I don't venture over to the FM side of the dial very often, so I haven't been paying much attention to how Tom Joyner Morning Show contributor Tavis Smiley has been received since his notorious Obama bashing a month or so ago. For those under a rock, Smiley was unhappy that Obama turned down an invitation to come speak at his Annual Soundbyte Olympics State of the Black Union conference, and subsequently questioned Obama's dedication to the black community. When Michelle Obama offered to appear instead, Smiley said he wouldn't invite Bill Clinton or Botox Barbie McCain either, which did make some logical sense.
In the end, only Hillary Clinton showed up in New Orleans, and Tavis lobbed 30 minutes of softballs at her, while further trashing Obama on the low low. The whole saga seemed to be over, but apparently it was only the beginning of the end.
Radio show host Tom Joyner finally talks about why Tavis Smiley has abruptly ended his appearances on the syndicated show.Say what you will about Smiley, but you can't deny that he's done some good things for the black community. At one point, he was easily recognizable as one of the most influential media figures in Black America. However, much of his downfall has been self-inflicted. From the CompUSA flap, to leaving BET, to leaving NPR, to this outlandish episode, and his current purgatory on the lifeless PBS show he currently hosts, Smiley's pretty much
It was announced this morning that commentator Tavis Smiley has left his longtime post as a contributor on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. In a letter posted on the Web site, Black America Web, Joyner says that he believes Smiley left because "He wasn't feeling any love (from Black listeners), so he quit."
Some callers into the Tom Joyner Morning Show expressed dismay that Smiley would no longer be on the show. Reportedly, Smiley left because of response from some fans of the show that he was too harsh on presidential candidate Barak Obama, with a couple of callers saying that Smiley was "jealous" of Obama.
Joyner denounced that Smiley was jealous of Obama, saying that Smiley felt so hurt by that impression that he decided to not be on the show.
I still greatly respect the guy, but I wish he'd learn the difference between being strong and just plain being wrong. There was no good reason to slam Obama for not coming to the State of The Black Union when he's appeared on nearly every major black media outlet, including Smiley's own PBS snoozefest late last year. This whole thing was about ego, Tavis wanted Obama and Clinton both to show up to boost his own Q rating, sell more copies of that dreadfully boring Covenant with Black America, and funnel more corporate money into Smiley's
Since Friday's announcement, Smiley has issued a statement claiming he didn't actually quit, despite an on-air scuffle between Joyner and co-host J. Anthony Brown that suggests otherwise. I just wish the man would reel in his ambition and learn something from this whole debacle while he still has some shred of my respect left.
Question: What do you make of this whole Tavis Smiley/Obama dust-up? Have you lost respect for Tavis? Does he have some valid points? And his this brother's name really just Travis, but he's trying to pull a fast one like some people named Leroy instead call themselves LaRoi? I'm just sayin'.
Tom Joyner talks about why Tavis Smiley left [Sun Sentinel]
Tavis's statement regarding TJMS [TavisTalks]
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i think that tavis brought this on himself. he took the attitude that barack was supposed to change his plans during his PRESIDENTIAL campaign just because tavis asked. i mean, dude...you have done some great things for the black community, but please stop being so hainty. get your nose out of the air. barack tried to accomodate you, but you wouldn't hear of it. had you been watching the campaign up to the point of barack's rejection? what did you THINK was going to happen when you bad mouthed him.
get a grip, homey! when you get yourself together, your lil 5 min spot on TJMS will still be available.
I totally agree with you. Tavis has done great things, but he wanted to be THAT DUDE and got mad because Barack is getting love from all kinds of people. He is running for POTUS and not just for black people. Also, why does Tavis think everyone has to bow down to *his* book? Why not the AverageBro book? Why not mine? Why does Tavis think he has reign over all things political? And Tom acted like a six-year-old this morning! J. was trying to console Tom but he wouldn't stop whining! That was a slap in the face to J. and Sybil, as if they contribute nothing. I'm almost through with Tom. But I will be up at 6am, hoping to hear an apology.
Tavis is miffed because he was promised a job in the Clinton III White House and Obama is mucking up his plans.
Tavis Smiley posed very credible, thoughtful questions about Barack, that would be the same questions one would ask of ANY candidate. Even a Mayor has an obligation to articulate an agenda that proposes to wrap its executive wherewithall around the masses of his or her own community.
I'm stunned with the position so many folk in our community take that we can't love a candidate and also QUESTION him about public policy. Father does not know best, unless he states what he knows - and while I'm also not one to rush to defend Tavis per se, I do applaud him for asking specific, pertinent questions that relate with how Barack Obama plans on responding to the needs of the people.
The notion that all Black voters ought accept Obama on his face is absurd - and while I plan on vigorously supporting him as a nominee in the long run and vehemently oppose Hillary Clinton, I also plan on continuing to vigorously question his positions on the issues that matter to the people who are suffering in the streets.
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