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I am very disappointed in Tavis Smiley. He has the right as any american to have his choice for president, but why try to pull down one of his own, like the old folks use to say "crabs in a barrel". Barack has a lot more class, integrity, and honesty than does that "hip hop mayor" from Detroit that Tavis went on and on about for Detroiters to vote him in as mayor. I am beginning to question Tavis' judgement. Is he losing it?

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I am disappointed in Black America the statements I have seen,and heard the lack of objectivity, the I need a hero cry, most of these comments are very telling in terms of who we are as a people. How easily we will follow someone who has relly said nothing much, but has the same color skin and give a good speach {nothing deep, or telling of himself as a person.) Black people get up in arms because one man has an opinion, Tavis has not asked anyone not to vote for Obama, he has challenged us to think for ourselves and what is best for our families, community, and country.
I personally have not chosen a candidate, becaue I am impressed with none so far. but I am paying very close attention to their history and what they are saying now. I am a black women, with a son 21 years old. My children come first befor race, what will be best for my son as a young man who will most likely be starting his own family in the not so far future.
I spent lots of money getting an education, and was taught to use my own mind, I attend to do just that, those of you who dont, you are a sell out to yourself, and family and you need to be ashame of yourself. Those who say that Tavis is a hater, I say to you "dont drink the Kool Aid"!

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I truly love Tavis & will miss him dearly & wish him all the best. I hope we can still be empowered in someway by what he has to offer to our community & sincerely hope that T&T can get thru this and still keep our community together as a people & that we'll continue to grow. Lets get thru the adversity & rise above, none of us our perfect & it should be ok to agree to disagree without being made to feel inadequate or incapable of getting the job done. We have a long way to go. Lets not divide & conquer unless we don't really want to gain. My daughter 5yrs. old & I listen ever morning. She knows Tom, Tavis & the entire morning crew & also loves them dearly, especially Tom, she also knows Michael Basiden & George Wilborn& Loves them too. She looks up to ALL OF YOU! Lets not disappoint her & the other kids that are also listening in the morning, because believe me they are. Lets back Obama or whoever you support with dignity & come out winners. We need this more than ever before.

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If you are going to be about change, then you have to put on your grown up pants and be professional enough to weather the storm when people do not agree with you. Although black folks can take the "hater" position too far; everyone has the right to have a different perspective. The bigger question is this really about his opinion or is it about the fact that Walmart is his primary sponsor, and Walmart spent $4M on lobbying in 2007, 50% more than in 2006? And we all know Senator Obama's position on lobbyists in Washington.

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I truly empathized with Tavis at this time. He made a poor call to verbalize his feeling regarding Obama's absence at the State of the Black Union. Perhaps Tavis took Obama's no show as a personal insult since he planned this event. Tavis is an intelligent man and entitled to his personal opinion. I just pray that his past hurts of simllar events does not stop or discourage him from using his God given talents and gifts. Amend with Tom Joyner Tavis and get back in the game! You are worthy of redemption as all are given this through Jesus Christ.

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Lisa, i totally agree with you. For the last couple of weeks when Tavis came on the TJMS, i would turn the radio down because i got so sick and tired of hear his negativity. Its like he's turned into one of those critics who thinks people like Oprah, Barack, TD Jakes, etc aren't black enough if they don't attend events that he's connected to. AT first I thought it was a phase that he was going through but he never changed course. I don't know, he just sounded so bitter and when other blacks did not jump on the bandwagon, it only got worse.

Maybe him quitting is for the best. It seems like he may have some personal issues to work out.

One last thing...I am so sick and tired of black folks using the metaphor "crabs in a barrel". Let me educate you on something. Crabs don't pull each other down, they are actually lifting each other up, it just looks like they are pulling each other down. For the love of GOD, before you start repeating something like this to make a point, please do some research!!! I digress :)

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Obama still has yet to say that he is a black man. Tom Joyner is amazed that he himself is a black man because he light skinned. But, there is still that hint of "thank God, I am light skin" superiority. Tom Joyner you should embraced Tavis Smiley for having a different point of view from your own. Is democracy founded on the hallmark of this fact? You went the "ad hominen" route, instead of just focusing on the issues, and allowing Tavis to have his different point of view from your own. Obama is a fake and he is an opportunist. We black folks fall for anything that is new and untested. I hope God creates one of his mind blowing miracles and lets Hillary win more pledged delegates than Obama. Then, I wonder what the conversation would be after that. Obama votes and responds only when he has determinined what the voices of the media and popular opinion are saying. He has no original thought of his own. Tom Joyner, you are not the cat's pajamas. You have become a "black" Rush Limbaugh. Tavis, I am proud of you that you are sticking to your convictions. Obama has yet to reach out to the black community in ways that really count. I hope the white working class all vote for Hillary. It will be the white votes that get him elected, not the black votes because blacks still make up only 15% of the population in the country. This why Obama is walking a thin tight rope because he is being careful not to anger the white voters. He could give a rat's butt about us black people because he knows that we vote democratically anyway. If Obama gets the nomination, I will be voting for McCain in November.

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RE: AMERICA 10

It looks like YA'LL are in the minority on this one. Why do you think that a White Woman can do more for Black America or ALL of AMERICA than a Black Man.

This is the kind of thing that I have heard all of my life. Can African Americans say, "DON'T DO THAT!"

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Tavis is acting like a spoiled crab who cannon pull down the crab he wanted, so he runs away pouting pulling his claws under him. Tavis take the time you need to heal. You allowed your head to get too big and you are paying the price. Now do some reflecting and later make peace with yourself and your audience and then comeback a bigger and better man. You will be loved again. You need some growing time. God be with you.

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Tavis brings intellect and propectives on a varity of issues to the TJMS. I enjoy his comments. He does a lot for the black community. Many of you embraced him until he expressed negative opinions about Obama. However, OBama can't have it both ways, the black support white cousins Brad Pitt and Cheney. Yes, he should have made an effort to attend the State of the Black Union and Martin Luther King's event. Another observation is his arrogant mannerism... his inability to accept criticism. Reminds me of someone in the White House. I am not obligated to vote for Obama just because he is black. I am not jumping on the Obama band wagon just because he is a super orator. I agree with Mayor McNutter of Philadelphia he needs more experience to run this Country.

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