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Smiley Quits Radio Show After Obama Remarks

Posted Apr 12, 08 4:05 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  Politics 

(Newser) – Tavis Smiley is quitting as political analyst for a national radio show after comments he made about Barack Obama, the Washington Post reports. Smiley says he’s leaving the “Tom Joyner Morning Show” for personal reasons, but Joyner says otherwise. “The real reason is that he can’t take the hate he’s been getting regarding the Barack issue,” Joyner said.

When Obama won the Iowa caucus, Smiley warned listeners not to “fall so madly in love that you surrender your power to hold people accountable. Be ready to look him over.” Smiley has since stepped up his criticisms, despite a backlash from black listeners. “This was the first time he had taken a position that flat-out ticked off his core audience,” said one radio host.

Source Washington Post

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Hillary Rodham Clinton holds hands with Tavis Smiley during his State of the Black Union Town Hall in New Orleans.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tavis Smiley speaks at his State of the Black Union event in this file photo.   (KRT Photos)
Tavis Smiley is host of a program on National Public Radio.   (KRT Photos)
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Obama 2008  • race relations  • African-American voters  • talk radio  • Tavis Smiley


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