus his efforts there. He's running for prez of the United States, not black America. And there is no way in hell we will ever see a black man in the white house aligning himself too closely with Sharpton and Jesse. You know how white folks view them. They feel the same way about those 2 and events that proclaim themselves as "black" as we do about the Klan. Let's just keep it real. He needs white folks to win.

[Mr Gumbo]

Tavis IMO went from really doing good work to being a pompus bougie brotha. This statement "How can a black man who grew up in Hawaii know anything about a black man who grow up in the hood!!" is STUPID!!!! Tavis may have grew up in the hood but he far from it now and before I get called out I'm not a big Barack fan. The problem I got with these so called black leaders that bash Barack in public is they don't bash anybody else but Barack and the others skate free.