Hillary Goes To State Of Black Union, Barack Doesn't, Big Whoop
 Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

  

Yes, you read that right: big whoop. In the Midwest, we still say that occasionally; old habits die very hard.

I am so tired of these Barack/Hillary Feuds the MSM invents.  Now Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is "taking heat" for "ducking" the State of the Black Union event in New Orleans, Louisiana - which both Barack and Republican competitor John McCain declined.  Hillary Clinton went, even though Louisiana's caucus is already over.  The Fort Worth Star-Telegram apparently reported that Obama's Ohio and Texas campaigning (whose March 4th primaries are inching closer) is preventing him from attending.  So now Hillary's the hero, blah blah blah.

Tavis Smiley's annual event was also attended by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Michael Eric Dyson, Cornel West, Donna Brazile, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, and various politicians and religious figures, and cohosted by Tom Joyner.

Nothing against Smiley - kudos to him and we hope he does a wonderful thing for his culture; he's received a couple of awards for his good deeds.

But in all honesty here - he's a media personality known for his sometimes controversial commentary.  Hence being on C-Span and PBC - two of our much-cherished public broadcasting outlets that don't censor like the mainstream media does.  He also intersperses a lot of religious views into his outlook, which doesn't bode well with everyone.

This event was partly sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and Exxon Mobile.  Yes, rebuilding New Orleans is vitally important, but there are many nonprofit organizations (including soon-to-be parents of five Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Make It Right project) that provide equal assistance to all those involved in Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath - not selectively.  Not to say one or the other is better; just pointing out that no one raised a fuss when the presidential candidates didn't attend the launch of The Pink Project.

The State Of the Black Union are town hall meetings that began in the year 2000 and are presented by Smiley Group Inc., which is not a nonprofit group.

This is just to say that this singular event needn't become the next thing that stirs up more tension in the wrong areas - which Presidential candidate "shunned" or "graced" the New Orleans event.  Believe you me, both Democratic presidential candidates are 110% focused on their election campaigns right now.

And all of the campaign attention for any of the candidates should be for the right reasons.  Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have said it:  this race shouldn't be about race.

In fact, Tavis himself suggested that Obama made a major mistake for not accepting the invitation, to which Washington Post writer Darryl Fears summarized, "if the blogosphere is any reflection, however, black America believes Smiley should check his ego."

Smiley said that the angry response of bloggers since he made that insinuation was a shock to him.  "I now know what it feels like to have the weight of the Internet world bearing down on you.  Man, it's an eye opener when you get caught in the middle of it."

Ah the power of the blogosphere...it sends chills down my spine!  That's why we call it a news revolution:  you have a voice now.  Just commenting anonymously on a blog gets you heard, from the comfort of your own living room.  Not that people don't abuse that.

In other mainstream media political news, the L.A. Times actually published an article that reminded the rest of the media that, in fact, Republican candidate and Congressman Ron Paul is still in the race.  Contrary to mass media belief, of course.

Excuse me while I go find Andrew Malcolm and offer him an entire flower shop!  Well, if I had one.

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