The whole lack of a 'black agenda" thing that West and Smiley seem to be criticizing the President on is somewhat shortsighted and narrow. The President increased Pell Grants, passed the ACA, extended unemployment benefits, passed the stimulus, passed Wall Street reform, saved hundreds of thousands of jobs in the auto industry, increased support for veterans, and on and on, blacks benefited from all of those actions too. The only ethnic group that he specifically targeted, and just a small slice of that group it is, was 30 and under Latinos with the Dream Act. I'm all for that and the real and symbolic benefits it entails. But can he do something like that for African Americans, can he issue an executive order that targets black unemployment only, or a reparations act for blacks only? That's questionable, even though some sort or reparations for the 300 years of unpaid labor African Americans were deprived of is worthy of discussion. Perhaps West and Smiley should get behind that specific issue instead of just what comes off as envy of a black President. I think that's more what it is than anything. Smiley and West were huge, known intellectual quantities that were positively viewed by the black community then this skinny, unknown kid from Chicago came from out of nowhere in '07 and stole their thunder. For instance, Smiley was highly upset that then candidate Obama didn't come on his TV show during the '08 campaign but asked if Michelle, not exactly chopped liver, could come in his stead. Smiley was insulted and let it be known that he was, even though candidate Obama may have been a bit busy. His popularity in the black community has plummeted since then because of this. Also, Smiley was a big Hillary supporter and was probably counting on some sort of appointment in her administration. West was and still seems to be upset at not getting invited to the Inauguration in '09 and is now criticizing other African Americans professors for allegedly selling out, he with the guaranteed income from his professor emeritus position. Sour grapes and envy I say.

Has he ever said that he would never criticize the President. Maybe he just doesn't want to always criticize President Obama for problems that are 30-40 years in the making. That Rev. Sharpton never left, he is still fighting for the Trayvon Martins and civil rights. I am sure he has been fighting for those things far longer than you have.

Still doesn't explain saying rev al has been bought, etc. Like i said, he has been fighting long before any of the people who get to decide who is a good and bad liberal. When the black community had no voice rev al was there, when nobody talked about the killing of black males, including sean and trayvon, rev al gave it a platform, marching against voter's suppression, etc. It's ridiculous to say he has been bought.

Thanks for speaking up. This is tiresome.

I had to speak up, just saddens me to see people say that when he was actually marching for people, always fighting the good fight. It is tiresome, so thank you for speaking up. I was hoping I wouldn't be the only one.

At the outrage that Sharpton won't criticize Obama was... Well, to that I say, why should he knock Obama?

These pundits calling anyone who sees any good getting done 'lemmings' are calling all who are trying to work within the government by, of and for the people 'sheeple,' since they think they have the ultimate truth. Pulleeze...

The right has been criticizing Obama in the most filthy ways that they did Sharpton, etc., making his very name an epitaph of contempt, for every knuckledragging buffoon. Which is what they have done to Sharpton for years, trying to make him a laughing stock, and for what? Does anyone know how O'Reilly has talked about Sharpton?

Is the Rev not to be taken seriously becuse the people he cares about are a joke? Or their lives are not worth being defended? Or because some libertarian wack job in the Patriot movement says Obama is the evil one who's gonna kill us all here or abroad? Really? And we have so-called progressives and left singing the same tune in a different key and think we don't know what's up?

Look, I see the atttitude and the rush to judgment and if feels the same to me. On a wingnut board, an Obama supporter is called an Obamabot. The message is the same about all black leaders:

Illegitimate, incompetent, crooked, dishonest, friend of communist/corporations, food stamp president/robbing the poor, unAmerican/ militaristic, etc. And those who support them, are stupid. it's the same energy, the same disdain.

I remember when Jesse Jackson ran for office, and I voted for him, but got an education watching all my so-called liberal white commentators talk as if he wasn't there. Obama got the same treatment that those Revs got, and no help from 'liberals.'

The ideas of MLK that Jackson was working to make come to pass, didn't matter. They didn't consider him credible even after he'd gotten on the ballot. I regarded those people as fair, or at least open minded. They proved they were arrogant and racist. I was pissed.

Likewise insulting Sharpton. Saying he's bought? How many conservatives mocked the Rainbow Coalition and claim Sharpton is an opportunist? Call it what one wants, it's anti-Democratic Party, anti-minority and in the end, libertarian hogwash.

Van Jones said libertarians would spit in MLK's face, and these pundits that can't say one blessed word good about Obama's work. They're not doing the work, it's easier to sit back and throw stones. Tiresome, demoralizing, and helping the Koch brothers in the long run.

think it's healthy to criticize politicians within reason. Al does not criticize the president as much as West or Cenk but I do feel that West and Cenk are holding him to very unrealistic standards. Why? Look at the congress he has to work with. Plus corporate money does pollute politics in this country. I have noticed that Al, very seldomly says anything negative but I watch others that don't have a problem with criticising Obama when it's necessary. That's why I try to get info from more than one source. West called Obama a Repub? The modern repubs would not have gotten rid of DADT or signed the equal pay act.

without being offensive. If he ever cut the mortgage deduction or makes us after 12 years give up even more stuff to get a bunch of leaches to actually pay taxes, he will hear from me.

I always thought this was a problem with republican voters (lemmings). It seems there are many voters on our side that are the same way: A blind eye to corruption.

President is corrupt?

Really that whole video is ridiculous. Since I am actually black, let me speak on Cenk saying that Rev. Al said Obama already said he won't do anything for blacks, duh. No, he said he won't have a black agenda, and he shouldn't. He is the president of America, not black America. We have latinos living in poverty too. We have black people, like my family who are middle class. We aren't all living in poverty, that's why you have to do things for EVERYBODY. We need pell grants, healthcare, we need job training. We are not some weird species that needs a black agenda, we just need a fair agenda. Wanting Obama to fix problems that are deeply rooted in our community since slavery, when white presidents have had "white agendas", for centuries when they were building a white middle class and thinking it was progress. Meanwhile the black community was not improving. These problems have been rising for all of America for 40-50 years. Not sure why we think Obama should have had it fixed by yesterday. Just saying hold all presidents to the same standards. So tired of this, he should do this and that since he is black. Let's be realistic and acknowledge that there are 3 branches of government, and there is no way in hell a black agenda would pass congress. Why do things for show, to appease cornell and tavis? Lol. Okay.

It is just another way of saying he is not president of the entire nation. He is and it will always say so in the history books. This is not surprising to me. Planting people to cause division is an old tactic. I have felt for years that West was a paid clown. He stirs up trouble and then walks away.

He reminds me of the 'grizzly cam' live stream that was posted here. They're in a waterfall, all day long, hours in the water, catching salmon going upstream. The salmon are on a mission, but so are the bears. Sometimes they catch them, sometimes they get away. Sometimes they are very clever and catch them in their mouths, sometimes they fumble and chase them down.

Overall, a very long day of hard work and many days of it, unnoticed by most. And 99% of the humans watching the bears could never do what the bears are doing, nor would they want to do it. In fact, they are not even qualified to get in the water and try, yet they prate on about it.

One fish after another, a never ending stream of challenges, like a nation of 300,000,000+. Most don't deal with 30, 300, 3,000, 30,000 and so on many people, nor are they subject to hearing their dreams and nightmares. They don't have a plan, they haven't worked most of their lives to formulate one, either.

This is how I see Obama. I've done hard physical labor, and long hours, and I can see what he is. A hard working man, like all hard workers, don't have the luxury of being able to take a break, to stand up each time and say 'Hey, look at me!' Because the job is not done, and a person who has done the long slog, keeps going because it's not over. It's never over.

How easy for the mockers to stand on the other side of the camera and say the grizzly dropped a fish, or was clumsy catching it. I have no respect for that kind of thing, it's an insult to everyone who has ever put in a hard day's work. And you don't get up there and put up with what Obama has been put through to collect 'ass kissers.' The language of West and those who hang on his every word to degrade Obama is very telling.

Okay, another rant, but you've been very good at describing this here, so I wanted to reply.

Thank you! He is a hard worker, he sees the longview, and just wants to make things better for all people. That is the kind of president we need and deserve.

Cornel West says.

One of the things that the Obama presidency has done is expose the hypocrites on the right , as well as the left. West has been in the public square long before the name Barack Obama was ever heard. He has become a millionaire through book sales and 30,000 to 50,000 speaking fees. Though he has challenged President Obama on his authenticity as a black man, he has never used his professorial skills at any of the historic black colleges. The poor, he so passionately cares about, how much of his fortune has he donated to? West has lashed out against Dr. Melissa Harris Perry-referring to her as a fraud. It appears the so called progressive professor may even have issues with women. He has been married and divorced 4 times. Perhaps this is why he's been too busy to run for public office.

Look folks this is sour grapes. West tirade against the president stems from not receiving a personal invitation to the 2009 inauguration. He was angry because a bus boy got one-and he didn't. That should be a hint as to what he really thinks of the poor. West has went from enlightened professor to narcissistic fool. I've written him off.

Obama was organizing for the communities all of you have ignored, his ideas have not changed since then. He knew then as he knows now, the country is only okay with a mix of socialism and free enterprise. Not complete government take over, not complete liberalism. That will never change. Ever, liberals have completely unrealistic ideas of America. He is one man. Whore and a con artist? You are a joke.

To call anybody a whore and then to say the President is a con artist, such racist right wing talking point trash. Who did he con? Not me, I am a realist. I am sure others on here are too. Maybe I'll see this horrible Obama, when I am not a black college student using his pell grant expansion, or perhaps when my veteran father isn't using the va benefits that Obama expanded, or maybe when my mom isn't using her insurance for her frequent hospital visits, or maybe when my grandparents don't get their black farmers settlement, or I guess when my cousin isn't using the job training, until then I guess I will never know this dreadful Obama you and Cornell speak of.

Except being an inane, rambling asshole? Yeah. Thought so.

Fuck West.

Obama has done more for this country than that piece of shit West could ever hope to achieve. He's just a jealous fool.

He sent zero flying robots to drop bombs on little kids too.

Pretty good accomplishments.

SS been cut? No. Medicare? No. As a matter of fact my grandmother was able to afford her perscription under Obama's so called medicare cuts.

And I am sorry about kids dying, always will be. But since my father actually was one of the boots on the ground in Iraq(medic), I'll take drones over soldiers anyday. SORRY.

He's all talk and no action. He talks about this and that and what exactly has he done to fix anything? Put up or shut up, West. If you think you've got the goods, run for office, get elected and implement real change. I am so fucking tired of arm chair presidents who feel they've got all the answers and offer little in substance. If West just vanished tomorrow, no one would miss him. If Obama had lost earlier this month, we'd be FUCKED. That tells me everything I need to know when it comes to who's more valuable to this country.

Indeed, "Arm chair presidents" is a perfect description.

Amen indeed.

had you posted this originally, I would have 'alerted.' You can have cornel west.

embrace him!

Name caller, he once slapped a pregnant teacher, so it doesn't surprise me he wants to slap the shit out of PBO.

He calls himself a Christian LOL

At least Obama went into the community and attempted to accomplish something. West has never left the comfort of the Ivy league, except, to make speeches and television appearances. Try again sonny.

Last edited Mon Nov 19, 2012, 02:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Cornel West sure doesn't look like a millionaire...that guy looks like he hasn't had a haircut since the 70s.

Someone that is completely in step with what Cenk thinks a President should be probably would not be elected in the present US. That's just reality.

and STFU Cornel West. It is YOU that is selling out.
not to mention- would he be better off with Mitt

Did he vote for Nader?

He should STFU and work to better the congress so that more things can get passed.

Again fuck him.
He will never have a better president in this generation and in any person who is alive, lifetime

I bet West also disliked Lincoln, FDR, and LBJ too.

and actually Mr. West- NO Obama does not have enough people in the media that back him.
MATTER OF FACT 99.9999% OF THOSE DO NOT, including some major hypocrites who sold him down the river after debate 1- Ed and Rachel to name two.

again Mr. West-do you think Jeb Bush in 2016 will get anything you want???

now stfu Mr. West.

time slot.
(My only advice to the Rev would be to remind him that he is not in the street...he doesn't need to shout in the studio. )

Yep.

I applaud that. For too long racists have depended on a number of black people who would sell other black people into slavery, help track runaway slaves, give information about who was involved in the civil rights movement, to sell drugs to other black people, and to destroy black communities.

I am not a fan of Sharpton but I am glad to see he is taking this stance.

Cornel West is part of the group of black people I first described. Along with his buddy Smiley they must love those pieces of silver.

with the critical analysis of policy.
Anyone can criticize. All that amounts to is expressing an opinion and it takes no thought at all.
To view the administration critically is attempt to understand every aspect and draw out the implications of what they do.

Nowhere in that 60 Minutes footage does Sharpton say he won't criticize the President. Leslie Stahl paraphrased that. This is a problem with The Turk, he hears what he wants to, even from media sources he's usually critical of.