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Name: fanteeking
Comment: This is a classic case of the proverbial "Sly Fox & the Sour Grapes" story. Africa-America has unconciously crowned Tavis Smiley, the King of Black Intelligensia and this has gone to his big, egotistical,narcissistic head. He feels intellectually upstaged by Obama along with Jesse and Big Al Sharpton and worries that his universal claim to Black intellectualism is in jeopardy. Today, we should all bombard his office with telephone calls, e-mails, letters and for the old-skoolers, telegrams proclaiming the fact that he is soooooo smart and articulate and nobody else in Africa-America can approach his rare genius and rather than cut his nose to spite his face, he should amputate his tiny crab legs and fall back in the basket. LOL!! There is so much green venom pumping in his salivary glands that would make a King Cobra snake envious. Tavis's Cobra-like snake hood is raised and he's ready to strike with his poison once more. Truly, green is the color of envy! He reminds me of the little pretty school girl who is upset when a prettier girl enters her classroom at midterm and gets all the boys' attention. So sad. (sigh)
Name: MsBlake
Comment: I love Tavis but he's wrong for this. He really needs to chill cos he's really been putting Obama on blast lately and folks are not happy. Obama really needs to focus on Texas and Ohio right now cos Hilary has a double digit lead. I wish Tavis would understand Obama is not running for president of black America but president of the United States of America. Tavis hosted a debate with the candidates before, why couldn't he ask them the questions then?? He has access to their websites, he can check where they stand on issues. Now of course Hilary will agree to attend, not only has she fallen out of favour with the black community cos of the MLK, fairytale and drug references, she's only getting like 15% of the black vote. Last year Tavis was highly upset when Obama didn't attend his event, but Obama was a tad busy that day announcing to the world he was running for president.
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Co-sign Fanteeking. On a separate note Georgia Congressman John Lewis, the Civil Rights movement veteran whose early and until-now steady support helped Hillary Clinton maintain a measure of political credibility in the African-American community, has announced that he will cast his superdelegate vote at this summer's Democratic National Convention for Barack Obama. Several other SUPERHERO-DELEGATES such as Congressman David Scott are saying they will respect the wishes of their constituents who voted solidly for Obama and cast their vote for him. Finally two major unions, one with 1.8m members endorsed Obama today. Its looking good guys.
Name: nightshift
Comment: Fanteeking - MsBlake- I concur on all counts. You all put it in a better/more civilized way.
Name: TGen
Comment: Okay, this article confused the heck out of me, particularly on the main issue: was the letter offering Michelle Obama sent or not? This is critical...because if it was sent, it means that Tavis is not only a hater, but a LIAR as well. SMH Fanteeking and MsBlake, yall make great points. MsBlake, I had not heard that regarding John Lewis. I appreciate his change, but in all honesty, I'm extra through with him forever. David Scott has never been a friend of Blacks either, but I commend him for at least trying to do the right thing by his constituents (or deciding to jump on the bandwagon for political expediency), whichever it might be, lol
Name: Selah
Comment: He seems to be tougher on Obama, not only on this issue but on other fronts as well. While Tavis' forum is important, it is not the only way to discuss topics germaine to Black America. No one HAS to attend and Tavis should know that.
Name: Olivia
Comment: Obama did not attend last year and was invited almost a year in advance. Fine. He called the night before and said he could not attend. Fine. The next day He announced his candidacy the SAME TIME and DAY of the State of the Black Union. Fine.So really who cares if he doesn’t come. Newflash the State of the Black Union was around before most knew Obama was. Asking ALL to attend was fair, only asking Obama to attend who be singling him out. Right? I am not about to cosign on anybody saying a black person shouldn’t come to a black event because it will make “he or she” look black to white people like Roland Martin did. Does this apply to his Cabinet, I mean too many blacks would make white folks think he’s planning Nat Turner’s Next Rebellion? This has to stop somewhere. Obama should not attend because he needs to campaign, but not some “one too many Negroes in the room” mentality. What kind of thinking is this? Do we think we are tricking white people? The State of the Black Union is not supposed to solve all problems in black America. It’s a discussion of issues affecting us, I learn from it and it’s opens us up to new people and materials. Sometimes people put too much on one event. It’s like saying we don’t need Black history month because it doesn’t solve our problems. This idea that if he’s seen with too many blacks, white folks will know he’s black…they already know. If they don’t they are confused. Yes Obama must appeal to everyone to win the presidency, cool, but Tavis doesn’t, I don’t and those who specifically advocate on the behalf on BLACK PEOPLE don’t either. There are a few of us who still put US FIRST and I‘m glad there are. I am confused by what people want from black activists. I mean do we treat Obama like the rest of the candidates and ask how his polices will impact black America or do we not. There is something wrong when black people tell him to stay away from us, we can pretty it up all we want, that is what it boils down to. This sounds like laws that prohibited slaves from congregating because they “might be up to something”. Now I hope people remember this because if he wins, the “accessibility rule” some suggested will still apply. The real issue is why can Hillery go to women forums and not be too “womanly”. I don’t want to cosign on a country were being with too many black people is problematic for white people. I would like to ask …….If being with too many blacks discussing social economic and political issues within a black context makes him the “black Candidate” what does it mean if he’s with too many white people does it mean he’s the “white candidate” or does it make him perfect? THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE: If white people STILL have a problem with any black candidate being at black events, it’s THEIR problem and not OURS.
Name: huey
Comment: i am probably one of tavis' biggest supporters but i think he is wrong on this. i think he has become so obsorbed in "the covenant with black america" and "the state of the black union symposiums" that he is missing the big picture. if im not mistaken and my memory serves me correctly, obama already showed up for tavis' presidential debate at howard university. what does tavis expect obama to do, jump every time tavis says he is supposed to? does tavis not realize that this brother is running for the president of the united states? wouldnt it stand to reason that if this brother wins, we may all win which would give tavis and a pleathora of other prominent people of color access to the ear of the president the likes of which we have never seen? why does he feel that it is neccessay to keep trying to drag this man into his forums? suppose barack came to the state of the black union next week, suppose one of them pontificaters utters the wrong word, who do u think the camera is going to focus on...barack!, can u imagine the negative repurcussions? what fodder the media would have then, "barack smiles as one of the panelist of a special interest group utters the "h" word"...i dont blame barack for not going. sometimes sacrificing the few, in this case the symposium could theoretically aid the many as of us afro americans. come on tavis, lay back for a minute, as the covenant stated, u wanted blacks to get out and vote, that is one of the covenants, we did that, in record numbers, give this guy a chance, dont drag him into anything at this point that could be detramental to the momentum and campaign. if we had waited on tavis, we wouldnt have voted yet and barack could have arguable lost delagates. if tavis thinks that barack will ignore the issues of black america when he gets into office, i think tavis is wrong. as tavis always says, in luv and service brother, in luv and service. just my opinion...
Name: Sexee
Comment: Tavis ~ get a clue! Obama has to be a President for ALL people. Like his wife said they must stay focused in campaigning in states that have NOT held primaries or caucases.... Do us a favor and stop EGO TRIPPING! I've lost a little bit of respect for you. Grow UP!
Name: PlanetRock
Comment: I don't know everyone. I am kind of on the fence about this one as I understand Obama's camp and to a certain extent, I understand Tavis too. The real challenge is beyond what will be discussed at the State of the Black Union: it's getting ALL voters to get out there in November and actually cast a vote. The Democrats appear so divided and polarized that the fear is that many will simply choose to not vote at all if their candidate Barack or Hillary does not get the party's nomination. If this division keeps up, John McCain may slide into an easy win in November. Everyone - Tavis, Barack, Hillary, etc. better wake up and get the big picture.
Name: SoopDawwg
Comment: Why are these reports making it seem like Tavis singled out Obama? Tavis called out ALL the candidates,is Obama supposed to be excluded because he's black? People stop being sheep,Obama can be asked where he stands,and if he declines to attend this event then fine...But he is not above being asked questions. I suggest you go to Black America Web and listen to Tavis' comments for yourself and see if he singles out Obama.
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Olivia I hear what you're saying but I don't think Obama is staying away because he does not want to be seen with too folks or be turned into the 'black candidate', I feel its because its just bad timing. The fact that he offered to send his wife to debate against a seasoned Hilary Clinton means he cares.
Name: BlkATLTop
Comment: What these stories all fail to mention is that Barack attended Tavis' last State of the Black Union when held last February at Hampton University. The video clip is on youtube. It's not as though Barack has never attended these gatherings, he chose not to attend this particular one. Tavis is just queening out. Chill man.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: when did Hillary accept Tavis' invitation: a year ago, months ago, weeks ago or days ago after her campaign money got funky and she needed the free publicity? . . . at the risk of being called a Thomasina, the issues of the AA community are the same issues that impact the rest of the country and yes I know that racism is stacked on top of that for us . . . which of Tavis' ideas from the Contract with Black America have gained traction so that when he moderates the State of Black America, he can say that forward progress is the positivity that our combined efforts and personal responsibility are producing . . . or was the Contract with Black America just a ploy to make more money for Tavis . . . I don't mind that Tavis keeps telling me how bad it is, I do mind Tavis setting himself up as the de facto huncho of AA well-being in America and perpetuating that "Black Leader" bullsh!t that needs to go the way of the civil rights Old Guard
Name: TGen
Comment: PlanetRock and SoopDawg, you all are being narrow in your thinking. Please believe this is NOT just about Tavis' symposium. Tavis has been doing the passive-aggressive speech (i.e. insulting him but not explicitly) for the past few months. I think most informed people would concede that this symposim issue is just his scapegoat to be more bold in what he was hinting all along. It's obvious to most that Tavis' issues with Obama are personal because the rest is unfounded. First Tavis said he wanted BO to speak to "issues affecting African Americans." On MORE THAN ONE occassion Obama addressed this both on Tom Joyner's radio show and other places. Yet, this was not enough for Mr. Smiley. In fact, nothing would be enough. Beyond that Tavis is considered a "smart" person. He knows damn well BO is on the campaign trail trying to garner up support from "others" who he doesn't have a lock on already. ALL POLITICIANS have to play the political game. Why pander to an audience you ALREADY HAVE about issues you've ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT with someone who you've ALREADY DONE INTERVIEWS WITH? Essentially preaching to the choir. Is it not SMARTER to try to introduce yourself to "others" who support at less than 50% instead of repeating what you've already done with folks who are already supporting you like 90%? This man is trying to get elected, Tavis knows this. His silly, trivial insults are childish and disingenuous. Sexee, you've lost a "little bit of respect" for Tavis. I've lost A TON. He's pretty much black-listed for me right about now.
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Interesting article - Smiley acknowldeges that he is ‘Catching Hell’ in Flap Over Refusal to Allow Michelle Obama to Sub for Barack. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/smile ysobu215.
Name: dede0320
Comment: Olivia: Huh?
Name: McNasty
Comment: Divide and conquer using the least likely suspect - Tavis Smiley. Shame on you Tavis for making such a big damn deal about everything Obama!
Name: McNasty
Comment: 'There is something wrong when black people tell him to stay away from us,' HUH? Olivia he is at a critical time in the campaign and there will be time later if Tavis still wants a forum with him. Right now it is best he not break momentum. I don't know how you came to that conclusion or most of what you posted but it appears you are mis reading, mis interpreting - just straight not understanding.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: McNasty, truth be told, I don't think that anybody is using Tavis: he's self-annointed
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Its always important to go to the source. Here are Tavis'weekly commentaries. You decide!. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/smi ley
Name: Renetta
Comment: Clintons are reusing old tactics - %*$!ed that they can't get the black vote - they've HIRED surrogates (yes I believe Tavis has been PAID off)to again state that Obama is not black enough. But get this, the Clintons next argument will be that America will not elect a black man. I ain't fallin for it and I am disappointed in Tavis, Hutcherson and all the other Judas - 40 pieces of silver paid off black nothings - but it's nothin new - it's these two-faced turncoat that sold us off into slavery when we were in Africa.
Name: realuvbaby
Comment: Tsk Tsk Tsk Tavis. YOU above ALL people should know the importance of this moment in history. Haven't we talked about the State of Black America. Have we not established that covenant? Ok. Now, have we EVER had a viable African American candidate running for the Presidency of the United States -- and NOT JUST BLACK AMERICA??!
Name: bigchassie
Comment: Tavis dahlin...put a sock in it. it's not about you this time. it's about ALL OF US AS AMERICANS! LET THE MAN DO HIS THING TO WIN THIS AND LET US GIVE HIM ALL THE SUPPORT HE DESERVES.
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: The State of the Black Union is a joke. Pseudo-intellectuals getting together to pontificate about what they consider issues in the black community. Occassionally there are speakers so gifted with the word that their speeches are interesting to listen to. Mostly they just blow loads of hot air. I used to be a fan of Tavis, but in the last few years he has left a bad taste in my mouth. If you don't agree with him, shame on you. Unfortunately, he's a gifted speaker and can convey a message in such a way that everything he says soudns smart and true. He's like those southern baptist preachers who hoop and holler and say nothing, but everyone cheers because they sound great. Hopefully people can read between the lines of this attack and see it for what it is - an overblown intellectual with his own agenda who clearly does not have the interest of black America at heart. If he did, he would not be bashing a black candidate who has a serious chance of winning the bid for the white house. He doesn't have to vote for Obama, but that doesn't give him the right to bash him. Time for Tavis, Jesse, Al and all those other self-appointed black leaders to sit down and let someone in touch with current times do the leading. I have one question for Tavis. How much is the Clinton camp paying you to campaign so hard against Obama.
Name: realuvbaby
Comment: It's embarrassing that this has to be an issue. Sounds like crabs-in-the-barrel. And nobody can bring you down like your own people. We don't need any white folk to tear us down whether or not we are trying to accomplish ANYTHING. We do a pretty darn good job of it ourselves and it's a shame. I hope we grow up and start acting like people, instead of Black people, getting our collective feelings hurt. I am hoping that as we mature spiritually and economically, that we also mature politically. I don't think some of us know how really grimy the game is and what's at stake. Read Obama's Audacity of Hope and you can judge for yourself who Barack is and whether or not you believe he is capable of being President of the free world. Not just Black Americans. After all, Blacks are mixed with every hue on the globe, so when Blacks folk lift and are lifted, we bring everybody up. You have a voice, use it. And I cannot imagine what Barack is doing for the psyches of black men everywhere. And that's GOT to be a good thing. Get out of the barrel all crabs. WE GOTS FREE and that includes free from any fear. GOBAMA and Michelle! I am so proud of what and how you're doing it!
Name: cookyd
Comment: Tavis has been put in check by Barack. As if his so called Summit is more imprortant than trying to win primaries.Negroe Please!!
Name: pdub
Comment: I like Tavis and what he is doing in general. But this specific situation is perplexing. I would think Tavis of ALL people would understand that Obama is in the fight of his life to keep the momentum going and needs to be on the campaign trail! Obama's candidacy and the success of his campaign is a testament to the state of Black America, much more so than sitting around talking about what is wrong for the umpteenth time. Don't get me wrong I really appreciate what Tavis is doing as well. But I think he is skating on thin ice by grandstanding about being turned down by Obama.
Name: Winn30344
Comment: You can't do anything but laugh at Tavis Smiley. Barack is already pulling at least 90% of the Black vote so I don't think this is a "missed opportunity". Tavis is doing a Bushit..you know..if Congress lets the FISA act expire WE WILL DIE. It's obvious that people are getting the facts they need on their own and Tavis can't stand it. Also, after hearing Tavis's so called commentaries week after week starting with when Barack won Iowa Obama ain't a dummy..Tavis wants to ambush him so he can feed his ego. He's looking foolish right now and is not only attacking Obama but Tom Joyner and his whole morning crew. Tavis better chill because after this election he'll still need a job and his popularity is steadily eroding!!
Name: bigchassie
Comment: RENETTA>you know it's interesting you said that. THE CLINTONS ARE REUSING OLD TACTICS-%*$!ED THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE BLACK VOTE-THEY HIRED SURROGATES. and now you see what happend? two of their Superdelegates are going to Obama. ummhumm, interesting view!
Name: GHank
Comment: Oh...I understand now. Obama doesn't want to appear where there are black folk around while running for office. I guess if he wins the presidency, he will then address the "black folk". Is this how it's going to work?
Name: Sexee
Comment: We have to be wised and stop regurgiating this mess. It is the Ol' Divide and Conquer method and we fall into it each and everytime. I am glad they are taking the high road and concentration their resources on the immediate need. Tavis we still love you, but get a GRIP!
Name: PRDC
Comment: Here we go again..since thebegining of time, wehave always had a black person somewhere stirring things up against another black, never fail. The Black State of Union is OK, they usually have only guess that have made it off the poor black people, (accept Farrakan) he always speaks the truth abouth whatever. Travis needs to go somehwere and shut the hell up and attend to his show that coming on next week. If Obama states what he has to do, he has to do that. Black people please look at the bigger picture.
Name: bigchassie
Comment: but you know what yall...Obama knew this was going to be a hard fight. he knew he was going to get blows from both sides of the fence, from the clintons (simply because they are trying to win this election too. it's polictics) and from some black extreamists (tavis) but the thing is, Obama is ready for this fight. he is gonna stand his ground and we got to continue to give him the support so he can have the strength to fight back. IT'S GOT TO BE TOGETHER WE STAND, NOT DIVIDED WHEN WE FALL because WE ARE NOT FALLING THIS TIME!!!
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: using the link that MsBlake supplied (it works when you close the gap at the end), I listened to the 2/12 Tavis address and he speaks of three kinds of people: paid hustlers/pimps; confused/lukewarm; people with integrity and years of service to AAs . . . he leaves it to the listener to sort out who fits where . . . he emphasizes that he is a free Black man moving by the truths of a free Black man
Name: McNasty
Comment: HarrisThomas for lack of a better word I used 'using' I think he's self propelled too and I think it looks like jealousy at its worst.
Name: McNasty
Comment: I think we have gotten so used to being sabotaged and screwed over that when no one is there to do it we do it to ourselves.
Name: khufu
Comment: David Scott is am aopportunitst who has the track record of a Shelby Steele.......Im glad he is casting for Oba,ma but he has done nothing for the Black community and doesnt
Name: khufu
Comment: yep self-sabotage is what victims do......... Name: McNasty Comment: I think we have gotten so used to being sabotaged and screwed over that when no one is there to do it we do it to ourselves.
Name: DOne
Comment: Let's be real folk. Aren't any of the candidates speaking directly to the black community. Speacking in front of us doesn't mean that they are speaking directly to us. We had just 13% of the population and we have no wealth so anyone who takes up the covenant with black america as part of their campaigne would lose by a landslide. The most that we can hope for is that they address broader issues that impact us, such as poverty, healthcare, and jobs. Both Clinton and Obama has done this. Beyond those issues, anything else discussed at the State of the Black Union such as murder rate in our communities, the high rate of children born to out of wedlock, the devaluing of education, etc, frankly are issues that we have to deal with internal. There's not much the president can do. Frankly, I'm with stopzmadness, I think the state of the black union is a joke anyway because the people who need to hear what is said doesn't. It's basically preaching to the choir. I remember once in grad school there was this event with all of these speakers talking about the importance of education and I was thinking, "duh, we're in grad school, we get it, so why are you telling us this". Honestly I've always been a little wary of Tavis. Although I've always agreed with him on many issues and I especially like how he would bring the issue of certain political appointments to our attention, however, sometimes I've wonder if much of what he does is to sell books.
Name: GHank
Comment: I like this....Obama is speaking in code.....He has to play the game of acting like he not for the black folk, then once he gets in the office, paint the White House with red, black & green paint, bring in African artifacts, have a big ol lion's rug on the floor, make sure the presidental car has rims on it (to include spinners), sporting his dashiki on, having a big ol picture of Malcolm X in the west wing. But he can't show that now! Tavis just hold on man, he will get to you. Don't spoil it. (LOL!)
Name: bigchassie
Comment: BUT Yall know something, i'm gonna be honest. i want Barack Obama to win the presidency! i really do. but if Hillary wins, it's okay also, i'll deal with her. but the bottom line is this....I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER DAYUM REPUBICAN IN THAT OFFICE! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE BUSHBABABY CROOK POLICTICS FOR EIGHT DAYUM YEARS this time, it gots to be change. Bush did not win the presidency...HE STOLE IT! it gots to be different this time. and you know it's gonna be some shady tactics going on in the voting process. heyell it's been happening and it's gonna get worse when November comes. but everybody! have your stuff ready in November. update your ID's, voter Registration card, get to the poles early and make sure your vote is counted cause a whole lot of crap is going happening that is going to prevent us from making history happening. they say it's could be up to the Superdelegates to decide who is going to win this election but it has to be us, the people, to make that change happen!
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: LOL @ a pimped out White House.
Name: DOne
Comment: Personally I think if Hilary wins the Presidency, Travis has a high level job waiting for him, but that's just my opinion.
Name: khufu
Comment: I think he should attend and yet I understand the need for him NOT TO He CANNOT share the rosturm with some of the folks who will appear He cannot be present when some folks tell the TRUTH about white folks see, then, this justifies somewhat what SHELBY STEELE says: Obama cannot fully be "Black" and continue to have the support of white people what does it say that is is more politically advantageous for a Black candidate not to attend a Black people targeted event?
Name: khufu
Comment: yep GHANK that's the deal! SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR Name: GHank Comment: I like this....Obama is speaking in code.....He has to play the game of acting like he not for the black folk, then once he gets in the office, paint the White House with red, black & green paint, bring in African artifacts, have a big ol lion's rug on the floor, make sure the presidental car has rims on it (to include spinners), sporting his dashiki on, having a big ol picture of Malcolm X in the west wing. But he can't show that now! Tavis just hold on man, he will get to you. Don't spoil it. (LOL!)
Name: NYCsoul
Comment: I think some of us are underestimating ourselves. Just because Tavis is acting a fool should not be an indictment that all black people don't do this, that or the other. Let's keep our eyes on the prize and forget about Tavis' rants. He's entitled to say whatever he wants. It wouldn't change the momenteum for BO out there. It is obvious to me that there are black folks out there that want a change, which is why BO is winning these states, particularly, in the MD/VA/DC area. That's something to be extremely proud of. Let's not let Tavis rain on our parade. Write him, call him or confront him but don't forget that most of our people see the bigger picture. :)
Name: wwhitfie
Comment: The classic HNIC syndrome. Another black man can't stand to see a fellow black man succeed esp. when the other cannot attend every conference, talk show and gathering thrown. I can't wait until that mentality is done with. How can you ask a man RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT to chill on his campaign and address the very black folk who voted for him? Clinton NEEDS to be there, Barack NEEDS to be in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. Come off it black man, and praise him for his advances, and know that he'll support you in due time. Why do we always have to put our folk on blast? We air more of our dirty laundry then we can produce!
Name: bigchassie
Comment: EXCUSE ME YALL...I TAKE THAT BACK ABOUT HILLARY i don't want her either. i just thought about her views on healthcare. not good. move on hill.
Name: NYCsoul
Comment: GHank> Didn't Funkadelic/Parliament have a song called 'Chocolate City' that talked about painting the white house black? The song said something about Richard Pryor being minister of education and Aretha was the first lady? (I know this subject is way off topic but I saw your post and that song automatically jumped off at me!)
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: I was wary about Barack running in the beginning because I was afraid dirty politics would smear him image. I am so happy to see that he had withstood the attacks with dignity. I no longer worry. I also used to think that as long as a democrat won, I as ok, but regardless of race, I now strongly believe that Barack is the right person for the job. America very badly needs to redeem its image in the international community, and Barack is the one who can do that. Clinton, though not a republican, is more of the same. She's a politician at heart. It cracks me up when she keeps talking about her experience and people buy it. She was an attorney. Barack was an attorney. She is a state senator. Barack is a state senator. What experience doe she have that he doesn't? She was First Lady for 8 years? It is imperative that Barack Obama win this nomination and go on to become president. If Barack wins, black america wins because black children see firsthand that anything is possible if they only dare to dream. If ever there was a time for black folk to put aside the crab mentality and come together for the common good, this is it.
Name: GHank
Comment: But seriously, we need to make sure the democratic party is united. Think about it....if Obama wins the democratic nomination, will the Hillary supporters back Barak Obama? or will the jump ship to the other side? Something to think about........
Name: GHank
Comment: NYCsoul>>>>>AHhhh.....you remember that!!!(LOL!) Yes, that was it. (Ha-ha) That's why Tavis needs to chill out. It's all part of the plan. Harold Washington said it the best, "It's not about the man, but about the plan"
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: Barack not attending has nothing to do with who's at the summit, though he's probably wise to stay away from those fools. He can't win these primaries with just the black vote. If he's going to convince women and hispanic voters, two groups previously loyal to Hilary who are now shifting, he has to campaign. There's a significant hispanic population in Texas. Their vote matters. He'll need women in both states to vote for him overwhelmingly. What the hell will he accomplish by stopping over for the summit? Absolutely nothing.
Name: khufu
Comment: see if Farrakhan attends and Obama is on the stage with him...... Ideally, great! But it would be political suicide.....
Name: khufu
Comment: that's totally inappropriate Name: stopzmadness Comment: Barack not attending has nothing to do with who's at the summit, though he's probably wise to stay away from those fools.
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: Democratic voters won't jump ship. They know what's at stake. The democratic nominee will win the presidency unless there's widespread cheating, and we all know that's happened before.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: What I think Olivia is saying is an acknowlegement of the perceived reality in Ghanks post. There are black people who feel: 1) Pandering too much to blacks will turn off non-black voters (what Roland somewhat suggests) 2)Not pandering to blacks will be seen as an indication of how you will address our causes in the yt house (what ghank suggests). I believe both are intractable problems because of the "too black" or "not black enough" equation. Tavis has made this whole thing about him and that's unfortunate. He argues that he only made an "invitation" when in fact he played it as a mandate. I believe that sooner than later, the number of people objecting to Tavis's commentary will be so plentiful, Tom will eventually be forced to have Tavis back down a bit.
Name: gingerg
Comment: I'm cosigning Fanteeking this morning. Also, what are they going to talk about at the State of the Black Union that hasn't been said a million times or more? Some of those folks just get on there and try to outdo one another in terms of their great wisdom. If that was the case, they would have FIXED some of our issues by now.
Name: bigchassie
Comment: KHUFU>LOL! When you was tslking about Obama changing the White House to Red Black and Green, why did that scene from the Movie "I'm Gonna Git you Sucka" come to mind? that scene with that guy from The Mod Squad (forgot his name, Clarence something) playing a millitant that gave into yt society. hilarious!
Name: DOne
Comment: >GHank, I think as long as its a fair fight, the person with the most delegates gets the nomination, the party will not split. However, if backroom deals are made with the superdelegates and Hilary gets the nomination despite having fewer delegates, then use the party will likely split.
Name: GHank
Comment: stopzmadness>>>>Well, let's hope you're right.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Ghank..lol..your earlier posts reads like an analysis of Shelby Steele's book re: Obama's bargainer/challenger challenge. To your question, yes the dems need to be united. However, there is absolutely no chance I will cast a ballot for Hillary Clinton. Real Talk.
Name: gingerg
Comment: That's just goes to show you how low down some of our people can be when they feel slighted or are jealous of someone. They will do/say things that the Klan would think twice about. That's alright, because God is working it out. I'm a witness that he will make your enemy your footstool.
Name: Grace12_34
Comment: Dede0320, please don't ask her to repeat it. (Just kidding, Olivia.) I agree with Olivia and GHank. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that's what's going on. This "black" candidate is acceptable to white America because he has a discernible amount of WHITE blood in his veins. If he begins hanging out with blacks, ESPECIALLY at an affair the garden-variety white person would consider RACIST, like the "State of the Black Union," then HE will be considered racist to them, and they will turn the possibility over in their minds that if he becomes President, he will "unleash the blacks." It's bad enough Al Sharpton is about to jump his stupid azz into everything and has threatened to picket the Democratic party's Washington headquarters, just because Florida and Michigan delegates plan on attending the covention after violating party rules by holding their primaries earlier than scheduled. THIS, of course, will DIVIDE (and perhaps destroy) the party. White folks HATE Al Sharpton. Anyway, I digress. I would SO NOT be surprised if BO is avoiding events like this because he doesn't want to seem too black or too MILITANT (and I don't really blame him). Rest assured, at the end of the day, the majority of white America DOES NOT WANT A BLACK PRESIDENT.
Name: bigchassie
Comment: MUSTB>that is exactly right. very, very true.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: And let's not criticize the entire event because of Tavis. I think the conference is a good thing and should be held every year. Let's not try to act like we don't have gospel/fraternity/sorority conventions every year...lol
Name: khufu
Comment: profoundity.... things that should make you go hmmmmmmmmm Name: gingerg Comment: what are they going to talk about at the State of the Black Union that hasn't been said a million times or more? Some of those folks just get on there and try to outdo one another in terms of their great wisdom. If that was the case, they would have FIXED some of our issues by now.
Name: khufu
Comment: and I agree MUS..however what pracitcal, measureable actions come out of it? Name: musbdherbs Comment: And let's not criticize the entire event because of Tavis. I think the conference is a good thing and should be held every year. Let's not try to act like we don't have gospel/fraternity/sorority conventions every year...lol
Name: khufu
Comment: from Sun TZu's THE ART OF WAR TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS 1. Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. 2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Name: bigchassie
Comment: this is a heyell of a ride!
Name: khufu
Comment: If Obama attends, he will defeat himself......
Name: DOne
Comment: >musbdherbs, those gospel/frat/soroity conventions are basically just a reason for people to get tegether and party regardless the lofty images they try to project; hey, that's almost anytype of convention or conference.
Name: dcdouglass01
Comment: Who died and christened Tavis as Martin Luther The King? And why isn't he getting heated with McCain or Huckabee? Their are plenty of activists, elected officials, and community leaders to address the topic. Up until now Tavis was cool as far as I was concerned (I'd give him an occassional head-nod when he made this or that point). But this is all about ego. I was suspicious that he had a swelled head. This confirms it and I'll never view him the same again.
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: How was my comment inappropriate? Skipping campaigning to attend the summit would be a foolish move on Baracks part and Barack is no fool. What is inappropriate is Tavis even considering inviting him knowing the current situation in the race. It reeks of self-promotion.
Name: khufu
Comment: let's see julian bond andy young calvin butts david patterson charley rangel shelby steele gregory meeks who else is on this Judas list that I forget?
Name: khufu
Comment: Name: stopzmadness I agree with what you just said but I wouldnt call them "fools" that's all
Name: khufu
Comment: the same folks who gave me reign over EUR ROFLMAO i couldnt resist that one Name: dcdouglass01 Comment: Who died and christened Tavis as Martin Luther The King?
Name: Exmun
Comment: Tavis is out of his dayum mind. Someone who was PLANNING this event in advance would have planned the event to occur BEFORE the primary/caucus in the state where the event is being held. Barack should send Michelle, even if Tavis doesn't recognize her. I'd like to see what Tavis would do with Michele O. in the audience, despite his declination of her presence. Back off T. You're in too deep on this issue.
Name: stopzmadness
Comment: OK. Not fools. Idiots. They may have book smarts, but anyone who attends a conference year after year after year debating the same things over and over even though nothing has changed is an idiot. Tavis Smiley and the other intellectuals have great word power, but no action. They talk a good game. They even mix it up with the common folk on occassion, but they'll see you out in a heartbeat if it advances their cause. The problems in black america will not be fixed by speeches. Money and action are two key ingredients. Until we learn how to harness the power of our money and then actively participate in making change for ourselves, all the speeches in the world won't matter.
Name: Penelope
Comment: Just go on and play into the Right Wing's hands. This is sad.
Name: Fran
Comment: Somebody needs to give Tavis a cloth to clean that spit that always comes out of his mouth and stick to the sides of it and some chapstick for those ashy lips. I can not stand to see him talk. Its like he has snuff in his mouth. Everyone knows that he is the Clinton;s butt boy. He is probably Jealous and think its should be him. The old crab. Shut up Tavis!
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: stopzmadness, your comments about dirty politiking and presidential experience are on the target . . . ALL presidential candidates speak to aspirations for getting presidential accomplishments including encumbents . . . O-BA-MA!! is the right person for this moment because he does not have the special interest baggage of other candidates . . . he is Black enough because he has lived as a Black man in America [how many times he's been called n!gger in malice we will never know] and is YT enough because he has lived that life as well . . . looking back, Jimmy Carter was a change from the usual whose presidency is viewed as not so good because he didn't kick some azz and other d!ck slamming during the hostage crisis . . . I figure O-BA-MA!! can never be be worse than Carter or Dubya . . . these days, even YTs are divided over many issues and O-BA-MA!! is asking all of us to step back from the divisiveness and work together to solve issues
Name: jess
Comment: Excellent comments everyone! I'm glad to see that people are speaking up and now we must stand up to these divide and conquer tactics. I'm highly offended with Tavis' behavior and sent an email letting him know this. He deserves to catch hell and any other so-called leader that engages in these tactic. Like Julian Bond for supporting Hillary in her effort to twist the rules regarding the super delegates in Florida and Michigan. The NAACP does not endorse candidates and as a leader of the organization, he should not have spoken out about this. We are on the verge of achieving what can be said is the pinnacle of what many of our people fought and died for. We can't let people like Bond and Smiley, who appear to have forgotten all about the dogs, the hoses, beatings and murders try to destroy that.
Name: Sexee
Comment: Now that I think about it. They maybe setting both parties up. Tavis said he ddin't receive the info. Maybe the Repubs had the information Conveniently misplaced. Just a thought.
Name: Sigmatherunner
Comment: Tavis there are bigger things at stake here. You don’t want to be known as the person who screwed things up.
Name: dcdouglass01
Comment: Listen Tavis, I don't know if you got the memo, but the Black Civil Rights Movement is over. Now don't misunderstand me; civil rights issues will always be on the table (for people of all hues). But the movement itself is over. The Abolition Movement, Women's Right To Vote Movement, the fight against lynching---just as all these things are, for all pratical purposes, over, so too is the Black Civil Rights Movement. That was an external fight. And there are still many external elements stacked against Black people that must be dealt with. But many of the battles in our community are internal ones, and those, in the end, tend to be individual in nature. As far as Obama goes, he's running for president of the entire country. So why ruin his chances by placing him in the shadow of a movement that has already fought (and won) its most formidable battles.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: comments on the Michigan and Florida delegates from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/14/roland.martin/i ndex.html
Name: MelodyCool
Comment: @Olivia...you are right "There is something wrong when black people tell him to stay away from us, we can pretty it up all we want, that is what it boils down to. This sounds like laws that prohibited slaves from congregating because they “might be up to something”." It's sad seeing all these fools co-signing that Obama must be careful not to make white folks believe he cares about Blacks in the least way. They clap for and envy other groups for speaking of supporting their own. Of course, the President should stand for all people, but Blacks are too afraid to ask Obama questions about issues particular to our community lest white folks will get mad. Blacks are taking their own voting power for granted...no wonder everyone else does too.
Name: McNasty
Comment: All things considered black issues aren't the only issues facing us. We are a diverse nation and just because Obama is black does not mean he should or is obligated to just speak on our issues. We have a whole world of problems that cut across every major divide and then there is the fact that every other black person of note should be held to the same standard that Tavis is holding Obama to! Julian Bond and all the rest of the retired civil rights icons that have cracked raw of late not only should be taken to task but why is it they were given a pass all these years? Bond married a white wrinkled jewish woman and forgot about civil rights altogether. Andrew Young hadn't been heard from really til he put his foot in his mouth. These are men that were all about our struggle and when they fell out of the limelight it was as though nothing more could be done or was expected of them. We can't treat Obama as if he is our saviour cause no matter if he makes to the white house or not he is only one person and it is all of our responsibility to see that our issues are taken care of. If we continue to sit back and expect to be served - we'll be served the same thing we always are and we'll keep coming back here with our disgust and disappointment like we're entitled to it.
Name: bigchassie
Comment: JESS/MCNASTY>RIGHT ON!
Name: oshun
Comment: I'm w/you, MsBlake. I love Tavis, too, but he's wrong on this account. Michelle Obama is a fine stand-in for Barack.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: well said, McNasty
Name: BlkATLTop
Comment: Does anyone have Tavis's email address? I want to give his nappy head something to think about
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: I hope that Tavis or his staff surfs EUR and if so, is aware of the opposing view points of us "free Blacks" . . . smooches, Tavis; smooches EUR fam . . . ;-D
Name: MzTee
Comment: Why is Tavis turning this into such a big issue? Tavis extended an invitation and Barack, along with other candidates, turned it down with a valid 'reason' I might add. Obama is campaigning to become POTUS and the new feeks weeks are critical to his campaign. Tavis needs to let it go.
Name: B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: Dayum, I'm all over the place on this sh1t...put the dirty laundry in the dryer...Is Barak really scurred of offending White folks by attending?...Is Tavis really mad 'cause he won't come to his party?...Are we too much in love with the notion of having a Black POTUS that we let sh1t slide...If Hil was the front runner would she attend?...Are we celebrating a bit too early?...I was watching some talking White heads the other nite and they were advising Baraks camp not to get too confident...Hilary can still mount a comeback...It's still too close to call...She keeps targeting Texas and Ohio...I can sense some Florida sh1t going down...Like Chassie stated: This is gonna be a wild ride...Yeah, Khufu, I was thinking along that same line..The Spook who sat by the door...I guess it's easy to get caught up in this historic moment...This is foriegn territory for all involved...Barak and Tavis...Let each man be true to his beliefs...I ain't mad at Tavis for doing his thing every year and I definately ain't mad at Barak for doing his thing.....
Name: PTown
Comment: dcdouglass01: You are RIGHT on with your statements - (as is everyone else on here - excellent comments). Obama is not responsible for all things BLACK, nor is he obligated to accept invitations in a middle of a campaign that is literally going to make or break the nomination!
Name: Stephanie
Comment: All of the posts are very interesting. The bottom line is Obama is going to be the next president of the United States and Tavis is committing journalism suicide because a lot of folks are seeing right through him and they're not happy with him or his antics. This is a very big deal in our history and for the poster who said, this is a chance for our children and grandchildren to see one of our own become president. I'm really surprised at Tavis and this leads me to believe, he's simply "hatin". Regardless, we did our part, we came out in record numbers and voted now we can sit back and watch the White House finally become black...
Name: queeniebunz
Comment: >stopzmadness - I LOVE what you said - that Obama is about to be the role model of what is possible for black children. To have a black president - wow. It's like Oprah. People love to bash her but she is proof positive that if you hustle and stay true to your calling you can have anything you want. Obama becoming president - same thing. If he gets it (and I hope and pray he does), he will be inspiration to black people just by being president. As for Tavis, well - he's a "race man". If things got to where they should be, he'd be out of a job. He has to stir things up or he'll be unemployed. What will he talk about if blacks have total equality? I am deeply disturbed by Tavis putting Obama on blast. One of the continued criticisms about us is that we as black folk do not stand together. It goes back to DuBois and BT Washington, and then Malcolm X and MLK - instead of standing together and/or working together our people foster 2 camps. In a marriage, the union can never be successful if both parties aren't working towards the same goal. The same is true for black folk.
Name: kwrob
Comment: Of course Hillary Clinton is going to say she will be at the forum. To break it down, Huckabee and McCain don't care about Black votes, Obama has already shown he can get the majority of Black votes, and Clinton needs Black votes. So she is only going after the demographic that she has the least support from. Obama has to use most of his efforts to do the same thing, and it's not at a forum that is targeted towards Black folk. Tavis si smelling himself way too much on this one. He sounds about as ridiculous as Aretha complaining about Beyonce calling Tina Turner "the queen".
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: musb> I agree, Tom Joyner really needs to get Tavis to reconsider the direction in which this Obama thing is going. This whole ordeal is unfortunate. I agree with Tavis on his %*$ertion that we, as black people, need to hold Omaba to the same expectations as any other candidate in regards to black issues. But the fact that we're subjected to weekly commentaries from Tavis justifying his Obama issues/concerns is a turn off. Personally, I'm sick of hearing about it. I believe both of these brothers are bigger than this. It will serve Tavis best to just let this die down or he'll have another BET style departure.
Name: TMan
Comment: Interesting comments all over the place. I can see both sides on this one. I heard the tale end of Tavis' commentary this morning on Joyner and read the full text on his site. I think Tavis spoke his mind well in his commentary and I like how he is leaving this so things can progress. I think it would have actually been great if Barack could attend but at the same time I feel what Michelle is saying about teh bigger goals at this time etc. One of the things I do like about Tavis is he puts in the work to do these annual things that he does and he will not hesitate to ptu out there why certain people did not come, I like that he does it becuase it puts it out there to all what happened and even puts the person on point because most of those things even this is and are handled behind the scenes and the gen public never finds out. Overall it would be GREAT if Barack was there but I understand why he is pushing ahead with his own campaign too. I dont look at this one as a diss towards Tavis.
Name: mcctusk
Comment: Sorry, didn't read previous posts so if I reiterated, then co-sign. Some observations: 1)It is a moot point whether or not Michelle Obama sent a letter stating that she would come in Barack's place, Tavis would not have accepted anyway (he said this on the audio). So that seems a bit catty, like he was trying to call her out. And even if he didn;t get the letter, the offer was out there publicly the day before he went on TJMS. The prudent thing to say would have been something like, "while I appreciate her offer, the appeal was made to the candidates, only". End of Story. No need to go on and say how she didn't send a letter. That is tired. 2) Black people are familiar with Barack Obama, and they largely support him, so going to the SOBA this year would only be like love in. Obama still has inroads to make, so it is critical that he spend as much time as possible RIGHT NOW appealing to voters who are undecided, or do not know him. 3) It makes sense that Hillary Clinton accepted the invite, b/c she NEEDS to try to appeal to as many Black voters as she can, (just liek Obama needs Latinos and working class Texans and Ohioans) 4) I think this is largely an issue of timing and Tavis really needs to cut it out (with all due respect, LOL).
Name: jess
Comment: BlkATLTop You can email him at TavisTalks.com
Name: TMan
Comment: At the same time one of the first thoughts that came to my mind about this was, Barack doesnt want to go to this because of how he thinks it will make him look to the greater general public i.e. not wanting to limit himself to the black audience only at this time. OK, now that yes I do have a problem with. It's like doing a fine dance while tryign to balance everything. Only Barack Michelle and God know Baracks real reasons for not wanting to attend. It could be just as he said. It coudl also be strategy as Michelle makes me think as in they are going for the whole pie at this time. All in all though I say it would have been great if Barack showed up. He prbably knows from deeing previous yrs brdcast of the State of The Black Union that we keep it VERY REAL in there so he may have been concerend of just how REAL things would get up in there and said, "naw, I'll pass this time." LOL! Who knows?
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: Hey McNasty, I agree with most of what you said. True, Obama is not obligated to speak on our (black) issues b/c he is a black man. But, IMO, I feel he is obligated to speak on black issues as a Presidential contender. That's where I agree with Tavis. We need to keep our issues at the forefront or at least close by. You can best believe that every other ethnic group, women's group, gay group, PETA group, environmentalist group, economic group and etc. are constantly in Obama's ear with their issues. But true, Tavis' forum does not have to be where Obama states his stance. I don't care where Obama continues to speak to us as long as he does.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: First it was Bob Johnson, who later had to apologize with egg on his face. Now it's Tavis Smiley. Unlike Bob who has embarrassed us for years, I thought more of Tavis. For shame Tavis, for shame.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Tavis doesn't want Obama to cater to Black Americans, he want Obama to cater to him. But We and Obama know that Tavis is trying to set him up for embarrassment. Tavis we are too close now, we don't have time for your petty display. TIME is NOT on our side, so we must keep movin' upward and on ward. Peace
Name: GHank
Comment: To put this in some kind of perspective, think about all the people who had to be the first black in anything: Take Jackie Robinson...Branch Rickey chose him because he was educated and had the displine to endured the pressure in becoming the first black ball player. Anytime you become the first black anything, there will be undue pressure to perform.
Name: Olivia
Comment: Sorry another long one......It's not Obama, but what his supporters like R. Martin who said if he goes he will be seen as the "black candidate” who I find most troubling and odd. This general idea that any bit of the slightest criticism of Obama makes one jealous or a sellout is ridiculous. We are moving towards a dangerous place where if ANY black person even ones who have more than proven their commit to black folks are called everything but a child of God if they have the slightest bit of criticism of Obama is fanatical. If he wins and he does something wrong, (hopefully not) will there be anyone left in the black community to challenge it. We need people who support Obama, but We ALSO need people who look at him analytically. Come on now, blind faith is what got us in the mess in the first place. You can’t disagree with Obama or you are a crab in a barrel. The Office of the Presidency is not some mythical place by which it makes people fair minded when they are sworn in. Black people must advocate for black people NO MATTER WHO IS THE COMMANDER IN CHEIF, be it Obama, Clinton, McCain, like you guys say “he ain’t running for black America”. . We should not be asked be LESS active, less vocal about our community. I wish we did that ALL the time and actually looked at the Clintons more critically in the past and how some of the things Bill did like sending Haitians back and helping destroy the Banana industry in the Caribbean was bad for us. I wish we had looked at the Democratic party closer when the refuse to stand up for black voter disenfranchisement in Ohio 2004 and Florida 2000, we might not have had to deal with BUSH. I have no problem with people supporting any candidate, but I will be damned if you can’t criticize anything they do, say or vote on. The black activist, nationally or grassroots can’t be hogtied when it comes anyone.
Name: SistaBigBone69
Comment: OK Tavis....what's really going on. Obama told you he had a schedule conflict. Obama has 10 days to focus on two of the biggest primaries that could decide the dem presidency candidate. I am sure Obama had dates set knowing the significance of this super Tuesday long before Tavis planned this event. I do not know exactly the issue Tavis has with Barack, but it is clear Tavis has some issues with him. I missed the TJMS show the other day when Tavis got upset with Tom re: Obama. Please someone enlighten me what is really going on with Tavis re: Obama.
Name: OSUN
Comment: I will admit that I have never really been a fan of Tavis Smiley and was very heated at what appears to be his preocupatin with Obama, however I just read the 2/14/08 commentary for the TJMS and it has no undertones of animosity, crab in a barrellism, traitor/betrayal. I do think that he is subliminally endorsing Hillary, but I could not find anything venomous in it. Take a read:http://tavistalks.com/pdf/ts_obama_commentary_a.p df
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: SistaBigBone69, MsBlake gave us this link in order to hear for ourselves: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/smi ley
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Tavis has every right to ask the candidates to address our concerns. IMO Barack more than likely didn't go because of the nature of the event not because of his schedule. So I can see Tavis being a lil peeved. HOWEVER, Tavis is running uphill backwards on this. If he really wanted someone to pubicly address "our" issues, he should have put out the call to ALL members of the CBC. They are the elected officials who represent largely black districts, introduce legislation, hold hearings, get earmarks etc. THEY are the ones who can press the president/congress to do shyt. We should be asking these things of our congressmen FIRST, then focus on the yt house. Remeber we were all %*$!ed when bush declined the NAACP invite and had all things to say. No one should be so taken that we give Obama a free ride. BUT Tavis is as wrong as how the lovechild of Flava Flav and Whoppie Goldberg woudl look.
Name: CRENEEJ
Comment: michelle WOULD NOT be an appropriate stand in for barack. the same way bill WOULD NOT be an appropriate stand in for hillary. how can she speak for him, and if that's the case then why did everyone want bill to stop talking for his wife? i have no problem w/ what tavis is saying and doing. our ancestors fought and died for tavis's rights as well. this bad press (which i don't think has been picked up by a lot of people outside of black) will not make or break the nomination for barack. but someone said it either today or yesterday, that he'd be preaching to the choir because he already has our support. well i know he doesn't have mine in the bag just yet.... if he feels led to go, then fine. if he doesn't feel led to go, then fine. why crucify tavis? he'd be talking badly about hillary if she didn't go.... furthermore, unfortunately, like we all have to go through, barack has to do more to prove himself. we all know that as black professionals, we have to do twice as much as our yt counterparts. this is no different. should barack be the next POTUS??? as long as it isn't mccain, i don't much care. but promises and speeches don't win me over. JMHO....
Name: SistaBigBone69
Comment: Thanks HARRIS. When I post there were over 100 post. I did not have time to read them all. I am getting ready to start my weekend I will definitely check out the link later. Thanks MSBLAKE.
Name: Fortitude
Comment: I fuuly support Tavis in calling Obama out in on Obama intention in not attending his State of the Black Union forum. Obama not get a free pass. I plan on sending Tavis an email of support.
Name: gingerg
Comment: Tell me something. How many of these pseudo intellectuals actually LIVE in the black community that they are so intimately familiar with?
Name: gingerg
Comment: I'm cosigning Olivia this afternoon.
Name: SistaBigBone69
Comment: Dayuum...I am trying to leave GINGERG...lol ***walking pass giving GINGERG hi five through cyberair as I exit out the door***
Name: gingerg
Comment: How I would love to hear Reverend Jeremiah Wright, of Chicago, offer some commentary on this. He is off the hook and would make it real plain.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Olivia, your points are true. Look at it this way though 1)We are excited about Obama and nervous that some'n can happen that'll fk up his chances. That is understandable and should be expected. It is not that you can't disagree w/Obama, it is they "way" in which you disagree w/Obama. It is the same fine line w/criticizing Clinton. New Hampshire showed us that too much "piling on" can be seen as sexist..rightly or wrongly. Tavis is now at that fine line and he should be careful in how he plays this out. If he is seen as anti-Obama, he will forever suffer. Bob, Andrew, Rangel etc..aren't disagreeing w/Obama, they got personal. Obama faced a lot of criticism from many on this same board. There wasn't a whole lot of crabs talk back then. It's just that peopel knew and loved the Clintons and didn't know who/what Obama was. Remember, perception means everything. Wesley Snipe made comments 50-11 years ago "perceived" as hating black women. He hasn't recovered since.
Name: sweetNpetiteGApeach
Comment: This is one of those comments you would here your Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, etc. say: "Tavis go somewhere and sit down and don't you get up til I say so"!!!
Name: sweetNpetiteGApeach
Comment: Correction: The word should have read hear and not here.
Name: GHank
Comment: Look at the past presidental names: George, Bill, Ronald, Jimmy, Richard, Lyndon, John, Dwight (although that can go both ways), Harry, Franklin...Now you got a dude name BARAK! This just messes up the whole fabric. Times must really be changing. (LOL!) I wonder how many women are going to start naming their babies Barak?
Name: GHank
Comment: Also, if he becomes president and if streets are going to be named after him, Don't ruin it. I want my car to break down on Barak Boulevard and not have to worry about being in a phuckk up neighborhood.
Name: rayne
Comment: I believe that Obama’s first obligation should be running for President, anything else beyond that should take a back seat. Can someone tell me what advancements have been made since the first State of the Black Union forum began? All I’ve seen so far is Travis’s book. (which I’ve read) .The argument here should be if Mc Cain or Huckabee will be in attendance.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Wesley Snipes hasn't made a good movie in forever. Men would see the Wesley Snipes movies in droves, especially BLADE.
Name: Olivia
Comment: musbdherbs...Can't disgree with anything you said. Although I never liked the Clintons ....LOL...
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Creene...the purpose of a surrogate is to speak on behalf of the candidate. Bill and Michelle have toured the country doing such. Considering that Tavis had both candidates answer "our" concerns at HU, Michelle AND Bill would have been appropriate. Contrary to your interp, you are factually incorrect. Everyone wanted Bill to stop attacking Obama NOT stop talking for his wife. He has continued to campaign for his wife. If after having watched all of the debates involving Obama/Clinton, you are still undecided, I can not imagine how seeing Obama at this event will help. I would much rather black people "blindly" support Obama because of his rhetoric/vision than blindly support Clinton because of the shyt her husband did. Give me Obama any day. Talking about 35 years of experience should not win ne1 over. If that were the case, we should've supported Biden.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: GHank, good point: there's seems to be a lot of violence on streets, boulevards or avenues named after Martin Luther King
Name: Renetta
Comment: To musbdherbs – I agree with you wholeheartedly it nots that Tavis disagrees it’s the VOLUME to which he disagrees. When you shout that loud you become suspect. Like the DOne he was probably promised a hi-level job by Hillary. We all disagree but when you go on a rant – somethin smells. This election is really pulling the cover back on who was with us and who can be bought.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: and that 35 years of experience includes the Clintons support for NAFTA which has been ruinous for this country's working people . . . hey, O-BA-MA!! emphasize this point
Name: amethyst
Comment: I have liked Tavis for years, and appreciate his "advocacy". The State of the Black Union has its purpose, but I also ask the question "What actions come out of it every year?" Are Barack's candidacy and Black voters humongous involvement in this election process not concrete actions that support the principles of the Covenant and the State of the Black Union? Barack has addressed Black audiences on other occasions, so I don't question whether or not he's ignoring Black people; he just isn't attending one particular forum because of his campaign schedule. Barack has not shied away from Black people or Black issues; even Hillary has spoken about issues that Black Americans face. If Tiger Woods were running for office, then I would question whether he had Black interests at heart.
Name: sweetNpetiteGApeach
Comment: dcdouglass01: You are so right with your comments today.
Name: amethyst
Comment: As a member of a Black Greek organization I'll tell you that not all members attend conventions to party, and that my organization does work for the community 365 days/year. That is our primary focus. I can't speak for others because I am not a part of them and do not know their missions and work.
Name: Grace12_34
Comment: GHank, I understand what you're saying about names, BUT on his mother's side, Barak Obama is a descendant of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: GHank> Are you serious, or are you trying to give everyone some comic relief?
Name: GHank
Comment: I've liked Hillary for a long time, but I was going to vote for John Edwards. And to be honest, I haven't even heard of Barak until about a year and a half ago. I think the thing is that to a lot of black Hillary supporters, Obama seemed to have just come out of nowhere. I do know that Hillary was a constant adisor during Bill Clintons 8 years in office. She just didn't play the first lady role. She IS a smart woman....just like Michelle Obama. Don't forget that she's a lawyer, too, and she will be a silent advisor to a lot of Barak's policies. If she wasn't, Barak would not allow her to speak for him. So for those who think that Hillary is just only running off Bill's legacy, think again.
Name: GHank
Comment: ladybyrd>>>> A liitle of both..(LOL!)
Name: sigmascribe
Comment: Ghank}what up...if memory serves me correct, Bill Clinton seemed to come out of nowhere as well.
Name: GHank
Comment: sigmescribe>>>>True dat, but Bill ain't black. It's always different with a black person.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Ghank, if you care to share, what did Hillary advise Bill on that was beneficial to the country? I am one of those who believes that she is ONLY running off Bill's legacy. So I would like to know something concrete from a Hillary fan.
Name: soulmusic101
Comment: It would be cool to see Tavis and his group get up out of their seats in N.O. and help out the peep's that are still struggling after Katrina. Tavis is only human and makes mistakes like everyone else. Obama has his eye on the goal and not even Tavis can make him blink.
Name: soulmusic101
Comment: I used to have both of the Clintons back in the 80's when I was young. Now that I see how they roll, I just wish they could see the writing on the wall. HRC needs to redeem herself by serving the poor and working-class in New York. Her support of the Bankruptcy Law that favors the Big Banks killed it for me...among other things. WTH was she thinking...she has enough money, time to give back.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: CNN REPORTS: The 1.9 million-member Service Employees International Union is poised to endorse Obama on Friday afternoon, three sources familiar with the deliberations told CNN. The sources said union leaders deliberated on the endorsement via a conference call Thursday. Obama was the overwhelming choice of the union's state and national leadership, they said. Obama also received the endorsement of the 1.3-million member United Food and Commercial Workers Union on Thursday afternoon. The two union endorsements could help Obama in his increasingly heated struggle with Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, especially among blue-collar voters in the delegate-rich states of Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Name: GHank
Comment: MUS>>>>Oh, everything from military policy, to domestic issues, such as the NAFTA, the selection of his cabinet. Plus she was real instrumental in helping in with the healthcare/welfare reform, even those a lot of it didn't pass in congress. No, she did some stuff. That's why a lot of repblican was hatin on her, because she was educated. She wasn't your typical first lady where they just hold events and make cameo appearences. She actually stated this at the NY Apollo Theatre several years ago.
Name: Fortitude
Comment: Olivia or Renetta, Can you direct me to a source where Obama identifies himself as an AA or a Black man? After the Tiger Woods incident I do not assume anyone’s race. Thanks.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Remember John F. Kennedy came from nowhere. That is usually said if the person is young.
Name: McNasty
Comment: Southernbelle in the state we are currently in - aren't world issues the same as black issues? The same thing that is happening to us is happening to so many others. This administration has screwed even some its own white folks to the wall and what affects one group most assuredly affects the others. We have enough issues in common that IMO he should speak to the whole. I don't get that he's scared to speak to black issues for fear of offending white folks. I get that he is looking at the big picture and that he is working toward drawing people from all walks of life in. I get that he is sticking to unification instead of division which is what billary is doing. We don't need to keep going the way we are going. The fact is WE would do better keeping our issues out front because that's what we are supposed to do. As president he has to consider everyone.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Also, those supporting Clinton think about this; it's a PROVEN fact that she has taken the most amount of LOBBYIST money in the history of presidential candidates. If she win presidency she wouldn't be working for the people until she pay her debts and keep her promises to LOBBYIST! She had to reluctantly answer they question of how she has taken. Bill has the real experience NOT Hillary.
Name: OSUN
Comment: If HRC advised Bill on NAFTA, she should try to bury that one. Like HarrisThomas said, it has been ruinous for the working people. This is why many of our jobs have been going overseas, particularly customer service and technical support.
Name: McNasty
Comment: Soulmusic I totally agree! Let Tavis use this excess energy and help get some of our folks out of those toxic trailors!
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: soulmusic101 Comment: It would be cool to see Tavis and his group get up out of their seats in N.O. and help out the peep's that are still struggling after Katrina. _____________________ That's where this unfortunate discussion falls apart as most of it has centered around misinformation and incorrect information. The Friday before is nothing but service related. Friday, February 22, 7:00am to 3:00pm, SOBU BUILDS 2008 Day of Service (Service Orientation: Thursday, February 21, 7:00pm – 8:00pm) Volunteer to help rebuild New Orleans! In partnership with the Office of Lt. Governor Mitchell Landrieu, Tavis Smiley Presents is coordinating opportunities to assist in the clean-up and rebuild of New Orleans. Some communities are frozen in time – devastated by the hurricanes and flood. Our goal is for 1,000 people to come out in their sweats and work boots and help rebuild New Orleans. Attendees will be assigned to one of six projects. Project 1 – Build a Home Project 2 – Beautify a City Park Project 3 – Build a Playground Project 4 – Demolish a Home Project 5 – Beautify a School Yard & Donate Books Project 6 – Build Shelves for Public Library and Donate Books (Partner: PBS & PRI) Volunteers will receive a T-shirt, service kit (gloves, face mask, sponsor giveaways), continental breakfast, box lunch, and Reserved Seating at State of the Black Union 2008.
Name: OSUN
Comment: Ladybyrd, wasn't there a scandal about her ties with China and them contributing to her campaign. I remember this, can anyone provide details?
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Ghank, really? What did she do, what was her role. Saying that she advised him doesn't detail what she did. Nothing came of healthcare, NAFTA is largely responsible for the jobs going overseas, the military was reduced including the pentagon budget, don't ask don't tell, welfare became a compromise w/republicans..none of which makes her qualified to be president. Not to discount your opinion, but I think you and her camp are playing political fantasy. Bill says that she told him to invade Rwanda, she says that she didn't know about the pardons until after they happened. As a senior advisor to her husband, I find it hard to believe. Now somebody is either stretching the truth or making it up.
Name: GHank
Comment: OSUN>>>>But the flip side of that is that entrepeneurship did go up. More loans where given for those (especially minorities) who wanted to start a business.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: musbdherbs > You and I rarely agree, but YOU are correct in saying that Hillary is running off of Bill's Legacy. This opportunity (as many whites have said) will allow The Clinton's to re-write their history. Remember Bill could have gone down as the best President ever. But his run was mirrored with scandal and an early re-signation, which is still being called an EMPEACHMENT. Bill is like the Wizard, give him a chance and he will be running things from behind the curtains. LOL
Name: Calidee
Comment: Here is my take. I Think Tavis and Barack are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Barack should attend this meeting, but we all know that he can't do it. He already has the Black vote and let's be honest at this point in the game if he attends this event he could risk losing the non- Black votes that he needs to grab the nomination. Sad but true. Tavis is not a dumb man and I don't think this has anything to do with jealousy. Tavis acted the same way when the Republicans did not attend one of his events. Someone (in this case it's Tavis) needs to make sure that Barack understands that if he becomes President, while we certainly don't expect him to cater only to Blacks, we also don't want him to totally ignore us either. Sometimes we are too accomodating. There are too many Black politicians who have been elected into office because of the Black vote, only to forget about us once they get into office. I'm not saying that Barack would do this, but we really don't know do we? In past elections, we have always asked politicians to attend our forums and meetings to talk to us and to speak about issues that are important to the Black community. And it wasn't acceptable for them to attend just one event and call it a day. When politicians refused to do this we felt that they did not care about us. If Barack was White or a Republican we would be angry that he did not attend this event. Because we are afraid that non-Blacks will not support Barack if he gets too friendly with Black folks we are giving Barack a pass. I don't have a problem with this as long as we know and Barack knows that we can’t and won't give him a pass on everything. BTW, if Barack becomes President, he will do things that will get everyone mad at him at some point, if he does his job well. Once again, it's okay that Barack does not attend this event, and it is also okay that Tavis criticizes him for not attending. They are both doing exactly what they should be doing. We should chill a little. I think in the end it will be beneficial to all of us.
Name: OSUN
Comment: Morris O Kelley, thanks for that information. Do you think some of the invited guests that typically attend like M. Dyson, C. West, et al will be out in the trenches or the audience members?
Name: Grace12_34
Comment: Ladybird, John F. Kennedy didn't exactly come from nowhere. He served in the House AND the Senate before he became President.
Name: GHank
Comment: MUS>>>>>>Look, that's what the woman said and other congressional folks said the same thing. Now, I wasn't there in her advisories sessions (Ha-ha). Hey, if the woman is lying, then I wouldn't know that. What I do know is that if people want to vote for Obama, that's their business and I have no problem with that. I like the dude too. But personally, I refuse to throw the Clintons under the bus for the sake of support Obama.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: OSUN, I do know if you are referring Norman Chu, but he is an indicted fugitive who fundraised for Hillary. There was also campaign finance scandals in the 90's involving illegal ash.
Name: Renetta
Comment: Yeah Hillary advised Bill on Nafta which is a DISASTER. Like someone said, a lot of jobs overseas and all the Latinos who are voting for Hillary need to understand one of the main reason for the influx of Mexicans over the border is because NAFTA has made it impossible for the small farmer in Mexico to make a living anymore so they have no choice but to come here. She has no JUDGEMENT. Barack may have come out of nowhere for some of you but I worked in the voter registration system he set up over 10 years ago. He has been in the trenches - was a State Senator before becoming a U.S. Senator. I don't buy hillarys 35 years of experience.
Name: Katso
Comment: All this shows: Are we as black people ready for a black president? Blacks voting for Obama thinking he is going to be surviror to black people's causes are really going to be mistaken. The man will be president of the United States not just black people. So if he wins people need to understand that!
Name: GHank
Comment: Again, my only point is that Hillary is not a stupid woman. I really think that Michelle Obama will support her husband just like Hillary supported her husband. They're both smart women.
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: Absolutely many "names and faces" will be participating. Something else I will volunteer...Calidee pretty much said it best. I can't go into detail for obvious reasons, for those who know me. But... Senator Obama will surely attend Latino rallies in Texas before all is said and done. He has attended union rallies (hence the SEIU endorsement) and so forth. Candidates campaign in multiple states on a given day and Texas is a neighboring state to Louisiana. Those are the facts. And mind you...this is coming from an ardent Obama supporter. Since Blacks are voting for Obama greater than 80%, his "not" attending SOBU doesn't "fool" anyone. And also, name one candidate who would risk messing off any voting block who votes at an 80% clip for him or her? Something to think about. It's appropriate that yesterday was Valentines Day. Valentines Day isn't about knowing that someone loves "everyone"...it's about knowing that "that special someone" loves YOU. The SOBU/Covenant movement has been four years in the making. One year was to outline the plan for the book The Covenant The next year was to compile the working plans that had been enacted in The Covenant (The Covenant in Action). The PBS debates were to bring it all together in a cohesive fashion for both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates with the goal that the potential nominees would be at SOBU in the year of the presidential election. This was the plan irrespective of the candidates involved...just like the Republican PBS debates in which some folks didn't show up. There is consistency here.
Name: LAKat
Comment: Tavis: I sense a bit of jealousy! Stop whining like a lil beeyatch and help the cause from a distance. That's one of the problems with folk (a Tavis word). Too many chiefs and not enough indians.
Name: Renetta
Comment: Michelle is more humane. She's not shrill, divisive, brittle, calculating (crying twice to get votes). I just look at hillarys body language when she talks - she's always pointing her finger say 'I want to do this and I want to do that - she didn't start using the word 'We' UNTIL Obama did. Tim Russert put it well when he said she looks like she wants to reach through the tv screen - grab you by the collar - shake you saying 'Don't you get it - it's MY turn now. It's supposed to be me! This sister yesterday put it well - she said 'it's about hillary getting to sit behind that same desk her husband sat in while Monica was underneath it giving him a blow job' Let the old white women cast their sympathy vote for her.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Ghank, if we are to be judicious and learned re: the candidates, would it not make sense to make sure our opinions/support are based on something recorded as fact. The Clintons haven't disclosed much documented information on what Hillary's role was in the yt house. Therefore, the only thing we do have is her word and that of those who support her. Absent concrete evidence, her experience is limited to nothing outside of her husband. Also, this administration has been responsible for giving out more loans to minority business owners. There are more black businesses, homeowners, college grads, advanced degrees etc now as opposed to back then. BTW, it's interesting that you see black people who support Obama as "throwing the Clintons under the bus." Really interesting.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: Go to essence.com for the Roland Martin Report. Roland spoke to TWO (2) well placed sources that work for Tavis who told him in no uncertain terms that the offer was made twice to Tavis and he said NO. Tavis is being literal when he says that HE did not receive any communication. Well, technically, he didn't but TWO of his staff did, so he is being dishonest.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Ghank, I don't know anyone who doesn't believe Hillary is smart. I just don't believe in giving her credit for something that we have yet to see evidence of. I remember back then there was the notion that "she ran the yt house." IMO, that is only a notion..notions aren't evidence. If she did then there shouldn't be an issue w/disclosing what she did. More importantly, one of the main three reasons I oppose her candidacy is the 2-for1 dynamic they bring. There were 2 people running the yt house w/two brilliant minds and those brilliant minds did some fkd up shyt.
Name: OSUN
Comment: Ghank, I respect Hilary's business acumen. She is obviously very smart and thus has amassed a fortune. So much so that she had to borrow $5mil from herself. I do think that white males and most republicans have a rabid aversion to her that is a bit ridiculous. I am not a fan of hers but she is not the satanic figure they try to paint her. I do think she is shrewd and possibly a crook. Too many shady figures in her past present and more than likely future to not give some credence to it. I am a bit more conservative fiscally and I see many of her policies especially her health care plan as borderline socialist and not the route I would like to go. Obama has policies that I dont agree with namely giving illegal aliens drivers licenses. I am supporting Obama and if there is some super delegate fishiness it would be a bitter pill for me to swallow to vote for Hilary. I am not saying that I wont, but I will be %*$!ed about it.
Name: Renetta
Comment: Thanks DEEofVA. So Tavis is doing what the Clinton campaign has been doing - twisting, contorting the truth. Why brotha? Why? How much did they pay you? Or what sort of position did they promise you?
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: "The State of the Black Union is not supposed to solve all problems in black America. It’s a discussion of issues affecting us..." How many ways and how many forums do we need to say that Black folks continue to suffer from the vestiges of slavery and jim crow and somebody needs to do something about it?
Name: OSUN
Comment: Musb, yes that is who I was referring to. Scandal seems to follow the Clintons all the days of their lives.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Grace12_34 > I'm speaking of his length and rise to power. It was rather quickly for the young president.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: For all of you who say that Obama doesn't want to be seen with Black folks, do you not understand that he is double digits behind in the three crucial states of Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania? He's offering to send his better half, who is as smart and gifted a speaker as the Senator; in fact, better. Senator Clinton is running on her husband's record, 1/2 of the Clinton team, so why not let Michelle represent the other half of the Obama team?
Name: Katso
Comment: Mush- People like you on both sides Obama and Hillary's is the reason McCain will win in Nov. Just like you saying u will not vote for Hillary, there are are a lot of Hillary supporters saying that they wont vote for Obama. By default the winner is McCain, which will be more of the same of Bush. At least Hillary and Obama are nothing like McCain and their policies are more in line with each other. Most important thing whoever wins the Democratic nomination the party votes for the winner or the Mccain will win!!!!
Name: sigmascribe
Comment: musb}what up...I have to take a minute to say "you look so different when you talk politics" ....;-).....Moving on..I have not heard Tavis put it on either Republican about showing in Lousiana? Did I miss it? I know they were invited but did he address it? Outside of saying that neither had sent a formal decline notice.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: MorrisOKelly> I understand what you are saying, however Tavis is making this personal. It's his tone, which he isn't taken it with anyone else. He has all but endorsed Hillary with some of his radio ramblings. I feel that Obama's presence was prompted so that Tavis can grind his ax. I have always respected Tavis, though I can't say the same for Bob Johnson and BET. But that's just me...
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: OSUN, You are so right! Neither Senators Clinton or Obama have traditional executive experience, so we can only judge their acumen by how they have managed their respective campaigns. So, let's compare: Senator Clinton is the co-head of the most dominant political machine this country has seen in more than 2 decades. She's the wife of a former president supported by the Democratic establishment in all 50 states with the former head of the DNC (with a dream rolodex) as her chief fund-raiser. Moreover, they have been preparing this run for YEARS. The outcome: in little over a year, her campaign manager squandered $100 MILLION dollars wihtout her knowledge supposedly; her campaign team made a strategic blunder by running a 'big state' strategy, ignoring all of the small states--and the competition--and declaring that this thing would be over on Feb 5th. Senator Obama has been on the national scene less than three years. He has built an organization literally on the fly with no establishment support and no real fund-raising aparatus in one single year. He's managed to go toe-to-toe with the Clinton machine, outraising her and winning more states. If they were applying for CEO of a company, who would you hire?
Name: GHank
Comment: Mus>>>>Oh yeah.... there's a lot of folk that were like, "Hill ain't shyt!" and all kinds of rhetoric. I was like damn!!!when did she become the anti-christ! (Ha-ha) But hey, I ain't mad at Barak. I still want to see streets named after him and not be in a messed up neighborhood. He doesn't deserve that. (Ha-ha) Anyway, it's been fun with ya'll today. I got to go take my dad to dialysis.
Name: CaliRedbone
Comment: Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton. Records of these two candidates should be scrutinized in order to make an informed decision. Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years. These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you. 1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site. 2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month. 3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall. 5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson. 6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea. 7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day. 8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day. 9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death. 10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program. 13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda. 14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death. 15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11. 17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries. 19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care. 20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system. There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.
Name: CaliRedbone
Comment: Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize. During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more. In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public. He's not just a talker. He's a doer.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: Mo' Kelley, "And also, name one candidate who would risk messing off any voting block who votes at an 80% clip for him or her?" Are you suggesting that they only way that Senator Obama can speak to Black folks or about issues that concern us--the Iraq War, Health Care, Education, the Economy (yeah, we care about the same issues as White folks)--is at Tavis' forum? His campaign stops will include majority Black districts in Texas, OH, and Pennsylvania, so he will be speaking to those folks directly not via satellite. And if this board and others as well as Black radio is any indication, most of us don't think he's blowing us off. The consensus is he needs to be in those states where he needs to win.
Name: Katso
Comment: Olivia, I agree with you 100% my sister!!!!! Keep an Open Mind!!!
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Katsa, if the dems nominate Hillary, the democratic party will be responsible for McCain winning in Nov..not people like me. People on both sides were not responsible for John Kerry being nominated. He was the establishment candidate and we went w/the establishment. That is a party problem...not an individual one. Conversely, if the party decides that familiarity/loyalty is more important than the undisputed movement happening across the country, we derserve to lose.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: DVA..sho u right!
Name: Untouchable
Comment: If he goes there, then, he'll have to go to the "state of the Jewish union", the Hispanic, the Asian, etc.,. For Barack to be president, Tavis needs to keep in mind that according to Barack and his supporters, "There is no White america, no Black america, no hispanic america, its the United states of america. Besides, would Tavis be upset if Clinton didn't come? Barack is running for the United States of America not Black america-Tavis get real! Perhaps, if he is elected, he may attend but I doubt it. It may send the wrong message.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: Untouchable, This is not an issue of wanting to attend the forum, but the availability of time. If he didn't want his name associated with the forum, he wouldn't have offered to send his wife. That's NOT the issue. The issue is where is his time best spent: at a forum talking about the same problems we've been talking about every year or campaigning in states that can help him clinch the nomination which will put him in a position to finally solve some of those problems? It seems like a no-brainer to me.
Name: Katso
Comment: Some people are confused with NAFTA. This agreement is trade agreement with US, Canada and Mexico eliminating tariffs on products traded among these countries. Americans are loosing jobs because of trade agreements with China. And since US has borrowed and continue borrow money from China to keep out ecomony going these agreements have not be changed. And Americans are losing jobs because companies have shipped jobs to China because it cheaper to produce.
Name: OSUN
Comment: DEEofVa, exactly. I stopped watching the SOBU a couple of years ago. It is the same thing year after year. To me it is as effective a discussion as BET's Hip Hop vs America debate.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: Katso, We don't need you explaining NAFTA to us. We are not losing jobs simply to China. Hundreds of US manufacturers have moved operations to Mexico, which accounts for more job loss than trade with China. And NAFTA killed the small farming industry in Mexico, which lead to the exponential increase in illegal migration from Mexico to the US. It effectively killed the Mexican economy with the exception of tourism. So, not only are we losing jobs but it's taxing our welfare system and public services. China poses bigger trade and debt problems for the US, not jobs.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: People are confused w/nafta? You say that "Americans are losing jobs because of [unamended] trade agreements w/China, and the cheap labor/production costs found there." Would you explain what is the confusion you believe people have. My reading of your posts suggests that you seem to agree w/the criticism of NAFTA..a clinton brainchild.
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Co-sign Renatta & Ladybryd, you both hit the nail on the head. The reason why folks are not with Tavis on this is because of his tone. He's made it personal. Tavis said in his last commentary that he's known Obama way before all of us. Its obvious Obama is a personal friend. So why couldn't Tavis call him up personally to invite him??? Obama even told Tom joyner, why couldn't Tavis call him directly he has his number. Lets assume Obama can not be reached cos of his busy schedule, he could have gotten through to him though mutual friends like Jesse, Jesse's son (who is v close to Obama) or Al Sharpton. Three people who have been in contact with Obama recently. Why did Tavis feel the need to start hollering on national radio. He brought it on himself and thats why he is feelin the heat, thats why his tone in the latest commentary is alot calmer.
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: @ McNasty Agreed, world issues must bypass individual interests. But Obama gives me the impression that he's way more progresive than most other presidential candidates. As black folks, we have an agenda just like everyone else. We need to get our concerns on the table. Common sense tells me that as a black man he is very aware of our challenges and doesn't need constant reminding. Now that I've said that I need to re-evaluate my stance.
Name: Katso
Comment: Thanks DeeofVA!!!! Good point. Yeah but all these politicans backed these trade agreements. Even in that SC debate John Edwards ponted out that Obama supported trade agreements with Puru (or South America country) that took mill jobs from places like SC.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: musbdherbs, I'm guessing Katso is trying to further the trial balloon from the Clinton campaign that she "secretly" opposed NAFTA during the Clinton administration. If she did "secretly" oppose NAFTA, which I don't believe for a minute, it speaks to her cowardice and lack of leadership skills. If she knew it would hurt US workers, why wasn't she a forecful opponent inside of the administration? As she claims, she had the most influence on her husband, so why couldn't she convince him it was a bad idea? Please!
Name: Katso
Comment: Mush, I made the statement because NAFTA and China are two different trade agreements.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: Katso, The peruvian trade agreement contains the environmental and economic safe guards for indigenous workers that both NAFTA or the China trade lacked. Edwards backed NAFTA and the China trade deal. In fact, his whole campaign was an apology for his entire Senate voting record.
Name: amethyst
Comment: Fortitude - So, should all candidate be required to come to a certain event, even if it conflicts with their campaign schedule? Why do you feel Obama, and the other candidates, should attend? Would it have made more sense to have the forum BEFORE the primary elections began?
Name: MsBlake
Comment: If things don't work out for the Dems then Mccain will be prez, so Mccain is just as important right?? but Tavis is not putting to much emphasis on Mccain. Yes he's mentioned him but does not appear to be to fussed if he doesn't attend. Tavis actually said that he feels very strongly about Obama attending - (he used those exact words). It has just occured to me that this is like a boxing match and Hilary and Obama are the undefeated champions. Having Mccain, Huckabee or Michelle................well its not quite the same. Thats why I feel tavis is upset.
Name: amethyst
Comment: Great question. And what efforts do they lead to make concrete differences after they leave the Black Union podium every year? Name: gingerg Comment: Tell me something. How many of these pseudo intellectuals actually LIVE in the black community that they are so intimately familiar with?
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: John Edwards couldn't carry his own state. I think they already knew, what took us a while to figure out about him.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: Hillary supporters: why has Hillary kept her working papers off limits for this campaign season as well as her tax returns? . . . O-BA-MA!! has been transparent with his income tax returns and other papers
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: Barack is where he needs to be, which is shaking hands, schmoozing and listening to the people of Texas, Ohio, etc. Tavis is an intelligent man he should be able to understand this instead of making it personal. I think Tavis maybe thinking of his own memoirs for future books.
Name: Katso
Comment: DeeofVA, Your comments about me further the train that Hillary secretly oppose NAFTA is not true because from my understanding she supported NAFTA at the time. I know she mentioned that a lot things about NAFTA was wrong now.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: how about O-BA-MA!! attending the SOBU via video conference?
Name: amethyst
Comment: I was going to post this comment before I read Morris' second post. Do you all think Obama would have declined to attend a forum for nurses, truck drivers, Asians, the disabled or any other group at this particular point during the campaign? If McCain and Huckabee end up not coming because they also say they need to focus on their campaign schedule, what will you all think of that? My (humble) opinion is that the timing is just off. Presidential elections only occur every four years, and this is a unique, historical one. The State of the Black Union occurs every year. Should we pick certain events Presidential candidates should attend in the midst of their campaigns, and get mad at them when they as-sert they have have more pressing places to be?
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: HarrisThomas, Video conferencing would still take him away from the campaign trail. He has 4 or 5 events a day, running hours behind as it is. There is no need for him to to be at this conference. He laid out his plans for NOLA when he was there weeks ago.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: amethyst, To answer your question, Senator Obama has declined so-caleld White forums. In fact, he declined the AARP Forum in IA. There is no more treasured voting bloc than senior citizens, but he calculated his time would better used attending a number of small events in one evening than one large one just for one voting bloc, and it obviously worked since he won Iowa.
Name: DEEofVA
Comment: ladybyrd, I'm glad someone else remembers that Edwards couldn't carry his own state. All of the VP talk is non-sense. If he can't turn his own 'red state' blue would use would he be?
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: DEEofVA, OK . . . I thought maybe he could semi-chill while talking to folk from his hotel room or something . . . I don't want him to get super stressed like Hillary and cry but I am wondering whether he could cyber-poke his head in, wave at his wife [if Tavis relents and lets her stand-in, in person] and make this dumb sh!t non-problem go away
Name: amethyst
Comment: Comic Relief - Maybe Hillary is running because she wants to get in the Oval Office and take revenge on her husband. Maybe she'll find a male intern and call him "to the carpet".
Name: amethyst
Comment: One point Tavis makes that I agree with is that the invitation was extended to the candidates, not their wives or other supporters.
Name: HarrisThomas
Comment: actually, amethyst, I think Hillary wants to win so that she can divorce Bill while she's president
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Kasta, you're right, she did support NAFTA and she also acknowledges how wrong parts of it is. So she supported it, but admits how wrong parts of it is now that she's campaigning. Does any of this sound familiar? "I voted to give the president the authority to invade Iraq. I didn't expect him to abuse it." How many more realizations will she come to after the fact. HT, hillary supporters apparently aren't concerned about her tax returns in the same way they are not concerned about the Clintons releasing the yt house papers. It's par for the course for them. Amethyst, if those groups you mentioned held annual national forums like SOBU has, Obama probably would have attended (if he were lacking their support). The problem for TAvis is that he has made this personal for Obama and inserted himself too much to be effective. Tavis is correct in that we shouldn't give Obama a pass because we like him. Unfortunately, the timing of his philippic is 'seemingly' all wrong. DVA, we also forget that Edwards is a one-term senator w/6 years of elective office experience. Prior to that, he was a trial lawyer. I doubt that either candidate will consider him for the VP slot. I do not believe he adds anything to the ticket...just as he didn't in '04 w/Kerry. He didn't carry NC nor his homestate of SC. BTW, Michelle was really good on Larry King..much better than anything I've seen from Bill or Elizabeth Edwards. She seemed like an adult professional woman..not a hack.
Name: soulmusic101
Comment: MorrisOKelly ...thanks for the info. Tavis still needs to relax and do what he has too do and O needs to do what he has too do.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: DEEofVA> PREACH! You know he's trying to hold on to that endorsement to get himself in the mix. I'm not made at him for trying to position himself for a lucrative position. However, I hope Obama doesn't need him. Harris> Tavis won't be happy with a Video-Conferencing. This is too personal for Tavis.
Name: ladybyrd
Comment: musbdherbs > You are right again. Hillary, most certainly voted for invading Iraq. Now, that Obama is saying that he voted against it, Hillary is forced to say that she didn't realize the president would abuse the vote. Hillary is full of contradictions. Now, Herb if you and I can just agree on banning the (N) word, we would be cooking 2 for 2 today.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: lololol@Lady. Believe it or not, I use nygga/er on this board bout 20x's more than I do in person. I still feel the same way about banning the word tho'.:(..:0)
Name: oshun
Comment: nice list, CaliRedbone, but you left out the most notorious vote that madame senator has ever cast: the vote to authorize the war in iraq. For that matter alone, I won't support her.
Name: Fortitude
Comment: Amethyst - All candidates should rearrange their schedule to attend the State of the Black Union forum especially Obama. All candidates should take a few hours out of their schedule to attend and that is not asking too much even if it conflicts with their schedule. Just as Tavis hated on the republicans for not attending the debate at MSU he should justly hate on Obama. If Hillary cancels and does not attend (which I am sure that she would not do) then she needs to be taken to task also.
Name: OSUN
Comment: Fortitude your last point is well made and taken. However I think the bottom line is the majority of black folks appear not to give a blip if Obama shows at the SOBU. This is evidenced by 98% of the comments on this site and others I have visited.
Name: amethyst
Comment: Fortitude - So, if there is a State of the Asian Union, Latino Union, Native American Union, Gay Union, Disabled Union, Domestic Violence Union, or Jewish Union coming up should all the candidates rearrange their schedules to attend those? Or, are you just suggesting that they should attend the Black Union forum? I want to make sure I understand your points and perspective.
Name: Angel
Comment: Fortitude - If Tavis wanted them to attend, he should have either had it during the time of LA primary, moved it to TX, PA or OH during the time of the primary in that state or set up BEFORE the primaries started. Folks are busy and the only reason Hillary is going is because she's lost a large part of her support from the black community. If Tavis asked her to tap dance naked singing a negro spiritual, she'd do that, too.
Name: Squeeze1stAskQuestionsLast
Comment: I have been to Tavis' event. It is a great discussion about the issues but what I found was that the black people that really need to be there are not. Now, for his dumb a** to go on the black radio (the tomb of black culture) and speak ill of Barak not attenting is one of the dumbest, most selfish, most mis-guided things Tavis could have done. I truly believe Barack Obama will become the 43rd President of The United States unless smart, well-meaning Negroes get in the way like Tavis. I am not a hater but personally, I have always felt Tavis thinks a little too highly of himself. So let me get gutta with it - shut the fu*k up nicca.
Name: fanteeking
Comment: Squeeze1st: It's O. K. to get gutta with it! It's quite appropriate! I put Tavis in the same sad-azz category of D. L. Hughley, Damon Wayans, the rapper who wore the "N" word tee shirt et. al. They'd do just about anything to hog the lime light even if it means demeaning our race and culture and stopping a brilliant BLACK man from assuming the presidency. There will always be NEGROES like this!!
Name: ef157
Comment: Tavis needs to control his ego, He is not a 'King Maker'. get over it.
Name: Squeeze1stAskQuestionsLast
Comment: Fan...no doubt. I hope he doesnt open his big mouth again.
Name: musicdepo1
Comment: Simply put (as Mr. Smiley likes to say) Tavis, shut the hell up!
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: LMBAO: HarrisThomas wrote: "I don't want him to get super stressed like Hillary and cry but I am wondering whether he could cyber-poke his head in, wave at his wife..." funE
Name: MomaKnowz
Comment: WAKE UP. Obama is NOT the Black presidential candidate. He is the presidential candidate. Anything that would put him in the light of being the BLACK presidential candidate would alienate white voters. It is a critical juncture. He isn't going to alienate any white voters at this point. This is called POLITICS. It's isn't BLACK politics. It's just politics. Hillary can afford to come. She's white. The white voters that will vote for her won't remove their vote because she attended. White voters who consider voting for Obama on the other hand may be frightened that he is only for BLACKS and not vote for him due to his alignment with the very vocal and very Black, Tavis Smiley. So, we are faced with a truth. Obama is running for President. He happens to be Black. Now, if you're uncomfortable with that then now is the time to think about what you'll be getting. He will not alienate his whit constituents. You will have to be comforted by the fact that he is Black by ethnicity and not necessarily by what he will do for you as a Black person in the White House. If White folks thought for one minute that Obama was about to raise Black people up, he'd be squashed and cast asunder. Obama has taken pains to *not* appear biased toward Blacks on purpose. So that's it, that's all. Politics.
Name: mamamay
Comment: Tavis needs to come down off his high horse. He has run into trouble over his acting out, and thatis what's going on now. Tavis hasn't a clue what is priortized in these crucial days of this pres race. He needs to know that being on this show is important too, but not as important as Obama's needs to continue his run,for us to get our right pres. Prof Cornel West et al needs to school Tavis. Tavis if you can just calm to listen, we love you, but grow up and show the people that you have learned all that you claim to know now. Leave Obama out of your yearning for a tv rating, until next year. Now is not the time. Peace, love, and happiness for your show. Act nice and stop acting like a child.
Name: allonme
Comment: Okay Tavis, just let it go. Your are trying to get voters to vote for HC. Well all I can say is MR BARACK OBAMA does not owe any FAVORS, therefore he does not have to give any WAIVERS. The voters can decide for themselves because all of the other candidates have made promises to a lot of people in the past and soon it will be time for them to pay up. OB is A FRESH NEW FACE IN THIS ELECTION WITHOUT OLD BAGS FROM THE PAST. ITS TIME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT DOES NOT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE USA. ITS TIME FOR SOMEONE NEW AND DIFFERENT. Life is about changes for the better.
Name: goodnplenty1957
Comment: one day..maybe every will say Sen. Obama is presidental candidate who happens to be BLACK, not Sen. Obama is a BLACK presidental candidate. One day this will be as common these days as N.F.L. quarterback who happens to be black and not as they were in the James Harris, Marlin Briscoe, & Joe Gilliam days...BLACK QUARTERBACKS in the N.F.L.
Name: MissTee77
Comment: I normally don't post, but I couldn't take all of the inaccuracies and misinformation that is being posted. First thing, someone said something about Obama voting against the war...for the umpteenth time, Barack Obama WAS NOT in the U.S. Senate when the vote for the war was made. He was in the Illinois state senate, and true he was against the war, but if he couldn't vote on it, to me that's a moot point. Kinda like the Monday morning quarterback. Second thing...people please do your OWN research instead of posting an email someone forwarded you. The records of both senators can be searched on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d108query.html Obama has NOT authored 890 bills since entering the Senate. I thought that numbered seemed inflated: 110th Congress sponsored 113; co-sponsored 375 109th Congress sponsored 152; co-sponsored 427 As for Clinton, her results: 107th Congress 2001-2002 sponsored 161 bills co-sponsored 495 108th Congress 2003-2004 sponsored 138 bills co-sponsored 688 109th Congress 2005-2006 sponsored 177 bills co-sponsored 720 110th Congress 2007 - sponsored 150 bills co-sponsored 477 Those are the numbers, take them however you want. You can even find out exactly what the bills were etc. My point is if you support a candidate fine, but don't take what a candidate "said" they did as word. Look it up yourself and come to your own conclusions and have your OWN, not your candidate's, reasons for not supporting the opposing candidate.
Name: JudgeJoanieInLA
Comment: Tavis, I believe most of Black America respects what you have been doing in regard to the Black State of the Union gatherings, however, after all this time, Black America also realizes that as a people, we still face as many critical issues as ever, so Barack Obama's presence on your day would do nothing to solve any of those issues. What you should be asking yourself is this... if Hilary wasn't trying to ingratiate herself back into the hearts of Black folks, following the last several negatives weeks of her campaign that have turned many Blacks off, what are the chances that she would be attending your event? I don't recall her being there, last year and, if she was, what impact did her presence make. When she announced her candidacy, she knew then that she would have to court the Black vote, but where was she? Barack Obama is going precisely where he needs to go to prepare himself for some very crucial primaries. In Michelle Obama's role as the pending First Lady, there will be occasions when she will have to represent her husband in foreign lands with foreign diplomats. So, if Michelle Obama would be good enough to stand in for Barack on those occasions, it seems absurd and downright ridiculous that she wouldn't be worthy of representing him at the Black State of the Union. And, by the way, why not come clean about what it is that's really griping you about Barack? In your commentary on the Tom Joyner Show, you sounded as though you were spitting venom and, I believe, for most of your listeners and the people who have admired you, your position has terribly disappointed the very people you claim to love. We have enough devisiveness without you joining into the fray.
Name: MomaKnowz
Comment: I think that Black people are romanticizing about Obama. There is nothing in his previous record that makes me think that he is our Moses. I had never heard of him before his run for President. Which says to me that he wasn't a champion for our cause in his life. Tavis on the other hand has been in the forefront for Blacks in his life. So, I won't vilify Tavis for being who he has always been. I am happy that there may soon be a President of the United States who is Black. But I don't for one moment think that Obama is our leader into the "Promised Land." I think that Tavis has invited all of the candidates to speak to the voters whose votes they covet. None but Hillary responded that she would attend. She isn't sending Bill. Bill isn't running. And, Hillary needs to make points to regain lost ground with us. Not saying she's on our side either. We have to accept that Obama is not and likely will not champion our cause as a people. But he is Black and that may be all of the "Hallelujah" that we have in this situation. If he alienates Whites by championing our cause, he's not long for holding that position. This is a reality. Tavis was simply trying to relay that fact to us. Be excited but know what you're excited about... that the man is Black, not that he will champion your cause. Obama has never said any such thing, implied any such thing nor done any such thing in his past to suggest that he is a champion of Black causes. As long as you understand that, you won't be let down when you find out that not much has changed except that the man in office has Black skin. I'm proud of Obama for running but I can only go by his record and what he has or has not said. He has been very protective of his white voters... even to our alienation. But we're so "happy" that we won't even realize we've been alienated and that it was "okay" to alienate us until the election is over and the hoopla has abated. This is a monumental election but don't think that anything is about to change for Black people because Obama is Black. He hasn't historically held that political distinction of champion of and for Black people's issues. I wish him well but I'm not fantasizing the moment. It's okay to alienate us...we don't care... we're just "happy." The Kodak moment will be the day *after* the election when we find out nothing has changed. He has shown that he will not alienate whites to appease us. He won't do so in the future either. Just be "okay" with that.
Name: fanteeking
Comment: MomaKnowz: I critically perused your post and just have a few questions to ask: First you state, "I had never heard of him before his run for president which says to me that he wasn't a champion for our cause in his life". REPLY: If there was a Black state senator or community activist in Alaska, who was effectively working in the community to alleviate adverse conditions and you NEVER heard of him, does that negate the fact that he been effectively working in the community and making a difference. Does Obama have to wait for your acknowledgment before he can be considered effective in the community. Do you wield that type of power? Second you state: "We have to accept that Obama is not and likely will not champion our cause..." REPLY: Do you have a crystal ball in your living room? How can you read tarot cards of the future and know what Obama will or will not do? If YOU have this great clairvoyant ability could you please send me the Hoosier Lottery and Powerball winning numbers BEFORE 8pm tonite. I'll share the money wi' cha. Maybe, YOU should go to Tavis Smiley's conference and ask him why they NEVER tell you about the PROGRESS and CHANGE that they've accomplished from the PREVIOUS year. WHY? 'cause there's NONE! They pontificate, use dollar words to impress less than academically credentialed Black folks and discuss the same old problems over and over. They talk about problems of the 'hood but I betcha a dollar to a donut hole that they live as far away from the 'hood as Mongolia! They talk about the failing public schools but their kids go to private schools! OH, I forgot they have a book signing table near the door to impress you with their writing skills. Like Tavis, you're bashing Obama without evidence and the mechanics of you LOGIC is a wee bit suspect. Vote for Hillary and be done with it.
Name: Quanli
Comment: Obama's presidency may not be able to address our specific issues, but it will garnish us clout! For the first time in our history in this country we would BE the "powers that be". Don't think this won't echo into changes in how we are preceived on a much larger scale. Thus far we are the race with problems, issues, and unique hair--but never clout. This talking heads session, however, won't do anything but that: talk. I cannot understand this need to constantly hold Obama's feet to the fire as if he owes us a special blueprint as how he will, step-by-step solve our issues. I conceed that the Hispanics are getting more attention because their concerns (getting here, being able to stay here, etc.) are more recent and of a different magnitude. They do not even know the language in most cases. We, however, are ingrained in the fabric of this country and with the opportunities that have been represented to us in the last 3 decades or so this need for pacification is moot. When will we all get tired of the grandstanding? Black leaders highlighting our problems, but too afraid to go where they lay. IF this was an event educating our black teenage mothers as to priorities, finances, and setting goals then I would say Obama may have missed something. He would not be appeasing us by attending, he'd be appeasing Tavis. I and the 85 to 90 percent that voted for him would much rather be appeased from Pennsylvania Ave.
Name: fanteeking
Comment: QUANLI: You've answered MomaKnowz better than I could in a "Thousand Seasons". Remarkable Post!! I'm going back to bed with a smile on my face. Yes, Tavis an' em are Talking and self-impressing Heads! LOL!!!
Name: meettravis
Comment: Tavis, You came across as a stubborn, egotistical, cry baby when you said, "I, personally, have no intention and no interest in discussing this matter beyond this commentary no matter what's said about me except to promote this symposium....." Should a public figure who promotes public discourse get away with a statement basically saying, "I'm allowed to 'stir to pot,' " and then shut down and remove myself from the conversation, "but you all can it have without me"...?...??? Your symposium is to serve the public. You have chosen a position as facilitator (host) to help promote an open dialog and this quote completely contradicts this role and shuts down communication and any possible resolution. You come across as a hater, not just to Senator Obama but to your audience, because you don't even finish the conversation you start. This is tacky Tavis. Check your ego. I think in time you will regret the position you have taken in regards Senator Obama and when you do you should apologize to him and your audience. Have a conversation with God and your mother Tavis. Best regards and good luck, Shelly and Travis (Los Angeles)
Name: MajorG
Comment: Obama made his decision be it right or wrong and the results of same will be unveiled in time. Smiley was correct to not accept Mrs. Obama as a substitute as she's not in bid for the office of President.Personally, I feel Obama should attend the event ,but I am just "Johnnie Q Public" so what am I suppose to know! Common sense says you do not cut off the hand that feds your face, and Mr. Obama millions will be looking at how you dissed us and not just Smiley.Our votes count as well as those you can't miss for one day,2/23/08.
Name: MomaKnowz
Comment: Fanteeking, I don't need a crystal ball when a politicians own record stands before me. When it comes to my vote, I am not a fan. I am a responsible voter. I am not a romanticist in granting that vote. I weigh on what is before me. Read what I WROTE, not what your emotional outburst conceived. You have a Santa Claus mentality about all of this and if it works for you, fine. I have no problem with Obama. I think he is fabulous. I also don't think this is going to be as big a win for our people as some think. I'm just real like that. I don't think that Obama is hiding any cards such as suddenly appearing with a Black agenda. It is what it is. My vote for Obama would be based upon what I have seen of him, not of what I hope him to become. But if you need to vent...My feeling that he is the best candidate still remains intact. I just don't think that this translates to a big boost in the White House for our people as we hope it will be. I see nothing of his that tells me to have this type of hope. I'm just glad that he is Black and will win. And that's the long and short of it... no pipe dreams here. Quanli: There have been Blacks that have made great strides historically and we are still no better off because of it. Will will have to save ourselves. WE will have to stop buying korean hair. WE will have to purchase from our own manufacturers and vendors. WE will have to clean up our neighborhoods. WE will have to raise our children and stop them from killing each other. And yes, WE will have to make ALL politicians who court our vote, STATE their agenda regarding our people or risk losing that vote. No matter WHAT color they are. We have 6 billion dollars of consumer spending that we will need to manage. It's time we reckon it wisely.
Name: TRIPLETHREAT
Comment: WELL HILLARY IS STILL TRYING TO REACH THE BLACKVOTERS
Name: TRIPLETHREAT
Comment: AND OLIVIA WHAT THE H;LL IS YOU TALKING ABOUT NOT A GODANG THING
Name: fanteeking
Comment: MomaKnowz: With all due respect, I read what you WROTE and I quoted you verbatim with my reply. You didn't argue your case or find fallacy in my deductive reasoning. I do not have a Santa Claus mentality, I am a realist who has lived in Ethiopia & Brazil and other countries and know B. S. when I see it. Years ago, I was a college professor and discovered some of the biggest Ivory Towered, academic bullshirters reside in our nation's colleges and universities. Many of my colleagues would write "here's how to solve it books", but couldn't chew chewing gum and jump rope at the same time. I've been to many of these Black think tank conferences and all I see are NEGROES who generate their livelihood from the woes of inner-city BLACK folk, but who would not dare step foot in the Black inner-city community. Ron Karenga had a symposium here (Wabash College) and ALL not many, of the Black intellectuals couldn't hold a decent conversation with a welfare Mother or an unemployed Father in de "hood. They hold seminars, spout out grandiose ideas, have you purchase their books and then escape to the WHITE suburbs where VERY few Black folk live notwithstanding po' BLACK folks! Mommaknownz, I ain't trying to be nasty, I just want you to view this B. S. from my years on many college campuses. I've been there and seen that!!!! Give Obama a chance. He can't be no worse than that a$$ ***E, in the White House who have sent thousands of Americans to heaven over a war in Iraq that is based on a bold-faced lie.
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: In all seriousness folks...there's a lot that the general public is not being made privy to...this is not as "simple" as Tavis being jealous or selfish and not as "complicated" as Barack needing to focus his efforts on the campaign trail in Ohio and Texas. It's been overblown and the Brothers are in conversation. They've been friends before this and will be friends after this, I assure you. Obama's job is to do Obama and Tavis' job is to do Tavis and neither is to change because of the other. It's not personal, never was and won't be. This isn't much unlike what is going on with the Republicans. Various groups fight for what they want/need and when the nominee is determined, they unify and march towards the election. The same will happen here. Tavis is not out to influence your vote and given Black folks' 80% + support, he probably couldn't even if he wanted to. He is an advocate for Black folks. Not any candidate, but for Black folks. Just remember that. This will be largely forgotten in a week. The State of the Black Union is not and never was a moment to "Bash Obama" it ain't gonna happen. You will have a large gathering of Black leaders and they will all have their individual opinions on any variety of issues. Anyone who's seen this program knows that Farrakhan will come on and do his thing and half the stage with disagree. We are not a monolithic people, but we should be unified in our love for our people. In the end this won't mean anything. Tavis will do his thing, Barack will do his and hopefully come November, we can all start making our travel arrangements to go to the inauguration party in DC in January. Just remember, a pleasant side benefit to all of this is that Black people are engaged in the political discourse like never before. People are becoming informed, they are passionate and most importantly, coming out to vote. That ain't bad no matter what. The top story on EURWEB.com and other gossip sites is a POLITICS story. Don't lose sight of that.
Name: MetroScribe
Comment: MorrisOKelly: You are so right about this! I've noticed a lot more stories on the primaries and such, and that indeed is a good thing. I have not heard Tavis' comments (I'm on a Mac using Firefox, and for some reason, they are using Windows...argh!!) but when I do, I will judge for myself. But it does seem like Tavis has taken this personally. When you say that "Tom Joyner does not speak for me" on TOM'S OWN SHOW, then you know it's getting a bit heated. He's a media professional and should know how that may be interpreted. I read somewhere that Tavis was miffed that Obama didn't participate in his event last year, and either he or Cornel West said he should have announced his presidency there, which I think is nuts. They didn't elect him; the people of Illinois did. And they did it in Springfield because it was home to another president. I don't begin to understand why he'd have kicked-off his candidacy anywhere else. Anyway, Hillary is only going on the show because she needs the free publicity. The publicity wouldn't hurt Tavis either, and I suspect he knows that. Hillary gets to turn this into the debate she wants to have, so sure she'd trip up Barack...though I think it was she who tripped up when she mangled the licenses for undocumented workers question. With her vote to authorize Shrub to go to war (can't read) and a burn rate of campaign dollars this side of Rudy and Mitt (not watching the dollars), her "experience" is saying much. Finally: someone was saying that Barack wasn't in the Senate at the time of the Iraq authorization vote. That is true. But he WAS in public life, and he spoke out about how dumb a move it was when most people tucked tail and hid--including Hillary. And he took this stance as he began his campaign for U.S. Senate as merely one of 6 in a primary where he was not favored to win. He didn't just wake up and run against Alan Keyes on election day; he had to fight for that nomination, and he was outfunded, too,
Name: MomaKnowz
Comment: Fanteeking, I too, am well travelled and attended this latest flurry of discussions. But what I have seen of late with regard to the Covenant for example, is a groundswell of movement toward that wake-up call that we have needed for so long. And I agree with MorrisOkelly that we have rallied. And that is VERY good. We are in process. I just don't want people to be disheartened if this isn't the panacea. Because the truth is, we now see that we CAN elect a national leader. To clarify: Obama is the best of the current crop of candidates. I just don't think he's the Black Moses. Now that we know that we can select and elect our own candidate. We can begin to groom and process leaders who WILL represent us and our needs at the national level. Fanteeking I appreciate your expertise and discussion. We are not that far apart in our thinking.
Name: BigMik
Comment: MomaKnowz, who said BO is the next Black Moses, MLK or Jesus? No one but folks that think his supporters can't think reasonabily about the issues and how they would like the direction of this country to go. They choose him because they feel we need a "change" and a "fresh" direction, not the "second coming". I as one of his supporters feel insulted by your comments. It was not only an emotional choice, but one of deep reflection on the issues and who he is as a potential leader of the most powerful country in our current history. The Tavis TalkFest is just that a talk fest and have been for years, I feel BO is correct in missing it and need to pursue his goal to the White House. And you are right to say we can make great leaders, Obama is one of them and who says he won't look out for OUR interests? Last I checked his two little girls are not white and he needs to make sure their future and the future of my little boy is secure.
Name: MsBlake
Comment: Co-sign Fanteeking & Mo'Kelly's last posts. The goal of the State of the Black Union is for the benefit of AA's right? Now these same AA's who voted 85%+ for Obama and have been blowing up the blogs (like 97% of comments on a number of websites) prefer Obama to focus on the upcoming states instead of the conference.I think Tavis has realised now and probabaly regrets the way he handled it on national radio. I read today Tavis has recieved death threats, his staff are being bombarded with angry calls and emails, his mother and brother are being harassed...... Clearly this has gotten out of hand. Come next week this will be yesterday's news..........Hopefully we can all move on from this and prepare to party next Tuesday and March 5th.
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: Wow! I read these comments and I feel refreshed! Invigorated! Alive! I am 31, just this past Friday and in my lifetime many historical moments have taken place. This political race is yet another one- a Black man and a White woman; and I'm not talking about a pro-athlete marriage. We are talking, debating, agreeing, disagreeing...hahaha I LOVE IT. This time around some of the most "I ain't voting no more after Ohio and FL" people, the youngins, the folks who usually sit back and complain....are involved...because the folks in this race look like them. plain and simple. of course there are still folks that won't vote. when the right to vote was allowed...-intended choice of words- I suppose the right "not" to vote was also simultaneously created; and it's your right, vote....or no...but this, this is history. I am alive during this time. and I am pleased with the involvement I am seeing. inner peace and love y'all!
Name: Untouchable
Comment: Wow, Deofva, you completely missed my point. Please re-read. Even if he had time, he would have to consider the ramifications of just attending that culture related event.
Name: fanteeking
Comment: The ONLY Black Moses who will lead us out of the wilderness into the Promised Land is the Woman/Man who stares back at you each morning in your bathroom mirror. Jesus came to save the world and that's a "work in progress".
Name: Cappaucino
Comment: Why is Tavis being the "Kanye West" of politics? Having a fit and what not.. It's sad that when the first black man is striving to become president the crabs are coming out like crazy... Writing books, Whining in Interviews.... WTF
Name: MetroScribe
Comment: Another thing: Obama is not campaigning in his birth state of Hawaii. Is it because he's taking them for granted and doesn't care about their issues or their votes? No--it's because he has limited time and resources, he has to focus. I have yet to hear that this has angered the Hawaiians that support him. Tavis has already hosted a debate with the Democratic candidates. I really don't understand how Clinton's free campaign commercial fits in with the goals (at least, as I understand them) of the State of Black America--unless it's Exhibit A of who NOT to support during a political campaign.
Name: Quanli
Comment: I hope that in the coming week Tavis reconsiders allowing Michelle, a more than capable member of the AA community, to speak and not continue to make this into another sob story about everyone attacking him. This should serve as a reality to check--the "chosen" are self appointed and if the majority does not agree then it is up to them to rectify their positions to appease the people they claim to represent.
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: Untouchable... Will you make the same argument WHEN Obama shows up at Latino rallies in Texas?
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: I've always thought THIS brotha was on OUR side! But with this response to the Obamas....I think the truth is starting to come out! There is NO WAY IN HELL THIS BROTHA DOESN'T understand why Barack can't attend this function! And if he wanted him there so bad, why not hold it somewhere more convenient to Barack's schedule? To NOT do so & give someone he SAYS he's NOT IN FAVOR OF a chance to address the people you SAY YOU REALLY WANT SOMEONE ELSE (your "so called" own choice) to address seems SUSPECT to me. The BEST way for Tavis to achieve what he wants to achieve is to NOT but Barack on blast for simply being a candidate who CAN'T AFFORD NOT to continue campaigning! And I repeat, I think HE KNOWS THIS SHYT! I think it's also time to check out WHO is TAVIS'S MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS! In the words of D.L. Hugley...THIS %*$!(, HERE!!!! Damn!!
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: P.S. I think it's also "interesting" how BLACK people KEEP trying to play "the game" by the rules when the OTHER players DON'T & even break the rules RIGHT IN YOUR FACE.... FOR YEARS!!! You don't bring a knife to a gun fight & YOU SHOULDN'T discard what others ARE doing to win when THAT seems to be the way TO win!! Draw your own conclusions! Peace!
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: Taurusingr... The SOBU is scheduled a year in advance...features some 50 intellectuals and coordination 3 many hotels and event halls. "hold it somewhere more convenient to Barack's schedule" You're kidding, right? This year's SOBU was scheduled even before Obama announced his candidacy.
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: That's not even mentioning the television production aspect (C-Span) or the work done with the Lt. Governors office for the day of service preceding it in which they are helping to physically rebuild New Orleans. Have you ever attended or watched a SOBU? If so, you'd rethink that assumption.
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: Mo Kelly, I love that you actually read our comments and respond to "us" the commenters of eurweb. (sniff, sniff) you're one of the reasons I even read this site....along with the info I get from other posters. keep on commenting. appreciate ya!
Name: Olivia
Comment: TRIPLETHREAT....say no to crack.
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: hahaha
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: I read and respond for a variety of reasons. One, I'm just a writer and not "above" anyone. Two, it's essential to listen and interact with people on these issues. And three...love a good argument. :)
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: if you see a good fight, get in it!
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: MorrisOKelly...Yes, I KNOW what is involved in planning THIS affair! The point I was trying to get across was TAVIS should've did SOMETHING ELSE rather than put OBAMA on blast for NOT attending, that's all! And what he DID is SUSPECT! I can/do appreciate YOUR response even thou IT countered mine, THAT'S what this site should be about...Healthy responses & NOT TRIPPIN & being SO DAMN SENSITIVE & coming off like ...this site is about A FEW & NOT FOR ALL!!! Now for adifferentpath, Just b/c someone doesn't AGREE with you DOESN'T mean THEY are not reading the prior posts! Like, am I talking about SOME OTHER TOPIC?...HELL NO! Also, the "commenters" of eurweb.are ALL of US!(snif,snif THAT!) No one's comments are the GOSPELL,they're just YOUR/OUR opinions! But, I DO appreciate you confirming what I "suspected", Peace!
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: Back to the topic...Why can't Tavis have Michelle Obama speak at this affair as a Positive,Intelligent,Strong WOMAN & NOT just on Barack's behalf!? SHE has a LOT to say & offer to the discussion? Wouldn't SHE be a HELL of a speaker, period!?
Name: MorrisOKelly
Comment: See this is where folks like you get yourselves mixed up. Every bit of your post was emotion...none of it based in fact. Number one, he never put Obama on blast for not attending and you won't find any commentary he made in which he did. He said it was a missed opportunity...but never did he blast him for it. You've taken what you've heard in chatrooms and comment corners that he 'Blasted' him or put him on blast. Not true and the facts aren't on your side. And how is Tavis "tripping?" The only people tripping are the people responding with such vitriol. Again...emotion, not logic or reason. If you "believe" that these are just opinions, why would you get bent out of shape just because Tavis' might differ from yours? You just contradicted yourself. Don't respond with emotion...speak with facts. The invitation was to the CANDIDATES, not the surrogates, period. That's how it was planned YEARS ago. Now if it's "my" event and "my" event was set up for the candidates not surrogates, why would "I" be trippin' if I only wanted the candidates? Read your comments and read Tavis' commentaries and then tell me who is "trippin'" over someone's opinion.
Name: mamamay
Comment: Hi folks, I have read most of the comments here, and I find that some of you do not have all of the facts. Hill was a republican first. She worked for Senator Goldwater, AZ. She still acts like she is a rep. That's why she gets along with them and is able to push a lot of dirt under the rug. She is in this thing to win it, only. not to help us poor folks. Yes poor folks graduate from college too. Hill said she was from and for Middle Class, and the middle Class would put her over the top and that's who she will be working for. Remember the Caste system. High Class, upper Mid class, middle class, lower mid class, POOR Class. We are a long way from getting support from Hil if she wins nominee. She wants our vote. She's roped in the money making Blk folks, and when they jump ship, she screams, Bill screams, and all 3 Clinton's attack Obama. A vote for Hill is a vote for Bush, Clinton, McCain legacy to continue. Let's roll up our sleeves and vote to help Obama. Hope is help, Help is hope and we need to Support him. Obama in 08
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: Hey Mamamay....All I can say,& WANT to say to that is.....AMEN!!!
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: Taurusingr, I think there's some confusion regarding what you thought I meant and where I was coming from. anyhoo. peace to all. it's good to see folks are discussing. btw- I actually agree with your comments, so hey! chalk it up! Peace!
Name: adifferentpath
Comment: say it mamamay!
Name: pn2ppr
Comment: If Momma doesn't know the grassroots work that Obama was committed to long before he became a Senator then Mommaknowz nothing of his record to do the work for the people because Momma chooses not to. His book is on the shelves, his record is on his web site and his lips. Reading is fundamental. Please get a clue.
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: Adifferentpath: If I "got you wrong"...I HUMBLY APOLOGIZE! Please except this! NOT b/c you said you agree with me, But b/c "I got YOU wrong! & I'm truly sorry! 1 love!
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: MorrisOKelly: You want some facts? Here are some...SEVERAL people have expressed the opinion that TAVIS is "trippin" on this one here"!(read the prior post!) 2, I REPEATED what I was trying to get across & even appreciated your "initial" response,But rather than "get" THAT,You TRY to defend what I thought SOME ELSE did! If anything THAT WAS EMOTIONAL! I guess your "agenda"here is to be ANTI,& that's COOL!(but stick to the facts!) Maybe that's why YOU didn't address the REST of my post! (IT clearly supports WHAT I AM SAYING)3, To answer your question, YES I HAVE attended & have also seen the SOBU on television! You say the SOBU is for the CANDIDATES? Ok! Tell ME what Farakhan,Dr.Cornel West,Harry Belfonte,Wade Henderson,Dr.Na'im Akbar,Jackie Winters (to name JUST A FEW PAST & INVITED panelist!) were "running" for!?? I'll save you the inquiry...NOTHING!!! YOU are WRONG AGAIN! This affair is for Prominent,Successful,Educated people who are & want to BE involved in POSITIVE CHANGE! HAVE YOU ATTENDED/DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU are talking about!!?? Now, maybe you meant... THIS YEARS SOBU but, YOU didn't SAY THAT so, let ME stick to the FACTS!)4, YOU contradict YOURSELF when you say this affair is planned years in advance! (that would allow the planning I SPOKE OF!)5, As I mentioned OTHERS have voiced this SAME opinion of TAVIS, & YOU have said NOTHING about THEM!...I wonder why? HUM? I KNOW the answer to THAT,TOO! I KNOW it's NOT a comprehension issues with you & if defending people & disregarding what people are saying & remaining ANTI is your thing...KOOL in the GANG! But the facts are...The emotion & VITRIOL you speak of is coming from...(wait for it)...YOU! Peace!
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: P.S....I DIDN'T nor do I think the "other posters" get OUR opinions solely from chatrooms or "comment corners"! See...SOME people can "read between the lines" & "get" what's IMPLIED by someone's actions or statements! While OTHERS CAN'T seem to "get"what is ACTUALLY BEING SAID!! (draw your OWN conclusion) Just b/c YOU don't agree with THOSE people, doesn't mean YOU are right & THEY are wrong,nor does it put you in a POSITION of AUTHORITY! There are facts & there are opinions. Opinions are what everyone has & are INTITLED TO! But FACTS are what WE ALL should ABIED by & RESPECT!!!
Name: NatiGirl
Comment: I'm in Cincinnati, OH and can't wait to vote for Obama on March 4. That is how I will respond to Tavis' comments. I've heard most of what Tavis has been saying on Tom Joyner and I think he's throwing salt in Obama's game. Period. What I don't understand is why Tavis just won't come out and say he's a Clinton supporter because after all his talk that's what his message boils down to. Much talk in Cincy about the elections, we have a black talk radio station here (believe it or not). You can listen online at http://www.1230thebuzz.com very interesting. The best times to listen is 10am-4pm EST. I hope Obama wins, then what is Tavis gonna do? Start kissing his %*$?? Oh one more thing, for your Clinton supporters. I keep hearing Hillary saying she has 35 years of experience......what is the 35 years of experience? From what I can recall she wasn't elected to any office until after Bill left office and she became a senator in NY (the same time Obama did) what are the other years. I don't believe her time %*$? First Lady count - that was Bill's time, she was just married to him.
Name: Taurusingr
Comment: Natigirl:.....Bravo lady! BRAVO!
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