Tavis Smiley slams Kerry for his treatment of Blacks on MLK day

[politicasista]

I am semi disappointed at Kerry concededing so soon but I am glad he is staying in the spotlight. Sadly no one will ever understand the reason Kerry couldn't come out and be more visible.

Listen to the interview and scroll down to Tavis' name. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/tjms/missed/index

Okay let the Kerry bashing continue.:cry:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. What did Tavis say?

[politicasista]

3. I couldn't link the interview

But if you open the link, you will see Tavis' name. Basically, he was slamming Kerry (He was a strong critic during the election) for waiting seventy plus days and MLK day to address disenfranchisement of voters, as well as visiting black churches for pandering to blacks.

[zulchzulu]

2. Kerry has 100% lifetime rating with NAACP

That's 100 out of 100. Hmmm...pretty good for treatment of blacks...

[politicasista]

4. Too bad the media didn't cover his visit to the Middle East

Tavis is a Clinton man also.

mms://reachm.wmod.llnwd.net/a79/o1/011805/TAVISSMILEY.wma

[AntiCoup2K4]

5. "Tavis Smiley is using RIGHT WING TALKING POINTS!!"

"Surely he's aware that John Kerry travelled back in time and impersonated Abraham Lincoln just in time to write the Emancipation Proclamation. We all know Lincoln really wouldn't have done anything. He's not half the Hero John Kerry Is!!":loveya: :loveya: :loveya:



* - yes this post was a parody.

[southlandshari]

6. Thanks, politicasista!

I am a huge Tavis Smiley fan, and appreciate the link. I had no problem with getting the audio.

"Talk about being on the late freight..." LOL!!!

I thought Smiley was right on the mark in his comments. I voted for - and campaigned hard for - Kerry. I was pleased with his appearances on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and at the CBC's annual dinner. Neither of which got any attention in the mainstream media (or, sadly on this board!). But those two stops in his campaign schedule were nowhere near enough to offset the reality that Democrats have taken black voters for granted for years.

Question about one of your other posts regarding media coverage of "his" trip to the Middle East - were you talking about Kerry? I have some pretty strong feelings about Kerry's "relationships" in that region, but don't want to go off topic if I read your post wrong!

[politicasista]

7. I was talking about that, but I will leave it that

Did Clinton take us for granted? I didn't agree with Kerry's stance of Iraq, but I was impressed with the Civil Rights record. He was right in some sense, but I think he should applaud Kerry for what he was up against.

You're welcome.

[southlandshari]

8. Clinton

Was the last Democratic leader who DIDN'T take black voters for granted, IMHO. In fact, I think he was sort of an anomoly for that very reason. A welcome one, a much needed one. Hokey as it may sound, I honestly believe Clinton saw (and still sees) people as people, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, etc... The problem is that all the party powers-that-be only see all of us as different color slices on a demographic pie chart.

Kerry is better than many in this respect. And I'll leave my thoughts at that!

[FrenchieCat]

9. Unfortunately ....

I agree with Tavis' opinion. Timing is everything....a leader should lead and speak out when it means something.....not when the coast is clear......even if the leader has something to lose.

All of this calculated hesitating, tiptoeing, wispering, and rationalizing ain't where it's at.

John Kerry isn't the leader that I though he was.....he is much more of a consumate politician.

I honor all that John Kerry has done for this country.....and that cannot be denied.....But I expected much more.

[LittleClarkie]

10. Some sort of bandwagon

If Tavis is a Clinton man, is this part of the campaign for 2008 with the missus?

Too easy to bash, I think. Like when Jesse blasted Kerry for not showing up at his rally because he was only 30 miles away. He neglected to note, however, that Kerry was with Stephanie Tubbs across town.

And like the Nashua Advocate yesterday. "We supported Kerry and we're with him 90% of the time. So we're just going to jump on the Kerry bash bandwagon this once, okay, and then jump right back off and continue to support him. I didn't get that. If you think he's a great guy 90% of the time, why would he become a pandering opportunist for a day. If you thought he was capable of that, why support him 90% of the time?

Kerry's wearing a kick me sign at the moment. I'm not happy. My personal coping mechanism for Selection 2004 is to want Kerry in 2008. So I'm not happy at all.

[politicasista]

11. I don' t know LittleClarkie, but sometimes

I wanted to Kerry to talk about the issue of race and disenfranchisment during the campaign because I feel that that's the reason Smriky supposedly "won." There is a lot of racism that still exists in America today. Shame of Ms. Cahill, Mr. Shrum and the Democratic Party.

[LittleClarkie]

12. I only saw him and Stephanie Tubbs on CSPAN

how often did he talk about race and we never saw it because of the media, I wonder.

I remember reading in the Rolling Stone about how Kerry went to the Hispanic Caucus dinner, and started off by speaking flawless Spanish to them. The gang from CNN and the rest of the jaded media didn't note the ovation Kerry got there. Their only thought was that the whole affair was stupid.

How often did Kerry speak of good things in the campaign, and how many times did our lovely media ignore him. I'm really, really annoyed at CNN in particular at the moment. I skip them and Fox both.

I dunno. I'm just wondering. I suppose there weren't many who were going to accept a rich white guy talking about minorities. And maybe he didn't connect with them terribly well. Well, except in some pictures I saw where he seemed to be connecting just fine. At least he connected well with kids, anyway. But I do wonder how much we were allowed to see of him. Damn that MSM, they shouldn't have that kind of power. Democracy shouldn't depend on whether the media approves of or likes a candidate. But I guess that's the modern world. Sucks swamp water through a straw, it does.

[politicasista]

14. Yes, that's something to think about

I think Kerry's upbringing had a lot to do with. I don't know. Please don't flame me.

[LittleClarkie]

15. I hope you didn't think I was flaming you

I didn't intend to. I'm just thinking aloud.

[politicasista]

16. No LittleClarkie

I always enjoy reading your posts. I like Kerry. I am just sick of all the Kerry bashing. It makes me feel sorry for him and Momma T (even though they are very well taken care of). You're fine.:pals:

[kodi]

13. sorry, but i find smiley about as greasy as jerry curl relaxer

.

[politicasista]

17. LOL!

:bounce:

[politicasista]

18. Another thing

I remember during the primaries on Real Time with B. Maher, Tavis also thought it was quite odd that the Congressional Black Caucus would go to "one of the whitest states in America" and endorse Dean. He thought Kerry's relationship with African Americans and not having a clear agenda for Black America was "severely lacking." Then he mentioned Clinton and how he knew the words to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing." and so on.

[politicasista]

19. He also dissed Momma T during the DNC

for her "Shove It" comment, saying that she was wrong for that. People wanted to see or have a first lady who was "likeable and classy." I disagree in one sense. Tavis was either a Deaniac or a Nader man. He has good commentary sometimes, but I think it just rubs me the wrong way sometimes.