Tavis Smiley=crab in barrel?
Believe it or not I read that assertion on the net this morning as I was preparing to get the kids ready for school.
This is a CLASSIC example of ‘moving the goalposts’.
The other day I came across some talk about Tavis Smiley really laying it into Obama for not being able to attend his State of the Black Union event. Now before I continue, I have been saying since the early days of this event that while I do respect Tavis’ work with this event, A. he is no gatekeeper for the Black community and B. This forum should not be use as a litmus test on how one feels about Black folks for any candidate (some of y’all may need to read that again as folks tend skip to the part that offends them the most).
Trust me, I was going to leave this whole thing alone until memory started kicking in. Remember how folks used this same event to bash Republicans (especially Bush) for not showing up and used it as proof that Republicans and conservatives were disinterested in the needs of Black community? It started with Smiley and the rest of the Black blogosphere echoed it along with a whole slew of Black talking heads out there.
Smiley: GOP candidates ignore minorities
By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Three of the four leading Republican presidential candidates turned down invitations to a PBS debate this month at a historically black college in Baltimore, leading moderator Tavis Smiley on Thursday to accuse them of ignoring minority voters.
Smiley told USA TODAY the rejections are part of a pattern, noting most GOP candidates declined invitations to address several black and Hispanic groups, including a Univision debate for a Latino audience.
“No one should be elected president of this country in 2008 if they think that along the way they can ignore people of color,” said Smiley, host of radio and TV talk shows. “If you want to be president of all America, you need to speak to all Americans.” (more…)
One more time. I am not suggesting that Obama should/should not attend this event for the reasons I stated above. However, I find it funny just how some folks are able to keep a straight face while they move the goalposts as they wish.
The one thing I can certainly say about Smiley: At least he is consistent.
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February 14th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Huh?
He put Obama on blast. How is that moving the goal posts?
February 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Read it again please.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
OK, I did. My question remains.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I agree that Smiley and his stage show are no litmus test; I also agree with DarkStar. How is this moving the goal post? Smiley will apparently blast anyone who wont do what he says is right for our people.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Okay, let’s take this s-l-o-w-l-y
Tavis is not the one moving the goalposts here. The folks who used his forum as the litmus test are the ones guilty of the double standard.
I even ended this post by acknowledging that it is Tavis that has been consistant through this whole thing. The only ones who have changed the rules for this so-called Black litmus test are those that backed him when he was calling out the GOP. Now that he is calling out Obama, he is now seen as a ‘crab in the barrel’.
**UPDATE
Martin said the following in his commentary:”Obama must look forward, not in the past. The Louisiana primary, which he won handily, was on Saturday. Why go back to Louisiana for an event on Feb. 23? That is not to dismiss the needs of people along the Gulf Coast. But the only way he can truly help them is if he wins the nomination and the White House.”
Where was this line of logic when Bush and other members of the GOP did not show up for the State of the Black Union? All of a sudden, the bigger picture has become getting a Black person in the White house and not putting him through the phony litmus test–and here Martin is admitting it was phony in the first place. Remember when word got out that the GOP turned down Tavis’ invitation after Katrina. Folks worked it like nobody’s business by suggesting that the GOP was too afraid to face a bunch of angry Black folks? Arguing as he (Martin) and others would if this was a well-liked Republican candidate:
‘ObamaMcCain will be spending some major time in Texas for their primary. Louisiana is the next state over. You telling me that he can’t take some time to talk to Black America (Ed, come on man–you KNOW this line would easily been used if this was McCain we were talking about here).I don’t think I can make it any plainer.
The weekend is almost there folks. Just hang in there.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Hey man, don’t get annoyed. Maybe you could write with a little more brevity in the future; that way we wouldn’t be so inclined to skip over your more salient points.
Love your site anyway keep up the good work!
February 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I have to concur with DarkStar and Carl in that goalposts aren’t being moved by anyone here. If anything, Smiley and company are applying the standard (for lack of a better word) to a larger group of politicians.
I disagree, however, that Smiley put Obama ‘on blast’. He’s not portraying himself or the SOBU as gatekeepers (which, BTW, it’s a little late for considering the Senator’s got as close to a complete lock on Black voters as one could wish for). But I believe that every candidate should engage their would-be constituents whenever possible. And the SOBU, while not a formal organization, does get the attention of a lot of Af-Ams, if for no other reason that a sizeable cross-section of well-known Blacks from many walks of life participate in the forums. Yes… it’s a media event, but its symbolism should not be discounted. Those voices in the background that have taken Smiley’s points re: Obama, et al., as evidence of a ‘Black-on-Black sabotage’ are exaggerating the case for their own self-interests.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
It is time for black folks to decide if they want Barak Obama to be a “black leader” in the light of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson or are they ready for a blackman to become president of the ENTIRE United States of America. If Obama is to have a real legitimate shot at being the POTUS he MUST appeal to the entire nation and NOT be seen to have a identifible bias towards any one group including his own. This is American and any “Ethnic” candidate for nationwide office will face the same scrutany whether they be Jewish, Latino, Asian or whatever.
Obama most likely purposely avoided the SOBU and considering how well he is doing with the general population it was a good desicion.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
” If Obama is to have a real legitimate shot at being the POTUS he MUST appeal to the entire nation…”
I think that’s the entire point of inviting him and other politicians to the SOBU. ‘Appeal’ is too strong of a word, however. ‘Engage’ is more fitting.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The only people who need “Black leaders” are the media, of all stripes.