Obama Misses State Of The Black Union
Sen. Barack Obama is coming under fire for skipping the State Of The Black Union. The State Of The Black Union, which is occurring in New Orleans , Louisiana, is an annual event. Obama declined an invitation to attend because he was going to be on the campaign trail (which is an understandable reason). Tavis Smiley, who is the event organizer and also a public television host and mainstay, has said that he disagrees with Obama for missing the union Smiley has come under fire for that statement and his family and himself have received threating emails and phone calls from people upset at him for being upset about Obama not attending. This is kind of silly, really think about someone isn’t pleased with someones decision, then they receive death threats for it. I seriously doubt that Barack Obama is getting phone calls from people mad at him and threating his family because he disagreed with Bushs’ decision on the war . Obama, inevitably, has nothing to do with the harassment, though he should ask some of his more fervent (fanatical) supporters to stop this harassment of Smiley and his family. Not to miss an opportunity, Hillary Clinton will be a speaker at the State of the Black Union at some point this weekend. Sen. John McCain also declined an invitation to attend.
The annual State of the Black Union forum boasts a number of famous names as it gets under way in New Orleans, but this year’s event is getting much more attention for who won’t be there.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, was the only major presidential candidate to accept an invitation to attend.
Her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, declined, as did Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
But it’s Obama‘s absence that’s prompted both controversy and a backlash against Tavis Smiley, the organizer of the event who has openly criticized Obama’s decision.
In a letter to Smiley earlier this month, Obama commended the forum for addressing important issues, but explained he needed to focus on his presidential run ahead of the critical March 4 primaries.
“In the final stretch, I will be on the campaign trail every day in states like Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin talking directly with voters about the causes that are at the heart of my campaign and the State of the Black Union forum,” Obama wrote.
“That is why, with regret, I am not able to attend the forum.” Smiley has been vocal about his disapproval of Obama’s decision.
“I think it’s a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama’s part,” Smiley told CNN. “Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it.”
But Smiley’s criticism has also prompted many people to come to Obama’s defense. The talk show host told The Washington Post he has been inundated with angry e-mails and even death threats.
“I have family in Indianapolis. They are harassing my momma, harassing my brother. It’s getting to be crazy,” Smiley told the newspaper.
He will be busy despite Obama’s absence. Some of the nation’s top black activists and politicians attend the State of the Black Union.
Smiley said he picked New Orleans as the 2008 host city to highlight the continued plight of its residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“We owe it to them, those who survived, those who are still struggling to rebuild their lives,” Smiley said. “We owe it to them to raise these issues louder than ever.”
New Orleans continues to battle problems, including crime and lack of affordable housing. Entire communities still lack hospitals or emergency care.
Obama campaigned in the city before he easily won Louisiana’s Democratic primary on February 9, taking 57 percent of the vote.
But at least one Louisiana lawmaker praised Clinton for being there when the region needed help.
“I don’t support people just because they are black,” said Democratic state Rep. Juan LaFonta.
“I support people because they are qualified and committed to issues that affect my constituent base.
Source: CNN
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