Obama will not appear at Tavis Smiley's SOTBU in New Orleans

[journalist3072]

Day before yesterday, I made a post here on DU, about Tavis Smiley's upcoming annual State of the Black Union, which will held in New Orleans this year. And I mentioned that Tavis said that so far, Sen. Hillary Clinton was the only presidential candidate to confirm their appearance.

He invited the 4 candidates who are still standing, and no one had confirmed but Sen. Clinton.

Here's my post from Tuesday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4558558


Well, Tavis provided an update today. The Obama campaign sent a letter saying that Obama will not be there. Basically, Tavis said the tone of the letter was 'we're on a mission.' Translation: they are too busy campaigning, to be bothered to come to NOLA and address the issues facing those who are still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

And apparently, the Obama campaign is lying and saying they offered for Michelle Obama to come in Barack's place.

Tavis said his organization NEVER received anything from the Obama campaign, offering Michelle Obama to appear instead.

And he said that even if they had received it, he would have rejected that offer. He wants to hear from the candidates, NOT their spouses. He said if Sen. Clinton had offered up Bill Clinton, he would have rejected. If McCain offered up Cindy, or Mike Huckabee offered up Janet, he would have rejected.

As Tavis said, when he sponsored both the Democratic and Republican debates last year, the spouses didn't stand up there and debate, in place of the candidates.

I think that we in Black America must ask ourselves some serious questions. Here we have Barak Obama, trying to become the first Black President of the United States. And as I mentioned in my post the other day, he's made a huge issue of his race in this campaign, from telling Tavis Smiley "there's no doubt in my mind that if we consolidate the Black vote, that would have a profound shift in the national polls." Then, there was the time he told a predominantly Black audience to make sure they bring Pookie and Ray Ray to the polls.

Yet, he can't find time to show up in New Orleans and address the issues surrounding that city, when it was African-Americans who were disproportionately affected by Hurricane Katrina.

And so we need to ask ourselves: does he really deserve our vote?

I'v said constantly that as an African-American, I've been extremely troubled by how many in my community have approached this election: basically voting off of emotion, and some false notion that we have to prove our racial pride by voting for the Black candidate.

And as I've constantly said, we have too many issues to address. This is no time to vote off of emotion. We have issues to address, such as the rebuilding of New Orleans.

Tavis Smiley has said he thinks it would be a grave mistake for Obama, McCain and Huckabee to not show up.

If you want to hear Tavis' commentary from today about this, go to:

http://blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/tjms/missed/index

Scroll down to the audio clips from the February 14 show, and click on where it says Listen to Tavis Smiley

[LisaM]

1. Well good for Hillary

It used to be that she and Bill were well-liked by African Americans. I think that they still are, and that this will confirm solidarity she has always shown with the African American community.

[Olney Blue]

2. I am proud of Hillary for going, and maybe Obama will reconsider.

[Rock_Garden]

3. Hillary made a wise decision to go.

[Sebass1271]

4. Obama is too busy. He should concentrate on winning right now

Hillary should go. She needs to ponder to the black votes. and like one of the journalists say on Tavi's radio and website, Obama is black, but is running to be the presiden of the united States,not the black united states.

Cut the guy some slack...

[journalist3072]

10. Too busy to address the issues facing New Orleans? Then he doesn't deserve to be President of the

United States.

[EffieBlack]

16. The only way to address the issues facing New Orleans is through Tavis Smiley?

Sorry - I don't think that Obama needs Tavis Smiley to be his conduit to New Orleans or to black people in general. And he certainly doesn't need to upend his campaign schedule to run to New Orleans to appear at a media event just because Tavis wants to say that he got him there.

[emilyg]

5. Proud of Clinton.

[goldcanyonaz]

6. Obama doesn't have to attend, he's got the black vote locked up.

As much as it saddens me to realize that many of my brothers and sisters are voting in a block for Obama, it's a fact that can't be overlooked.

[stillcool]

7. here's some good points on the subject:

February 11, 2008
http://essence.typepad.com/news/2008/02/roland-s-mart-6.html
Why Obama should skip Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union
-------------
Here is my analysis of the situation, and hopefully it will put this presidential campaign and the delicate task of navigating the waters of black politics in perspective.

1. Clinton MUST attend. She led Obama in all of 2007 among black voters by huge margins. But that trend has shifted -dramatically. At best, she's polling at 25% among African Americans. Her acceptance is critical because she needs to capture 30% to 40% of the black to really stop Obama.

The perceived racial slights toward Obama by Clinton campaign surrogates, as well as her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has done significant damage in the black community. His attempts to explain the comments haven't mollified African Americans. Her appearance at the event can help her restore her standing among a vital Democratic constituency, which she will need to turn out en masse if she wins the nomination.
---------------
2. Obama must look forward, not in the past. The Louisiana primary, which he won handily, was on Saturday. Why go back to Louisiana for an event on Feb. 23? That is not to dismiss the needs of people along the Gulf Coast. But the only way he can truly help them is if he wins the nomination and the White House.

Obama needs to be solely focused on Texas and Ohio. Those two mega-states offer a huge bounty of delegates, and he needs to win a large state to move ahead of Clinton. She polls strongly in both states, and they are a huge part of her winning strategy; so much of her time will be spent there in the coming weeks.

All his time must be on the ground. In Texas, he must blanket South Texas because of the Hispanic influence. He didn't do well among Hispanics in California, and he must change that.
-------------------------------
If Tavis wanted to have an impact, he should have held his event before Louisiana or before the Mississippi primary. As the saying goes, bad planning on your part doesn't constitute a sense of urgency on mine.
------------------------------
Spending the day with Tavis and his panelists is vital for Clinton. For Obama, time spent courting Latinos in Texas is more important.

[Sultana]

8. So Fucking What!

If Obama does not attend...

sheesh!

[NOLALady]

9. Obama was in New Orleans a week ago.

Tavis sounds like he is on a power trip.

[journalist3072]

11. Didn't that coincide with the Louisiana primary? Sounds to me like he was CAMPAIGNING. Moreover...

Regarding Tavis Smiley...

With all due respect, he is NOT on a power trip. He is trying to make sure that we address the issues covered in the Covenant With Black America. As Tavis pointed out in one of his recent commentaries, we planned for this.

When the Convenant With Black America came out...the chairmen of both the Democratic and Republican parties wrote to Tavis and said they promised that the issues addressed in the Covenant would be be addressed during the presidential campaign.

And as Tavis keeps saying, we have to hold people accountable. It's not about Tavis...it's about the Covenant With Black America.

[loveangelc]

12. so?

[journalist3072]

15. You're so eloquent....you bring so much to the conversation. NOT! eom

[loveangelc]

17. i know i do.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. Obama isn't black enough - Obama is too black

blah blah blah

[LadyVT]

14. Shame on Obama; his self-involvement grows daily