Cornel West, Martin Bashir Spar About Obama (VIDEO)

Prof. Cornel West and MSNBC's Martin Bashir sparred on Bashir's Tuesday show about President Obama's leadership.

Bashir began the chat by quoting West -- who has become a fierce critic of Obama's, and is part of an effort to mount a primary challenge against him -- as saying Obama lacked "backbone." He brought up Obama's Monday speech, where the president called for higher taxes on the wealthy.

"Was that not evidence of him having a backbone?" Bashir asked.

"I'm not convinced," West said. "He's given wonderful speeches before. The question is, will he stand when things get tough, when things get difficult?" He said that the country was being made a helpless pawn stuck between "cold-hearted" Republicans and "spineless" Democrats, and he wondered if Obama was just giving the speech to placate progressives.

"Do you not think you're being a bit unfair?" Bashir said. He called the situation Obama inherited "impossible from the beginning."

West said that Obama had shown his true colors by appointing an economic team that was too tied to Wall Street. He quoted Ron Suskind's new book, where a major banker called Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner "our man in Washington."

He also said that it was likely that "King-like" civil disobedience was bound to increase in order to "wake something up" in the country.

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Comments

[Lucille]

06:47 PM on 09/23/2011

I've believed for some time now that President Obama deserves many serious challengers during the democratic primaries because we Democrats need reassurance that the President’s and our agendas are the same, which means no more sucking up to Republicans and Tea Party people and like Dr. West I’m not sure President Obama can do that.

[ljc]

03:06 PM on 09/23/2011

Cornell West, Tavis Smiley and Ralph Nader are all crybabies.

So is the crybaby Black Caucus.

[tyrant510]

04:23 PM on 09/23/2011

they are not cry babies, they are simply speaking their truth--to power--it's a wonderful thing.

[LibelFreeZone]

04:14 AM on 09/24/2011

"Truth to power"--one of my least favorite cliches. Give it a rest.

[FilthyHarry]

02:13 PM on 09/23/2011

Bashir's point that its unfair to point out Obama's flaws because of the mess he inherited when he took office is totally backwards. BECAUSE of the mess Obama inherited when he took office we needed him to stand up more than ever.

[LibelFreeZone]

04:15 AM on 09/24/2011

If Obama wasn't up to handling the "mess he inherited," he should not have been elected.

[FilthyHarry]

02:12 PM on 09/23/2011

Come on HuffPo! Stop jerking our chains. There was no sparing. Bashir asked questions, West answered them. All done politely and civilly.

[tyrant510]

04:24 PM on 09/23/2011

thank you for pointing this out--you beat me to it.

[Ambill94]

10:30 AM on 09/23/2011

Not quite sure what Bashir was defending. West is right and has been all along. The Pres surrounded himself the same old school of Wall Street cronies that have held sway in Washington for decades. He has failed us in nearly all his promises when he was running for office before. Are we supposed to be lulled into believing he has suddenly seen the light? He has not shown any backbone but instead has, in appearing to want to compromise with Republicans, merely handed them what they want. I hope he will stand firm and finally start to fulfill the many promises he made to those of us who voted for him, but he has waited until very late in the game and the people are really angry.

[John Blutarsky]

09:38 AM on 09/23/2011

Cornel West is the less intelligent, more corrupt younger brother of al sharpton.

He's just trying to cover up for the utter failure of the lib progressive socialist agenda, by throwing obama, its biggest advocate, under the bus.

So much for that hopey changey transformative presidency.

When push comes to shove folks vote their pocketbooks, and west's is lined by advocating for the agenda that obama failed with, so obama is the scapegoat for the agenda's failings

[Theatrixnyc]

10:07 PM on 09/22/2011

(rubbing my eyes, puts back on glasses) My, what a difference a day makes. Already another change has come, Tavis filling in for Ed, talking nice about Obama...and might I say, the other great thing is watchng the clips of Obama in front of Boehner's Bridge. Working...Talking....big difference. And while Obama is talking, and WORKING, he's pointing...and Ooooohhhh! Mr. Boehner...you look, uh, like you have something on your shoe, oh wait, no, both shoes are in it, and that guy Cantor walked right up behind you and didn't see it either...it's all over his shoes, too.

[murphysgirl]

04:33 PM on 09/23/2011

That was Michael Eric Dyson last night, not Smiley..

[Theatrixnyc]

04:36 PM on 09/23/2011

I said rubbing my eyes...either way. It was all good news.

[Garrg]

01:16 AM on 09/23/2011

Ah yes, the race card. You tried to play it so well. I'm sure Mr. A Action took his classes, took and passed his test....probably brushed his teeth too. That Mr. Action is something else. Why he almost seems omnipresent when it comes to, you know, those people.

[gregory57]

01:07 PM on 09/23/2011

Oh, make no mistake, I voted for Obama, myself. Convinced the rest of my family to, as well.

[threalReginald]

10:53 AM on 09/23/2011

Exactly successful Black people work twice as hard to earn the same respect that white numbskulls are awarded for simply being white. Clinton is the one president in modern history that could match wits with Obama. So bow down to your Black President.... Bwoy

[tyrant510]

04:32 PM on 09/23/2011

i agree wholeheartedly with the first part of your comment. the second part--about clinton--i would say it depends on how you define 'modern history'. your final point, I love the sentiment and would respectfully bow down to our black president, if he wasn't so eager to bow down to the republicans. as dr west clearly illustrates in his seminal work, 'race matters', sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. after voting for obama and being ecstatic when he won, i've now come to the realization he has been a failure when it comes to leading and instituting democratic policies. at this point, i will not be voting for him in 2012 and i would encourage all other fair minded progressives to follow suit.

[gregory57]

06:15 PM on 09/23/2011

Actually, Carter was probably smarter than both of them, together. The fact is that Intelligence isn't really a prerequisite for being a good president. It's the ability to get people to work together, something that Clinton had, and Obama, apparently, lacks.

[Trevdee]

07:54 PM on 09/22/2011

I find it rather funny how so many of the posters here are willing to trash Cornel West and Tavis Smiley but I wonder how many of these said folks were singing their praises just a couple years ago. I wonder how many of you who are old enough were out buying 'Race Matters' and how many of you watched Tavis Smiley's show on PBS or watched/went to his annual summit on the state of Black America. To those questioning what has Messrs. Smiley and West done for the African-American community in particular, the poor or the minority community in general it does not have to be anything material. Bringing their plight to the fore ought to count for something and letting them know that they have someone to advocate for them and their issues does count for something. I'm pretty sure that those summits Tavis Smiley convened resulted in someone getting an opportunity to make a better life for him/herself. We already have enough hypocrites and hypocrisy in our politics and we don't need more among the populace.

[sand252]

01:42 PM on 09/23/2011

I'm pretty sure the people bashing the two had no clue of "Race Matters" or that Tavis Smiley even had a show on PBS. That's my impression. Maybe they know the two from "Real Time with Bill Maher" ... that's my guess.

[cincinnati]

07:44 PM on 09/22/2011

I usually like West, and another black prof who's name escapes me, for their strongly progressive and consistent views on a wide variety of issues. I wish he'd get much more air time.

I've lost Hope and think Obama can win but is seriously politically wounded, as most would
be trying to save us from
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN DEPRESSION.....2 war's....etc. etc.....
But I think he's made tactical mistakes [ vs. massive Strategic mistakes of Bush and GOP ].....
like accepting the Peace Prize or pushing health care either too quickly or not fast enough....and this madness of IRAQ/Afgan. continues.....
we build bridges Over There while our's fall apart.....
and he only pushes a strong infrastucture plan after almost
3 years ??!!
Hillary likely would easily win and help keep the Senate, maybe take the House....
but has she sold her soul to the Council on Foreign Relations and pal's of
the Neocon's ?.....is there still some of the progressive Hillary there as when young ?
Or do we need Dennis Kucinich.....who time has proved is not the nut the media tries
to paint him as, but if President years ago would have fixed so much of this ME$$ $$$$$

[sheenisenvy]

02:50 PM on 09/23/2011

Michael Eric Dyson perhaps????????

[cincinnati]

08:11 PM on 09/23/2011

Touchdown !.....I guess I'll have to fan you for that, although I try to not do
so unless I know the longer history of a writer......

I just happened to see him on MSNBC an hour or so later !
I would watch him and/or West often if they had a show, apart
or together !

[PoliSci2008]

07:04 PM on 09/22/2011

To Dr. West: Please Accept My Apologies.

I've been critical of Dr. West for his opposition to Obama from the very beginning of his Presidency, but I see the Professor was insightful of Obama.

BOTTOMLINE: Dr. West is not being unfair. Obama has proven too many times he is not willing to fight and use his veto powers, instead he is willing to settle/compromise/cave-in for multitudes of Republican's agendas for only 1 of his own agenda and that's in a single legislative Bill! I'm glad to see the President acting tough following his vacation, but like Dr. West, will it last?

[thehardertheycome]

10:34 PM on 09/22/2011

If you only knew how idiotic this "he will not fight" argument really is. By your measurement he will not fight, and look at where we are. Do you honestly think that if Obama decided that he would "fight" that we would be any further along?

Obama gave up his political capital to get most of the things that the Democratic/Pogressive party wanted. But because he made some concessions to move the ball along (something that he campaigned on) there are those of you that claim that he will not fight.

Obama has out manuevered the Republicans time and time again. He has won every legislative battle that the Republicans have waged. All of them. When you dig in to the so called concessions that the Reopublicans have received, on substance they are minor and the core of what he wanted and what is important to most people Obama got the Lion's share.

As president his foriegn policy decision has been on point time and time again. What this president does not do is spike the ball. To many of yu expect this President to do the dance at the goal line. That's too bad.

[PoliSci2008]

07:09 PM on 09/26/2011

"the so called concession­s that the Reopublica­ns have received, on substance they are minor "

WHAT PLANET HAVE YOU BEEN ON? The extension of Bush tax cut is NOT minor. It is the basis of our economic recovery. The closures of excess & rarely used military basis as well as Gitmo would have saved the tax payer. Obama's concession to the Republicans' demad not to involve government in job creation was reckless and irresponsible of the President. And why are the Progressive so angry with Obama?

ObamaZombies crawling across the moors to the sound of O Ba Ma, O Ba Ma,
O Ba Ma. Get real!

[Abdel AlHabbo]

06:33 PM on 09/22/2011

you tell'em brother cornell! you tell'em!!!

[kcnativnla]

06:21 PM on 09/22/2011

Anybody thinking "King-like" civil disobedience could happen in 21st century America has way more faith in our citizen's ability to take the cheeseburger out of their mouths, pull themselves off the couch, put down their ipods, and leave their twitter accounts alone long enough for that to happen. I don't have that much faith.

[choco1996]

06:09 PM on 09/22/2011

i believe West's heart is in the right place,however,saying that, he is a bit of a buffoon who talks way too much..just look at the choices out there.I'll take Obama with all the things he does that just irkes me over any of the brain trust who want the republican theocracy to win out

[cm86]

06:05 PM on 09/22/2011

If anyone still doesn't understand Obama's first term was pretty much a campaign for his second term, then you are not paying attention.

He'll go for the low hanging fruit, and do just enough on the large issues to show where he stands. The Repubs know this. Give him nothing to campaign on. They didn't have enough on him to keep him from winning the first time, and Obama didn't have enough to keep him in Office for a guaranteed two terms.
Liberals think they have a stronger hold on this country than they do. We don't. Our people don't usually go and vote. We're not cynical enough to be selfish like most cons are, but definitely not cynical enough to care enough to vote. Double-edged sword. We elected Bush. BUSH! What does that tell you about the majority of the country and what they perceive to be good for our country?

[Sam Winchester]

06:14 PM on 09/29/2011

Word!