The fact is, it’s not WHAT Tavis and West are saying that has the Black community up in arms, it’s WHY we suspect they're saying it. After all, couldn't they wait until AFTER the election, and AFTER we've made sure that we've protected the Black community and poor and middle-class America from corporate fascists, and THEN have this "intelligent and passionate" discussion? But of course, Tavis and West would argue that once reelected, President Obama wouldn't have an incentive to listen. But that's not true. Every president is concerned about his legacy, and as the first Black president that's even more true of Obama than most. In addition, President Obama has two daughters who'll have to live with his legacy for the rest of their lives. Thus, President Obama's actions in office will determine whether they live their lives as American princesses, or pariahs. Certainly the highly intellectual Cornel West recognizes that fact - doesn't he?

.

So what's so important for us to discuss at this particular time that it's worth sabotaging this election, and possibly, the future of America? After all, it's not like we have a viable alternative to President Obama. So personally, I can't think of a thing, and neither can many others in the Black community. The only thing we can see is a personal agenda - and then, when you put that together with Tavis Smiley's all-consuming penchant for self-promotion, and his close ties to Walmart, Nationwide Insurance, Wells Fargo, and other corporate interests, that leaves the Black community very suspicious of these two characters. In addition, the Black community is not nearly so dense that we don't recognize that every time these two go on one of their "poverty tours" that they have something to sell under their arm.