Commentary: 'The odds are slim to none -- and slim is out of town,' he says By Jon Friedman<http://www.marketwatch.com/news/mailto.asp?x=106+102+114+105+101+100+109+97+110&y=Jon+Friedman&z=marketwatch.com&guid=%7B244aef13-cfc9-4c87-bd95-bfbc76190de2%7D&siteid=rss>, MarketWatch Last update: 12:01 a.m. EDT Oct. 24, 2008 Comments: 44<http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid={244AEF13-CFC9-4C87-BD95-BFBC76190DE2}&siteid=rss#comments> *NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Tavis Smiley doesn't expect presidential candidate Barack Obama to agree to come on his PBS late-night talk show before the election.* "The odds are slim to none -- and slim is out of town," Smiley told me a few weeks ago, in an interview. As we talked recently on the Los Angeles set of his program, Smiley turned serious. He reminded me that he has received his share of flak from some African-Americans because they were unhappy with his professional posture toward Obama. Smiley said that to the consternation of a number of Obama supporters, he hasn't given the Democrat a free pass during the campaign. Smiley said he has acted like an objective, probing journalist. It makes no difference to an ethical journalist -- whether he works in a news room or hosts a talk show -- what a candidate's skin color is or whether or not Smiley privately supports that person's prospects. Smiley said he had heard from some African-American viewers that "'Tavis is a hater... a traitor...a sell-out.'" In July, Huffington Post noted: "For months (Smiley) has been the object of an Internet firestorm for his perceived negative comments about Obama..." See Huffington Post column.<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/tavis-smiley-tackles-obam_n_114160.html> When he told me that some viewers had accused him of being "jealous of Obama," Smiley said he had to laugh at the ridiculous allegation. "Sure," he told me with a smile plastered across his face, "like I want to be president!" Video: Smiley on Obama Jon Friedman sits down with talk-show host Tavis Smiley to discuss the upcoming presidential election. (Oct. 24) I asked Smiley, 44, if there was a point when his fans turned on him. He said, "there was no one particular issue" and noted that the criticism built as he proceeded to address what he perceived to be Obama's "pivoting positions" relating to several hot-button subjects. "The issues I raised were affirmative action, campaign finance reform, gun control, the death penalty and wiretapping." He said he recognized that Obama would likely be reluctant to deal with controversial topics "when everything is going his way." Holding people accountable Behind Smiley's characteristic upbeat demeanor he made it clear that the charges bothered him at the time. "It was troubling, to be sure," he conceded. He now concludes that those critics "didn't understand it in context," referring to his ethics. They also didn't grasp that his job is all about "holding people accountable." In that difficult time, he drew strength from what is important to him. "My faith gets me through everything," he said. "You can't lead people if you don't love people." Smiley now looks back and realizes that, in a way, what he went through was a "back-handed compliment. Even his strongest African-American critics were acknowledging that Smiley is, in his words, "the most credible black journalist" out there today. "They see me as 'Brother No. 1,'" Smiley said, nodding. "They see me as the 'go-to commentator' in black America." Getting to the sweet spot Controversy aside, Smiley is at his best when interviewing camera-shy celebrities. More successfully than any other talk show host these days, Smiley has a knack for gaining the trust of the James Taylors and Carole Kings and getting them to open up about their lives. I am a fan of Smiley's work because I invariably learn something about his subjects during his programs. Sure, celebrities make the rounds of the better-known shows hosted by Jay and Dave and Conan and Craig when they have a new CD or movie or book to promote. Perhaps the other interviewers are content to stick to shopworn topics with the stars or they don't take the time to do the research. With the other talk show hosts, you're likely to hear old stories. With Smiley, you find out something fresh most of the time. See related column.<http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/tavis-smiley-pbs-populist-charlie/story.aspx?guid=%7BA90CE831%2DA4BF%2D4492%2DA51A%2DE79EF7CB92A6%7D> Smiley has a simple, effective philosophy about interacting with his guests. "I want to get to their sweet spot," he told me. "They end up leading the conversation." Smiley is comfortable enough to let his guests be the focus of the shows, not him. He disdains the notion that he is conducting something as formal as a traditional "interview." He wants to ease the flow of a natural conversation. "These celebrities HAVE TO sell something," he recognizes. "An interview is the last thing they want to do." He all but rolls his eyes at the talk-show hosts who refer during a show to a big pile of blue cards with questions printed on them. "That doesn't work," he said animatedly. "In my conversations, I do my research and start with one good question. I never consult my notes. I listen generously and I let the conversation flow. When they start giving good answers, I'll know where to go." *MEDIA WEB QUESTION OF THE DAY:* What question would you like to hear Tavis Smiley ask Barack Obama? *Join the online community of Media Web readers by posting comments directly to the MarketWatch.com site. [image: End of Story]* *Jon Friedman is a senior columnist for MarketWatch in New York.*
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