Did Tavis Smiley Miss the Point in Taking on Obama?

It was just a matter of time for the kind of controversy that erupted in New Orleans where the State of Black America gathering was held this past weekend!

The host was the well respected author and NPR talk show host Tavis Smiley who felt slighted and thus made sure everyone knew he was upset with Presidential Candidate Barack Obama for turning down an invitation to appear.

Hillary Clinton was there; but as one participant noted, she needed the trip a lot more than Obama.

To some observers of the Obama campaign it seems that Tavis Smily and some other African American leaders have over estimated their pull with the Presidential candidate; or they have misunderstood what the Barack Obama campaign is all about.

He isn't running as "the black candidate'. If he was he wouldn't be in the position of being one or two primaries away from locking up the Democratic Party's nomination.

Sure, it would be historic. The first African American within reach of the White House; If it happens it won't be because he's black. According to a lot of people who know about these things it will be despite the fact that he is black.

Let's admit, Race is an issue. Something to be weighed no doubt; but it certainly isn't the top or even middle concern of most Barack Obama supporters and the candidate wants to keep it that way.

Obama is the "Change" candidate who first had to demonstrate- even to a majority of black voters- that he could win white voters, beginning in Iowa (Where few blacks live) before his candidacy could be considered serious and mainstream-even for African Americans.

Black people were not willing to waste their support again on symbolism's and slogans. Been there and done that with the Jessie Jackson campaign.

Besides African Americans already had a candidate. She wasn't Bill; but she was considered the next best thing to her husband.

Obama had to pry those black voters away from Hillary and Bill Clinton. Much like he had to convert older white voters, females, union leaders, Mayors and Governors, young voters, independents. and in some open primaries, Republicans.

In the process Barack Obama had to become nearly colorless, except on MLK day and in South Carolina. He became the candidate of a movement that has attracted a hecka of a lot of different people and not just Democrats!

John F Kennedy knew his Catholic religion could have been his undoing as a candidate.

Many observers say if Obama becomes perceived as "the black candidate" he instantly becomes the losing candidate and his handlers who haven't lost a step in this campaign know this!

Passing up Tavis Smiley's invitation to speak in New Orleans about the State of Black America won't hurt Barack Obama's chances of becoming president. It may in fact help his chances said another participant, there will be plenty of time later to address these issues which certainly will still be around.

Noted political scientist Ron Walters went further in breaking down the Obama phenomenon for me during a conversation in the Nine News Now newsroom during the DC Maryland and Virginia primaries.

Walters predicted there would be a sense of pride; a "feel good" measure among African Americans should Obama win the nomination and the general election; but Walters predicted it won't mean much more than that. The issues confronting black people won't be changed merely by Barack Obama's election, he said.

Anita Bonds, Chairman of the DC Democratic party echoed the same sentiments later as I was covering the Obama victory party at the Madison hotel. She said Obama isn't the black people's candidate anymore than Hillary was their candidate! She pointed out that most blacks are not supporting Obama just because he's black just like whites are not excluding him strictly because of his race.

She says it's his message of change, along with his incredible oratorical skills-his ability to inspire.

That's what separates him from the other candidates says Bonds. His policies and programs won't be much different from Hillary Clinton's.

In a letter to Tavis Smiley, Obama reportedly explained there was no time to come to New Orleans-that he needed to spend every day in Texas and Ohio campaigning for those primaries as he tries to wrap up the nomination by putting more pressure on the super delegates who will ultimately decide should it go all the way to the convention in Denver. A politician's first priority has to be getting elected.

Obama expressed his support of what was going to happen in New Orleans that weekend. Reports say he offered to send his accomplished wife Michelle to the State of Black America Conference in his place. CNN said Smiley declined the offer.

"I think it's a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama's part," Smiley told the cable network. "Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it."

Apparently Smiley never got the message that this African American candidate doesn't have to stop at every church, backyard barbecue, or large gathering of black leaders like the ones in New Orleans...not when the change candidate is making appearances in arenas packed with tens of thousands of voters of all ages and colors.