Tavis Exposed Once and For All!!

[Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr.]

Kudos to former Gov. Michael Dukakis for finally and indisputably unmasking Tavis for the Obama Hater some of us have always known he is, despite his unconvincing denials. Like several previous interviews, Tavis time and time again attempted to solicit critiques of President Obama from Gov. Dukakis, and time and time again Gov. Dukakis refused to take the bait, but rather continued to compliment the President for his performance and passionately make the case for the urgency of his re-election. On this particular occasion, Tavis was so frustrated by his failed efforts to recruit the former Democratic Presidential candidate to his Team of Hate, that he actually lost his cool and his professional bearing, exclaiming loudly "C'mon Man!" after the Governor endorsed yet another action of the President. Tavis went on to say "You disappoint me man" in reaction to this particular failed attempt. This entire episode was illustrative of an obvious professional failing, all captured on tape for posterity, so as to render Tavis unable to spin his way out of the snare his contempt for President Obama led him into.

In asking Gov. Dukakis how he would have responded to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, in the context of how President Obama has reacted, there were essentially two answers Gov. Dukakis could have given; some form of I would have done what President Obama did, or some form of I would not have done what President Obama did. It was after Gov. Dukakis fully endorsed President Obama's response as the one he himself would have chosen that Tavis had his on-air meltdown. Seeing as Tavis literally confirmed his disappointment with Gov. Dukakis response, it is clear that he posed a question he fully expected to result in Gov. Dukakis' rejection of President Obama's course of action as unprincipled and inappropriate, and was so flummoxed by the completely opposite response, he unintentionally provided us unimpeachable evidence that his disdain for President Obama is so deep, and his desire to see President Obama criticized and demonized so strong, that he couldn't even maintain the appearance of objectivity and respect for an interview subject any first year journalism student knows is commensurate with professionalism. (This departure from interview etiquette was so stark and so demonstrative of Tavis’ predisposition to criticize the President at every turn that I need not refer to the fact that prior to this moment, Tavis had already explicitly asked Gov. Dukakis to detail the ways that he felt President Obama had disappointed him as a Progressive, and when Gov. Dukakis was too slow to site his list, Dr. West and Tavis interjected with their own tired, rehashed litany)

At least this proof is archived forever, rendering any continued objection to the term "Obama critic" on Tavis' part a completely and utterly specious retort. Thank you, Gov. Dukakis, for your principled defense of, and advocacy on behalf of, President Obama, and for your role in exposing Tavis, using his own platform to do it!!

[Candace McCarty]

I feel kind of silly that I’ve even allowed myself to succumb to your comments and I pride myself in staying above the opinions that go back and forth. 

Yet, after reading your comments, I went back and re-listened to the conversation with Michael Dukakis.

What I heard was different than what you heard.  First of all, Mr. Dukakis was and still is a politician. What was highlighted in this conversation was a collective disappointment with the drones dropping bombs, the defense authorization act, the prison industrial complex, and most of all - the disgraceful decisions political candidates face because of millions, and millions, and millions of dollars corporate interests pour into their campaigns. 

What was highlighted was the need to mount a national drive to amend the Constitution.  We are in a “Race to the Bottom” and it is morally repulsive that winning at any cost is what this campaign is all about.  Mr. Dukakis spoke clearly about how maddening and frustrating this is, and shared his experiences with having to capitulate. 

 

 

[Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr.]

Candace, if that's all you heard, I suggest you listen yet again.  If you do, not selectively this time, you will hear, as I stated, Tavis ask Gov. Dukakis to detail his disappointments with President Obama's performance in office.  Gov. Dukakis responsded by applauding the President's performance both in terms of domestic and foreign policy.  Dr. West and Tavis then interrupted Gov. Dukakis by listing the items you rehashed, and, when pressed, the Gov. subsequently adopted that list.  That is an accurate and complete description of what transpired, as opposed to the expression of "collective disappointment" you suggested occured.

 

Similarly, as I stated, when asked what Gov. Dukakis would have done were he President Obama in the face" Citizens United", he said he would have done exactly what President Obama has done, spurring Tavis' outburts.  Those are the facts, and they are indisputable.

 
Candace McCarty said:

I feel kind of silly that I’ve even allowed myself to succumb to your comments and I pride myself in staying above the opinions that go back and forth. 

Yet, after reading your comments, I went back and re-listened to the conversation with Michael Dukakis.

What I heard was different than what you heard.  First of all, Mr. Dukakis was and still is a politician. What was highlighted in this conversation was a collective disappointment with the drones dropping bombs, the defense authorization act, the prison industrial complex, and most of all - the disgraceful decisions political candidates face because of millions, and millions, and millions of dollars corporate interests pour into their campaigns. 

What was highlighted was the need to mount a national drive to amend the Constitution.  We are in a “Race to the Bottom” and it is morally repulsive that winning at any cost is what this campaign is all about.  Mr. Dukakis spoke clearly about how maddening and frustrating this is, and shared his experiences with having to capitulate. 

 

 

[Denise Harris]

After listening to Tavis' discussion with Gov. Dukakis; I was drawn to the "Citizens United" & campaign finance reform portion. Agreed this was a "maddening decision" for the President because of the realization he would be outspent on the campaign trail.

Tavis showed his grand journalistic interviewing skills to elicit an alternative solution to "Citizens United"-- to which the Gov had none "I would do the same" he responded. I believe this is the answer Tavis was looking for in order to magnify the Presidents decision as being correct.

Tavis & Dr. West are NOT AGAINST the President! The National Defensive Authorization Act is controversial and can anger some. To call Tavis an "Obama Hater" is a stretch & unbelievable. Tavis & Dr. West have been rebels since day one and want nothing more than to see the President get re-elected. To think that they want Romney to win is just nonsense.

[Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr.]

Denise,

In direct response to Gov. Dukakis' response, Tavis said "You disappoint me, man."  When Gov. Dukakis went on to explain a candidate cannot unilaterally disarm in a campaign fundraising race, Tavis, clearly agitated, asked why not just call elections "freakin' auctions."  To suggest Tavis in any way was attempting to be supportive of the President's decision is without any basis whatsoever, and is well beyond a stretch.
 
Denise Harris said:

After listening to Tavis' discussion with Gov. Dukakis; I was drawn to the "Citizens United" & campaign finance reform portion. Agreed this was a "maddening decision" for the President because of the realization he would be outspent on the campaign trail.

Tavis showed his grand journalistic interviewing skills to elicit an alternative solution to "Citizens United"-- to which the Gov had none "I would do the same" he responded. I believe this is the answer Tavis was looking for in order to magnify the Presidents decision as being correct.

Tavis & Dr. West are NOT AGAINST the President! The National Defensive Authorization Act is controversial and can anger some. To call Tavis an "Obama Hater" is a stretch & unbelievable. Tavis & Dr. West have been rebels since day one and want nothing more than to see the President get re-elected. To think that they want Romney to win is just nonsense.

[Candace McCarty]

Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr. said:

Denise,

In direct response to Gov. Dukakis' response, Tavis said "You disappoint me, man."  When Gov. Dukakis went on to explain a candidate cannot unilaterally disarm in a campaign fundraising race, Tavis, clearly agitated, asked why not just call elections "freakin' auctions."  To suggest Tavis in any way was attempting to be supportive of the President's decision is without any basis whatsoever, and is well beyond a stretch.
 
Denise Harris said:

After listening to Tavis' discussion with Gov. Dukakis; I was drawn to the "Citizens United" & campaign finance reform portion. Agreed this was a "maddening decision" for the President because of the realization he would be outspent on the campaign trail.

Tavis showed his grand journalistic interviewing skills to elicit an alternative solution to "Citizens United"-- to which the Gov had none "I would do the same" he responded. I believe this is the answer Tavis was looking for in order to magnify the Presidents decision as being correct.

Tavis & Dr. West are NOT AGAINST the President! The National Defensive Authorization Act is controversial and can anger some. To call Tavis an "Obama Hater" is a stretch & unbelievable. Tavis & Dr. West have been rebels since day one and want nothing more than to see the President get re-elected. To think that they want Romney to win is just nonsense.

[Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr.]

Candace,

The interview is a matter of record, and to the extent I cannot be convinced the words that were spoken during the interview were not spoken, you are correct in saying my mind is made up.  If you can site an instance where I have misrepresented what was said, I'd be glad to listen to that. 

 
Candace McCarty said:

Mr. Gibbs, with all due respect, you seem to have your mind made up and thus, are unable to listen to others. . .

 
Candace McCarty said:

Rudolph P. Gibbs, Jr. said:

Denise,

In direct response to Gov. Dukakis' response, Tavis said "You disappoint me, man."  When Gov. Dukakis went on to explain a candidate cannot unilaterally disarm in a campaign fundraising race, Tavis, clearly agitated, asked why not just call elections "freakin' auctions."  To suggest Tavis in any way was attempting to be supportive of the President's decision is without any basis whatsoever, and is well beyond a stretch.
 
Denise Harris said:

After listening to Tavis' discussion with Gov. Dukakis; I was drawn to the "Citizens United" & campaign finance reform portion. Agreed this was a "maddening decision" for the President because of the realization he would be outspent on the campaign trail.

Tavis showed his grand journalistic interviewing skills to elicit an alternative solution to "Citizens United"-- to which the Gov had none "I would do the same" he responded. I believe this is the answer Tavis was looking for in order to magnify the Presidents decision as being correct.

Tavis & Dr. West are NOT AGAINST the President! The National Defensive Authorization Act is controversial and can anger some. To call Tavis an "Obama Hater" is a stretch & unbelievable. Tavis & Dr. West have been rebels since day one and want nothing more than to see the President get re-elected. To think that they want Romney to win is just nonsense.