February 11th, 2008
02:46 PM ET
15 years ago
Martin: Clinton, Obama navigating the water of black politics
Obama should skip Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union forum.
Sen. Barack Obama took a lot of heat last year from participants in Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union annual confab, which was held in Virginia. To be fair, he was a little busy that day…announcing HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!
Some of the folks there were beside themselves, and frankly, were childish about it, even saying that he should have put off his presidential announcement to be there.
Read Roland Martin's full column on the AC360 Blog.
Come on Roland! Does it really seem like Obama has been urt by this? He has received over 80% of the African American vote in nearly every contest. That is afer all why Hillary keeps saying half of hiw wins shouldn't count. How do people think CNN is baised toward Obama. Give me a break
I agree, he should skip it.
Unless, Hillary and McCain are also going to be there, he risks subjecting himself to the Clinton's black candidate mantra.
Bill and Hillary can't wait for Obama to show up for this.
Like Colin Powell said, Obama is a candidate for President that happens to be black.
In fact Obama is even Irish white and African. He represents us all. Obama has never marginalized and should continue not to do so.
Doesn't Tavis support Hillary? Why don't you invite the Clintons instead?
I could not agree more Martin. Obama should stay away from Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union annual confab. Hillary and her proponents are already trying to paint Obama as only a "black" candidate. Who is Tavis Smiley to declare himself spokesman for "Black America"? If Tavis Smiley wants to hear Obama speak tell him to go to an Obama rally!
Obama in 08!
Put the man in the White House first. He will speak win the time is right, and you know that. give him a break.
TO ALL DEMOCRATS OUT THERE.
FORGET THE SPEECHES AND LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE...
OBAMA WILL LOOSE TO MCCAIN , THE REPUBLICANS AND THE CONSERVATIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DONT WASTE YOUR VOTE.
HILLARY IS TOUGHER AND WILL BEAT MCCAIN.
THEY DONT WANT HILLARY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL WALK OVER OBAMBA!!!!!!!!!!
Martin you're a smart man! Agree and agree.
Roland how can you claim yourself to be a proud black man when all you do is cause chaoas. Tavis Smiley is very respected in the black community. Why would you want to hurt that. We are striving for a better black community and I do not sense your support with that. We need to vote with our issues as a black community as well as with who can best be president and Tavis has always been there for his black brothers and sisters. Have you is our best interest in your heart.
I do watch Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union almost every year, but i am not sure of the success of this meeting. Running for President is more important that sitting with a bunch of Black leaders who seems to be raising their voices at each other with no resolutions to our problems.
I am tied of all these Black leaders trying to tell Obama what to do. This "respect thing" in the black community is a hindracy to progress. We are in the 21 century.
Please tell them to get on board, because this train is about to leave the station after we win OH.
Yes We Can
Roland Martin, a pure uncle Tom to me as I listen to him more and more. He is so busy trying to appeal to whites, blacks and whoever, his thoughts mean nothing to me period.
Obama, forget Roland and anyone else – you do YOUR THING OK. You have done OK up to now, so keep on keeping on.
I am so tired of Martin's racially infused and divisive 'articles'. He must spend his entire life dwelling over the significance of people's skin color. Why not give Al Sharpton a column too?
hilarys campaign tactics, SAY AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN THE NOMINATION, INCLUDING DISENFRANCHISING THE VOTES OF ALL CAUSES!!!
THIS IS A CNN QUOTE:
"Noting that "my husband never did well in caucus states either," Clinton argued that caucuses are "primarily dominated by activists" and that "they don't represent the electorate, we know that."
IF SHE WON, WOULD SHE SAY THIS? OF COURSE NOT.
SO ALL CAUSES SHOULD SEND HILARY A MESSAGE, IF YOU DONT RESPECT OUR VOTES WE WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!
This goes to show you that Obama does not have to show up for any African American event because they will vote for him because he has the same skin he has. It does not matter how much work the Clintons have done to help the African American agenda they cannot even get 20% of the vote from the African American community. That shows alot of character.
You are correct kw except for one thing. It shows a lack of character.