*Now that the most expensive presidential election in history is just that, broadcaster/activist Tavis Smiley and scholar/activist Cornel West are continuing to speak out for those mired in poverty.
Smiley and West recently got with Democracy Now to discuss President Obama’s re-election and their hopes for a national political agenda on poverty in and outside the White House during Obama’s second term.
At a time when one in six Americans is poor, the price tag for combined spending by federal candidates — along with their parties and outside groups like super PACs — totaled more than $6 billion.
Together, West and Smiley have written the new book, “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto.” Both Tavis and Smiley single out prominent progressives whom they accuse of overlooking Obama’s actual record.
“We believe that if [Obama] is not pushed, he’s going to be a transactional president and not a transformational president,” Smiley says. “And we believe that the time is now for action and no longer accommodation. … To me, the most progressive means that you’re taking some serious risk. And I just don’t see the example of that.”
West says that some prominent supporters of Obama “want to turn their back to poor and working people. And it’s a sad thing to see them as apologists for the Obama administration in that way.”
Dr. West also had some choice words for Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, as well. And while the aforementioned scholars have been extremely vocal in their support of the Obama Administration, Smiley, opined that their support comes at the expense of critical thinking and a legitimate push for a Black agenda:
“…Lincoln isn’t Lincoln if Frederick Douglass isn’t pushing him. FDR isn’t FDR if A. Philip Randolph and Eleanor Roosevelt aren’t pushing him. LBJ isn’t LBJ if MLK isn’t pushing him.
“We don’t believe in making excuses. We believe that if [Obama] is not pushed, he’s going to be a transactional president and not a transformational president. And we believe that the time is now for action and no longer accommodation. But that doesn’t happen unless you’re pushed.”
Dr. West said that Smiley was just being “very kind,” and gave his opinion to Goodman:
“I love Brother Mike Dyson… but we’re living in a society where everybody is up for sale. Everything is up for sale. And he and Brother Sharpton and Sister Melissa and others, they have sold their souls for a mess of Obama pottage. And we invite them back to the black prophetic tradition after Obama leaves. But at the moment, they want insider access, and they want to tell those kind of lies. They want to turn their back to poor and working people.”
Watch Tavis Smiley and Cornel West being interviewed by Amy Goodman for Democracy Now:
I would like to turn up the heat on Smiley and West!!! Stick a fork in it, you’re Done! Are you for real??? …Pick another topic,your names came up just the other day among a group of your peers and people started to laugh. Seriously, and then they went on to talk about other things. Think about it …they laughed!!!!
Sorry to get off subject sir?, but I have to say?, that you are a baaaaaaad mutha “shut yo mouth”!!! Love ALL your work!!!! And it’s good to see a person in your position speaking out! A VERY good look! Ok…..I’ve got my “autograph”, back to the show!
)/One!
Just when you thought it was safe to come outside its the return of the OBAMA HATERS! DUN DUN DUNNNNNN… COMING SOON..TO A TOWN NEAR YOU…
Keep talking Tavis & West.
People seem to forget. Obama and his family have secured housing and a job for the next 4 years… It’s the rest of black America folks should be thinking about. They will be just fine.
People need to grow up. People act like a critique or complaint about Obama is a direct insult to you.
Some people have too much of their self esteem tied to the POTUS.
Agree Olivia.
ITA w/you, Olivia!!!
I’m sayin….:why aren’t any of these “black leaders/critics making any formal proposals TO POTUS, instead of drankin all this “hater-aid”!? I could see their angle being justified, if Obie had “turned down” a list of demands/request etc…, but “that” ain’t happened!!!, therefore making their criticism grossly premeditated AND premature! Yellin shyt from the sidelines, instead of “buying a GD ticket to get inside the stadium, where the game is played”/or ANY fkn “tour”?, is just some Obie hate’en….circus BS! We all should “put the heat” ‘on DEY azzes, the fkn toms! Mofos can always “find the nerve” to go hard at their own, when the one they shouuuuuuld be poking at?, is obviously the same one who has dey azzes ‘on their ….payroll. Yo “lead “this” leaders…..Deez Nuuuuuuuuts!!! FOH!/Chuuuuuuuch!
Tavis & Corny want sooooo badly to regain their former title of the “smartest Negroes in America.” J’ever notice that any other African-American i. e. Melissa Harris-Perry who is celebrated by Africa -America as politically astute and brilliant are seen as a threat to their super-egos. They want Africa-America to shower them with perpetual praise because they think “they so damned smart.” My high school social studies teacher used to always say, “ignorance is a precious commodity. Be careful with whom you share it.” Fanteeking, Cape Coast
PS, all those eight years that George Dubya was destroying the economy, the country and starting phoney wars, these NEGROES were as quiet as church mice!
Fortunately for Tavis and West, Obama won re-election.