Sorry Tavis - Your Debate Forum Is Not A Litmus Test On The Dissing of Black Folks

Tavis Smiley along with Cornel West, the self described marxist who teaches at an Ivy League school while having his salary paid by parents who work capitalist jobs


Why is it that that certain political operatives attempt to position themselves as "the gateway to Black America"?

Does anyone believe that it is not a foregone conclusion that Tavis Smiley will be advocating for the Democrats once again? As he did in 2006, 2004, 2000?

How does someone who have been a combatant for so long now seek to be the "Red Cross" after having fired so many shots for so many years?

What gets me the most - the Black Left blogespher gave a unified cheer at the news that they have successfully torpedoed the Democratic debate with the Fox News network in partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus. Why wasn't it said that the Democrats dissed the Congressional Black Caucus?

More importantly WHAT WAS TAVIS' VIEWPIONT on this situation and why didn't he - KNOWING THAT HE HAD A FORUM PENDING - take to the air (on The Tom Joyner Morning Show) and make it clear that the Democrats should not miss an opportunity to speak their peace to the Fox News audience as they will be representing "the right wing" once they become president?

Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Cornel West and TAVIS SMILEY hold a press conference in Venezuela in colaboration with Hugo Chavez


I heard that this was a missed opportunity because Tavis was going to base all of his questions on "The Covenant" book that he has published. Let me be clear - I own the book. I have read the chapters relevant to me. I am a home owner. Tavis' book is more accuratley called a Position Paper for Black people who are inclined to follow a certain sentiment than a "covenant". As a homeowner I pulled out my "covenance" and noted the marked difference. Where as Tavis' book told me what I should THINK on verious public policy positions......my homeowners association told ME what I must do TO REMAIN A NEIGHOR IN GOOD STANDING. I must not paint my house with polka dots. I must cut my grass or they will do it for me. I am not allowed to have a car that is sitting on cinderblocks in my yard. The goal is to maintain a livable community and to sustain the property values.

There are several other books on the market that do a much better job at setting up a highly principled set of positions for Black people to follow to obtain our collective goals. Tavis Smiley's book is a METHOLOLGY book when we need one that articulates the objectives clearly and sets up a system in which FAILED methodology is purged for new, more effective ones.

I have learned from reading various "Legislative Report Cards" that a failing grade on one's evaluation only means that the elected official varies from the position that the rating agency THINKS THEY SHOULD SUPPORT rather than an absolute measure of this person being right or wrong. With this in mind I don't believe that the Republicans who have declined the invitation to appear at Tavis Smiley's forum as having "dissed Black people". They have dissed a LEFT BIASED person WHO IS BLACK.

This is why the Civil Rights community needs to remain UNATTACHED to a partisian political entity. Don't come back and attempt to be a moderator after years of being an attacker.