Tavis Smiley Reportedly Quits Radio Show Over Obama Hate

Update: Tavis Smiley has posted a statement on Huffington Post regarding his decision to leave the "Tom Joyner Morning Show." The statement reveals that he did not quit effective immediately and will, as mentioned below, more fully address the situation on Tuesday morning. Read the statement here.

Original Post: Richard Prince reports that Tavis Smiley is leaving the "Tom Joyner Morning Show":

"He called me yesterday and said, 'I quit,'" Joyner said.

Joyner said Smiley told him he was working on too many projects, but believed the real reason was that "he can't take the hate.

"He can't take the hate he's taken over Barack Obama. He's always busting Barack Obama's chops. They call. They e-mail. They joke. You know Tavis like I do. He needs to feel loved"...

Smiley had been critical of Obama for not attending Smiley's annual "State of the Black Union" symposium on Feb. 23. Of the presidential candidates, only Sen. Hillary Clinton accepted the invitation. Obama said he would send his wife, Michelle, but Smiley insisted that was not good enough.

"I'm catching hell," Smiley acknowledged in an interview then with Michael H. Cottman of BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Tavis acknowledged the situation on his website and told readers that he will address the situation on Tuesday:

Friends and Supporters:

By now, you may have heard of my departure from the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Story continues below

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I am traveling today and am not available to respond directly. I will address what you heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show next Tuesday at 8:25 AM EST, during my normal commentary on the show.

Warmest Regards,

Tavis

Read the rest of the article here, or read Smiley's HuffPost blogs here.

Selections:
Tavis Smiley: Gen. Colin Powell on the Obama Moment
Tavis Smiley: My Conversation with Hillary Clinton
Tavis Smiley: My Conversation with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Comments

[dlkincaid]

Tavis Smiley has done more for Blacks than Obama, Michelle and their handlers will ever do. Many jocks are afraid of Obama and his handlers - Obama has divided Blacks and many of the whites are just along for the ride. I am a Black female who has refused to drink the kool-aid - this man doesn't have a clue of what it is like to Black in America. He is as much of a clone of whites as the other minnons (Powell, Rice, Clarence Thomas), etc.

You can have him, but stop comparing him to King - Obama cannot even come close to King and Tavis would not be getting your anger if he was as much a WMN as Obama. Good luck - many of you are saying if Obama gets the nomination - Hillary's supporters will come over - I WON'T, but then you don't want nor need me. I am of the older generation and this man doesn't deserve the most important thing I have in YOUR United States of America - MY VOTE. Any Black man (excuse me African American) who thinks highly of Reagan - means nothing to me.

[Clinton]

That was a very stupid rant.

[Darnamell]

So, Obama thinks highly of Reagan?


NOW who is drinking the kool-aid?


And thanks for "letting us have him" since you obviously do not see what millions of others do but seriously, if you are going to be against the guy, could you at least pick a solid good reason? Obama isn't for Reagan's policies, but support Clinton who panders to FoxNews and gets support from Schaife, Limbaugh, Coulter, et al. Seriously, get a grip.

[anthonylee]

Your rant was ignorant and ill conceived, I don't even believe you're a "Black female"! (excuse me African American female)?!?!

If you are, it's the "kool-aid" mentality of a "House Negro" that's gotten you to this position. . . .do you also believe that Clinton's "ice" is colder than Obama's?

[adl]

Good!

[stringer]

I like Tavis Smiley but he went too far with this. Apparently many African-Americans apparently felt the same way.

At a certain point it became less about the valid point that Barack didn't come the forum to discuss real issues and more about the fact that Barack had the nerve not to come to HIS Tavis Smiley's forum. Give me a break.

Does anyone else find it odd that Tavis is going to wait until next Tuesday, oh, April 22nd to talk about this. You know the day that just happens to the PA primary? Smiley's quickly descending from a great interviewer and mediocre journalist, to a publicity-seeking divo. If you want to quit, just quit. If you have something to say about it, say it. But now everyone is going to have to wait a week for you to deem to lower yourself to talking to them. Uggh.

[John Warren Gotsch]

I shared information with Tavis Smiley how the Clintons' despicably trashed three highly-esteemed African American women ---tenured Professor Lani Guinier of Harvard Law, roomate with Hillary at Yale Law, Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund, and Dr Joycelyn Elders, Surgeon-General for WJC.

Finally I gotten my questions into ABCNEWS and just maybe one will be asked tomorrow night.

TAVIS you had them and ignored them. SHAME ON YOU!

[LeonardB]

I understand that Mr. Smiley extended an invitation to Senator Obama to speak at the State of The Black Union seminar later this month, and that due to his very tight schedule with the Presidential primaries, Sen. Obama had to decline,....to appear on his behalf. I was very disappointed to hear that Mr. Smiley indicated that it would be inappropriate to do that,.....­..........­. If this is indeed true, may I suggest, with all due respect to Tavis, with whom I have the greatest respect and admiration for, that he reconsider this very unfortunate position. And I make this suggestion for the following reasons:



Senator Obama is in the middle of a neck and neck, toe to toe, battle for the POTUS. What could be more indicative that that as to the State of the Black Union? It is unrealistic to expect him, at this late hour to divert his attention from this monumental and even historic task to appear at a forum, that while certainly important, represents nothing more than conversation between true believers on a topic that we are likely to find much common ground on.
...It is said that you are defined by what you have to defend........ Don’t let it be said that one dynamic young black man (Mr. Smiley) put a burden on another black man (Senator/President? Obama) to choose between making history or making nice. That would be very unfortunate for all concerned

[Mygirl]

I think Tavis made the mistake of trying to define how Obama should Honor Dr. King's death. Tavis should have been angry with Hillary for showing up and lying about how she flung her Book Bag across the room when she received the news of Dr. Kings death and with John McCain showing up after he voted aganist a MLK Holiday.

[bensoung]

great,you are good www.anti-cnn.com

[PennyLeonard]

Yes Tavis Smiley is arrogant and egotistical and I am surprised he lasted this long with his interrupting self-centered self....making guests uncomfortable with his constant interrupti­ng...showi­ng disrespect­.....Good.­...it is time you quit......you are a Pat Buchanan......and OReilly.....The difference between a gentleman like Senator Obama and Tavis Smiley are soooooo great that people, White and Black.....dislike him.....Go and GOD speed..... and do some introspect­ing.....Yo­u are not a humble, compasionate person. right now so.......grow Spiritually and return anew.....

[talkingclock]

Tavis Smiley,

In a word Karma

[LINY516]

His ego did him in.
Pride can be the downfall of those who started off with good intentions.

[tbone99]

the truth is B.O can't afford to appear "too black" hence not appearing in Memphis or on Smiley's venue and he's distanced himself from Wright's veiws althought they are widely held. .I can understand that this may be necessary for the campaign but I'm afraid of what it portends for his presidency, should he win.After all the minute he gets in, he"ll basically be start t Campaign # 2 .Will black folks be off the agenda the first four years too?

[OhMyGoodness]

First blacks have never been on the agenda... having said that Obama is not running for the president of Black America. He has to be for ALL Americans. He is being held to a standard that no other nominee has ever been held to. Would it be ok if the many white nominees were running as the nominee for white america? I mean what more can the man do? He's black, has a black wife and black daughters and I believe that he will be understanding and helpful to the needs of the black community more than either of the other 2 candidates.

[TheNuff]

ITA.

[Dan1967]

NEW MICHIGAN POLL: OBAMA LEADS McCAIN 43 TO 41% BUT HILLARY IS LOSING TO McCAIN 46 TO 37%. BARACK OBAMA IS CLEARLY THE STRONGER CANDIDATE! I COPIED AND PASTED THE POLL BELOW AND THE LINK IS HERE: http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/04/obama_does_better_against_mcca.html

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A new poll shows Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama doing better against Republican John McCain among Michigan voters than Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The poll by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA shows 43 percent of the 600 likely voters polled back Obama, while 41 percent back McCain. Eight percent say they'd vote for independent candidate Ralph Nader, while 8 percent are undecided.

McCain leads Clinton 46 percent to 37 percent. Ten percent say they'd vote for Nader and 7 percent are undecided.

Fifty-nine percent have a favorable opinion of McCain, while 55 percent feel that way about Obama and 45 percent about Clinton.

The poll was conducted April 3-8. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

[puritanslive]

YEAH, mICHIGAN IS THAT STATE THAT HILLIARY WON IN THE PRIMARY,,,,AND THAT O'BAMA TOOK HIS NAME OFF THE BALLOT....­..........­.

epic_mra POLLS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR INACCURACY ......INTERVIEWING JUST 600 PEOPLE.....

mICHIGAN vOTERS ARE TICKET SPLITTERS.­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­....iF YOU POLL IN dETROIT......o'BAMA MIGHT LEAD........THAT'S WAYNE COUNTY..........bUT IF YOU POLL IN mCCOMB COUNTY....­..hILLIARY MIGHT LEAD......­..........­iF YOU POLL IN OAKLAND COUNTY....­..hILLIARY MIGHT LEAD........tHESE THREE COUNTIES HOLD 50% OF THE STATES POPULATION­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........

oUT STATE.....­..MICHIGAN­...o'BAMA DOES NOT HAVE A CHANCE....


tHE mICHIGAN VOTERS WILL REMEMBER THAT IT WAS o'BAMA WHO BLOCKED THE "DO OVER PRIMARY".

[Darnamell]

Yell much?

Besides, who said he blocked the do-over primary? I don't see Obama as DNC head.

Seriously, can the FDA pull this Clinton Kool-aid off the market before someone gets hurt?

[chandler02]

I support Obama for so many reasons. It is terrible that people are so out for their own political ambitions, that they try to shred a person who is literally the best candidate America has seen in decades.

If you look at Clinton's trade history, they are no better than Bush. The Clinton's are too tied into Corporate America to do what is right for America.

I can't believe that she supported NAFTA, her husband signed it into law, her husband made $800,000 promoting the Columbian agreement, her Top Advisor lobbied for it, her top advisor also lobbied for Haliburton and Blackwater.....AND some people still think she has small town America's best interests at heart. They are SCAMMING YOU!!

[pupbayer]

Obama is a politician. Obama is a politician. Obama is a politician.

Keep repeating that and eventually you'll get it.

[Darnamell]

And this detracts from chandler02's argument how?

Is this the best comeback the Clintonites have left?

[Ahyoka]

Senator Hillary Clinton was and is my first choice for Democratic nomination of president. Senator John Edwards was and is (now my choice for VP or Wesley Clark) my second choice. BO did not even get on my radar. He is someone who 'may' have a good political future (if he doesn't blow it getting in too big a hurry) but is not presidential material at this time.

[citadelgrrl05]

you have no facts to base that on..other than the fact that you might be refering to his race, but anyway good luck with those misguided feelings. Especially with someonme that has lied and constantly misstaed the facts!!!

[richw23]

Yeah, and at the time A.H. probably seemed like a good alternative as well. Funny how things work out.

[dct19]

I'm an Obama supporter. But I find it troubling that so many black people are willing to attack the likes of Tavis and Cornel West . Barack should be thoroughly scrutinized. Are we as black people so enthralled with him that we are now decalring him above any type of criticism? That is an ignorant and dangerous attitude. Some of us need to grow the fukk up and start welcoming opposing opinions, and constructive criticism.

[Bittertruth]

i FEEL YOU, BUT THESE GUYS OPPOSE EVERYTHING! WHY DON'T THEY RUN FOR OFFICE??

[JJaye]

I think it's insulting that so many people like Tavis Smiley assume that they are the only people capable of researching a candidate and coming to their own conclusions. I, along with many other Obama supporters, have done my homework and between the 3 candidates running you know and Tavis knows that Obama can run circles around Clinton (both of them) and McCain. Just because the African American community is excited about Obama doesn't mean that we haven't looked at the issues. Now, African Americans are the most loyal group voting Democrat every election. I have NEVER heard this much scrutiny from our community in the past when a White Democrat was running. Now that there is a fully capably and qualified African American man running for office, all of a sudden, everybody knows politics. Can anyone tell me what Senator Kerry's platform was or Al Gore's when they ran???? The reason Tavis and many others like him are catching so much flack is the fact that they have made a living on the "so called" plight of Black People. Much of it seems like empty rhetoric if the majority of the African American community that they profess to love so much and "represent" are excited about Barack & Michelle Obama and want to rally behind them and they seem resigned to tearing them down. For God's Sake - What are we waiting on. If it ain't Barack, then I don't know what it is.

[emncaity]

"Can anyone tell me what Senator Kerry's platform was or Al Gore's when they ran????"

Yup. Almost identical to Obama's in the broad strokes. So why are African Americans going to turn out in huge numbers for him this time around, but not for Gore or for Kerry, who stood for essentially the same things in years where Bush needed to be defeated?

[domdella]

i completely agree......it doesn't get much better than this for blacks

[happydayz]

Yes. Any black folk out there that blindly support BO and attack other blacks who do not should be completely ashamed. I admit that him being black/biracial (same as myself) did appeal to me, but that doesn't stop me from criticizing him, or from refusing to see his flaws, etc. And blacks have every right to not support him, or support HIllary...we are not sheep and should not act like it. Last year, BO did not have the majority of black support, Hillary did. Why? Because BO had not earned it yet. He has earned it, but his recent mistakes should give us BO supporters pause, because 92% of us or so are Dems and we should put party in front of one candidate. Besides, my true fear is seeing BO shredded in a general election, and now I'm afraid that is what lied ahead. I'm afraid he's about to walk into a buzzsaw. I'd rather see him maintain his senate seat and have paved the way for the next black candidate than to be cut to pieces. I'm now afraid that in the fall I'll see this brother that I like and admire sliced and diced....I don't think I can bear it, I'd rather see Hill get the nomination than have to go through that pain.

[saintswriter]

The problem is, Tavis does not call for Hillary being thoroughly scrutinized. Why? Because we are supposed to buy her lie about being vetted? Did we know, until a few weeks ago that her lie about going to Bosnia to open the borders amid sniper fire was a lie? Did we know that she wasn't reponsible for the SCHIP program? Do we know that she is scheduled to go to trial this year in Peter Paul v. Clinton? Did we know that she was incapable of running an efficient campaign? Tavis feels that the Clinton's have been good to him, and he is loyal to them -- and like all Clinton supporters (Bob Johnson, Charlie Rangel, Rendell, Stephanie Tubbs, Bill Clinton) they feel that to support her is to trash Obama (since she has no legitimate experience and no assets, and no real reason to which one can say she should be president because ........) But Tavis should have the courage to say he's supporting Hillary -- and after months of bashing Obama, he should be done by now.

[adl]

I have no problem having Barack responsibly scrutinized, but I did have a big problem with Smiley getting all worked up because he didn't come to his conference. That was just so silly, and I lost respect for him.

[Pamela1961]

As for people in the AA saying good bye so quickly, if you've watched Tavis' show he has showcased some of the most amazing people, half or more who are African American. He's a good guy.

[Julia1023]

Absolutely right, Pamela1961. We've been quick to de-color a man for having what so many have fought and died for: an opinion and right to vote for the candidate of his CHOICE.

[citadelgrrl05]

no body is saying that he should nothave an opinion or be critical, but when that opinion is stated is it really helping or hurting the road forward!!

[Pamela1961]

I did NOT post the last comment accredited to me. I feel bad for Tavis because of the hate he is getting for being a journalist. I watch his show in D.C. all the time. He seems like a very nice man who it seems was trying to be fair but I guess like other African Americans who support another candidate because of their differing political views get that hatred out there. It's not only Obama people, but lately it seems that the hope, inspiration and change had changed to negative stereotypes of "typical" supposed traits of other races. A shame..but his supporters will support him until the end because they feel it's progressive.

I would have liked it if the mainstream media had just been fair and unbiased and showed some journalist integrity. Obama is far from a Saint or Messiah, he's a great orator and preacher....who the longer this race goes on seems to be showing a very negative view of the majority of Americans.

[Pamela1961]

He didn't mind all the Hillary or McCain bashing. His show was purely about electing Obama and he has to realize that politically some people are just more moderate and conservative. As for the "hate" stuff, believe me it's gone both ways. In fact I'd say in this day and age the racism and hate is stronger from the African American community, it's even in their churches where politics would disqualify those churches from Non-Profit status which no one is going after as the Media and the other races don't want a racial war or fight.

But Tavis has had no problem with his own bashing of Clinton and McCain and his fawning over Obama. In fact everytime Obama gets any negative press which is always smoothed over they have African American pundits on to defend him. This is a political campaign and the hatred if he reads comes from his side too, if not more so than any other side. Maybe due to the influence from his church and wife?

I'm sorry you got hate on the show, but what Obama said to that San Francisco audience was flowery but also wrong and pure assumption. He came out with all this hope and change, but when it doesn't go his way and the Press dares to expose ANYTHING negative it's unfair, but it isn't when they do the same for the other candidates?

[dct19]

You don't know what goes on in black churches so stop claiming that you do. You're an ignoramus.

[citadelgrrl05]

Pamela1961, till you have attended a black church, not just one or two, more then five and see the differences, then you can go ahead and comment, this is what pisses me off, people that give opinions, but have no first hand knowledge!!!
WAKE UP AMERICA

[saintswriter]

Pamela1961, get a clue. Tavis Smiley is a Hillary Clinton supporter. The "hate" he has been getting is because he is constantly badmouthing Barack Obama for no reason, and unfairly using his advantage as a talk show host to try to sway voters away from Obama to Hillary. You should research and become knowledgeable of your subject before commenting, otherwise it may appear to someone that your opinions are merely based on bias and racism, as opposed to real facts.

[domdella]

black churches.....THEIR churches....african american community......i'd say now-a-days hate is stronger from the african american community.­...african american pundits...hatred is due to his church and wife........

anyone can sound bite a topic and make it look however they want.....and from your comments....they are qualified as 100% racially motivated.­.....simpl­y from picking out words and throwing the rest away.....that makes you a racist.....labeling is fun