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Regarding The Tom Joyner Morning Show
There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I've had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.
Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and emails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.
I did not "quit" the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately. In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June.
Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall and beyond.
I look forward to continuing the dialogue on Tuesday and in the coming months.
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Tavis,
Before I read this I already responded to the moron who speculated as to why you decided to leave the Radio Show.
I simply posted the fact that if they really wanted to know the reason, they should ask you and not someone else.
Thanks for clearing this matter up.
Mr. Smiley:
I am an Obama supporter and recently saw your appearance on "Politically Incorrect". I was very impressed with your presentation and intelligence.
I am somewhat alarmed at reports you are being harrassed. Stand firm - use dialouge!
I also saw Tavis on the Bill Mahr show and enjoyed his presentation. I also feel that Tavis has a right to vote for and support whomever he wants to. I am an Obama supporter who feels there is very little difference in the policies of the two candidates....but there is a difference in the delivery of their message, how they have run their campaigns and honesty.
During the campaign of President Bill Clinton I was a strong supporter....and at the beginning of this campaign I was leaning toward Hillary but she has failed to convince me of all her claims; she has embellished a story (Snipergate); she has flip flopped on NAFTA (has someone working for her campaign that is lobbying for NAFTA - Mark Penn), which anyone can change their position on something as the year's past. I have observed speeches on the stump that leave me questioning the validity of what she is saying. In fact, there was a point in her campaign that I became confused and thought she was running with McCain because she was so positive towads him and negative towards Obama.
We as Americans, have a duty to research some of this "stuff" and stay informed of the true facts so that we can make informed decisions in November....because the ultimate desire is not to have four more years of a Bush presidency.
Tavis, good luck to you in your future endeavors.
As a lesbian I'm surprised more people don't speak out on Obama's stand on gay right's . He doesn't believe in gay marriage because he is a Christian. It is against his religion. Do we really another president making political decisions based on what God tells him to do? That's how we began a war in Iraq. Oback is to preachy, to religious. We need to get back to stronger separation of church and state.
**Why are you yelling? You're typing so fast I can barely understand you. Take a breath.
I am voting for Obama because he is thoughtful, intelligent, and doesn't tell patently false "tall stories."
He seems to really listen to those who speak to him. Rare in a politician. I suppose we're all a little confused about why anyone would vote for someone not OUR candidate. Why would any woman, black or white, vote for Senator Clinton? Tuzla? When she knows (or should know) that she will be caught in a lie? She thinks we're all a bunch of chumps with the attention spans of gnats. In some cases, of course, she's proven to be correct.
Where I caucased in Texas, everyone was pretty much for Obama. There were places in the black community that had hundreds people caucasing for Obama and maybe 15 for Hillary. The reason why a lot of blacks who still support Hillary get heat where I live, is because they don't support Hillary for policies and positions. They support her because of Bill, they feel like they would be getting a two for one deal and Bill gets a third term in the white house and the 90's prosperity shall return. Note the people are the ones who didn't finish high school or just barely did so.
Yes Two for one. The problem is One of the two Loves NAFTA, the other "Claims" to not support it.
One of the two repealed banking regulations. The other "claims" she wasn't to do something about the mortgage mess.
As Hillary says, "I'm not my husband."
The likelihood of Bill and HIllary agreeing on the positions she is promising movement on is slim. So that would leave us with two opposed presidents... and a VP whoever that unlucky dog is.
Doesn't sound like a great deal to me. Sounds like confusion.
After what the Clintons has done recently to Obama and playing the race card. It has been very difficult to say nice things about them.
The problem is, Tom Joyner supports Obama and Tavis is a Clinton supporter. Tavis is acting like a spoiled brat because for some reason he was under the impression that black America would follow his lead and choose Clinton, when instead the mass of black support has gone to Obama. Tavis acted like this at the State of the Black Union toward Obama when Clinton showed up and Obama didn't, and he's been acting like that on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. When Spike Lee made his comment about some of the black political and media figures in the country who have thrown support to the Clintons this election year, he was speaking about Tavis too. I used to love to listen to Tavis, but his behavior over the last months have lowered him in my eyes.
lily - you are reading way too much into this. Why can't you just believe what he says? Tavis Smiley is an extremely smart, insightful and highly respected commentator. He will be missed by many of us and it has nothing to do with Obama or Clinton.
When MLK was killed Obama was 7 years old and living in Indonesia. He has no reference other than what he has read in books so I will give him a pass on not showing up. Politically, it probably wasn't such a smart move. He's made many not so smart moves but it's okay because questioning is not allowed and when it's a big not so smart move he gets the opportunity to give a "riveting" speech and it's all over. Resko, Ayers, Wright, ignorant PA people who lost jobs and turned to God & Guns, etc.
All Good - No Problem
Politically, particularly in the black community, Senator Obama was not hurt at all for not attending the State of the Black Union event. The African Americans viewers and audience understood why Senator Obama was unable to attend, and actually were more annoyed at Tavis for not accepting Michelle's request to attend in Barack's absence. Nonetheless, if you watched the event, you would have seen the audience's enthusiastic response to Senator Obama, even in his absence. Senator Obama is "riveting" whether he is giving a speech or simply responding to impromptu questions, and I can understand why someone without his talent for expression would be envious, especially when their candidate choice is so lacking in that talent. Perhaps that's why they're also hoping, often beyond hope (i.e. Rezko, Wright), for something to drag him down. But Senator Barack Obama, much to their/your dismay, is still standing ... and still rising!
YOU ROCK !!!!
VIVA OBAMA !!!!!!!!!!
I strongly disagree with your comments. If you have the intellectual capacity, dig into the Obama story, read his books, track the extraordinary way in which his campaign has been run. Ultimately, I'm sure you will conclude that for a time like this the country needs a leader like Obama.
The guy running for President is half the man who wrote "Audacity of Hope" is.
Unfortunately, too many African Americans in the spotlight are jealous of Senator Obama's ascendency during this primary season. Many of them have worked a lifetime to achieve the name recognition and power and prestige that would place them on center stage as a "leader" of the black community, and they cannot accept that Senator Obama has achieved what they could not. Some are also perturbed that Senator Obama did not use or need their "influence" to give credibility to his campaign, but gained that credibility on his own merit. Finally, many latched onto Hillary at the beginning of the campaign, confident of her victory and possibly assured that they would receive something in return for their support. Consequently, they find themselves not only on the side of the loser, but facing the possibility that whatever they were counting on from Hillary may have slipped from their grasp. In my opinion, they wanted Senator Obama, for better or for worse, to be "the black candidate," and his ability to transcend that level of personal politics has left them a little discombobulated!!! I don't know where or if Tavis fits into this dynamic, but I have a feeling that he fits in somewhere, probably in the latter mindset. Otherwise, I generally admire Tavis and was very impressed with him on the Bill Maher show.
Insightful232: My, my, my. "If you have the intellectual capacity,,,? May I assume that you have administered an on-the-spot IQ test by remote control?
How can you be "sure [we] will conclude that for a time like this the country needs a leader like Obama"?
I enjoy watching Tavis, most of the time. He is a little bit too nice to guests - praising, adoring, and endorsing... Tavis - you need a little coaching from Mike Wallace. Tavis has a right to support whomever he wants in the upcoming election, it is supposed to be a free country afterall!
I loose respect for the presenter when the presenter becomes the news. As with Oprah, or Dan Rather or Katie Couric...If a journalist and commentator whishes to have credibility I need to know and believe that there opinion isn't a manifestation of their own corporate bottom line. So, when Oprah gives away cars, I know where it's commin' from and I don't loose respect for her, but whe Dan Rather takes umbrage over his paycheck of postition at the company for which he works, it overshadows the news which is the substance of his presence and I hold his opinion as being more than just a little suspect....so, the Tavis Smiley Group. What exactly is that? A media powerhouse? Great idea, but why stop there? Why not start giving away cars to your audience and next time interview yourself on your upcoming book or new programs your group is going to be producing for Rupert Murdoch or Disney..what a great way to "reach the public", particularly where it is felt...the pocketbook.
I know, I know...without economic power there is no real justice. I'm sure that's why our president's favorite philosopher was a wealthy man. Does Obama go to Davos yet?
lose LOSE LOSE
Loose is when you LOSE weight and your clothes are LOOSE
You got the meaning, didn't you? We don't need anal grammarians; former English teacher here, so yeah I winced at "loose", but got hold of myself and managed to read the rest of the post.
You overlooked his "there" for "their".
And then you have CNN who have taken to interviewing themselves ... interviewing their own commentators for news! They get more narcissistic and incestuous as time goes by. They've gone down hill ever since they let Aaron Brown go.
CNN does suck, doesn't it? Turn them off and let their sponsors know.
OMG....Aaron Brown. I miss him so much. I looked forward to his morning paper routine. He took decent journalism out the door with him when he left. And to see him get replaced with a lightweight like Anderson Cooper was heartbreaking.
The better issue is transparency. Tavis is pretty straight forward about who is advertising for him and who underwrites his program, SOBU, and other endeavors.
Who else in the MSM or in the small circle of black media actually sponsors townhalls, outreach service projects, or advocacy? Empowerment?????
Maybe.
Who else is going to get the focus on these issues? He worked for BET for a few years. Viacom nor Robert Johnson did that.
It was on the Tavis Smiley Show that I saw his interivew with Obama and decided then and there that I would support Obama totally. Thank you, Tavis, for that. But why do you dislike Obama? Are you jealous?
why would he have to be jealous he is speaking the truth,
Tavis dislikes Obama? Not based on what I've seen on the show.
He had Joe Sestak on the other night, asked him why he supported Hillary and when Sestak answered, Smiley felt the need to speak for Obama supporters as far as Obama's toughness, etc. That's fine if the show was a panel and Smiley identified himself as for Obama. But when you ask a guest a question, you don't go to bat for the opposition if you're at all objective.
No, Tavis does not dislike Barack Obama. I recall something Tavis said about Hillary, something that I'm sure Obamanistas will agree with: "Hillary Clinton is soulless". No question where Tavis stands in this campaign.
Although I stand by my comments regarding what I saw and heard on two Tavis Smiley PBS shows, apparently he has been more explicit on the radio or even on the PBS show on nights when I wasn't watching. If so, I stand corrected re: his support of Obama.
Jealous? Why?
I smell a double standard with Tavis, one of my favorite commentators. No one is perfect and Tavis is one big example.
Good riddance he was a poor example of what he did. When you suck you use any excuse you can find when you have to disappear.
Well I guess from the tone of the comments you've developed a thick skin. In your remaining commentaries tell listeners where else they can go to read/hear/see you.
Regardless of race/ethnicity you are one of the voices of calm and intellegence that is quite a respite from the likes of which appear on Fox News and shouting slang stuff on so called 'black radio'.
Keep it real and do the good fight.
By the way I find some of you shows on PBS very interesting with your choice of guests.
Perhaps some of those who do the whining ranting comments should tune it occasionally and get a dose of calm informed discussion and intelligent discourse.
See Rachel Sklar's Profile
Tavis, you have fans at the Huffington Post...good luck with all your future ventures.
Tavis, FYI, hopefully you are smart enough to know that those you perceive to be Obama supporters who spew hateful words on this site and probably on your radio show are plants by the opposing candidates who's only goal is to paint Obama and his supporters as hateful.
Before you judge someone by their words please try to confirm the source. On this site you can determine the source by the lack of history in their profile. Most of the hateful comments are republican trolls who pretend to support Clinton or Clinton supporters who want to malign Obama's supporters as haters.
Unless you know the source of the comments you cannot make assumptions that they are Obama supporters.
Are we sure we are all in the right pew? Yes, black folks can be a bit aggressive when their point of view is constantly hammered by those who have the power of the mike. And Tavis, has got to admit that he is a bit ego-manic. But, he has the right to support Senator Clinton if he wants -- if it''s for the right reasons, But he -- as much of the corporate-owned media -- has to answer to those corporations that sponsor him, Walmart who spent $4M in 2007 on lobbying in Washington. Senator Obama wants to derail the power of lobbyists. Besides that, if you believe in and support a less popular candidate, then put on your grown man pants and take the heat For the record, those of you who actually want to believe that this is about race, most of us Black folks actually do listen to what Senator Obama has to say and believe in his point of view; remember, he is as much Anglo as he is African -- did you forget? I know someone who works for a Republican senator and is on one of the committees Senator Obama is on --- this Senator found Senator Obama to be a quick study, insightful and was extremely impressed by him. An insider's input, unsolicited during a conversation. Have you really listened to what he says before you form your POV or is it YOUR problem that he is of African descent?
if it's for the right reasons he can vote for Hillary, let me say regardless of his preference
he and everybody else has the right to vote, no matter why they select a candidate.
Stop trying to set the stage for what is right in this election, people are very capable
of making up their minds when they pull that lever!
Your point he is also anglo is true, then why does not show more of that side
of himself in this election?
electress - you ask why Obama doesn't show more of his "anglo" side? (First time I've seen that term in relation to an African-American!). How exactly does he do that? The man looks black, has a black wife, and black children. He can't make them or himself less black in the eyes of America. He is who he is.
Because when he came back to America he was reminded that he was Black! It amazes me how you White folks want to claim someone whenthey have the name recognition but if Obama was another Black man off the street you would not be talking about his anglo side but you would refer to him for the color that he is...
Amen. I don't know why people feel it is okay to tell Tavis Smiley how to vote. He seems perfectly capable of making up his own mind.
Just how will we know when he is showing more of his "white side?" What exactly will his "white side" look or sound like? In fact, how is he showing his "black side?" Why can't you simply accept Senator Obama for who he is, a man unlike most African Americans who has a mixed heritage but who is nonetheless a black man in America?
If you poll all African Americans in this country, you will find many who have a white mother/father; yet I doubt if you will recognize them as anything but black, nor would you ask any of them to "show their white side" so that you could feel more comfortable about them.
I AM AFRICAN AMERICAN AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH TAVIS, I AM SUPPORTING HILARY, JUST BECAUSE OBAMA IS WHAT YOU WANT TO THINK IS BLACK, WE DONT NO NOTHING ABOUT HIM BUT WHEN YOOU SEE HIM WITH A LOT OF WHITE FOLKS HE IS SMILING AND SHAKING HANDS WHEN HE IS AROUND BLACK FOLKS HE BARELY SHAKE HANDS LIKE HE MEAN IT. TAKE LOOK AT HIM AT SOME OF HIS FUNCTIONS!!!! I DONT TRUST HIM AND IF HE IS NOMINATED YOU WILL SEE TAVIS IS NOT VOTING FOR COLOR HE IS VOTING FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IN AND ALL AMERICANS HAVE THAT RIGHT. WHY ARE YOU VOTING FOR HIM????
If you are going to base your choice of a presidential candidate on superficialities like his/her handshaking techniques then you will join the millions of other stupid Americans who do the same thing and you will manage to elect the shoddy government you so richly deserve!
If you are an example of the typical African American Hillary supporter,I'm glad to see that African Americans have come so far.Obama's overwhelming African American support proves this.
Why am I voting for him?I just tend to find the Idea of electing the smartest guy ,with the best plan and the most morals generally a good one!
Let's query the Black electorate to find out if their 90-10 support for Obama is for the "right reasons".
Obama has a bunch of lobbyists and bundlers running his campaign! You should check the facts out before you throw your vote to a guy who is all about his OWN agenda. He's a snake, more and more dirt comes out about him daily. He lied about Rezco, claimed in the debate "he only worked 5 hours on his case" then we find out he has been buddies with him for 17 years! Geez, you Obamabots will make excuses for anything he does or says. It's a joke. He is not the new Messiah like you seem to think.
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