Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Column

PBS talk show host is wrong in Obama tiff

By Ernest Hooper
Published February 19, 2008

The dispute between the emerging presidential candidate and the big-time media personality has the blogosphere buzzing.

If you think I'm talking about Rush Limbaugh and John McCain, think again. This clash of titans involves Barack Obama and Tavis Smiley.

Smiley, for those of you who don't know, appears every weeknight on his own PBS talk show, seen locally on WUSF-Ch. 16 at 11:30 p.m. He also offers commentaries twice a week on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner morning radio show, and rightfully receives plaudits for his leadership efforts.

Well, until this latest snit.

Obama chose to launch his presidential campaign in Springfield, Ill., on the same day Smiley held his annual State of the Black Union symposium in Virginia. That Obama skipped the confab, which typically draws the nation's brightest African-American leaders, did not sit well with some.

Since then, Smiley has held Obama at arm's length, saying he revels in his historic run for the White House, but longs for the candidate to speak more about the issues that matter most to African-Americans. Smiley edited the New York Times bestseller Covenant for Black America, which detailed those issues, and I suspect Smiley would love to see Obama give a speech with a copy of the book in his hand.

Of course, that hasn't happened. Nor should it. Obama's unprecedented success is as a presidential candidate who just happens to be black, instead of as a black presidential candidate.

The Obama-Smiley dispute illustrates the balancing act Obama must achieve between appealing to blacks and having universal appeal. To date, he's traversed the tightrope with impressive skill.

But Smiley remains miffed. Of the four candidates, only Hillary Clinton accepted his invitation to the 2008 State of the Black Union event being held this weekend in New Orleans. I can't wait to see what Clinton does with the opportunity.

In a letter to Smiley last week, Obama wrote that he needed to stay on the campaign trail - he's already won the Louisiana primary - and asked that Smiley reconsider having his wife Michelle speak on his behalf.

Smiley insists no discussions about Michelle took place, but said, "Had she been offered to us, I would have respectfully declined," noting that his group wants only to talk to candidates.

He called Obama's decision to skip the forum a critical miscalculation.

It's Smiley who has miscalculated. Why not allow Michelle Obama on the stage and let voters decide if Barack made the wrong decision?

Obama's effort to frame his campaign around issues that impact all people, not just black people, is bold, provocative and visionary. He is becoming a transformative figure in American politics. And that he can do so without kissing the ring of Smiley and other black leaders has to make them question their relevance.

Smiley told the Washington Post he has received death threats for his stance, and that's regrettable. No one should expect every black person to blindly unify behind Obama, and Smiley certainly has the right to express his opinion.

However, he has to discern the best way to make issues - and not himself - the focus. Rejecting Obama's offer gives the appearance this is more about ego than equality.

That's all I'm saying.

[Last modified February 18, 2008, 22:25:22]