TheRoot.com’ Prints an Advertisement for Tavis Smiley.
TheRoot.com is the latest to conduct an interview advertisement for Tavis Smiley Enterprises.

The “interview” was a commercial for Smiley, as the interviewer did not bother to press Smiley on any of the issues people want to really hear explanations. Beyond the issues the tussle with Al Sharpton, but rather get to “the root” of the what Smiley feels his role is in the African American community, and Tavis Smiley’s own responsibility for his participation in the Wells Fargo sub-prime home loans events targeted for African American consumers. While Smiley is busy critiquing and complaining about other black public figures, he ignores his own issues. In addition, Smiley has yet to specify in interview after interview what specific policies should be created to improve (unstated) issues in African American Communities.

Like him or not Al Sharpton has created an black organization, and managed by hook or crook to become a relevant figure in both Democratic politics, African-American political leadership and gained enough of a position within the Whitehouse to have spots on various boards that are enacting policies. So, while Smiley is bitching and moaning about this that and the other unarticulated issues, Sharpton is busy working on reforming NCLB, and looking at numerous other issues.

Smiley is still caught between a role as both a talk show host and an activist, and manages to do a very poor job at both. As a talk show host Smiley tries to push a line of policy that has no constituency (unlike Hannity or Beck of Fox, which play issues to grassroots organizations) , and as an activist Smiley simply has no grass roots organization to actually implement whatever he says is the latest and greatest thing to do.

So, rather consistently Smiley is simply talking for Tavis Smiley Enterprises, and as a result it is no wonder the people who tend to stick-up for Mr. Smiley tend to be included in his events.

However, on theroot.com’s infomercial for Smiley’s book and feel good talk show tour:
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