No Love For Tavis?

This morning Tom Joyner announced Tavis Smiley has quit the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Tavis has come under a lot of fire from Blacks for directly criticizing Obama and making statements that appear to Obama supporters, to be attacking Obama, even when Tavis didn't mention Obama's name.

So let me understand this.

Black Republicans and Black conservatives whine about Blacks calling them names but they continue on, and Tavis, who has previously come under fire from Republicans and conservatives, now folds under criticism from Blacks? Even if the criticism wasn't in nice words and some taking it too damn far with threats, Tavis, no longer getting the love from some Blacks, quits?

During the primary, Tavis has said he is trying to keep focused on the issues in the race and not get caught up in the typical topical media feeding frenzies. I think he was doing a good job at that, but he was not getting some love. In fact, Tavis started commenting that Blacks need to develop a "Love Language" to disagree in a disagreeable manner. I think he's right about that, but, just because the language is harsh, he folds?

I need a translation. How do you translate "Tavis is a punk!" into a Black Love Language?

[ UPDATE ]

From Tavis Smiley:

There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I’ve had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.

Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and emails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.

I did not “quit” the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately.  In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June.

Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall and beyond.

That's what he said.
   

Comments

[Ourstorian]

I don't anything about a "Black Love Language," but I do agree that Tavis is a punk.

[Ourstorian]

Meant to say: "I don't know anything about a "Black Love Language," but I do agree Tavis is a punk.

[Duane]

I will say that he did mention something about he and his family getting death threats. There could be more to this story.

[Kandi]

I have been ashamed of Tavis' comments and obvious bias against Senator Obama. I feel like Tavis is taking America's love for Obama as a personal slap in the face. I appreciate all that Tavis has done to aid Black America, but for the life of me, I cannot understand how he feels threatened by Obama's ability to take it miles further. I cannot understand how he can question Obama's commitment to the black community. Could the man's resume be anymore skewed towards the advancement of blacks? I don't understand how him attending the summit would have been the magical band aid that Tavis is making it out to be. I think its sad how many of our black "leaders" have decided to be jealous (can't think of another description) of Obama's come-up. When Obama delivered the now famous "race" speech, my first thought was "what now Tavis? what can you say now about his disconnect/inability to properly channel the feelings of blacks?" Of course, Tavis found some stuff to say anyway. I can appreciate that we all have different opinions as to what we would like to see for the country. My problem is in him speaking for all of black america. If you are going to continue to market yourself as speaking for us, at least champion the cause that we have worked so long for. I'm not saying we should vote for Obama because he's black...if that was the case, Jesse and Al and a few others would have locked up the black vote a long time ago. I'm saying that this man has proven that he can get the black vote, the white vote, and country's vote, so its time to put our personal feelings aside and really do what's best for this black america that you have been single-handedly speaking for all these years. Isn't that what a real black leader would do? I said all of this to say that while I have been saddened and disappointed by Tavis' refusal to at least keep his negativity to himself and stop the public in-fighting, I'm sorry to see that he went so far as to quit. He has helped us talk the talk for years now, and I wish he would have stayed on board long enough to watch Ohama help us walk the walk.

[Ed]

I'm sick of hearing about the 'death threats' angle because it is a red herring to the real issue.

Tavis Smiley chose the wrong side of history...call a spade a spade

[rikyrah]

Ever since Barack Obama had the 'nerve' to announce his candidacy for President in Springfield, and NOT at the SOTBU, which was held on the same day, Tavis has been serving up heaping dishes of HATERADE towards Obama.

When I say that he's done, on radio, the equivalent of what Earl Ofari Hutchinson's done in his columns, I mean that. It was subtle, in the beginning, but as Obama's campaign has gotten stronger, the subtlety was thrown out the window, and the HATERADE has been in full force.

I've told y'all for me. I had no problems with Black people who sided with Hillpatine over Obama, in the beginning. They were going with a known quantity. But, I'll repeat this - hell no, I have absolutely NO RESPECT for any of her present Black supporters. Because them standing by her, as she's carried on this campaign of race-baiting against Obama - uh uh. Naw, son. That just can't be overlooked. It is their SILENCE that has been most notable, as they've used RACE to try and take this Black man OUT.

And, I've also commented on the SILENCE of the ' usual suspects' with regards to the race-baiting. I will repeat..

IFFFFF

A Republican had carried on the campaign against Barack Obama that Hillpatine has done...

Oh, 'the usual suspects' would be front and center all up in arms.

But, you know what? When the GOP comes after Obama for being the Black Bogeyman, they can keep their mouths EQUALLY SHUT because they will have no leg to stand on anymore.

Tavis is part of The Usual Suspects, and his SILENCE with regards to Hillpatine's race-baiting was very instructive.

It's what you DON'T SAY in combination with what you DO SAY and who you choose to ATTACK that said a whole lot to Black folk.

There is a difference for Black folk between:

1.Keeping Barack ' Honest'

2.Doing Hit Jobs on Him for Hillpatine, carrying water FOR her.

Black folk will respect #1, and skin you alive for #2 because of the utter hypocrisy seeing that you perpetrate that you're such a 'Race Man'.

So much about Obama's candidacy isn't even about Obama anymore. It's about transparency from folks.

We got Black folks.
We got Negroes.
We got Black folks that we thought were Negroes.
And we got Negroes we thought were Black.

Black folks are sitting back, quietly and silently observing and taking notes, not really speaking up unless it gets out of hand (like Tavis and the SOTBU).

There will be some bills to pay once this is all said and done. And some folks don't have the money to cash the checks they've been writing, if you get my drift.

[MIB]

I realize the afrosphere is gullible, neurotic, and generally out of touch, but y'all are truly lost to believe Smiley 'quit' because some noisy pro-Obama crickets harangued him off the air.

[brotherbrown]

TJMS had a short stint in LA but has not played in the LA market in some time. Tavis was doing commentary in LA before he started TJMS, so I remember him from that, not so much from his TJMS era. I'll take people's word that he has been negative toward Barrack, I haven't heard him in some time, so I don't know how he has been covering Obama, but if he has been negative, how embarrassing.