Tavis Smiley's Video Blog - 11/13/08 | PBS

[dubstranger]

keep the faith

Obama stay strong.

[ubuibiok]

Im Glad....

[bornbillsmith]

I left a comment yesterday asking who would you vote for if a white man ran against Obama

and on a purely objective basis he was the better candidate.

Would you still vote for Obamsa.

[myyt4n]

@bornbillsmith,

Your question arrogantly assumes his vote was based on race. Funny how so many Americans assume blacks voted strictly off of race yet whites voted strictly off of issues. The Iraq war, the economy, health care are all issues African Americans took into consideration just like whites, Hispanics, Asians, Arabs and others. Look inward & ask why do you make such assumptions. The issue is with you dear sir, not Tavis.

[bornbillsmith]

Listen to his words before you judge.He is the one who is making race an issue by alluding to how excited he is because Obama a black won.

Would he have gotten so excited if Obama was white.

His statement on how we are all going to remember where we were when the election was called and how he would do the electric slide.

He talks about what this moment meant to him as a black man.

Since this is the way he felt isn't it possible race was a factor(not the only factor) on how he voted.

[bornbillsmith]

I wasn't bringing up the question because Tavis is black but on what he says on the video.

It's true that he probably shares this opinion with other people who are black. Everyone has the right to vote the way they want to, and they don't have to justify how they vote to anyone.

However Tavis as a member of the fourth estate and the fact he made a video blog on the outcome of the election I believe I had the right to question is objectivity.

[voyeurdug]

"That moment" was watching The Young Turks (TYT), as Ohio was called, cinching the election. I'd contributed (not much, but some), I'd volunteered (not much, but some), I'd voted, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. This despite that I have very much in common with John McCain, and very little in common with Barack Obama.

Go figure.

[KhmerD0g]

i don't care about black or white president. i care about what can obama do for the economy? my answer is nothing because it is too late.

i prefer ron paul.

[ilalfisto]

I have never seen anyone whose combination of measured intelligence and people skills better suit him to be a man who can sink or save the World with one decision.

The understandable excitement over Obama's BLACKNESS tends to distract from his qualities as a MAN.

[ilalfisto]

Thinking about it, the most significant element of Obama's personality is an apparent lack of personal inadequacy.

You get the feeling that he doesn't need to prove himself, to himself.

[MochaKnitster]

Tavis, I love your show and I love your passion for justice, equality, and education. I'd also like to know how we can keep the momentum going regarding the interest and enthusiasm that caused Americans to be so personally invested in the Obama/McCain electoral process. I'll keep watching your shows, talking to people, and being a PBS/news junkie to see how this unfolds over the next few months & years.

[bornbillsmith]

Let's say someone other then McCain ran against Obama.

Someone who had the experience and had a better record on the issues.

Someone who was not black.

Tell me if this person ran against Obama, could you see yourself voting for this person.

Tell me also would you do the electric slide if Obama lost.

If your answer is that you would still vote for Obama I would say you are a racist and that there is no hope for this country if even a liberal like you would not vote for the better candidate.

[Meloman0001]

I mean Tavis Smiley for President 2016!

[bornbillsmith]

Why not 2012.

[Meloman0001]

"Start the electric slide". Damn Tavis u are always real. We all love u man. Tavis for President 2014