WaPo: Tavist Smiley promises balanced debate tonight on PBS on Black Issues

[flpoljunkie]

Smiley Promises Balanced Debate on Black Issues

Thursday, June 28, 2007; Page A04

When Democratic contenders meet at Howard University on Thursday night for their third presidential debate, the agenda will be focused on issues of importance to African American voters. But despite a panel made up entirely of minority journalists, the event is "not tailor-made" for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), said Tavis Smiley, the PBS host who will moderate the forum.

"Barack Obama could absolutely tank," Smiley said yesterday. He said he would neither prop up Obama, the only African American candidate in the race, nor set any traps for him. Instead, the eight candidates will all get to answer each of the 12 questions he asks during the 90-minute forum.

Smiley said he considers Obama a friend, but Smiley has also offered advice to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (Ill.), whom he described as having "a shell" around her. "I've tried to encourage her to be more open, and I've asked her, 'Do you have a soul?' " Smiley said. He declined to share Clinton's answer.

The debate will be aired on PBS from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

-- Anne E. Kornblut

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/27/AR2007062702753.html

[Skip Intro]

1. "Do you have a soul?" - wtf? n/t

[Buzz Clik]

2. Hm. A balanced debate, but the issues are narrowed extremely.

Let's not bullshit the public, Tavis. The issues are important, but they're heavily unbalanced. We can live with that, but don't piss in my ear and tell me it's raining.

[Kingstree]

3. What Bullshit?

How will the issues be unbalanced? Up to this point, all the candidates have discussed and debated all the issues according to the mainstream agenda, the so-called hot topics and the media's preference. The issues that affect african Americans as well as other minority groups have not been fully addressed and this is the great opportunity to do so in a nationally televised forum. Issues specific to certain groups are just as important as mainstream issues and in the end they affect all americans. If you don't want to listen to african americans issues or any other ethnic groups concerns, don't bother to watch but it tells me one thing: That attitude displays the division along racial/social lines in this country that needs to be eliminated in order for us to move forward. If we want a United States that is fair and balanced, we need to starting thinking and acting that way. Have genuine care and concern about all of the issues, not just the ones that affect you or your group. Remember, all issues affect us all.

[Buzz Clik]

4. When you narrow the focus area, you cannot call that "balanced"

It doesn't mean that it's wrong or unimportant, but calling it "balanced" is silly.

[Doctor_J]

5. All debates are slanted/biased. Anyone viewing it will

take that into account. A non-issue to this white voter.

[blm]

6. Hope Smiley discusses Poppy Bush's CIA drugrunning that dropped tons of cheap cocaine

into black communities for years.

BET has been showing the documentary American Gangster since December, and the episode covering the Gary Webb investigative report on CIA drugrunning was the first time I heard it discussed in any comprehensive way EVER on any national broadcast.

That report alone should have forcefully re-opened the IranContra investigations when it was first revealed in 1996.

To think that our GOVERNMENT would be OK with targeting black neighborhoods to dump all that cheap IranContra cocaine is just haunting. Want to bet they're doing it AGAIN TODAY with all that cheap heroin and opium from Afghanistan?

Smiley should DARE TO ASK the candidates if they will support a full disclosing document release on that.

[Bullet1987]

10. That's cause everybody knows Iran-Contra happened...

it's not that conspiratorial anymore...

[ReadTomPaine]

7. Fire Frank Luntz and we'll talk... n/t

[blm]

8. heh - amazing, isn't it? They don't even TRY and hide the fascism anymore.

.

[ReadTomPaine]

9. Did you see this? Here's PBS's response to DUer MagickMuffin's letter...

Original thread is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1204084

Thank you for contacting PBS. We greatly appreciate your interest in our programming. Like you, PBS recognizes the importance of an informed and engaged citizenry.

The "All-American Presidential Forums," which are moderated by Tavis Smiley, is an historic broadcast marking the first time that a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color will be represented in primetime.

Mr. Smiley, along with journalists Michel Martin of National Public Radio, nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. and USA Today and Gannett News Service columnist DeWayne Wickham, will question candidates on issues ranging from healthcare and housing to Katrina relief, the economy and the environment, among others.

PBS is proud to offer a live broadcast of this event, which is the first major opportunity for the candidates to present a detailed discourse and dialogue on their social agendas.

Regarding your concerns about Dr. Luntz, I would like to clarify that he is not participating in the forum itself or in the live broadcast of the event. Rather, Dr. Luntz was selected by Mr. Smiley to obtain on-the-spot feedback from a group of everyday citizens who will be watching the forum live at Howard University.

Dr. Luntz will appear as a guest on Mr. Smiley's regularly scheduled program on Friday evening, accompanied by the 30 people who participated in the Instant Response focus group to discuss the results of the study. We have full confidence in Mr. Smiley's abilities to produce an intelligent, thought-provoking program and in his skills as an interviewer.

I hope you will watch the "All-American Forum" this evening and tune into the second forum for Republican candidates, which is scheduled to air in September.

Sincerely,

PBS Viewer Services

The bold type is MM's. As you say, they don't even try to hide it anymore.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Barack Obama speaks to supporters as he arrives at Howard University for tonight's debate

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets a crowd of supporters as he arrives for a televised Democratic presidential candidates debate at Howard University in Washington Thursday, June 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)