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

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

[Harrier]

By trying to force Obama to go to a black only event that is extreme Travis showed that he himself a racist. Nobody believes they are and there are many black who feel because they are black, they cannot be racist and can say anything they want. Tavis is a good interviewer, but needs to stay away from racist politics-everyone should be treated equally

[CaptainVideo]

Who is Travis Smiley? Never heard of him before this.

[domdella]

then you don't watch BET

[Edmond08]

Ignoring Hillary's lies and fabrications while spinning Obama's mistakes is a waste of your time because Hillary will never near the White House again. She has exposed her true nature - a congenital fabricator.

She lied about NAFTA in Ohio and Texas. She tried to cover up her lies until the courts forced them open for the world to read. If this is showing respect for the voters in PA, then we have some news for you -- you are delusional dreamers!

Mark Pen and Bill Clinton were enriching themselves planning NAFTA2 with Columbia with the COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF HILLARY. This is elitist and downright criminal to the voters of PA. How can you say that you are fighting for the common man in PA when you make millions sending their jobs to Mexico and Columbia?

Hillary's supporters are like Tavis and James Manning - they are delusional and insane! Here is James Manning and his delusional insanity for Hillary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY-to8M4hCI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgtIqeV-6mk

[Julia1023]

Obama's mistakes. Love it.

[Edmond08]

Tavis is nobody to be worried about. His ego is his God. Until he learns to respect himself and others, he must continue to catch his due.

When a man is ruled by his alter ego and want of knowledge, he should be ready to weather the storm of dissatisfactions his manner breeds.

Tavis defiled himself, and defiled he must remain until he amends his thongs. If not, his fortune is marred forever.

[puritanslive]

Fighting over O'bama is a waste of time.......O'bama has now insulted whites....just like the Rev wright did.....but with better english......

O'bama was never qualified to be president......He was told to run ...just to get experience....which he lacked........

I clearly don't want him to be presiding over the economy that's responsible for my livilihood......

[Edmond08]

You certainly have no clue about what you are blabbing about. Give us a list of qualifications to be a president and tell us who meets the qualifications.

[Witkacy]

>I clearly don't want him to be presiding over the economy that's responsible for my livilihood......

Naw, I know you have trouble with the idea of a black president, and all; but you'll be fine - there are always bathroom floors which need mopping, and toilet paper holders needing a refill...Make that money right!

[Julia1023]

AMEN, puritanslive. Well said.

[puritanslive]

O'bama can define white folks......He can insult them...just like his pastor J. Wright......and white people.......thinks it's ok......They go out a vote for him.......Apparently......the white folks like his insults......Some of them say.....His insults are ok............I guess O'bama knows how to bring white people together..........Black people should have been hurling insults .....and maybe they would get somewhere.........like o'bama is.....

[Edmond08]

If Obama insulted your mother and father, then Hillary and Bill spit on their faces with NAFTA lies.
Hillary spit on your dad's face with her fabrications about Columbia trade deal. Bill and Hillary spit on your mother's face because their pastor was sent to prison for molesting a 7-year-old girl.

Take you head off your rear end. May be you will begin to think like a human.

[DinaBax]

It would behoove you, when speaking out against a presidential candidate to both spell their name correctly and use proper English grammar; sentence fragments are not an efficacious form of communication. Furthermore, your verbs are in severe disagreement with one another. Exemple gratia: "maybe they would get somewhere.....like o'bama is." It would be proper to say "maybe they would be getting somewhere, like Obama is," or "maybe they would get somewhere, like Obama has." Also, ellipses consist of only three periods in immediate succession and are not acceptable replacements for single periods, commas or semicolons.

As to the content of your statement (a term I use only in the most generous sense), Obama did not attempt to define white people as a whole; he made a salient point regarding the mindset of wretchedly disenfranchised working class people in states whose economies have traditionally relied on industrial jobs. Obama's characterization of blue-color Americans as using religion, a culture of honor, and xenophobia as social crutches in the face of consistent economic disaster was not meant as an insult, was not an insult, and did not apply solely to white Americans. Moreover, I don't believe that using the rhetorical device of insulting the government and/or "white America," i.e., using institutions as symbols, is at all the same as insulting white people, i.e., leveling a personal attack at each individual member of the group by referring to them as a collective.

[donna2000]

Good heavens! A message board grammarian. Get a life!! This is conversation, not prose.

[Ahyoka]

LMAO! Are you one of those there 'elitists'out here carrying Mr BO's water for him?
Grammer lessons on HuffPo??!

BWHAAAAAA! no stop now...my sides are hurting. BO koolaid sippers are too funny.

[domdella]

hahahahah i bet none of the ones talking stuff about dinabax will challenge her to any form of a debate....you laugh but you really don't want no parts of her....if she is a woman that is.....lol

[domdella]

i here alot of race in his comments.......Racist?????

[Outofnowhere]

As a black person, I've got two words for Mr. Smiley - GOOD RIDDANCE! On occasion I've listened to him on the radio and was so turned off by his non-stop angry rants that I immediately changed the dial. He and his ilk can't seem to consider the possibility (or are too cowardly to say) that black people might accept the truth that we bear some responsibility for our future. This is why Barack is such a breath of fresh air. We've been bombarded for years with these types of commentaries from similar egomaniacs. Smiley's forum was just another avenue for these folks to admire themselves talk and bring back zero workable ideas toward our progress. So deal with it Tavis, someone came along brighter and bolder who didn't accept your idea of "paying their dues" and - wonder of wonders - they are welcomed and appreciated!
GO OBAMA!!!!

[GeoNorth]

This is school girl stuff (sorry, girls). Tavis is miffed because the start didn't come to his party. Next time, invite Paris. She'll party anywhere.

[Wordtodawise]

Tavis Smiley quits radio show, how revealing?

Tavis Smiley quits radio show because he can't withstand hate waves from irate listeners? One can't blame the brother. The fact is Smiley bit off more than he could chew by challenging the integrity of Barack Obama. Smiley's thinking was very flawed, his action misguided and the outcome regrettable.

Tavis Smiley missed a golden opportunity to broaden the base of his efforts at drawing attention to the social and political needs of Black people via his conference. He was absorbed by his own self importance and indulgence to the extent that he lost sight of the bigger picture.

Tavis failed to recognize the importance of the moment and the challenge it presented to him as an aspiring leader. He lacked the judgment and courage to evaluate a situation and adapt a solution that would have made every party a winner. Perhaps it's a lesson that he would learn as he grows more mature in his quest for power.

Instead of loathing Obama, Smiley should learn some thing from the man who is writing the book on how to win while being black.

Another lesson for Smiley is to figure out how not to go down with a sinking ship such as is about to happen to the Clintons.

Finally, Smiley should learn about an old adage that states that the person who is hunting for an elephant should not stop to throw stones at little animals. In other words, know your priority.

Wordtodawise

[SassyScribe]

This entire issue has nothin IMO to do with Obama and is all about ego...as much dirt as those continue to try and throw at Obama he continues to rise above it...the problem is that folks cannot handle the truth when they hear it...

Tavis' issue was all ego, as Obama came to Howard University in DC for his presidential debates, yet McCain abstained when he did the same thing at Morgan State in Baltimore...so its like the "most popular kid" turned down his "coming out" party and he got pissed---period! Its not surprising to me at all and I amazed that so many are amazed at this...

I am an African American woman and everyone I know...of all races are wanting a change and they see that in Obama...not in 'Clinton or McCain.

[dlkincaid]

Obama maniacs have divided Blacks and as a Black woman - I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA nor anyone else alighned with him.

[acanthus]

And as one of the majority...HUGE majority of blacks who voted for him, tell me why I'm supposed to care that you and other like-minded blacks won't vote for him.

[ann1]

BOO HOO

[GRobSecular]

hahaha seriously. quit your bitching

[JiminNC]

Who cares? Us white folks will make up for your vote.

[HowietheScreamer]

Then you can always go join Alan Keys in the Repubic tent. Don't forget to bow and scrape to all the uppity white folks there, they don't like it when brown people think for themselves.

Seriously, you can vote repubic, but it's voting against your best interests. That is unless you happen to make over 150K a year. Then go right ahead. However, look at what they have done to the country over the last 8 years. If you think that they have the best interests of the nation and the constitution in mind you are sad and very deluded.

[ralphrichardson]

Divided Black people? Are you insane? You have to be working on the plantation. Which means you don't vote any way. Wake UP!!!!

[rjax]

While Travis was busting Obamas chops for not attending that "The Black Union Caucus Forum."
Obama had attended the Northern Illinois University Memorial Services for the students that were killed and spent time with their families.Thats what he chose to do that weekend Mr. Smiley!
I saw the forum on Cspan and it was no more than theatrical over the top rantings!

[Edmond08]

Tavis is true to his type. His type cares more about money than about honor or black people.

His type are many and they are everywhere in the churches as pastors, in the airwaves as phony activists, and they hate every living thing under the sun. To understand, listen to a good representative of this type here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgtIqeV-6mk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY-to8M4hCI

[dlkincaid]

what exactly do you know about Tavis - are you so in tune with Obama (who is more white than Black - excuse me AFRICAN AMERICAN)

[didimus]

"I'm aware of the press reports about what (Bill Maher) said. I have not seen the actual transcript of the show itself. But assuming the press reports are right, it's a terrible thing to say, and it's unfortunate. And that's why"there was an earlier question about has the President said anything to people in his own party"they're reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do. This is not a time for remarks like that; there never is."

Former Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer

WATCH IT, MR. SMILEY. OBAMA SUPPORTERS WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH! THEY AGREE WITH ARI. THEY'VE GOT A NOMINATION TO WIN AND YOU BEST KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF.

[Edmond08]

We have no problem with the mentor and father of Tavis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgtIqeV-6mk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY-to8M4hCI

[westreal]

I've watched every Bill Maher show and don't remember this. And I have them on tape. Or rather DVR.

[NPRLuvr]

Good writtens! And don't let the door hit you on the way out! He's like a spoiled brat who, when he doesn't get his way, wants to take his toys and leave. He did the same thing at NPR. Even then, I never understood his, so-called appeal.

[Edmond08]

He has been showing his true colors like his mentor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgtIqeV-6mk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY-to8M4hCI