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Post by Worthy Most Ancient Matron on Feb 13, 2008 21:25:19 GMT -5
There was a huge discussion about this on the Michael Baisden Show. Here is the letter. What do you think?
Should Senator Obama rearrange his schedule to attend Tavis Smiley's Black State of the Union?
The letter Obama sent to Tavis Smiley:
Dear Tavis,
Thank you for the invitation to participate in the 2008 State of the Black Union forum in New Orleans, Louisiana February 21-23. The exchange of ideas raised at this annual symposium are invaluable as our nation strives to address the critical issues facing not just African Americans, but Americans of every race, background and political party.
I especially commend you for hosting this dialogue in New Orleans. On the eve of the Louisiana primary, I visited this great city for the fifth time since declaring my candidacy to share policy proposals for rebuilding the Gulf Coast so that we never experience another Hurricane Katrina. On February 9, I was deeply humbled to win the Louisiana primary with 86 percent of the African American vote and a 14 point lead among all voters who said they were adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Uniting our country and creating a national constituency for fundamental change is why I am running for President of the United States. We have come a long way in this race, but we still have a long road ahead. 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.
Tavis, this is our movement and our time. I look forward to working closely with you throughout this election. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
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Post by QUIET As Kept on Feb 13, 2008 21:34:13 GMT -5
Quick answer - No
I don't know what the discussion was on Michael Baisden, but this man is in the midst of an almost deadlocked race for president. At this point, he really needs to focus on swaying voters in states with upcoming primaries/caucuses. At this point, I would expect him to turn down almost anything outside of that, and his duties as a Senator.
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Post by Bunny Hop on Feb 13, 2008 21:38:09 GMT -5
Baisden talked about this Monday and I think Tavis along with the rest of the "Black Leaders" need to get over themselves. Obama is gonna be the President of the United States of America not the President of Black America. He's getting a lot of non-Black voters and if he starts focusing solely on Black issues he's gonna loose those people. They need to see that this election is not just about being Black and having a Black president to focus on Black issues. There are poor white people and many other minorites that are going to hell too.
Obama made the right decision and Tavis looks really petty turning down Michelle Obama. If I was her I'd go anyway. I heard Tavis Smiley was gonna go off on those who turned him down...he needs to GROW UP!
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Post by Worthy Most Ancient Matron on Feb 13, 2008 21:42:05 GMT -5
I could kick TS in his non-English-speaking-studdering-azz in his throat for this one. I mean really, look at the timing. It almost looks like a back door Clinton tactic.
I absolutely love Michelle Obama. TS is a pure jackass for turning her down saying it's not 'appropriate'.
<------has lost ALL respect for Tavis Smiley
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 13, 2008 21:47:55 GMT -5
I like Tavis I really do. He was the one redeeming grace about BET when he was on it. And maybe he's doing us a service in playing the role of agitator. Maybe he sees something that in our euphoria we do not. But right now, as I look strategically at what Obama and his campaign face, the cost-to-benefit ratio and plain old common sense demands that he gracefully decline Tavis' invitation.
He is not running for the nomination for the Black Democratic Party... he's running for the Democratic Party. And if he should win the nomination he wouldn't be running for President of the Black United States, but THE United States. He cannot be held hostage to this forum because he is black, anymore than he could be held hostage by a forum hosted by Baptist Church leaders because he's Christian. The political reality on the ground is that he is in an battle to win the nomination and he MUST campaign to have success. The more people know about him, the more people like him. Black people like him just fine already. He needs to start making inroads with white women and latinos...
...he will be THEIR president too you know.
If in 4 years, it turns out that Tavis was on to something, if Obama turns out to be a flop, and this forum would have exposed it early on... Tavis can say - see I told you so. I'm willing to risk that rather than have Obama capitulate to a forum that will not advance the cause, and end up losing precious ground
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Post by Cambist on Feb 13, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
Tavis, my brother, please get over yourself. The State of the Black Union is good for all the celebrities to pontificate about Black America and impress everyone with how smart they are, etc..
Bottom line? It's a big circle jerk! Barack Obama is running for president of the United States and does not have time to jerk his meat with Tavis, Tom Joyner and my dear brother Cornell West. I love them all but this will do nothing to further Obama's quest for the White House.
Tom Joyner will have his country ass up there talking about "Come on Brotha President" and everyone will clap, shimmy, laugh and shyt. Michael Dyson will spit about 300 lines about the responsibility a Black President will have...all in about 30 seconds. Bernice King will start talking some off the wall, Masters of the Universe, Nation of Gods and Earths, numerology bull and Obama will come out of this looking like a clown just because he went to the circus.
Stay away Obama.
Tavis...you might want to accept Michelle Obama's sincere offer.
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Post by coldfront06 on Feb 13, 2008 23:16:56 GMT -5
Baisden talked about this Monday and I think Tavis along with the rest of the "Black Leaders" need to get over themselves. Obama is gonna be the President of the United States of America not the President of Black America. He's getting a lot of non-Black voters and if he starts focusing solely on Black issues he's gonna loose those people. They need to see that this election is not just about being Black and having a Black president to focus on Black issues. There are poor white people and many other minorites that are going to hell too. Obama made the right decision and Tavis looks really petty turning down Michelle Obama. If I was her I'd go anyway. I heard Tavis Smiley was gonna go off on those who turned him down...he needs to GROW UP! Exalt for this |
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 13, 2008 23:21:54 GMT -5
Tavis, my brother, please get over yourself. The State of the Black Union is good for all the celebrities to pontificate about Black America and impress everyone with how smart they are, etc.. Bottom line? It's a big circle jerk! Barack Obama is running for president of the United States and does not have time to jerk his meat with Tavis, Tom Joyner and my dear brother Cornell West. I love them all but this will do nothing to further Obama's quest for the White House. Tom Joyner will have his country ass up there talking about "Come on Brotha President" and everyone will clap, shimmy, laugh and shyt. Michael Dyson will spit about 300 lines about the responsibility a Black President will have...all in about 30 seconds. Bernice King will start talking some off the wall, Masters of the Universe, Nation of Gods and Earths, numerology bull and Obama will come out of this looking like a clown just because he went to the circus. Stay away Obama. Tavis...you might want to accept Michelle Obama's sincere offer. |
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Post by No Screen Name on Feb 13, 2008 23:22:43 GMT -5
I agree with most of you. Obama needs to be on the campaign trail. I think it was pretty gracious of Obama to offer to send Michelle. He could have just ignored the invite completely and kept it moving.
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Post by Bunny Hop on Feb 14, 2008 7:45:09 GMT -5
Baisden talked about this Monday and I think Tavis along with the rest of the "Black Leaders" need to get over themselves. Obama is gonna be the President of the United States of America not the President of Black America. He's getting a lot of non-Black voters and if he starts focusing solely on Black issues he's gonna loose those people. They need to see that this election is not just about being Black and having a Black president to focus on Black issues. There are poor white people and many other minorites that are going to hell too. Obama made the right decision and Tavis looks really petty turning down Michelle Obama. If I was her I'd go anyway. I heard Tavis Smiley was gonna go off on those who turned him down...he needs to GROW UP! Exalt for this Thanks!  |
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 14, 2008 7:55:28 GMT -5
You know I was thinking...
What if Barack wasn't campaigning right now - instead let's say he was going to a hospital to be with a family member who was undergoing some surgical procedure...
...would Tavis ask him to interrupt that to come be a part of the Black State of the Union?
My point is this. We all know what Barack needs to be doing in the coming weeks. Tavis knows too. So why is he asking him to attend this forum when he knows that Obama can't?
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Post by Cambist on Feb 14, 2008 8:13:15 GMT -5
Because Tavis wants to be seen as relevant to the struggle.
Granted, Brother Tavis is and has been an advocate for Black American over the past 10 years or so (at least as far as I can remember) but there is something that burns me up.
Tavis is no dummy. He completely understands politics...at it's most intricate levels. So for him to ask Obama to leave the campaign trail to come and be a part of his forum can only be classified as one thing -SELFISH!
Look...here's how we should look at it. Every election year politicians come to the Black church and talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and how his dream, in some loose way, is tied to their platform. Then they shake some hands, eat some fried foods, clap their hands, shout some "amens" and then go back to their side of town. They get elected and totally turn their backs on the people that got them there.
Now you have a candidate who is actually talking about issues that affect the Black community (which also affect many other Americans) on the big stage. He is talking about OUR issues and people are loving it. He's addressing that which will be discussed at the State of the Black Union but on a nation wide level. He is spending time in the white, latino, asian, etc...churches trying to get out his message.
So, we can either have a politician come sit with us and stroke our egos only to get our vote and then dump us... OR we can support someone who is trying to get the word out about issues that affect US and give him a pass on having an Uncle Ruckus moment with us in the living room.
Selfishness is one of the most popular means of exhibiting the "Crab in a Barrel" mentality...especially among educated people.
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Post by Prissy New Year!!! on Feb 14, 2008 8:45:37 GMT -5
I listened to Tavis' commentary this morning. He has stated that the Obama campaign never reached out to offer Michelle as a stand in. He also stated though that had they offered her, he would have declined. His stance is that they always talk to the candidates.
I don't know what Tavis' problem is with Obama, or even if he has a problem. He is not being clear, in my opinion. Is is just that he is not addressing black issues? I don't remember him being this hard on Democratic candidates in the past, or maybe it just didn't stand out as much. I still like and respect Tavis. I am keeping a wait and see attitude before I say that Tavis is just being petty or is being too hard on Obama.
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Post by Champs Elysees on Feb 14, 2008 8:45:39 GMT -5
I can't believe how many people think Obama should go!
This issue was raised on the TJMS a couple days ago by Jacqui Reid. The crew pretty much agreed that Obama was "safe" as far as the primaries are concerned and thought he should go!
I'm just glad that Roland Martin has enough sense to look at the big picture and was able to tell the TJMS listeners that the race to the nomination is far from over and that Obama needs to focus on winning every vote he can.
To turn down Michelle Obama is foolish. Black people are finally coming together to support Obama and you have the "black intelligencia" turning down his wife (who herself is a dynamic speaker)? Really?
Tavis and his stuttering *shimmey* can kiss my black ass! 
<----------- Is personally offended
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Post by Prissy New Year!!! on Feb 14, 2008 8:49:07 GMT -5
I can't believe how many people think Obama should go!
This issue was raised on the TJMS a couple days ago by Jacqui Reid. The crew pretty much agreed that Obama was "safe" as far as the primaries are concerned and thought he should go!
I'm just glad that Roland Martin has enough sense to look at the big picture and was able to tell the TJMS listeners that the race to the nomination is far from over and that Obama needs to focus on winning every vote he can.
To turn down Michelle Obama is foolish. Black people are finally coming together to support Obama and you have the "black intelligencia" turning down his wife (who herself is a dynamic speaker)? Really?
Tavis and his stuttering *shimmey* can kiss my black ass!
<----------- Is personally offended At the bolded---that is so true. McCain's nomination is pretty secure, but no one knows what will happen in Texas and Ohio and Obama needs to have his feet on the ground in those states rallying current supporters and winning over new ones. |
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Post by Southie on Feb 14, 2008 9:47:45 GMT -5
Because Tavis wants to be seen as relevant to the struggle. Granted, Brother Tavis is and has been an advocate for Black American over the past 10 years or so (at least as far as I can remember) but there is something that burns me up. Tavis is no dummy. He completely understands politics...at it's most intricate levels. So for him to ask Obama to leave the campaign trail to come and be a part of his forum can only be classified as one thing -SELFISH! Look...here's how we should look at it. Every election year politicians come to the Black church and talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and how his dream, in some loose way, is tied to their platform. Then they shake some hands, eat some fried foods, clap their hands, shout some "amens" and then go back to their side of town. They get elected and totally turn their backs on the people that got them there. Now you have a candidate who is actually talking about issues that affect the Black community (which also affect many other Americans) on the big stage. He is talking about OUR issues and people are loving it. He's addressing that which will be discussed at the State of the Black Union but on a nation wide level. He is spending time in the white, latino, asian, etc...churches trying to get out his message. So, we can either have a politician come sit with us and stroke our egos only to get our vote and then dump us... OR we can support someone who is trying to get the word out about issues that affect US and give him a pass on having an Uncle Ruckus moment with us in the living room. Selfishness is one of the most popular means of exhibiting the "Crab in a Barrel" mentality...especially among educated people. You think this is his way to promote Hillary? |
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 14, 2008 9:58:06 GMT -5
I will cut Tavis some slack as he has been an advocate for black issues for awhile, but this current request makes no sense. We all know it.
We ALL seem to know, at least those of us who have been following this race, KNOW that Obama needs to be hitting the campaign trail even harder.
We ALL know that he is fighting an uphill battle against the Clintons and the Super Delegates. What would make anyone think that he is now suddenly safe? They've already demonstrated through computer model projections that Obama could win EVERY remaining state and STILL not have enough delegates to win the nomination...
...and Tavis truly thinks that he should take time off of the campaign trail to participate in a round table that's more for entertainment than political change?
How about this... why can't Tavis rearrange his schedule to accommodate Obama?
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Post by Prissy New Year!!! on Feb 14, 2008 10:01:31 GMT -5
I also want to add to this discussion that I don't think Michael Baisden is the man to be criticizing anyone. He is truly a "Johnny Come Lately and Johnny Come Ill-Informed" to the struggle. His opinion is not at all valid when it comes to saying ANYTHING about Tavis Smiley.
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Post by Southie on Feb 14, 2008 10:16:31 GMT -5
o.k I need to listen the Baisden show and find out what he is saying lately regarding politics. I did not know that he was critical of Smiey, so i definately need to find out what is the issue at hand
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Post by Bunny Hop on Feb 14, 2008 10:38:00 GMT -5
I don't think Baisden is that bad.
The way these Black leaders are acting just pisses me off.
Just like that preacher that still refers to Black people as Negros and said we should not trust any Negro to be our leader that hasn't been to jail. WTH? He should be glad that we live in a time where you can voice your opinion and stand up for your rights without going to jail. These people are crazy, LOL!
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Post by No Screen Name on Feb 14, 2008 10:47:31 GMT -5
The bottom line is: the "Old Guard" does NOT want to pass the torch. I've seen it locally, with folks in their late seventies who refuse to give up leadership in organizations and groom the next generation to take the reigns, and with the well-known civil rights leaders. This is part of the reason why AA folks in their late twenties through fourties are apathetic and won't get involved in politics a lot of times.
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Post by FatalDST on Feb 14, 2008 11:25:14 GMT -5
I think he should attend. He should be jumping at the chance for stuff like this. I mean Michelle's is cool and all, but we are voting for him, not her!
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 14, 2008 11:25:53 GMT -5
I don't think Baisden is that bad. The way these Black leaders are acting just pisses me off. Just like that preacher that still refers to Black people as Negros and said we should not trust any Negro to be our leader that hasn't been to jail. WTH? He should be glad that we live in a time where you can voice your opinion and stand up for your rights without going to jail. These people are crazy, LOL! |
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Post by Iceman on Feb 14, 2008 11:32:14 GMT -5
I will cut Tavis some slack as he has been an advocate for black issues for awhile, but this current request makes no sense. We all know it.
We ALL seem to know, at least those of us who have been following this race, KNOW that Obama needs to be hitting the campaign trail even harder.
We ALL know that he is fighting an uphill battle against the Clintons and the Super Delegates. What would make anyone think that he is now suddenly safe? They've already demonstrated through computer model projections that Obama could win EVERY remaining state and STILL not have enough delegates to win the nomination...
...and Tavis truly thinks that he should take time off of the campaign trail to participate in a round table that's more for entertainment than political change?
How about this... why can't Tavis rearrange his schedule to accommodate Obama? Well said Damie! |
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Post by Worthy Most Ancient Matron on Feb 14, 2008 20:23:01 GMT -5
I plan on cutting Tavis some slack, as soon as I fire off this e-mail to him and Tom Joyner.
I mean really...I think Cam and Lady L are all in my head. What has Tavis really done in 10 years for the 'black' community? Hell I've been married longer than 10 years. I got shoes 10 years old, hell my kids are older than 10 years old.
Does he really think that all of his so-called black empowerment books, tapes, CDs, DVDs and that circus he calls the State of the Black Union is suppose to make him be the Head N***** in Charge and speak for all black people? He doesn't speak for me, never has and never will.
The same crap Tavis was b*tching and moaning about when BET and Johnson fired his non-talking -need-to-see-a-speech-therapist azz, is the same crap that he is now doing to Obama.
I, like Lady L, am very personally offended that he could be so selfish and childish. I don't see why he just doesn't man up and publically endorse Hillary like we know he wants to do. I heard his so-called 'clarification' speech where he said no one invited Michelle to come speak but in the same breath he said, he would decline her. damn fool! How about all of us 'black folk' boycott his State of the Black Union, his books, CDs, DVD's.
Being First Lady in the White House does not equal experience in my book. I worked for the feds during the Clinton Administration and everything with the so-called first black president wasn't all gravy. More jobs were sent overseas, mandatory minimum sentences put more of our black men in prison and I won't even go there with the botched welfare reform.
Tavis, get your hand out of Billary's pocket and quit being a house n*****
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konfucius1911
OOA pledge
"Failure (in itself) is NOT a sin, but LOW AIM most definitely is."
Posts: 204
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Post by konfucius1911 on Feb 14, 2008 20:54:40 GMT -5
I think he should attend. He should be jumping at the chance for stuff like this. uh, ... stuff like WHAT  HONESTLY, name one [1] issue ever aired on Tavis' "Black State of the Union" that has made YOU [not to mention MOST African-Americans] clarify and/or change your political views. Tavis [like Robert "Bob" Johnson] is my fraternity brother; but setting fraternal ties aside, they are BOTH full-of-$h1t |
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Post by Worthy Most Ancient Matron on Feb 14, 2008 21:22:29 GMT -5
Hot damn! Konfucious and I agree!
The message board on minglecity.com is on fire!
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Post by Bunny Hop on Feb 14, 2008 22:05:34 GMT -5
I registered for it but apparently you have to pay to post and it's not worth it
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Post by Sapphire on Feb 15, 2008 1:20:49 GMT -5
I agree with what's been said. I think it would hurt him to start acting like the president that cares for Black people and not everyone. If a White president went to the state of White America conference, folks would start trippin' man. This electon and campaing is not about having a Black president to focus solely on Black issues, he represents the people... all people. According to that letter, he offered up his wife. They should take him up on that offer.
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Post by DamieQue™ on Feb 15, 2008 10:49:22 GMT -5
Here's who needs to show up for the Black State of the Union...
...the President of the Black United States. When someone finds out who he or she is... invite them to show up. In the meantime Obama should continue campaigning.
The End.
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"They get two Roos and a snap." ~ perroloco{=}http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif{/=}{=}http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif{/=}
