"Tavis to Michelle Obama: Thanks, But No Thanks" 2008

[Cha]

"Radio host Tavis Smiley says Michelle Obama is persona non grata at his State of the Black Union being held next week. Smiley initially invited Barack Obama to attend the symposium; but Barack, who is busy campaigning, regretfully declined and offered to send his wife, Michelle in his place."

snip//

"Here's an excerpt of Barack Obama's letter to Smiley:"

In the final stretch, I will be on the campaign trail everyday in states like Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin talking directly with voters about the causes that are at the heart of my campaign and the State of the Black Union forum such as affordable healthcare, housing, economic opportunity, civil rights and foreign policy. I am committed to touching every voter, and working to earn their vote..

That is why with regret, I am not able to attend the forum. I understand that you have declined the campaign's request to have Michelle Obama speak on my behalf. I ask that you reconsider. Michelle is a powerful voice for the type of real change America is hungry for. No one knows my record or my passion for leading America in a new direction more than Michelle Obama.

//snip

http://www.npr.org/blogs/newsandviews/2008/02/tavis_to_michelle_obama_thanks.html

Full Letter of Senator Obama's to Tavis Smiley..

http://blogs.suntimes.com/mitchell/2008/02/sen_barack_obamas_letter_to_ta_1.html

Darn that Senator Obama.. just couldn't be in two places at once..



Poor tavis.. he missed the boat and he's still pouting..

[font color=blue]THIS IS POSTED IN THE BARACK OBAMA GROUP[/font]

[sheshe2]

1. From the comments section Cha,

Vernon Mitchell | February 15, 2008 6:12 AM | Reply

With regard to Tavis Smiley's grand display of intellectual masturbation called "The State of the Black Union" it is time to stop talking and start formulating sustainable solutions to the systemic problems we still face as a race and nation in particular. Smiley, along with Drs. Cornel West and Eddie Glaude compiled a book called The Covenant and so Smiley's efforts should be focused there. Hold not only presidential candidates accountable but also governors, mayors, city/ward councilmen/women, etc. Help to foment the localized change that is the foundation of any movement.

I grow so tired of the same talking heads every year on C-SPAN along with their representative "mini-me's" who pontificate and postulate "tales told by an idiot...full of sound an fury signifying nothing." Despite my Shakespearean reference I do hope my point is understood. We do not need "Amen corners" that serve as opiates of the masses the way that some of us attend church to get our weekly dosage of the "the word" and never ponder how to make the gospel relevant beyond self. You feel good and go home...warmed by a "hot" song and a "good sermon" never thinking of the true revolutionary foundation of our spirituality. Smiley's "forums" are no different.

Brother Tavis needs to understand that it is NOT about him and that it is about the people, the American people. His pettiness is embarrassing and his grand standing is at the very least dishonorable at such a critical juncture in Obama's campaign. This so-called controversy is just another way that Willie Lynch's tactics for oppression are still helping to steal away our righteous minds. May God help us all.

More from the comments
http://blogs.suntimes.com/mitchell/2008/02/sen_barack_obamas_letter_to_ta_1.html


Tavis is a pontificating ass and needs to get off his fricking podium.

He slapped down both the President and the First Lady when he denied her attendance. As the poster above said it's not about you Tavis. It's about the American people.

Thanks Cha, great OP.

[Cha]

3. Thanks she, for the comments! And, that was way back in

2008.. it's only gotten worse for "brother Tavis".

It's unreal! I saw comments on various tavis blog posts today and some were talking about "tavis dissing Michelle". So, I was curious.. what happened? Did Michelle actuallly go to the BSOTU or what?

Turns out tavis turned her down and PBO actually wrote this impassioned letter to tavis asking him to reconsider! And, the poison in tavis has been fomenting ever since.

Unbelieveable! And, everytime he gets shot down by those who know what's going on and actually appreciate what PBO is doing.

No worries.. tavis has learned anything by his giant blowback. I'm thinking he and cornel west are plotting now to get their revenge.

Call me a supporter but I thought that was the nicest most comprehensive letter that Obama sent to tavis. Too bad he didn't accept that the Obama campaign was bigger than himself.

You're Welcome, she!

[sheshe2]

6. And this Cha.

Tom Joyner conducts an Intervention for Tavis Smiley.
By Jeff Winbush on March 15, 2010

Tom Joyner is trying to save Tavis Smiley from his two worst enemies: His Super-Sized ego and his ever open mouth. Good luck, Tom, but you can’t can’t talk sense to a man madly in love with the sound of his own voice.

snip

I hope that somehow, someway, Tavis will realize that if he is ever to gain the love and respect he once received from black America, he will have to find it in his heart to show love and respect for the president. It’s just that simple. And there’s a big difference in saying you have love and showing it.


Love is unconditional – or it should be anyway. That’s why I can be upset and disappointed with Tavis and some of the decisions he’s made over the last few years, but still love and respect him enough not to turn my back on him.


When I hear and read about the hate people have for Tavis right now, it makes me sad. Because I know that if Tavis knew how to get out of this situation, he would. But it’s not in him to do what needs to be done, to recognize he has gone down a wrong path, and his only real option is to turn around.

http://jeffwinbush.com/2010/03/15/tom-joyner-conducts-an-intervention-for-tavis-smiley/

[Cha]

8. I vaguely remember that she.. mahalo for the

refresher!

I hope that somehow, someway, Tavis will realize that if he is ever to gain the love and respect he once received from black America, he will have to find it in his heart to show love and respect for the president. It’s just that simple. And there’s a big difference in saying you have love and showing it.

THIS^^^^^^^, She!

'Cause from what I gather.. he and cornel are always sayin' it but then the fangs come out and the personal venom is gushing like a leaker. Who do they think they're kidding? Oh, wait! I know.

I read in some of those same comment sections from a guy who calls himself Electricbrotha who recalled that smiley didn't speak to his mom for a year over something.. I can't remember now. may or may not be true but, even without that anecdote.. it seems from those who know him well that Mr Tavis Smiley done did himself in again and there's a history to back it up.

I'm glad all this is coming out, she, 'cause it sure gives perspective on tavis smiley.. who turns out is the one drinking his own weak koolaid laced with snake venom.

she Mahalo~

[Historic NY]

2. Tavis is full of himself.

[Cha]

4. You might

say that!

[IrishAyes]

18. Apparently.

[Major Hogwash]

5. To be honest, Tavis doesn't have much of an impact on anything these days.

We got President Obama re-elected without the enthusiastic support of Tavis Smiley last year.
Although Tavis said he supported President Obama last summer, he hasn't acted much like it.
So, he pretty much canceled out any real influence he could have had since last year's election.

Tavis is for Tavis.
And that much has been evident for years to many, many people.
Not just for people of color, either.

[Cha]

9. Of course, tavis wanted PBO re-elected. He gets national

exposure as the guy to call when the M$M needs a Black man to whine about what the president is doing or not ..and how damn fast he's doing it. Snap snap! It set it up with that stupid insulting tweet of his after PBO gave his unscripted speech on Trayvon Martin and the verdict.

tavis got his Twitter Blowback from Black Twitter and Twitterverse.. he's knocked himself down even lower with his own bitterness.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3311400

thanks Major

[Whisp]

22. Tavis and that other twist, West, are a good pair.

squealling and yelping over their bruised little egos. Comics not to be taken seriously.

[freshwest]

7. Sooo! PBO was supposed to stand all those people up, and MO isn't good enough.

What an ego!

Sounds sexist as well.

MO could talk circles around that bankster pimp any day.

C'mon, Tavis:

[Cha]

10. Good, fresh.. I was hoping you would see this..

where it began.

Little did poor travis know what a "Get" he would have had in Michelle Obama.. 'cause baby won't you look at her now.

tavis could have pointed to that and said.. I had her at my BSOTU before she was FLOTUS!

Lovely Michelle.. can you imagine turning her down.. if you had an ounce of vision?

fresh

[IrishAyes]

19. Maybe Tavis was afraid MO would do exactly that!

[IrishAyes]

11. I've become as disappointed with TS

as I am perpetually pleased with President Obama.

[Cha]

15. I know what you mean, IA.

tavis asked for this by tweeting his pathetic whine and then going on mtp in an attempt to step all over the President's message. Didn't work out quite as he had planned, no doubt.

[IrishAyes]

16. Jealous minds - small hearts

[live love laugh]

12. Tavis Smiley is more irrelevant than ever. Who keerz? nt

[Jamaal510]

13. Smiley-face here

is what I like to consider the Left's equivalent of a RWNJ. Every time I hear from him, he has nothing positive to say about Obama despite his many accomplishments. In fact, he seems to go after him more than he does Republicans. For instance, where was his outcry over Trayvon's name being dragged in the mud in the RW media, and regarding Republicans trying to wipe out voting rights? I never hear him speak on how Republicans have been blocking things in D.C. and preserving our vast wealth inequality. He is about as useful for Black people (and the Progressive Movement, in general) as an empty glass of water in a desert. Same thing applies to his buddy Cornel West.

[Cha]

14. smiley and west live to jabber about the President being

"too little and too slow". PBO doesn't snap to their attention so he's no good. Apt analogy.. "to a RWNJ"

I'm thinking they really overstepped in it this time with their neverending bitter whine. I've seen evidence of this from the Black online community.. bouncing it right back to smiley.

tavis couldn't have been thinking very clealy when he tweeted his "weak koolaid" tweet and his mtp call. Perhaps imbiding too much smiley koolaid?

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. You may have read ...

my encounter with Dr. West.

I attended an event where Dr. West was a guest. I met up with him at the event's reception. He was talking about "what the Black 'Intelligencia' should be doing."

I asked him:

"Dr. West ... when people seek the definitive academic word on Mormonism, from Mormons, they go to Brigham Young; when they seek the academic definitive word on Catholicism from Catholics, they go to St. Johns or Notre Dame; and, when they seek the academic definitive word on the Jewish faith from Jews, they go to the Yeshiva or Steton Hall. So why, when seeking the definitive academic word on Black folks, from Black folks, they have to go to Princeton or other non-HBCUs? Why don't Black thinkers lend their talents to Black institutions of higher learning?"

Dr. West gave me the screw face and walked away.

[Jamaal510]

23. Actually I didn't,

but wow...sure sounds like a down-to-Earth and affable guy, doesn't he?

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. Personally ...

I think he is full of shit ... as most "thinkers" (Black or white) are. "Thinking" about someones problem earns you a couple million a year and a distinguished chair; actually working to solve someones problems ... well ... earns somewhat less.

[IrishAyes]

17. Shaking my head slowly.

What a waste.

[Scurrilous]

20. K & R