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

[truthyguy]

Smiley is so full of himself that he thinks he is entitled to have people unquestioningly accede to his demands. He is a fucking radio personality. Nothing more and nothing less. His opinions and analysis are no better than anyone else's and he has no right to demand anyone's time as his own. He is an arrogant fool to think and act otherwise. While I used to enjoy his programs, I don't think I will continue to listen to him since I don't suffer fools lightly.

[Farmerette]

I'm glad that Smiley proved what a manipulative jerk he is by refusing to allow Michelle Obama to attend his stupid "State of the Black Union". It's people like Smiley who can't stand Barack's bi-racial identity and who will continually pressure him to identity himself as solely black.

[obamagramma]

What a fool then.

[snowcat]

Obama v Clinton.

Baracky The Movie- Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PASS IT ON

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=RyhIBXNfqMA

[Actionmac]

Good video... need a little laugh even when dealing with the truth. NOT ANTI OBAMA. Check it out

As for Tavis, we need folks like Tavis to help keep the focus. However, Tavis, being human, makes a mistake with this issue.

1. Refusing to have Michelle in his place, Mrs. Obama, was disrespectful to her. If they said bill would come in place of hillary you would have NOT refused the clinton camp. If you say you would, you are a BIGGER LIAR than the clintons.

2. If you really wanted to have YOUR questions answered, you should have PRESSED clinton for an APOLOGY and understanding regarding she and her husband using NEGATIVE BLACK stereo types to address Obama. Stating back to Iowa and really showing it was the clinton campaign in South Carolina.

[Hilleluiah]

NEGATIVE BLACK stereo types ...

Such as?

[thrutheseasons]

Great video.

[Denni]

MNDaddy, I won't click you're link, given the obvious anti-Obama sentiment in your post. I will say that if Tavis' involvement in issues in 'Black America' was genuine, and not just self-promoting, he wouldn't have DARED insult Michelle Obama as 'not good enough' to stand in her husband's place while promoting Clinton. He'd have gladly accepted Bill Clinton in Hillary's place, I'm sure.

Obama didn't send a staffer. He sent the person dearest to his heart and who knows him best. Not good enough for Tavis? Name ONE town or venue that rejected Michelle Obama's appearance, stating that they didn't want her and only wanted to her from her husband. NOT ONE.

Way to go, Tavis, in valuing THAT woman's voice - Tavis Smiley, defender of (black) women? WTG in saying that SHE didn't matter. Yes, he cares so deeply. He's only angry that he can't be the 'king maker' his ego told him he was. Er, NO, but thanks.

[pleeezzze]

We get it Denni....My way or the highway !
That should be Obamas Theme song . To hell with anyone elses opinions (right ?

[vandyprofessor]

Poor Tavis. Not exactly. Tavis is a self-promoting egomaniac and a sexist to boot. I sincerely doubt that folks are giving him a hard time still about his blasting Obama. I smell a book contract in the making.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Can't do that "peeze," that song is take;by the *Busheviks* and their "Gang of Pedophiles" partisans:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

Tavis is no saint, but he's far less the sinner than such that he has so eloquently opposed these last seven and a half years from Hell.

BTW, I'm an independent who favors Obama, will vote for Clinton is need be, anything to remove the stench of the "Repedophiles" and their cronies from the White House, and the sooner the better.

Best keep one's perspective with these "scandals" presented by the corporate press.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[MNDADDY]

Tavis is a real democrat.

He has been fighting the cause for all us Dems before Obama was, well, out of Prep. School in HI.

And he has to quit because of the hate. Tavis' crime? Speaking the truth.

Obama supporters take note and explain this to those pittiful Americans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36T1fnIafC0

[thrutheseasons]

To study African American history is to study horror. Many fiendish things happened. The syphilis experiments in the seventies, and the truth that was at first squashed about bringing cocaine into black communties to pay for the contras is, now, coming out as true. It is a common condition of knowing history which causes paranoia in the black community, but paranoia does not always mean you are wrong. The fact is America has destroyed the secular democratically elected governments of Iran and Guatemala and there were terrible consequences that we are reaping today. Having been exploited makes African Americans empathetic to the world's downtrodden. Like Rev. Wright most of the world's downtrodden don't hate America, they hate what America does continually. We have actually done more harm to the Iraqi people than help them.

[Obama08Supporter]

Please list the causes Tavis has been fighting for me? I need to know because not one thing he has ever done has benefited anyone other than himself. I don't buy it, Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton all think they speak for me, but they do not. They have done nothing more than bring shame to me as a black person. They are the true meaning of racist to me. Although we are not were we should be we are not where she use to be, they have not realized that and the fact that they will stand up for a black man or any man when he is dead wrong and blame it on the whit folk is a bunch of junk.

Now we finally have a viable black man as a candidate and smiley attempts to deminish him because of? Your video does not mean much to me either, I live the black life, I attend the black church, and I form my own opinions, not my pastors. As a black woman I am not turned on or off by this video, I have seen many pastors do disgusting things in and out of the pulpit. I have to love them because the Bible instucts me too, but I do not have to follow their leads, and when I feel they have stepped out of line, I do not follow. So the spin on Wright means absolutely nothing to me personally.

[AlligatorShuz]

Mndaddy, Barack Obama is a few years older than Tavis Smiley? While Barack Obama was helping prople on the south side of Chicago, Tavis Smiley was in Indiana? Tavis Smiley is a FOOL... Did he think black people would set by and let him slam Obama everytime he was on Tom Jouyner Show?

[MinerSam]

If Obama supporters are any reflection of their candidate sure seems like Mr. Obama is Divada not a Unida. That being the case this makes Obama a phony and the GW Bush of the Democats.

[AdultFilmLegend]

No idea who anyone is in this article.

[Ono4Hoopono]

Publicity stunt?

[mamacat]

If Sen. Obama says that he is too busy, but is willing to ask his wife to attend Mr. Smiley's meeting, then Mr. Smiley should be grateful that the Senator's wife is attending. If that is not good enough for Mr. Smiley, perhaps he should try to explain why he believes that it is not good enough, because at this point, I just don't get it.

[StephenJK]

If you don't get it. You'll never get it, lady. Just relax and keep the hate for everyone and everything Obama non grata.

[obamagramma]

A bit misogynist - no?

[StephenJK]

You know what I always say:

FUCK EM IF THEY CAN'T TAKE IT.

From what little I know about Tavis Smiley, I know he is a man filled with love and compassion. Fairness for all and a true knack for connecting to people. Tavis Smiley is a man who all should strive to emulate. The world needs a helluva lot more Tavis Smileys as far as I'm concerned.

[drzoon]

i have always pretty much agreed. but there does seem to be some "gatekeeping" going on.

as someone who is right smack in the middle of the baby boomer generation... i can tell you that the whole "it's my turn to be president " ... the establishment thing... has ruined this country.

now i am trying to figure out if Tavis is... for lack of better way to put this... "black establishment".... and as Hilary and all of her Clintonistas hate the idea of someone very very new coming in from the OUTSIDE.... and messing this whole thing up... that maybe Barack doesn't have enough time in Tavis' "establishment"? that he needed to more of one thing ... and less of another? that he needed to have been "okay'd" first by Tavis and Cornell and such?

like i said.... something doesn't add up

[cdub1991]

I think you've nailed it. Your addition is pretty good.

[AgentRovocateur]

We do have more Tavis Smileys...you know them as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Michael Baisden...

[MadeinAmericaProud]

You are sounding like you wondering which way did they go, and at the same time act like you do know what is going on. Your act is not working. Step away from from the bottom part of the double decker shithourse. Yoooou can not think clearly being in there.

[CC1]

Funny.......that's the same reply you gave me. It's amazing the eloquence of some towards those who disagree. What is a "shithourse" by the way?

[kennyfasugbe]

When people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Tavis Smiley self-appointed themselves as the sacred leaders of the black folks, they are not doing anyone any good other than fledging their own careers and names in the media.
I had a lot of love for Tavis, but that love's gone in the wake of this ego-tripping game that he is playing. He will wear the shame of his own making with a big long face when Obama becomes the president. Tavis can go pick some fruits and get lost in the field. He is not going to be missed on moment!

[MinerSam]

You are bad in a a bad way, And why do you support Obama again? Other than repeating
campaign talking points, Have not met one person who has come up with an origanl articulation as to why they support Obama,. Pick Fruit?

[2008andbeyond]

Your is the laziest post of the day. And that's saying something. You couldn't even come up with an original insult and we all know that you have read and heard the many reasons people support Obama. It likely makes you sick, all that honesty and hope running free of fear. What will you and your gal do?

[Paneedshelp]

Obama is supported because he knows what he's talking about one pont to proof is the murder rate in phill last year and the ares where they were commited. Pull that than vote for obama if you need more reasons I have them. This for who ever that feels and think like you...

[Obama08Supporter]

Is this a start as to why I am supporting Obama?

Provide Middle Class Americans Tax Relief

Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.

* Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.
* Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

Trade

Obama believes that trade with foreign nations should strengthen the American economy and create more American jobs. He will stand firm against agreements that undermine our economic security.

[cyndeewi]

Ditto Kenny! Ditto!!

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Why the Congressional Black Caucus didn't attend since it was the state of black people union. Why didn't blast they behinds on the radio like he did Obama.

These old hound dogs have been sitting their asses on the front porch for a very one line. What are they doing?

[AlligatorShuz]

The congressional Black Caucus is a social organization! They do nothing that I can see? The new leader is Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, from Detroit. Congresswoam Kilpatrick is having her own problems in Detroit because her son Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been indited on eight counts of purgery, corruption and other things and there might even be a federal trail. So she isn't tuned in to anything. Plus her son was on WMXD 92.3 FM here in Detroit telling people during the January 2008 primary not to vote uncommitted but to vote for the person on the ballot. Well, Hillary Clinton was the only democratic presidental candidate on the ballot here in Michigan because Michigan broke democratic party rules by moving up their election so Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden all had their names removed from the ballot. But Hillary Clinton supporters including Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Carl Levin told her to keep her name on the ballot. Kwame Kilpatrick is a super delegate? I don't know if he will be at the convention in Denver this summer because he can only travel if it is city of Detroit business a judge ruled on Friday. He and his mother say they are uncommitted? But Kwame Kilpatrick has said some bad things about Barack Obama.....

[SifSkade]

If Smiley does quit and blame it on the "hatred" coming from Obama supporters, he won't be doing himself any favors, but he will give ammunition to a certain group of prominent Black political and intellectual figures, mostly men who are about Sen. Obama's age, who have been doing Soul Patrol duty by questioning from the beginning whether Obama is "Black enough." So over that question and anyone who is still asking it.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Enough already with this "is he Black enough" red herring! The real question every *honest* American needs to ask themselves about Senator Obama is "Is he *American* enough to be President?"

*American* enough in that Senator Obama believes in and will uphold The Rule of Law.

*American* enough that he will end this bloody malfeasance of the Bushevik war for oila nd empire in Iraq.

*American* enough that he believes that The Constitution of The United States is the Supreme Law of The Land, and that he as President will uphold that law come Hell or high water.

*American* enough that he sees our common humanity first and always.

*American* enough to use the Bully Pulpit to push for real social justice and change to benefit the maximum possible number of We The People, no matter how many lobbyists he has to knock down and step on.

*American* enough to restore our nation's good name abroad, by bringing our troops home, by demanding justice for the perpetrators of 9/11 -the real perps!- AND demanding the same for each and every *Bushevik* who has sent our Armed Forces on a bloody snipe hunt in Iraq.

*American* enough to fight for the needs and rights of our wounded veterans as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

END PART I

[BlackWidowPilot]

PART II

"Hundred years War" McCain will do none of these things. Senator Clinto *may* do *some* of these things if enough sustained public pressure is applied.

On the evidence thus far, Senator Obama *will* do most or all of these things to the best of his abilities.

For this independent voter and son of a WW2 US Marine, Senator Obama is American enough for the job!

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[MNDADDY]

See what happens when you don't conform? It's the reason, I believe, Obama can't get rid of Rev. Wright.

Just ask, John Lewis.

[thrutheseasons]

Who is John Lewis? Is he some kind of authority?

[SifSkade]

Tavis Smiley's been in the biz an awfully long time. I'm no fan of his, and I haven't been ever sincehe was a lowly BET newscaster back in the day, but, that being said, he doesn't strike me as the type who leaves the kitchen when the heat is on. I guess I'll wait to hear a rebroadcast of his Monday or Tuesday show or whenever he said he was going to explain his actions.
It is odd, though, that the BET family has such a pronounced anti-Obama bias. From Crystal McCrary Anthony, who got bodychecked by Chris Matthews for making the factually baseless suggestion that Obama had a problem with Jewish people, to Robert Johnson, who can't seem to talk about anything else except Obama's having used drugs, to Mr. Smiley. Go figure.

[drzoon]

thats what i am talking about. SOMETHING ISN'T ADDING UP! what's up? didn't he go ask them for permission first or something? He isn't running to be a "black president". there are a lot of colors in this country. we need someone who is as color-blind as possible. and for me.. that has become Barack.

We have so many problems.... and folks like Tavis are not helping in the least

[Raiderfan0524]

I don't hate Tavis, never have despite the fact that I interviewed him once and he was a bit of a jerk.
But he needs to understand something. If you're going to play a journalist on TV, you've gotta have a thicker skin.
I write a political column in Philadelphia, which is not for the faint of heart. I've had all kinds of people come at me for a variety of things. But you know something, I stand behind what I write and I don't really care who's gotten mad about it. Trying to please everyone isn't my job.
When you're a commentator, you're going to get love sometimes, but you're also going to get folks who want to kick your ass. You've gotta be able to roll with the punches.
Obviously, Tavis Smiley isn't able to do that.

[StephenJK]

Are you Tavis Smiley? Have you experienced what he's obviously having a hard time dealing with right now? I would suggest a little empathy because he's standing on his own two feet taking punch after punch from the people he's fought for and identifies with. Personal attack after personal (VERY personal, I'm sure) attack. He's subjected to it in his face on a daily basis. One can only take so much. No matter how thick you think your skin is I guarantee you that is is purely penetrable.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Well, the black political machine was successful here in Atlanta harrassing John Lewis. I have to say though. He SAID he would pull his endorsement from Senator Clinton and direct it toward Obama, but then he let it drop like a hot potato. He now says, "No comment" when asked about it. I'm just wondering if, behind closed doors, he really will vote for Obama. No one likes to be bullied, and I'm willing to bet money that when push comes to shove he votes for Senator Clinton.

[thrutheseasons]

I guarantee Tavis smiley has not taken as many punches as Obama. Have you listened to Tavis speak about Obama? It is just pure hurt vengefulness pretending to be something else? Tavis only started taking punches when he started throwing them.

[ann1]

Bishop Jones will probably have to talk to Tavis. I'm surprised he hasn't already.