Cornel West Criticizes Obama's DNC Speech on the Tavis Smiley Show

Hey I respect your right to these views but I have a hard time understanding how you could have listened to anything and not gotton insight on how he feels about the middleclass.

How is it that someone who began a career in community organizing helping the poor fight to improve living conditions in thier neighborhoods. If that doesn't give you insight into his ability to understand poor people then what will?

Problem with notions about any politicians position on Black issues is that it is limiting...

Consider this: if you are running for local office like city council... your issues are dictated by the demographics in your district. These are often homogenous groups with many similarities...

Move up to Mayor and now you have to integrate the needs of an entire city and all the groups represented.

You should see where I am going with this... At the Presidential level you issues are not about specific groups of people based on race or culture because you have to meet the needs of the entire nation on all the issues...

Listen to his plans... tax cuts for workers earning under 250K... does this fit with your ideals?

Ending tax breaks for the richest corporations like big oil. Who got richer this past year while all of us suffered under killer gas prices... that caused an increases in everything else...

Supporting education... will that help you or people you care about to get ahead?

Supporitng diplomacy to prevent or even end some ot the conflicts we face around the world.

If those are things that make sense to you then vote for him regardless of his ethnic background.

i am a young black man and proud of it i have Cerebral palsy and i am not a shame are run away from it, my religious beliefs a conservative Jewish view i find my self politically leaning towards libertarian. But its important for me to Know were is Barack when it comes to the middle class work a day people who live from pay check to pay check. In what way does his feelings and beliefs about the black community effect his politics. he is (pro-choice) right supported by people for ( abortion and sterilization) championed by groups created to kill off and eradicate minority population in America something he or McCain hardly touched on. For me this is not about race barack has not run his campaign on race but on charisma he has not even really talked about his upbring in Indonesia or Hawaii nor how it relates to that of everyday people in America black or white. The people making race an issues are misguided narrow minded racist on both sides blacks and white not even looking pass his skin color. i do not now how Barack's relationships with the black leaders in the African American community really is affecting his campaign rather it be blacks rallying for him and whites scared of him. i don't know because no one is actually talking about he isn't even bringing it up.

i believe he is trying to be to likable and not really personable not open in a since that you can really get a fell on what he is about and what he believes in.

Is there any wonder why the younger generation isn't moved by any of these so called Black leaders? Barak's message surpasses race... and touches the heart of what it means to be American... no more separate but equal... Just dream, work hard and achieve...

Standing on that stage... he made history and changed America for ever... even if he doesnt win... will the notion of an African American becoming President sound far fetched in 2012?.... Will the idea of a woman making it into the oval office sound far fetched in 2012?

The same way McCain is stung by the infectious charm and charisma of Barak... so are other's on both sides of the color line. Why this guy? What makes him so special? They probably mean well but they have a hard time accepting that Change is coming...