Tavis Smiley, Black Journalists Set to Question Democratic Candidates at Howard U. Debate

Date: Thursday, June 28, 2007
By: Michael H. Cottman

For the first time in American political history, four journalists of color — three black and one Hispanic — will direct questions to Democratic presidential candidates during a prime time televised debate at Howard University on Thursday.

The debate in Washington, D.C., dubbed the All-American Presidential Forums, will be moderated by radio and television talk show host Tavis Smiley and will air live on PBS television. The panel will feature two black journalists and one Hispanic journalist.

"Never before, since the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858, has a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color and a black moderator queried a group of presidential candidates in prime time," Smiley told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "This has never happened before."

"Who knew that in 2007 there would be more diversity on stage among the candidates? So, we also need as much diversity among the journalists who will question the candidates," Smiley said.

Smiley maintained that there are many issues that have not been discussed among the candidates nd topics that have not been explored from a black perspective.

"Health care, education and the economy have been discussed to some extent, but these issues have not been discussed with us in mind," Smiley said. "The candidates have not discussed these issues in-depth, but the questions have not been asked."

Smiley will be joined by Michel Martin of National Public Radio, Gannett News Service columnist DeWayne Wickham, who writes a weekly column that also appears in USA Today, and nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr.

Questions for the candidates will focus on issues that impact black Americans and will include crime, jobs and unemployment, health care, education and Katrina relief, as outlined in Smiley's best-selling book, "The Covenant with Black America."

Smiley said that so far during the campaign, candidates have talked about AIDS, but not how HIV/AIDS is the leading killer of black women. He said Cubans are being allowed into the United States, but federal authorities sending Haitians back home "should be part of the immigration conversation."

And Smiley added that when candidates discuss education, they don't talk about the numerous problems with inner city schools. He also said there is not enough discussion of Katrina relief and poverty in America.

"We plan to address these issues Thursday night," Smiley said.

All of the Democratic presidential candidates have agreed to participate in the debate, including the frontrunners, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

This month, according to USA Today, Clinton regained a double-digit lead over Obama in the USA Today/Gallup Poll. And according to CNN, Clinton lengthened her lead among likely New Hampshire primary voters, winning points for being strong, even if she's not necessarily the most likeable.

The CNN/WMUR presidential primary poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire, placed Clinton at the front of the pack, supported by 36 percent of likely voters, versus 22 percent for Obama, her closest rival.

Meanwhile, for the black journalists on the panel Thursday, the event marks a milestone in American politics.

"This is really historic," Wickham, who has covered every presidential campaign since 1984, told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "In the tradition of the black press, we seek to tell our own stories."

Wickham said he was recently reminded of Monroe Trotter, a black journalist, activist and vocal advocate for racial equality in the early 1900s.

In 1906, Trotter criticized President Theodore Roosevelt for his unfair treatment of black men in the military. And in 1914, inside the White House, Trotter took President Woodrow Wilson to task for not honoring his campaign promise to desegregate facilities in federal office buildings after openly courting black voters.

Outraged by Trotter's accusations, Wilson banished Trotter from the White House.

"Here we are, in 2007, journalists of color raising issues for people of color before candidates who want to be the leader of the most powerful nation in the free world," Wickham said. "This is a big deal."

During the debate, Wickham said he wants to raise issues on behalf of black Americans and delve into topics that range from crime and housing to education and schools.

"We should address the inequities in society," he said, "and the long-running pain and dashed aspirations."

Wickham added that although Obama is black, the candidate cannot expect black folks to vote for him simply because he's black.

"Obama must talk about abortion, affirmative action, the lack of quality health care and the inequities along racial lines. And if he doesn't, he can't expect blacks to shift from Clinton to Obama."

But, Wickham said, if Obama talks too much about black issues, he risks losing white support — especially since many whites say they are comfortable voting for a black man.

"He's really on a tight rope," Wickham said.

Earlier this month, Obama created news when he said the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.

"This administration was colorblind in its incompetence," Obama said at a conference of black clergy, "but the poverty and the hopelessness was there long before the hurricane.

"All the hurricane did was to pull the curtain back for all the world to see," he said.

Meanwhile, Clinton picked up several major endorsements this month, which included poet Maya Angelou, Florida Rep. Kendrick Meek and film director Steven Spielberg. Meek said he agreed to serve as a senior advisor for Clinton's campaign.

"I would encourage (Clinton) to be a long-distance runner. Be in this thing to win," Angelou said in a statement. "You've got a lot of help, and a lot of people care for you — not just admire you, but really have profound affection for you."

Said Meek: "Senator Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate with the perfect blend of leadership, talent and intellect to lead our nation in a new direction. It is my honor to endorse Senator Hillary Clinton to be our next president."

And last week, Bill Clinton announced that he will join Clinton on high-profile campaign visits to Iowa and New Hampshire. Aides say Bill Clinton has long planned to campaign publicly for his wife, and Hillary Clinton often promises audiences they'll see a lot more of him.

But it's Hillary Clinton who will have to convince voters — and black voters in particular — to support her candidacy, and the nation will be watching her closely at Howard University.

"Barack Obama will not get my vote just because he's black, no more than Hillary Clinton will get my vote because she's married to Bill, and I like Bill," Smiley told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

"I want to know where these candidates stand on issues that affect the lives of black folks," he said. "That's what we'll be listening for Thursday night."