"We believe if (Obama) is not pushed, he is going to be a transactional president..."

[G_j]

watch/listen:
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/9/tavis_smiley_cornel_west_on_the



As the most expensive presidential election in U.S. history comes to an end, broadcaster Tavis Smiley and professor, activist Dr. Cornel West join us to discuss President Obama’s re-election and their hopes for a national political agenda in and outside of the White House during Obama’s second term. At a time when one in six Americans is poor, the price tag for combined spending by federal candidates — along with their parties and outside groups like super PACs — totaled more than $6 billion. Together, West and Smiley have written the new book, "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto."

Both Tavis and Smiley single out prominent progressives whom they accuse of overlooking Obama’s actual record. "We believe if (Obama) is not pushed, he is going to be a transactional president and not a transformational president," Smiley says. "We believe the time is now for action and no longer accommodation… To be the most progressive means you’ve taken some serious risk. And I just don’t see the example of that." West says that some prominent supporters of Obama "want to turn their back to poor and working people. It’s a sad thing to see them as apologists for the Obama administration in that way." (Transcript to come. Check back soon.)



Guests:


Tavis Smiley, TV, radio broadcaster, philanthropist and New York Times bestselling author. He hosts the TV show "Tavis Smiley" on PBS and two radio shows: "The Tavis Smiley Show" and "Smiley & West" Which he hosts with Cornel West. Together they have written the new book, "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto."


Dr. Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous books and co-host of the radio show Smiley & West with Tavis Smiley. Together they have written the new book, "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto."

[orwell]

1. I am really tired of some people...

...not understanding how politics works. I heard this show and was mildly disgusted.

Why is it that the President gets pilloried on the left AND the right. The hatred of this man is palpable.

People need to grow up and understand how politics works, how legislation is passed, and how long it takes a superpower like the United States to make even small changes in the culture, the law, and the power relationships.

Every politician in transactional. They work for their constituents. In the case of the President, his/her constituency is the whole country.

If West and Smiley think they can change the world, let them run for office and do it. I think they would both be in for a rude awakening.

BTW, where is Cynthia McKinney right now?

Barbara Lee or the late Barbara Jordan is Cynthia McKinney done right.