I posted incorrect information......re: Smiley and West Poverty Bus Tour

[FrenchieCat]

(note that I have been corrected by a poster about the sponsors of the Bus poverty tour).....
and although I still deplore the opinions of Tavis Smiley and Cornel West,
I am also a believer in accurate information.

So please discount the below:
Tavis Smiley launched the mobile tour at the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, and other tour stops will include St. Louis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Memphis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, and many more. The exhibition is made possible by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which serves as its presenting sponsor, and also will host the mobile tour in several cities. ExxonMobil joins the mobile tour as the sponsor fueling the truck across America. Details and a schedule are available at www.AmericaIAM.org.
http://www.charlestoncvb.com/media/charleston-news/_america_i_am_exhibition_mobile_experience_launched_by_tavis_smiley_to_visit_charleston__sc_on_august_11th-914


And see this instead: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1711934&mesg_id=1712222


I will also note that what I did find interesting is those, when believing that what was posted was true, found a way to rationalize it anyway. That was revealing, in light of my error.

[polichick]

1. Yikes - is that a joke?

[FrenchieCat]

4. No. If you go to Tavis' promotion bus tour site, also provided in the OP

you can see the sponsor logos at the bottom of the page.....

ExxonMobil apparently is only providing the Gas for the Buses on the Tour....
as their contribution.

[Redbear]

23. No. But it's flat wrong.

Wal-Mart is one sponsor of an African-American heritage traveling museum collection that Tavis Smiley is part of. It has nothing to do with the poverty tour. The link in the OP is for this museum exhibit.

Here is the poverty tour site link: http://www.povertytour.smileyandwest.com/

[polichick]

24. Interesting - thanks!

[no limit]

2. never mind.

[Lint Head]

3. Hell, why not use fascist corporate jack. They made it off of the backs of the poor.

[FrenchieCat]

5. well, that's one way of justifying things,

I guess! :shrug:

[elleng]

6. Saw them in China. Nice give and take w the students.

[EFerrari]

8. I saw the whole series. It was excellent.

[FarLeftFist]

7. Embarrassing.

[EFerrari]

14. More embarrasing than this: President Obama meets with Wal-Mart CEO

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/29/news/companies/Obama_meets_walmart_CEO_Duke/index.htm

Or this: Report: Exxon Execs Gave More to Obama

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/08/07/report_exxon_execs_gave_more_t.html

I hope your embarrassment is fairly distributed. :)

[flamingdem]

9. Geez nt

[Autumn]

10. It's good to see people talking about poverty

that discussions seems to be missing from the stage.

[FrenchieCat]

11. I'm sure Walmart and ExxonMobil agrees with you!

:pals:

[Autumn]

12. In this instance I agree with them.

It's a message that needs to get out and I see no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scurrilous]

15. ROFL

:o

[FrenchieCat]

16. Edited due to inaccurate information...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. "When I see a company like Wal-Mart launch an initiative like this, I feel more hopeful than ever ,,

"When I see a company like Wal-Mart launch an initiative like this, I feel more hopeful than ever before," - Michelle Obama

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR2011012001581.html

A different subject...but you can't have it both ways.

[FrenchieCat]

18. It isn't both way. Michelle Obama isn't calling Cornel West a Mascot for selling out to

the Oligarchy, now is she?

[no limit]

19. Did Obama not sell books in walmart stores?

[FrenchieCat]

21. I don't think he sold books through Walmart to get Black People to be pissed,

and perhaps think of sitting out an election.

I'm sure that Walmart ordered his books via their vendors along with all of the other books
they wanted to sell. They then purchased them, and put them on their shelves.

But you know, I believe that winning the next election is crucial and detrimental, and
I don't and never have appreciated anyone who works against that ideal, period. It is
one of the main reasons I have posted on DU since 2003, and why I have nearly 65,000 posts
to my credit.

[EFerrari]

22. What is your source for Smiley asking anyone to sit out an election? Thanks.

[FrenchieCat]

32. It is the same source that says that Obama is as bad as a Republican.,

or is a Wall Street Puppet.....why?

[EFerrari]

33. You have no source and are fabricating yet again.

In his last interview on Amy's show, Smiley was against a primary for Obama.

You're building quite a record here today.

[Redbear]

20. The Poverty tour is not sponsored by Wal-Mart

Tavis Smiley's America IAM The African American Imprint Museum traveling collection has several sponsors including Wal-Mart, but it is not connected to the poverty tour.

Here is the poverty tour site: http://www.povertytour.smileyandwest.com/

The sponsors for the poverty tour are listed as Feeding America, The National Education Association, and AARP.

[EFerrari]

25. Wait, so this whole smear is false as well as hypocritical?

Who could have ever imagined.

[Autumn]

29. Imagine that

I am so shocked. Well not really.

[FrenchieCat]

30. It wasn't done intentionally,

and in addition, I know when to state that I am incorrect.

What I didn't do is attempt to rationalize it when I thought it true....
which is what you did.

[Marr]

40. Yeah-- when you're caught.

You aren't the first person to try smearing this particular tour around here. Someone took some time out from posting little blue links the other day to suggest that the speakers would be getting rich on this tour.

[FrenchieCat]

43. You can call me a liar if it will make you feel better, but I am not.

I was not caught, I was informed, and the information I was provided proved to be true,
and so I have said so. I could have easily simply asked the Mods to lock this thread,
if I felt "caught".

You can question my integrity all you want in order to feel righteous,
but I know the difference between those who willfully disinform,
and those who make a mistake, and I fall in the later category.

As to having an opinion about this Bus tour, we are all free to do that.....
just like many of us have opinions that are not in agreement about a lot of things.

[Marr]

27. The OP ought to be ashamed of themselves. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

37. I am not ashamed.....

I mined information that appeared to be correct,
but it wasn't. Walmart and Exxonmobile sponsored
another one of Tavis Smiley's tour project,
and I inavertently went to the wrong website....

I am allowed to make mistakes, and state that this was such...

I don't have to be ashamed, however,
considering how many people here post shit that isn't true,
or edit articles in order to make a point.

So I'm not perfect, but I'm not ashamed of that.
Thank you.

[Marr]

44. I'm sure you aren't. I said you should be. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

46. Thank goodness I don't have to rely on a perfect stranger to judge my character then......

of that, I am relieved.

I realize that you may be perfect in everyway,
and for that, I'm sure that you are very proud,
and I respect that about you.

[myrna minx]

31. Huh. Interesting. n/t

[Marr]

26. Odd-- you also insist that Obama's millions from Wall Street don't impact his politics.

You seem to have one standard for people like Cornell West, and another for people like Barack Obama. A free tank of gas would make West a corporate stooge, but a pile of Wall Street cash just means Obama is a popular fella.

[FrenchieCat]

28. Cornel West is the one raling against the Olgarchy.....

But in light of my error, the point I was making had not basis in fact.

[Marr]

36. "Had no basis in fact". In other words, a lie. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

48. A lie is something one tells while knowing that it isn't true......

and that wasn't the case. But if you feel that calling me a liar
makes me one to you, so be it. You can be the judge of me,
and there will be nothing that I can do about that.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Those are not the actual sponsors of the Poverty Tour

and you are doing 'cake and eat it too'. Michelle praised Walmart, in public, for poverty efforts. Walmart, which is NOT a sponsor of the Poverty Tour.

[frazzled]

34. Poverty tours: the last refuge of scoundrels

I'm always immediately on guard whenever I hear a politician or celebrity use poverty (in general, as opposed to, say, a specific situation like the famine in Somalia or a specific action) as a hook.

I think we should have learned that lesson already (I won't mention names of certain past presidential candidates who were appealing on the basis of poverty while taking millions from rich donors to pay their mistress to live in luxury).

That Mister Designer Suit and Mr Princeton Club have decided to take up the nebulous "poverty" banner to slam a president who has held tenaciously to raising Pell Grants, getting health care for the working poor through government subsidies, extending unemployment benefits--all during the worst recession in our lifetime -- is rather rich.

Now I think both Smiley and West are extremely smart, accomplished men, and nobody can accuse me of not being interested in issues of poverty, economic justice, fair housing, hunger, etc. But this is not the kind of grandstanding that I think does a thing to help these situations. But maybe I should trot down to Saint Sabina's on Chicago's South Side on Sunday evening and listen to them in person and judge for myself. I could be wrong, and would be happy to admit it. But I doubt it.

[nomb]

38. So I should always question the motive of those that help others? Got it. N't

[frazzled]

42. Talking ain't helping

Look, helping is actually going out and working at food banks, helping people find affordable housing (and pressing your local government to implement strong affordable housing laws), providing legal services, tutoring kids, and, yes, lobbying on the federal level. I've done many of these things (and more) over the past 35 years.

But flapping your mouth is not helping others.

[Gormy Cuss]

52. All of that is good, but too few people care to do that. An effort by well known personalities

to reinvigorate public support for anti-poverty efforts is a different tack and one that has in the past proved to be effective in shifting the political debate. If Smiley and West manage to do that, more power to them.

[Luminous Animal]

54. Given that Feeding America is one of the sponsors of the Poverty Tour...

it appears having high profile spokespeople are an important part of the effort.

[Bluenorthwest]

35. This is false. Poverty Tour Sponsors are AARP Foundation

The National Education Association and Feeding America. The attempt to smear by conflating two separate events is disrespectful of the actual sponsors and the actual goals of this tour.
The OP should retract this as incorrect, because it is. If the OP is concerned with actual facts as the OP claims.

[FrenchieCat]

41. The fact that you call it a smear illustrates exactly why

although I am not embarassed to own up to an error,
I am no liar.

But thank you.

[Bluenorthwest]

45. FC, you went out of your way to post false information without

checking your facts. No one says you are a liar, just lazy and far too willing to jump in with full fire and no prep. Too much ego and not enough respect for others and for facts. Your intentions are only known by you. Readers see what you write. Without fact checking. Look at how you talk to others on this thread, when you are wrong. "Walmart agrees with you" you snark. Nothing is gained by that. But if you are going to do it, be accurate as hell, because finger pointers have no room for error.

[FrenchieCat]

47. You are correct, I made a mistake, and it is true that my fact checking was lacking,

as it was the origins of my mistake...and because my ego is healthy and fine and not over the top and out of control, I have not hesitated in stated the facts of my mistake.

You can ride this horse about me and what you think of me all the way until November 2012, if it will make you feel righteous in your own perfection.......and I will not criticize you for it, because at the end of the day, if I am nothing else, I am fair enough.

[EFerrari]

49. So how do you explain your "mistake" in claiming Smiley

was advocating for sitting out the election which is patently untrue?

Or, is this just a "mistake" ridden day for you?

[FrenchieCat]

50. That is my opinion......

and it stands.

Beyond that,
You can ride my one admitted mistake all the way to the moon.....

[no limit]

51. It is my opinion that you called Obama a nazi

hey, it's just my opinion, and it stands.

[Luminous Animal]

53. Here is a link to the thread in which you originally made the incorrect claim that the Poverty Tour

was sponsored by Wal-Mart and which you were informed of your error.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1711184

[MrsPolly]

55. Frenchie Wasn't Wrong

This is my first post here, and heaven knows how many DU rules of etiquette I have violated already, but I had to register. Wal-Mart "partnered" with Feeding America, which is one of the bus tour sponsors: http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8803.aspx

How many hungry people get fed as a result of this, as opposed to Smiley and West's egos, is open to question. But Smiley's happily taken money from union-busting Wal-Mart for years: http://www.blackcommentator.com/184/184_tavis_smiley_fraser.html

So while the original post may have not recognized all the subtleties of Wal-Mart's participation, it is not inaccurate. Wal-Mart has been a consistent underwriter of Tavis Smiley's projects, and is underwriting this one, too--just more indirectly.

[Luminous Animal]

56. Yes and Feeding America also considers, ConAgra, Food Lion, General Mills,

Idol Gives Back, Kellogg Company, Kraft Foods and Kraft Foods Foundation, Kroger, The Lincy Foundation, Nestlé, Pepsico, Procter & Gamble, The Starr Foundation, and SUPERVALU partners, as well. Hell, they've even got "partners" called Anonymous!

Frenchie blatantly claimed that Wal-Mart is a SPONSOR of the Poverty Tour. It is not. Feeding America is and Wal-Mart is one donor to Feeding America and the use of the word partner, in this context, is as meaningless as calling an employee "assoiciate".

Quite simply, when Wal-Mart's accountants enter an amount to write-off their donation on their tax form, there is no tax item called "partner".

[MrsPolly]

58. Walmart: FeedingAmerica's

Oh, I'd consider two billion over five years more than just an accountant's write-off.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/feeding-america-president--ceo-responds-to-landmark-walmart-announcement-93580324.html

No wonder WalMart was the 2010 FA donor of the year.
http://annualreport.feedingamerica.org/forefront/advocacy/fundraising.aspx

Although, considering their enormous profits, and how they've continued to exploit their workers, I'm not ready to assign them a halo just yet.
http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-employees-pay

[Luminous Animal]

59. Who is assigning them a halo? I call orgs like Feeding America, poverty pimps.

But Feeding America calls ALL their donors, "partners". Even the anonymous ones. And yes, Wal-Mart took a tax credit for every single one of those two billion dollars.

[democracy1st]

57. I thought Mrs Obama was working with Walmart?