One Must Show Up to Heal Racial Divides
By SusanUnPC on March 18, 2008 at 10:12 AM in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Tavis Smiley
While Barack Obama has dodged and weaved his way through the the politics of race — pretending he never heard the hate-filled, anti-Christian, racist remarks of his pastor for 20 years — Hillary Clinton has actively sought out African Americans:
LOOK at who shows up. From my February 23, 2008 story, “This is Ignore-The-Blacks “Shrub” Behavior, Barack“:
You’ll recall how, for years, President Bush has “shined on” invitations to speak at the annual NAACP convention, only this last year finally addressing the hugely influential, historic national organization. Now Barack Obama is “shining on” the national “State of the Black Union” founded by Tavis Smiley, and being carried LIVE on C-Span today. It is not insignificant that Smiley chose New Orleans for his annual gathering.
Who is the ONLY candidate — Republican or Democrat — who accepted Smiley’s invitation? Hillary Rodham Clinton, who speaks live to the group in a few hours, reports CNN. …
… I’m listening now, and it’s truly fascinating — they just introduced major Hollywood director Jonathan Demme.) Barack Obama? CNN reports that Obama declined and offered to send Michelle, but Smiley told him that sending a surrogate is not enough and turned him down. Obama said he’s too busy campaigning in Texas and Ohio to bother with the national convention on black issues. That “bamboozler.”
CNN International sums up the controversy in “Obama takes heat for skipping State of the Black Union“:
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Sen. Hillary Clinton is the only major presidential candidate to accept invitation
- Sen. Barack Obama told organizers he needed to focus on his campaign
- Talk show host Tavis Smiley: It’s a missed opportunity on Obama’s part
- Smiley tells Washington Post he’s gotten angry e-mails, threats for criticizing Obama
By the way, Tavis Smiley has been subjected to extraordinary attacks and pressure for daring to support Sen. Hillary Clinton. I read about it at MyDD, and am glad that CNN repeated the story today. …
Read all of “This is Ignore-The-Blacks “Shrub” Behavior, Barack.”






















