Two leading black scholars criticize Obama's speech for failing to address black issues

Tavis Clinton is at it again, huh. Mr. Smiley just cannot bring himself to get beind Obama. Before I even opened the article, Tavis came to mind, and lo and behold, whose name is in the lead sentence? What do West and Malveaux want him to do? Lose? Really? Did they want him to break out in a chant of "Reparations now!"? Give-me-a-break! If Obama can cross this historic threshold, then he will be in a position to do more than speechify about what ails this country, with regard to Black America and the entire population. What did Tavis want? Did he want Black people to be falling out in the aisles? To what end? I don't get it...

With all due respect to these black scholars I have to state the truth, they are living in the past and hanging on with straws. These scholars along with Jesse Jackson need to let go and let Obama and the next generation of African Americans take control. As a generation Y product I greatly appreciate what my parents and grandparents have done for me to have an education and be successful in America. America is a different place now and there is a much bigger picture here. The issues are not simply "Black" and "White" anymore. Yes Obama is trying to appeal to the "White center" because he will not win otherwise. I guess these scholars want Obama to be as polarizing as they are. I get the feeling these two wouldn't be happy unless Obama replaces the American flag with the Black Power Movement flag at his rallies. BTW there were a lot of black people crying in the audience,this panel was just seeing what they wanted to see.

I think 'brother Cornel' is a bit ridiculous here..He says that Obama is "running from history and running from memory", fine, but then what realistically did he expect him to do?? Acknowledge every single black leader who ever did something memorable for the Blacks? And if he's to acknowledge Dr King, why leave out Malcom X? That could have offended those who place value and respect in the legacy of the later as well, me included.

I feel Barack is postulating for a job, and we can all agree it's a tough one, and if he wins he's going to be faced the prospect of moving a whole country forward and offering leadership around the world on behalf of America. He can't really come to the task with this kind of "specificity of views", c'mon..There's just no time and place to accommodate that kind of stuff in the job of president, period.

Also Hillary's speech was mentioned as an example of a great convention speech: and yes, I agree that it was transcending and inspiring in how it addressed the issues of feminism and civil rights so head on - But we're missing a key element here, which is that she could afford to do that because she was not the nominee. Had she been the nominee for the democratic party and spoke in that manner, I would have been first in line to say that it was inappropriate.

Obama continues to get it from all sides. This election is extremely critical for all people to stop the disaster done by the Republicans. As an older white woman, I was embarrassed by Hillary using the woman card to gain votes. People need to understand that asking Obama to put emphasis on African-American issues will cost him votes. Everyone knows there are still plenty of stupid racist people. I ask that people rally around the best candidate in my lifetime to help improve our country.

It didn't take long, Mr Smiley just doesn't get it, Obama is not from the civil rights movement, and for Mr. West to say he dropped the batton from Jesse Jackson shows what's wrong with blacks in this country, My mother use to say it's like a billy goat stuck in a well, the more dirt they throw in on top of you, is your foundation to climb out, Obama gets it, and the day he gives in to the Smileys of the world, will be the last day of hope.

Bottom line, there are more issues than "Black" issues that need to be addressed in this country. I am a young Black man, and I have the truth within my heart to say those words. If we are to move forward in America, then we need a leader who is ready and willing to address "all" the issued that have contaminated this country, not just the "Black" ones. What about our elderly? What about our poor and destitute? What about other minority communities and the issues that they face? What about our young people and the financial deficit they will incur when time comes to pay for their education? (I am one of those young who are dealing with this issue) What about our education system period? I think it's time for the "Black" community to open our eyes as a whole and realize that change will not come unless we are a part of it. Be the change you want to see in the world, and don't rely on one man to do it all....that's asking way too much of one person.

They need to go sit they ass down some where!

I am really sick and tired of these so-called Black Intellectuals. Cornel West sits in his ivory tower and is doing what? Writing books about how miserable black people are so he can get paid. And Tavis, he just can’t let it go: St8 Obama hater. Oh po Travis, you now have no voice and trying to stay in the limelight. Goodbye Tavis. Take your hatin’ azz someplace else.

Let’s not forget Jesse Jackson: Punk. You have no nuts, can’t get a nut with your old fart butt self. He can’t stand the fact that he is the old guard and the new guard no longer needs his rhetoric. I am really surprised at Julian Malveaux. Saying that Obama “perpetrated a whitewash of our history” Has she lost her short hair mind?

News flash: Obama is running for President of the United States of America. Not the United States of Black America. Just because he did not mention MLK or any other African American names in his speech does not mean he dropped the ball. Give me a break. I though his speech was super and carried the right message for the right people at the right time. Too be honest, I really could care less about the speech. I will care more about the policy that he will carry out as President of the United States. Tavis, Dr. Julian, and Dr. Cornel need to stop. MLK is gone. Stop looking for the another MLK.

As a matter of fact, Cornel need to come out of his ivory tower and get down to the grassroots of people instead of going around and cheating on his “ third wife” with a white female grad student and then having a baby with her. Oh, let’s not forget Jesse Jackson cheating on his wife and then having a baby with the young women he had the affair with. So, I guess were suppose to listen to these so called intellectuals and believe what they say since is relevant. NOT!

Cornel West - the last time I saw you, you were heavy into dating a white woman. Now, just where are you coming from. Date whom you please and that really isn't the point here, but this foolishness about not keeping your intellectualizing mouth shut until Senator Obama has a chance to be President is nothing short of foolishness. You intellectuals minus Tavis are starting to sound real dumb. Tavis I stuck you on the dumb list sometime ago. If you cannot help Brother Obama then shut the hell up.

Tavis, this black brother is through with you. I wouldn't care if I never heard your pontificating on the radio again.

These intellectuals seem to be stuck in the past, this guy is running for president of the USA not the black usa as someone else mentioned. He has to appeal to all not just black americans, all registered black voters could vote for him twice and it wouldn't be enough to get him elected, he needs support from white, latin, asian and other groups to win so he can't focus himself on just black issues. Not only that but a lot of white people get really uncomfortable when black politicians bring up race, it's not right but it's the truth and he needs some white voters to win so he played it very smartly. By the way the speech was GREAT!!

Well, I am really sick and tired of these Obamabots that can't seem to accept any criticism whatsoever of Obama. OBAMA IS NOT PERFECT. Obama is not above criticism and I am sick to death of black folks acting like he is. (I am black myself and an Obama supporter so don't even go there with me). Dr. King would want us to be critical of our leaders when necessary and this time it is completely appropriate to criticize Obama for his less than stellar speech. I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. West and Dr. Malveaux. This had nothing to do with Tavis Smiley so for all of you Smiley haters out there that are trying to fault him for having Dr. West and Dr. Malveaux on his show expressing THEIR OWN OPINION, just put a sock in it and get over it. Tavis is right to criticize Obama when called for. AGAIN, Obama is not above criticism. He is not PERFECT so STOP ACTING LIKE HE IS. Obama has many flaws and they all should be addressed accordingly. Obama should have acknowledge those that came before him. He should have acknowledge and paid tribute to all of those that made so many sacrifices on his behalf. That didn't mean he needed to name ever single black leader that has ever done something for the black community. (Such a stupid and ignorant comment) You know exactly what Dr. West and Dr. Malveaux meant or are you really that stupid? But it meant that Obama should have at least acknowledge a few of those leaders and their contributions to the civil rights movement and civil liberties FOR ALL AMERICANS!! This was history being made and if the white woman and the white vice-presidential candidate can both acknowledge the history of their predecessors and acknowledge the many great black leaders that came before them then surely Obama could have as well. If Hillary Clinton could include Harriett Tubman and women's suffrage in her fantastic out of the park speech then surely the black candidate could have include some historical references to the history being made and the sacrifices of all those that came before him. AGAIN, THIS WAS A HISTORICAL MOMENT AND OBAMA BLEW IT!!! This has never happened before. A black person has NEVER in our nation's history been nominated the nominee of a major political party for the President of the United States of America. DO YOU PEOPLE REALIZE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT??? Obviously, you don't because if you did you wouldn't be trying to downplay expectations for Obama. Obama should have said all that he said in his speech and much, much, much more. Dr. West and Dr. Malveaux are right in their analysis that many blacks didn't feel Obama's speech and with his speech he lost a lot of enthusiasm from the black community. I for one have many black family members (myself included) whom were extremely disappointed with Obama's speech. People wanted Obama to acknowledge the historical moment. Just look at the viewership statistical surveys. They all show that a higher percentage of blacks (in population) were tuning into Obama's speech than white. Blacks in general watched the the Democratic National Convention in higher percentages than whites, but they really begin to tune in the night Obama gave his acceptance speech. Why? Because they knew this would be an historical moment and they wanted to be able to say they were witnesses of this magnificent moment. And what does Obama do? He drops the ball and disappoints. Obama could have done much better with his speech to not only address the history being made that night but he could have also done better at addressing issues in particular that affected the African American community(which are issues that affect communities across the board but the black community in particular seems to carry the largest burden). Obama should have done that and whether you Obamabots want to acknowledge that or not it still does not change the fact that compared to the other speeches during the week Obama's speech fell flat. He could have done so much better.

I don't necessarily disagree with your aforementioned comments; however, spare me the pontificating and you could have made your statements in about five sentences. These sites are not designed for your long winded prose; especially when the comment is longer then the article. We hear you. Just shorten it a bit.

Unfortunately, the biggest threat to Obama's presidency will come from other black people like Tavis and his friends. They are waging an unrelenting campaign to diminish and discredit Barack, which will only intensify if/when he wins. They make a living off the black community appearing to promote black interests. Yet, when a black man ascends, they work extremely hard to tear him down. I find this very revealing, deeply contradictory and extremely hypocritical. Personally, I think Tavis hates Barack because he has the life (and the family)that Tavis wishes he had.

Criticism can be necessary when it seeks to build or tear down the person. The two esteem doctors spoke as if they were grading one of their students paper from a class they teach, which the student had to write to appease their subjective view point. Mr. Obama has been scrutinized from the right and the left. His acceptance speech represented him. His words that expressed what brought him to that place as the democratic nominee for the president of the USA- first minority (black, red, brown, yellow). The speech served the purpose in history. Time will tell how relevant his speech was to affect the hearts of the people he seek to represent.

What Barak said was the politically correct thing to say. He did not need to stand up and mention every Tom, Dick, and Harry who fought injustice along the way. Keep in mind that a very fiery young man named Malcolm X was preaching something totally different than King was at that time too. Why is it mandatory to bring all that shit up now??? Hell if that's the case let's get on him for not mentioning Marcus Garvey too. Get real here. AND PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND COME ACROSS NOT TO FORGET TO VOTE. THANK YOU.

There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism. I'm a big Obama supporter myself, but he should have acknowledge history more in his speech. Nevertheless, it was a great speech.

My goodness, is Tavis Clinton still on the air? The ONLY thing about this article that I agree with is that Obama should have mentioned Martin Luther King by name - for the record and for the history books. The rest of those wanna be hnic, can go suck a lemon.

Ostend Street, Who are you to tell me what these sites are designed for? Are you one of the site designers? Huh? I didn't think so. Unless, the site designers themselves send me a message to shorten my comments then I will continue to write and say all that I want to say in the comments section. If the site designers wanted readers to have a limited amount of space for comments then they would have designed the site as such.

Go to Tavis Smily PBS website & check out his panel discussion on Obama & race. I found it very interesting !

My, my, my. He alluded to Dr. King without saying his name. Therefore, he slighted Dr. King, and all blacks. What a crock of.... Bill Clinton, nor Bush, addressed black issues during their acceptance speech, but I'm willing to bet these two black intellectuals did not criticize them for it. Give it up already! I can see your lobster claws showing.

That's why Bob Marley Died.

I truly agree with Dr. Malveaux and Dr. West 100%. I will vote for Senator Obama, even if he is a watered down Black man.

Dawn I enjoyed reading your viewpoint, minus a few points I'd like to offer correction to:

You implied we're all "Obamabots", which isn't the case. I actually did not supported his campaign in the primaries as a staunch Hillary supporter, and one since 92. So the idea that we'd all oppose any criticism of him or claim he's "above it" is nonsense. I'm standing behind him now as a liberal, and will continue to do so, but I invite anyone to dissect his candidacy if they wish. However if their criticism is not based on facts, they should expect their arguments to be vigorously counter-attacked in the open debate.

Also, I didn't say he should not have mentioned Dr King, but questioned why his particular name was a requirement..sounds like a dogma to me. Generally too, I feel that going into too many specifities like sex, race, religion can put a candidate into a tiny box and risk stunting the universality of the message.

Finally you said: "Dr. King would want us to be critical of our leaders when necessary". See, I really have a major problem with that sentence, as I feel it's limitative both to MLK and the 'us' you're referring to. King was not a messiah/dictator and folks do have a mind of their own. so if one wants to be a critical of a leader, why can't it be cause they so chose.
Plus is Obama really our leader?? I know he's a leader, but is he a leader for Black folks?..that one is open to debate imo. As are: Hillary a leader for females? McCain a leader for white men?

Although I believe that scholars have the right to be critical of Obama I think that airing this discussion on national TV gives the appearance of division when really I think all of them, even Tavis Smiley, will show up on election day and tap Obama's name on the voting computer monitor. When black folks vent publicly we have to be very careful about the who, how, where, when and why. That's why spaces like the black church are so sacred- because that's where preachers try (somewhat) to get to the real. I think this was a valid criticism, but done in the wrong setting. That is to say, we're not in the promised land yet, even though it feels pretty comfortable where we are.

People while these three are harping on this alleged MLK diss thing I can't help but notice no mention of the fact that after the civil rights bill was signed many black preachers were begining to speak out AGAINST Dr. King himself. It had turned into a power grab because now King was becoming the most powerful black man in america at that time. Why do you think Jessie told that lie about standing next to MLK when he was shot. He knew they were going to fragment and he could grab the spotlight and he did just that. There is so much that was going on behind the scenes amongst the black clergy at that time that this foolish topic these idiots featured in this article are bringing up is best kept in the past where it belongs. AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO PASS THE WORD TO EVERYONE TO VOTE AND REGISTER THEIR 18 YEAR OLD NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU.

The issues that Obama talked about such as the housing crisis and middle class tax cuts are "Black" issues as well. Why is it that Black issues are issues of crime, unemployment, and AIDS. We don't want to be boxed in so don't say he didn't talk about issues Black people face because he didn't say Black people. No one will ever be satisfied with Obama. White people are afraid he's too Black and Black people are afraid he's too white. I just hope people criticize John McCain's acceptance speech with the same scrutiny when it comes to talking about "Black" issues. I've yet to see a reporter ask him about the state of race in America.

Dawn you are absolutely right. I don't have any right telling you how long an article should be. Also, I would like to add that I don't have to waste my time reading your "dissertation. Be succint!!

From reading all these writings I'm convince that the biggest problem we face is our factious disunity. As far as Obama and the speech, I argee with Dr. West and Dr. Malveaux. It was so plain, placid and predictable. I can't see myself voting for him which is to bad because i voted for him in the primaries.

Barack Obama is a biracial man running for an ALWAYS HAS BEEN WHITE MAN'S JOB! What was his speech suppose to be about: Jim Crow, Reparations, the Civil Rights movement, affirmative action? Dr. King did not preach all hail to blackness and power to the people, his work was to improve the lives of black people and unification of the races. I am so tired of Barack having to prove himself--This crab in the bucket mentality has gotten on my last nerve. How many of you "black people" have come out of your lily white offices and gone into the black communities and black schools to make a difference? How many of you have donated a dollar, time, or a book? Before you start passing judgment, look at your own contributions to the black community. His name is Barack Obama, NOT JESUS, SO STOP LOOKING FOR THIS MAN TO BE A SAVIOR FOR BLACK PEOPLE! HE IS LOOKING FOR A BLESSING JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. OH--IT ALMOST SLIPPED MY MIND--SPARE ME THE JESSE JACKSON BULL---HE IS A SELF MADE MAN( I am from Chicago and know his history--he ran with my uncle, so...) AND WHEN HIS INFIDELITY CAME TO THE LIGHT HIS CREDIBILTY WENT OUT THE DOOR! Michael Jackson has a song that Tavis and the rest of the uppity overly critical "BLACK PEOPLE" need to play on a daily basis, make it their theme song "MAN IN THE MIRROR"-- "I'm Gonna Make A Change, For Once In My Life It's Gonna Feel Real Good, Gonna Make A Difference Gonna Make It Right . . . I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change..."

These three need to understand that just because they view it that way doesn't make it right. for too long they have hogged the intellectual spotlight. Now they refuse to move aside. I seldom hear them invoking great ancestors names every time they talk. Give it a break please.

Did people critizing Obama see and hear the same democratic convention I saw? If half of you that are critizing him took the time to watch the evening portions of the convention you would have noticed that the historical significance was adequately addressed throughout the convention and especially the entire last evening. Obama did what he was supose to to do. Stop the hate. I agree with one poster; what have Cornell, Tavis et.al, done for you lately besides preach the rhetoric. I suggest those of you who only zeroed in on Obama's speech go to CSPAN.com and take another look at the convention in its context. In my opinion, it seems as though those who are critizing Obama's lack of mentioning the past leaders are saying he's not black enough to be the first.

These folks are so irrelevant that it isn't even funny. They need to stop the BS.

I'll say it again, there are more issues than "Black" issues that need to be addressed in this country. I'm Black, and I said it.

I have a great deal of respect for both of them but I don't know what Julianne is talking about. The tears of joy were present on every black (and many white) faces in the crowd on the last 2 nights of the convention. I work for DC Gov't and I assure all of the black folks in my office were down right giddy on Thursday and Friday mornings. He spoke to problems facing all Americans in his speech and told us why he should be the President for all of us.

This man is running for President of The United Staes of America. So what are they trying to say, he addressed White Isues???? Healthcare, Iraq, Terrorism, Roe V. Wade, Gay Rights, Economy, Gas Prices, The Environment, Alternative Energy, Veteran Healthcare, Food prices, The working poor, Taxes, Foreign Policy, Domestic Policy, and so forth. Those are things that he talks about on the regular, and they are everyone's issues, including black people. Tavis and whoever else needs to go and find Jesse Jackson and they all need to go sit there asses DOWN somewhere. Now!!!!!

Julie, you are right. Obama can't appear too black. If he does then he wil lose votes. It is funny how the best candidate get the most flack from the media. If he is not black enough then he is too black or vice versa. Stop the madness and lets help make this country a little better.

Tavis was not there but I was in the stadium in Denver. Everyone was crying. From my 70-year-old mother who actually marched and protested and sat in (she doesn't write about it or comment on it, she did it) to the 40-something white woman who sat next to me. We all cried and cheered and held hands and felt the weight of all of the ancestors upon us. An entusiasn gap amongst Black folk? You have got to be kidding me. I've never seen anything like it before. Is Obama perfect? Of course not. Is Cornel or Julianne? Of course not. But Obama has done what no Black man has ever done and he is not looking to the so-called Black intelligentsia for a road map that they are ill-suited to draw. I love them all -- from Tavis to Cornel -- but I will tell them what I have told many a white person: "You can't steal my joy!"

Blessed@Have 4 thank you so much for your ultra positive comments. Finally, someone who nailed it. Your words came straight from the heart and not that many others haven't, but I feel that we have so many of us who want to dwell totally on the negative and call it constructive criticism when it really isn't. Again, you put it where I could feel it. Thanks!!!!

We don't have black or white issues. We have American issues! Obama addressed American issues as he should have.

So, lets see, Sen. Obama saw it fit to mention Gay Rights (which was GOOD but still weak). He mentioned the need to "protect Israel." Now, in most U.S. big cities less than 50% of African Americans are graduating from high school TODAY. HIV/AIDS rates in OUR community, not the white community, or just the Gay community but the African American community, is sky rocketing. The unemployment rate and incarceration rates on OUR community are at record proportions and Sen. Obama can't even make ONE oblique statement about that and AFRICAN AMERICAN folks think this is OK? Hmmm....I see why our community is in the condition its in. Thank G*d for a few free Negroes like Dr. West, and Dr. Malveaux. Who are think about OUR community. And why are y'all hating for Tavis Smiley for doing his job? What ONLY folks who are in love with Obama should be allowed on TV? We need to develop better political judgement. Ain't no body saying that Obama has to hug Louis Farrakhan, but he could at LEAST give some lip service to OUR communities undeniable issues and WE should demand nothing less. Our issues ARE American issues.

WOW. I have always been an admirer of both scholars but they have seemed to been bitten by the Tavis bug. For starters, you three forget that Barack's life experience is NOT your experience. He is a product of a white mother and a Kenyan father who was raised in Hawaii the land of paradise. It is amazing to me how we tend to place a higher standard on Barack then we do on others. Shame on you all!! All of the democrats are so close on the issues that they stand for so why can it come down to race? Hell, in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause they're black; passed over for promotions just cause they're black; considered to be criminals just cause they're black; and there are going to be thousands of you who won't be voting for him just because he's black! However, you do not seem to have a problem with that! This country was built with the sweat and whip off the black slaves' back, and now a descendent of those same slaves has a chance to lead the same country, where we weren't even considered to be people, where we weren't allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote. So yes! I'm going to vote for him! But it's not just because he's black, but because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says that he wants to be president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale but a short term goal. He now sees, understands and knows that he can achieve, withstand and do ANYTHING just because he's black!"

Malveaux said the baton had been passed from Dr. King to Jesse Jackson, who "graciously" passed the baton to Obama, who then dropped it Thursday night. ______________________________________________ Come on, I just can not understand why this would be a big issue. The man is a politician ----Just like McCain. I believe the man is on course, he is playing the game of running for President to win. Offense and defence. If a lot of BLACK AMERICANS KNEW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME. We as a race would be much more better off than we are today.The time is now for change. Change equates into progression. Lets become focused on the task; doing one good thing. That is get this man elected. He can not do any worst than THE CURRENT or prior presidents.

even though i am not an obama supporter most academics do not live in the real world. i respect and admire both dr. west and dr. malveaux but their rhetoric on obama is tired and unwarranted. as with most "intellectuals" they only want to hear themselves speak. anyone with an iq higher then a snail acknowledges that if obama wants to be president he has to shut the black politics off. maybe when he gets to the white house he can earmark a few items for black people to appease them. right now let the man do what is needed to get into the white house.

As I've said in previous postings, If Obama can't take some legitimite accountability, what makes you think he will be an effective president? Be careful what you wish for.

When will people stop putting Obama into this box that says he must represent everything that is black and must put black issues ahead of all other issues in this country. If elected, this man will become an American president. Yes, he will be black and I will be proud of that fact. However, I will not expect him to shoulder the burdens of our past, that is not his job. Ok, he did not mention Dr. King's name. Something tells me that even if he did some in the African American community still would not accept him. Lets band behind this man and support him, that is what he needs, and that is what this country needs. In order for him to have a chance at winning, he has to continue running this campaign just as he is.

They can run for President next time and have there say. Also, Dr. West, why don't you go and work for a Historically Black College or University? We know that will never happen! We as African Americans can acknowledge our collective past, but we don't have to live there. Why must we act in a pattern of victimology without action? It serves no purpose. Of course he is not above criticism, but damn, history was made!!!!! Also, these people seem to forget that his speech on race touched more people probably than have read all the books and articles they have written. Also, a most diverse audience in history was exposed to our history. I'm not knocking their scholarship. He could have left out the reference all together. In fact, he could have started out running from race altogether.

Can you say, 'crabs in a barrel?'. What do you expect. Do you honestly think that the first African-American who has a clear shot at the White House is going to get there with a kente cloth wrapped around his head? Be realistic. That is our problem, and this is exactly where our young black kids get the idea that to be articulate and educated means to sell out. This is exactly why all of the other races are leaving us behind here in America. Wake up, black people...

This is the reason that us African Americans will never never be able to get ahead. This man (Obama)is the ONLY person that we have had who could come close to being president of the USA and we have these "so called" intellectuals trying to pull him down. I suppose most of this is because of pure jealousy. What have they done other than go to a few conventions, sat in on a few panels and taught a few classes--run a small Black school? This man is about "grander" things. To be very honest, I cannot stand to look at C. West because he is trying so hard to be "Black" His hair went out with high buttoned shoes. He is doing this because he is into WHITE and he is being dishonest with Blacks who look up to him. He is a fraud. T. Smiley is so so very jealous. He really thought he was Number 1. He is okay but far from being anyone that we as Blacks can hold up as a "leader". He may be a Black leader but he is not the person to lead this USA. Barack Obama is a man who is spiritually connected to God of the universe. He is by far, superior in his intellect and judgement than any of these people mentioned. Hard for them to swallow. LET US GET A GRIP. BY THE WAY--HE HAS A "BLACK" WIFE. C.West????what does he have? What do the rest of these people talking nonesense have? Follow them home. STAY OUT OF THE GLASS HOUSES PLEASE.

I LOVE YOU PARIS LEE.

When will blacks understand that this election is not about THEM It's about OUR COUNTRY (WHICH INCLUDES THEM). A black candidate appearing on the scene doesn't give them some kind of special consideration. They need to start thinking in terms of all of us, not "us and them". Maybe that is why none of their real intellects like Michael Steele, or Thomas Sowell will consider running. Some of their fellow travelers have not matured beyond "what's in it for us" mentality. Obama's a marxist by the way, liberals wake up.