Letter to Tavis Smiley

[politicasista]

Dear Mr. Smiley,

I appreciate things you do for the Black community, and enjoy listening to your commentary on the Tom Joyner Morning Show as well as your State of the Black Union symposiums on C-SPAN, but I have a bone to pick with you. I understand that it is your job to be "fair and balanced" but your commentary on TJMS was anything but fair. It was 100% biased. You might have come out and said that you were campaigning for Bush's re-election.

Let's see where shall I begin? First going on Real Time with Bill Maher and saying that Senator Kerry's relationship with Blacks was "severly lacking" while praising President Clinton (whom I still like) for knowing the words to Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing. That should have helped us in November. Second, badmouthing about Kerry's "ungrateful" DNC speech instead of recognizing that he had only an hour to say who he was, what he stood for and what his vision was.

During that appearance and in your commentaries: Did you even mention/communicate to us about Kerry's near perfect Civil Rights record? Or about his grade from the NAACP? Or the special programs for underpriviledged youth in Harlem and Boston? Did you recommend we go to Kerry's campaign website to do our research? Did you recommend a good movie for us like Going Upriver? The answer is NO. You and other black leaders kept repeating the same right wing, Rovian talking points/lies about Kerry. You never said anything positive about Kerry, just praising Clinton most of the time.

Another thing, you said Teresa Heinz Kerry was wrong for telling that guy to "Shove It." Wrong for telling a guy from a RW newspaper that had been stalking her family for years? I guess if it was Laura Bush you and your corporate collegues would have just said "Oh she lost her temper and was just having a bad day." You also question why didn't Kerry stand with the CBC and challenge the Florida vote in 2000? The answer was that Gore asked that no senator challenge the election period.

I bet on election night you were deep down pulling for Kerry to lose because you know that Hillary can run in 2008. It figures because you suceeded in sabatoging Kerry and the campaign during the election season. Then, you mention the reason he lost was because "he didn't motivate his base." I saw rallies on C-SPAN where thousands attended, so it looks like people there were motiviated. But I forgot, most of us that went or saw Kerry rallies were ABB. No, Kerry wasn't perfect, and mistakes were made. I will say that you are right in one sense saying that it was a mistake to write off the South. I agree with that 100% Kerry did bring up other stuff, but we were too busy believing the media spins. Another thing, once Kerry brought up the voter supression issue, you laughed and accused him of being a panderer. He is one of the few who is trying to fix what is broken regardless if it's too little, too late. We should be thankful that he is speaking up on this issue, but instead we complain. Guess that is why the hispanic population is on the rise. They stick together and don't complain about little things.

Here is a chance to improve our leadership in our community. Yes, I do agree the the Democrats have taken us for granted, but we and our leaders need to get organized in our own community. This will not happen until you and your collegues do your jobs effectively. We are counting on you.

Sincerely,
Unhappy woman in Black America

P.S. What do you think about Bill snuggling up with Pappy Bush?

Anyway, FYI, I know all you guys won't agree with me, but I am sorry, it's the way I see things.

[angee_is_mad]

1. matter of opinion

but I respectfully disagree as another unhappy woman in Black America. I am not the biggest fan of Tavis, but unlike you my biggest problem with him is that he just ANNOY the hell out of me.

Kerry did not lose the election because of Tavis Smiley. Kerry has an outstanding civil rights record, in fact it is probably better than Clinton's. In spite of that record he could not and did not connect with many Blacks that I know, and I am a black woman who is deeply entrenched in the Black community.

It was Kerry's job to make that connection not Tavis Smiley. That is probably why so many Blacks are so angry at the Democratic party. We feel that we are taken for granted and the candidates can not make the smallest effort to connect with the community.

Kerry may have a great record, but excuse my French, perception is a bitch. This last elections the Blacks that did vote (that I know and many stayed home) voted against bush and not for Kerry. When that happens the battle is already lost.

Kerry, his handlers(people), Dean and the democratic party need to take a long hard look in the mirror and figure out how they are going to re-energize the Black community to vote for them.

They should court the Black vote just like they are courting white southern males, nascar dads, soccer moms and the middle-class.

Its not Tavis' job or the blackcommunity, because we have been there for the party even when the party was not with us.

Hell, everyone likes to feel special now and then.

[politicasista]

3. And for those people who decided not to vote,

They have no one to blame but themselves. I agree with Carol Moseley Braun. It is a mistake to blame Kerry for the loss. Were there mistakes made? Definitely. I do agree that Kerry/Dean and the rest of the dems are going to have to develop new strategies to connect with minorites, southern and rural voters. If you have an unorganized party, you are on your own just as Kerry was.

Give the repukes credit, they will unite around whomever is the candidate. That is what's wrong with the Democrats, it's all about their own personal/political interests rather than the candidate. Let's keep dreaming and waiting for the perfect candidate to come along, when we realize that no candidate will best meet our 100% needs.

I will say this again cause it's true. We, yes we failed Kerry by being unorganized and believing the lies of the media. I am sorry, but the corporate media would have smeared anyone.

It is still Tavis' job to report fair, balanced, and accurate information, not distort lies like his cable news collegues or spew Rovian talking points to prop up people that don't need any propping up.

Thankfully, I didn't believe the spin. I just voted.

[Tigress DEM]

2. Kerry is a good guy, but how about John Conyers for Prez?

The House Rep out of Michigan who is like at the head of everything that is right about what the DEMS do these days?

He was with Boxer early on about the vote fraud in Ohio, made up the report so they could at least attempt to stop the electoral college from jumping on ahead before all the votes were factually counted.

It's like he's been on top of every major issue and no one has to tell him what is right. He's a true blue DEM.

He's got a letter out now to Gonzales asking him to investigate possible war crimes committed by this administration!!! What cajhones!
Something like walking up to a grizzly bear and telling him his breath is repugnant.

Kerry is a do the right thing kind of man, but he takes his time and does the research, searches his soul, asks his wife and then does what needs to be done quietly.

Conyers is more in your face. I like him. I think he's what America needs right now.