Tavis Smiley Quits The Tom Joyner Morning Show

[journalist3072]

I just learned that Tavis Smiley has quit the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Most of you know that Tavis appears on the TJMS twice a week to give his commentary.

Tom Joyner says he believes the reason Tavis is quitting, is because of all the hate mail, threats, etc. he has gotten, because of some of his commentaries which have been viewed as critical of Barack Obama.

This really saddens me because Tavis has been the only bright spot on Tom's show lately. I've gotten so tired of Tom Joyner's constant pimping and bending over for Obama, that I've pretty much stopped listening to Tom, except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when Tavis gives his commentary.

Tom Joyner has been very unapologetic about voting for Obama simply because he's Black, and he seems to have gotten his audience to fall in line right with him.

The other day, Tom had Sen. Clinton on his show for Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day. Sen. Clinton is so passionate about health care and Tom always has her on for Take a Loved One to the Doctor. And he could not resist getting in his digs to Sen. Clinton. The first thing he said to her was "We're not going to talk about sniper fire, we're not going to talk about your fired adviser..." I just thought that was really disrespectful.

Anyway...I remember listening to one of Tavis Smiley's commentaries when he simply asked Black America to remember to hold Obama accountable. He was just making the point that after you fall in love with someone, remember to hold them accountable.

And he said that when the Covenant With Black America was being established, this is what we said we wanted.

Folks started calling in right away to trash Tavis. One woman said "Tavis just needs to leave us alone." (I'm assuming by "us" she meant those of us in Black America). And then she said Tavis just needed to go off with his white woman somewhere. It was disgusting.

And not once did I hear Tom Joyner come to Tavis' defense.

I don't agree with everything Tavis says. For example, I did not agree with him or appreciate it when he said "We love Barack Obama and celebrate what he has accomplished." I was like, "we" Tavis? Don't speak for me, Tavis. I do not love Obama or what he has accomplished.

But I have a tremendous respect for Tavis and his love for Black America. He is definitely trying to move our community forward and make Black America better.

I will truly miss his commentaries on the TJMS.

Go here: http://blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/tjms/missed/index and you can listen to Tom Joyner make the announcement that Tavis has quit.

The pathetic thing about Tom is that he's blaming his audience. His audience has been calling in trashing Tavis for some time now. Not once did he defend Tavis, and now he blames his audience for Tavis quitting.


UPDATE: Tavis is disputing Tom Joyner's claim that he quit "effective immediately." This morning, Sybil asked Tom when this was effecive, and Tom said as far as he was concerned, it was effective immediately because Tavis doesn't intend to complete his contract.

Tavis says he plans to continue his commentaries on the TJMS until June:

http://tavistalks.com/events/

[FrenchieCat]

1. And so.....Randi Rhodes got blasted by the Hillary Crew, and

did you mind that.

Now get out of the way......the fighting Democrats are here.

No more Hoodwinking!

[journalist3072]

4. Go somewhere and hide......Randi deserved to get blasted. She called Sen. Clinton a whore and

Geraldine Ferraro the Democratic Party's version of David Duke.

I don't care what Randi feels of Sen. Clinton's political views...she was totally inappropriate in calling her a whore.

For you to sit up here and compare Tavis and Randi is beyond pathetic.

Tavis Smiley has never called Obama outside of his name. He's never used hateful language, unlike Randi.

In fact, lately, all Tavis keeps saying is that we need to find our own "love language." He's been talking of the need to find our "love language" even when we disagree.

So don't sit up here and compare Randi and Tavis.

[AX10]

2. Too bad. Tavis wants to be a serious journalist.

Those are quite rare in America these days.
I never could stand Tom Joyner anymore than I could stand Mike Savage. Both are extremists and willfully ignorant.

[Olney Blue]

3. Thanks for posting your perspective on this. I don't listen to the show,

but I'm interested to hear about this development.

[Penndems]

5. I'm EXTRMELY sorry to hear this

Tavis Smiley has been one of my favorite journalists, going back to the days when he was hosting "Talk Back Live" on CNN. He gets to the heart of issues, and asks questions of his subjects that I would want to ask them myself, and never insults his audience's intelligence.

I, too, have a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Smiley, and hope to see and/or hear him in another venue soon.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Tom Joyner thrown under the bus.

:nopity:

Why disparage those who happen to support Obama? People are supposed to sit down and shut up? The point of such shows is entertainment and to try to somehow assert that what is essentially a music show is supposed to be a serious political news forum is pure nonsense. Anyone who claims to be a "commentator" is giving an opinion and if they can't take the heat of people disagreeing with that opinion need not continue to be a "commentator".

This "he said", "she said" and whining is tiresome.

[journalist3072]

7. If you don't listen to Tom Joyner's show, then STFU.

The Obama supporters calling into Tom's show deserve to be disparaged, especially when they make comments like Tavis just needs to go off with his white woman somewhere and leave "us" alone.

They deserve to be disparaged when they send Tavis and his family threats.

They send someone death threats for merely reminding Black America that after you fall in love, remember to hold the person accountable.

They perceive his as being a "hater" of Obama's....even though he said on Tom's show "We love Barack Obama and celebrate what he's accomplished."

That's the kind of behavior being displayed by Obama supporters.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I have listened to his show on WDAS for a long time and you need to STFU

Seems that people are getting WAY too emotionally involved in this election and are letting their common sense go by the wayside.

News Flash: Tavis is out to make money just like Joyner. By his selecting the occupation that he has, he has had to learn to take the good with the bad. He swings out there to get attention just as many others like Armstrong Williams has swung out there. Why you feel so personally attached to such a person boggles the mind. Stop with the B.S. about someone's "supporters" because that whole argument goes away when this election is over and then what will you do? It will all be empty and meaningless.

[journalist3072]

13. I think the Obama minions are the ones getting WAY to emotionally involved. Even Tom Joyner

admitted that....Listen to his announcement this morning of Tavis resigning from the show, and he admits that people are way to emotionally involved in wanting to see Obama President.

It's you and Obama supporters like you, who don't give a damn who you hurt, as long as your guy gets elected.

It's a win at all costs strategy.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Repeat after me

It's only a radio show and the host is out to gain audience and make money.

It's only a radio show and the host is out to gain audience and make money.

The sooner you understand this, the better.

[sniffa]

16. ..

:rofl:

My god, I've missed your posts.

:rofl:

[journalist3072]

18. And I've missed you being a pain in the ass Obama cultist. eom

[sniffa]

21. Thank you love

:hug:

[Penndems]

8. ". . . if they can't take the heat of people disagreeing with that opinion need not continue to

be a 'commentator.'"

Except that "Tom Joyner Show" listeners weren't just simply disagreeing with Mr. Smiley's commentaries. They were making death threats against him.

[journalist3072]

11. Exactly...Tavis has had death threats...that's the point Obama supporters are conveniently ignoring

One thing about Obama supporters...they are consistent in making up excuses for him and for themselves.

In their mind...it's OK for Randi Rhodes to call Sen. Clinton a whore, and it's OK for Obama supporters to make death threats against Tavis Smiley for simply reminding people to hold Obama (and all elected officials) accountable.

They are a sick bunch.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Read post #12

And get a clue. ANYONE who chooses to go into this field WILL get death threats and hate mail and other ugly comments, particularly if they choose to cover controversial topics. I have listened to all sorts of talk radio for 35 years and have hosted it in the past, and the horrid stuff that does manage to make it on the air is nothing compared to what the station often gets off-air.

This has nothing to do with anyone's "supporters" condoning such. It has to do with some "supporters'" unhealthy internalization of such and/or using it to express faux outrage. Point being, this is nothing new and it goes with the territory. Is it sad and sick? Of course it is. But this is not la-la land and in the name of the almighty dollar bill, these people are paid to be "controversial". And in this media environment, the more the merrier until the person crosses some arbitrary line and gets "gagged". And then their employer drops them like a hot potato and goes looking for the next money-making sucker.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And what commentator hasn't had death threats and hate mail?

Can you imagine what types of threats that someone like Lou Dobbs or KO or Rash Limpballs or any other commentator gets? In fact, ANY "public figure" in the media?

Why is Tavis somehow any different? Because he's black? :wtf: :eyes: So you assume that someone like Roland Martin isn't getting similar? You would be naive to think not. Sad to say, it comes with the territory.

This is a nonsensical argument that makes absolutely no sense and serves to show how little people know about those who choose to go into the media. It ain't all pretty.

[journalist3072]

15. I've not heard Roland Martin say he's received death threats. Same goes for Keith Olbermann.

I've not heard him say he's received threats.

You are a flat-out disgusting pig if you're going to excuse the Obama supporters threatening Tavis, by saying 'Well Tavis isn't the only one getting death threats.'

What kind of human being are you, anyway?

[BumRushDaShow]

26. You are this close >< to my ignore since you choose to use juvenile name-calling

because your specious argument is being debunked.

Do you know for a fact about any of these anonymous people who made threats or are you playing into a game that talk hosts often do to garner sympathy and ratings? No one including me condones any such action but I am not naive to think that it doesn't happen.

Another News Flash: Radio stations and their on-air talent are out to make $$$ and they will do it in any way they can... in order to gain audience, attract more advertising, and satisfy the stock holders. Think about this for a minute before running off on another emotional tirade. This is not public radio.

[journalist3072]

27. Tom Joyner and Tavis Smiley have both mentioned the death threats he's received.

They've talked about it on numerous occassions..when Tavis first started getting the threats because of his commentary.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Repeat after me

The purpose of this program is to gain audience and make money for the owner.

The purpose of this program is to gain audience and make money for the owner.

They do this by generating "controversy" - thus the subject of this thread which has played RIGHT into the hands of the money-making media. Generate "buzz" by whining about "death threats" and more people "tune in". Arbitron then picks up the increase in audience and voila! Ad rates go up. More advertisers flock to the station because of all the "buzz" and money gets made.

The sooner you realize this, the sooner you'll finally "get it". Don't feel sorry for Tavis Smiley. Tavis is a big boy. He can take care of himself just fine.

[journalist3072]

34. Why the hell are you ignoring the death threats Obama supporters have sent Tavis?

Are you accusing Tavis and Tom of lying about the death threats?

Are you willing to look Tavis Smiley in the eye and tell him that contrary to his claim, he hasn't received death threats? That he's just saying that to make money?

You are accusing Tavis and Tom of lying about the death threats in order to make money.

Disgusting behavior on your part.

I wouldn't be suprised if you're one of the ones who has sent a threat to Tavis.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Relax. You are getting flustered

and apparently haven't read a thing I wrote. Sad really.

Sleep on it and then come back to this thread and re-read what I wrote. But then since your post apparently has an agenda to it, I doubt that you will. ;)

[Penndems]

25. Nobody is saying that Mr. Smiley is "different" because he's African-American

I can't stand Rush Limbaugh or Paul Harvey, but I don't get on the telephone or PC and issue death threats. Don't like what you hear? Change the channel!

Jesus, what the hell is happening to this country - and who the hell do some people think they are, thinking they have the God-given right to make death threats because a journalist is exercising his/her First Amendment right? My God, I saw that happen in third-world totalitarian regimes. Never thought I'd see it in this country - and from alleged Democrats!

Yeah, I know it comes with the territory. I've worked with journalists and commentators, too.

[journalist3072]

30. Thank you so much for your post. It really disturbs me that people in this thread are downright

diminishing the death threats against Tavis Smiley, and basically telling him if he doesn't like the death threats, get out the kitchen.

It's so sad to see.

If Randi Rhodes received death threats, they'd be outraged.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. It has ALWAYS been that way from the time of

any type of commentary.

Why is there this sudden discovery of it and faux outrage over it? YES it's horrible that people do this but with over 6 billion people on this planet, it is bound to happen. THIS is why there is a 1st Amendment here.

But the problem with the OP is to automatically assume and someone have clairvoyance to KNOW that anyone and EVERYONE disparaging this host MUST BE "Obama supporters" alone. They couldn't possible by "Clinton supporter" plants or even repukes or freepers or other nut jobs who really don't care about the election. Nope. They are definitely, 100%, all "Obama supporters" and wahhhhhhhhhh see how horrible these "Obama supporters" are?

This is nonsense since the OP can't possibly personally know every caller or emailer. But it makes a good OP I suppose. :sarcasm:

[Penndems]

35. This isn't "faux outrage", BumRush

Most people care about and are following this election, but there are many people who are letting their emotions and anger get the better of them and they need to check themselves. Things are getting way, WAY out of hand.

Getting involved in politics is great, but when anger and passion become all-consuming, when reason and sensible discourse and are not channeled into a conduit for the greater good, then they become destructive forces, from both a personal and societal standpoint.

[BumRushDaShow]

37. Sadly, you are falling into the OP's trap

set with an agenda that assumes that ONLY "Obama supporters", in quotes, are these anonymous people making the threats. By no means could any "Clinton supporter (plants)", in quotes, or "McCain supporter (plants)", in quotes, or "Rash Limpballs supporter (plants)", in quotes, could POSSIBLY be doing this sort of thing.

The OP's agenda is to disparage "Obama supporters", in quotes, as an argument before the rest of the readers of this anonymous internet board, by insinuating... no INSISTING that somehow, ONLY those who support this particular candidate are downright horrible! OMG "those people", in quotes, are in the gutter! And by golly there can't possibly be any others who would do such a thing because everyone else is holier than thou!!!!

This is called "faux outrage".

When one listens to a radio show, one ALWAYS needs to take it with a grain of salt. These shows are never as "free-flowing" as they are made to appear. Many are actually scripted. Most if not all have an 8-second or sometimes more delay right off before you hear something hit the air. Does this mean that threats aren't happening? Of course not. But to skew the post to make it appear as if this is something new and special and not possibly oriented towards generating ratings, like some cheap reality show, is disingenuous to say the least.

Neither KO or Roland Martin or even Rash Limpballs need to generate ratings. They already have them. Horrid emails and threats are par for their course but they or their managers deal with them appropriately - through the local or federal law enforcement if necessary. Has Tavis contacted the FBI or other law enforcement? IMHO, whining on the air is just that. Whining. To generate faux controversy. To generate ratings. And the OP fell for it.

Don't believe the hype.

[Penndems]

38. Huh? Where does it say in my post that a particular group of supporters is being "singled out"?

I just went back and re-read my post, and there's no mention of one group of people being defined or rebuked.

There's no "faux outrage" here. People on all sides are passionate about their candidates. That's fine, but it's gone to extremes - over the line, all the way into "Geez, we gotta shut this girl/guy up, because s/he's saying something that does jibe with my/our way of thinking." I don't give a shit if it's Tavis Smiley, Joe Madison, Sam Seder or those nuts Michael Savage or Ann Coulter: If you don't like what you're hearing, change the channel!

We don't give our political opponents (i.e., the "Far Right") political ammunition and the satisfaction of seeing us come unglued. We can't become what we loathe most. We're better people than that.

Let THEM go off the deep end.

[BumRushDaShow]

39. The faux outrage is coming from the OP and the OP's spin.

And you are again fully believing what you hear from entertainment shows and won't step outside the 9 dots to consider that in this case, it is most likely being spun to generate ratings. Again, media hosts receiving such crap treatment is par for the course. I don't excuse it or condone it but I also don't consider these media people to be so above board and goodie-two-shoes not to take advantage of a situation to generate ratings which = more "buzz" and more audience and more ratings to get more money. Ironically, only a small fraction of the population listen to "talk radio" (whether in pure form or as inserted into music shows or sports shows).

Perhaps the bigger issue that is being danced around here is that so-called "Black America" is not the monolith that people want it to be, yet when criticism flies back and forth amongst the community, the faux outrage comes out and is spun, to once again, generate faux controversy that only benefits the media circuit in terms of "a story" and ratings.

I definitely agree about changing the channel... But as a follower of both the left and right wing, I know that the RW is not as stable as you suggest. They are as unglued as the left and their own wingnuts will be their undoing.

It's funny but I remember the week when Limpballs declared that he was not voting for Bush Sr for reelection. He came across as deadly serious that entire week and he got (or let's say, he "allowed") some pretty harsh shit to hit his phone fan. But it was all for "entertainment" and he "took it back", a tried and true fallback position that he insists upon. But then he never really beat the drums for Bush Sr. either after that. Of course Bush Sr. eventually lost.

Remember when there's nothing but bottom-feeders left in the media, they will feed on themselves and this is what will happen to the wingnuts.

Anyway, time for bed!

[Nedsdag]

10. Bye, Tavis! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

:nopity:

[sniffa]

14. Another "journalist" posted this already

Her headline actually went to 11 though. You could learn a thing or two.

And no, this is not including Journalism Ethics.

You're welcome. :hi:

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sniffa]

19. I love you too

:hug: :loveya:

[Forkboy]

20. Easy, Killer.

[sniffa]

23. Shhh

Let her let it out. It's healthy... or something.

[Forkboy]

24. If we let her vent enough you think she'll take back her offer to volunteer for McCain?

Maybe it's just something she needs to get out of her system, because the desire to work for Republicans is like an illness. I'm not sure there's a cure though.

[sniffa]

28. Well

I don't think there's any cure for that. If there were, we'd already have helped quite a few other DUers too. It's like Small Pox or Polio - some things will never be cured. :(

[Nedsdag]

29. Don't worry about her, sniffa.

The so-called "journalist" has me on ignore because she was so insulted by criticism.

She's a desparate, lonely fraud who needs to be taken down a peg and I'm glad that you did.

[southlandshari]

40. I am a big fan of Obama and of Tavis Smiley

The two are not and never have been for me mutually exclusive.

I've posted about Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner and my interest in their ideas and vision - together and as individuals - for several years. Only a handful of DUers ever showed any interest.

Now that there is a hint of a scandal between two very well-respected black media figures, and involving a very well-respected black candidate for president, the post count in threads like this have grown exponentially.

Go figure.

:shrug:

Maybe there is a silver lining here. I hope those who are unfamiliar with the people involved will take the opportunity to get to know who Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner are and all of the amazing things they both have done on behalf of those of us who want to make this country right. For everyone. Regardless of race.

A link for those who may be interested...

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/entertainment/index/tavis041108