Tavis had a long ride where no one was particularly critical of him. He decided to ride the Hillary train and has annoyed many Black people. But the wheel always turns. Eventually, it will turn back and people will get past this. If he wants to take a sabbatical and wait for things to cool down, fine. But to announce "I'm taking my ball and going home." looks a little childish.

I have friends who are supporting Hillary. I'm not. We don't discuss politics right now. After Novemeber, things will be normal. Travis just needs to wait like the rest of us. This too will pass.

For real, the issue is not that Tavis disagreed with Obama. IMO it was what he said. So now he isn't strong enough to stand by his words after going after people in that same manner for years. Maybe he didn't gauge how much he was really in touch with the common black American. (or out of touch) People are ready for change and unity. Every time one of us steps up, another must prove how impartial he is and try to bring that person down. What other minorities do that?

I agree. It's too bad Tavis Smiley didn't have "thicker skin." He needed to ride the wave. He needed to tough it out. Now he has 'credibility' issues.

Is it that serious? The bottom line is that black folks are all too willing to destroy any other black person who disagrees with them on the Barrack/Hillary issue. I see it everyday. We can be very hateful and hypocritical, but no one ever wants to admit that. I'm indifferent on Tavis in particular.

Positive K all minority groups have people within them who agree with the majority. There are 40million of us in the United States, how in the world do you think each and every one of us is going to agree on anything.

I feel what you are saying Chic Noir. Everyone within a group is not going to think the same way.
But real talk, the reason other groups know that Black people can be defeated is because we do not stand behind each other. In talking with some non-Whites about race, they actually said they could not understand why Black people don't support each other. Maybe not agree - but ride hard against each other. You do not see other groups of color doing that.

Tavis had a right to speak his mind but he is smart enough to know that people would see it as hatin' on Obama. He was upset that Obama didn't attend the SOTBU but can you blame him: 1) he already has the black vote sewn up 2)after Jeremiah Wright, we know anything that highlights Obama's "blackness" hurts him with white voters. The only reason Clinton went is because she is losing.

So, just beacuse we share a simular level of pigmentation I have to like you and agree on everything?
uh no! we are not all the same, we come from different cultures and experiences. If I don't like you, i just plain don't like you, black or not.

I am glad Tavis actually left the Tom Joyner show, as he seems to be a huge hypocrite to me. Well before the whole O'Bama issue, he tried to position himself as some sort of speaker for the entire black community, when all he is is a mediocre journalist. And truly he does not represent blacks to a huge degree — he himself takes for granted people will support him without considering how diverse the black population (as well as any other U.S. population) is. As abrasive as he is, it is a shame he does not have thicker skin. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Earl Ofari was right. There are a bunch of fascist, cultish Obama supporters whose sole intent is to convert you to the Obama, otherwise, you goin' down.

AND I AIN'T ONE OF THEM. GO'HEAD HILLARY!

It's amazing to me that some of the same people who get offended when the NYT and CNN do their bulls–t coverage on how women and minorities will vote (since we don't have thoughts like white men) yet they turn around and blast someone whose opinions ::gasp:: does not fit their mold.

If Obama wins, you're going to have to face the fact that he will be open to even greater scrutiny than he's open to during election year. People are going to criticize him. Black people are going to criticize him. If you're looking with open, clear eyes, you will find things to criticize about anyone, even if you're their number one fan. "Cultish" describes some Obama supporters perfectly though I don't think anyone can blame Obama for that. The man seems far more willing to accept and listen to criticism than some of his fans.

McCain opted out of the speech and was appropriately criticized. If Hillary put Bill in there, she'd face a lot of criticism. Why the hell is it unreasonable to criticize Obama for opting out?

Earl Ofari is an odd one. There seems to be nothing about black people he likes, and nothing about whites he doesn't like.
Still, Tavis' ego was long overdue for some shrinking. He IS a mediocre journalist (at best), and he presumes far too much. Hope he takes a very long break. Hey! Maybe he could take Earl Ofari Hutchinson with him!

Agreed, Megs and weeble.

I remember a commentary Tavis did a while back where he said he took his "big boy pill" and could take the criticism thrown at him over this choice of topics on the TJMS.

He must not have refilled the prescription.

I got the impression that barack had a huge schedule and would need to make changes in ordet to attend. I felt like Tavis was criticizing Barack for "not being black enough" because he did not drop everything and put the state of black america, (which by the way was something Tavis was intimately involved in getting up and running) first above all other obligations and strategies.
Race aside I see this campaign has shown us a few things related to change. Outsiders like Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinman, Bob Johnson, Andrew Young struggle make changes, gain asess and power and then want to bank on their political influence and power. Tavis is amongst them.
Many have been involved in political manuevering and exchanges AND trade-offs, they NEVER felt the US would elect a black man or a half black man for that matter and threw in their support for Hilary out of loyalty, obligation, strategies of their own and "friendship" or for whatever reason. that is how politics work.

Hilary is HATED by tons of people for whatever reason, maybe because she is a woman , maybe because she is Hilary, maybe because she is associated with Bill Clinton. I feel much of this is on warrented and unfair. Much of wha tHilary and Barack are standing for is similar.

What differientates them is Baracks' charisma and grace. And WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A CHARISMATIC LEADER! look at history JFK, MLK. Bobby Kennedy etc. and look at the power of past evil charismatic leaders as well.

Unfortunately Hilary does not have the gift of Charisma. Much can be doen when one can excite and move people to action and Barack has shown an ability to unite and excite people that Hilary has not. I had had doubts about the US electing a black man as well. But Barack has repeatively surprised and dazzled me.

Hillary and her " bad soccer Mom" Bill have greatly disappointed me by the lack of character they have shown - race baiting and then trying to say Barack is palying the race card, mocking his oratory when he prefaces all his statements with "it won't be easy",dropping sound bites of Rev, Wright and calling for Barack to repudiate supporters where in the past they have associated with questionable supporters etc.
They have done all they can to scare white people into not voting for Barack. Since the sheets were taken care of the dyed in wool racists they tried to get to the rest of them with code words like "qualifications, and experience". Then Geraldine Ferraro tries to swift boat him with " the only reason why he's gotten this far is cause he's black" bringing up the spectral of affirmative action that may have cost you your job to a lower qualified candidate - that is a fear lurking in many liberal minds. And ignoring the fact that no one remeber Alan Keyes - a black man who got nowhere in the past election although he had the coat tails of the conservative revolution and rabid homophobia to help him along.
And also ignoring the fact that all previous presidental candidates and presidents have been white.

The divisiveness of Hillaries campaign has turned me off from her while the inspiration of Barack's has turned me on and made me excited to be in the USA at this time in history.

Some people just need to learn how to deal with the fact that sometimes we work very hard for something and despite preparations and qualifications someone else is just a better fit.

In the end it is not the old establishment, the gatekeepers: the Andrew Youngs, Tavis Smileys,Bob Johnsons, Geraldine Ferarros and other politically connected gatekeepers who get to decide who will be president - that is left up to the people in a true democracy.

Can Hilary play fair?
Can Tavis allow that Barack has to campaign and make strategic decisions and not just kiss his butt because Tavis feels as if he is the pope and the only acess to the heaven of the oval office is if Barack kisses his ring. Tavis is just sulking.

Tavis Smiley has unfortunately gotten a big head over the course of his seemingly "brief" career (when compared to Tom Joyner). Anyway, I don't care to comment on what the man said because I already am aware of his biased views.