April 11, 2008

Tavis Smiley Quits Tom Joyner

Well, this is not the third resignation I wanted to hear about this week. But it’s not surprising, given all the crap Tavis Smiley has taken from Obama supporters:

Tavis Smiley Quits Tom Joyner Show

Activist Said to Be Hurt by “Hate” Over Obama Stance

After 12 years as a fixture on radio’s syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” activist, commentator and broadcast personality Tavis Smiley has quit the show, Joyner told listeners on Friday.

“He called me yesterday and said, ‘I quit,’” Joyner said on the air.

Joyner said Smiley told him he was working on too many projects, but believed the real reason was that “he can’t take the hate.

“He can’t take the hate he’s taken over Barack Obama. He’s always busting Barack Obama’s chops. They call. They e-mail. They joke. You know Tavis like I do. He needs to feel loved.

“We’re so emotional about this Barack Obama candidacy. If you don’t say anything for Barack Obama, you’re considered to be a hater. . . . It’s just that it hurts so deep when the people you love don’t agree with you.

“He loves black America and black America has been very critical of him,” Joyner said of Smiley. “It hurts. It hurt me to hear black Americans criticize him.”

Joyner said Smiley’s resignation was not effective immediately, but Joyner considered it to be so. “I asked him to reconsider,” Joyner said, and although Smiley agreed to do so, “he had pretty much made up his mind.”

Smiley had been critical of Obama for not attending Smiley’s annual “State of the Black Union” symposium on Feb. 23. Of the presidential candidates, only Sen. Hillary Clinton accepted the invitation. Obama said he would send his wife, Michelle, but Smiley insisted that was not good enough. …

Mind you, for the moment, that Smiley quit because “he can’t take the hate” is just speculation on Joyner’s part. Joyner is probably right (he and Smiley are said to be close friends as well as colleagues) — which would be a damned shame, but perfectly understandable. Tavis Smiley is a rock-solid, independent commentator among the last I’d expect to crumble under the crush of Obamaniac hate, but he’s been hit, hard, repeatedly, unfairly, and without letup — and even the strongest among us have our breaking point. Tavis Smiley is nothing if not passionate, and with passion comes a depth of feeling often overshadowed by an exterior persona of strength and intensity. I have a feeling that’s exactly what we’re seeing with Smiley — or rather not seeing: How badly he’s been hurt.

In any case, we’ll learn the real reason for his departure when Smiley himself talks next Tuesday:

Tavis responds on TJMS

(Calendar) Date: Tuesday, April 15th 2008

Friends and Supporters:

By now, you may have heard of my departure from the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

I am traveling today and am not available to respond directly. I will address what you heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show next Tuesday at 8:25 AM EST, during my normal commentary on the show.

Warmest Regards,
Tavis

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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