Customer Reviews

Hard Left

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've just had the opportunity to read this book, six years later. Even as some of the specifics, like the "Contract on America" period, have wound up on the dust-bin of history, all the basic themes are all still operative today. "Hard Left" is a concise and accessible overview of a number of issues that still face America, and recommended for anyone who listens to the arguments of the Right and feels that something just isn't, well...right.

A number of the 1-star reviewers here complain about "emotional arguments" (since emotion is not a part of humanity to be considered or discussed) or the lack of pages of extensive empirical data are missing the point. It's "Straight Talk" to regular Americans, not a statistical study and presentation. There's no shortage of books you could find in that vein. The form here is conversational, the way people talk to each other one on one. In this form, the book makes its' points well and is worth the read.

I was never very political until I started reading this book and I realized that I if don't vote I can't complain when the person I want does not win. I now understand more about the inner workings of the political arena. I will let my voice be heard and make my views know. I think that Tavis Smiley is an excellent spokes(person) and very in tune to the needs and the thinking of the black community. Thank you and keep up the great work.

Mr. Smiley seems like a likeable guy, but from what I have seen of him on BET, and other cable shows, he lacks any ability to articulate points using reason or objective facts. Unfortunately, his writing isn't much better. Many whites would consider him somewhat racist. I don't, I actually think he is truly searching for an answer, but his conclusion that the "right" is to blame for everything is tiring, particularly now as we hit 2000.

Something fresh is in order.

Written some eight years ago, I wonder if Tavis Smiley still expects the "party of Lincoln to re-propose slavery" since he thought we might "any day now" back in 1996. Goodness, I didn't realize what a horrible racist and evil person I was until I read this book but Smiley let me have it, with both barrels.

Following the general "I'm a liberal, hear me roar" rhetoric which has only grown more virulent with the election (and probable re-election) of Bush, Smiley lets his readers know that angry white right wingers are only out done in their evil destructive ways by those gross and disgusting black conservatives, which, Smiley calls an "oxymoron".

In other words, there really can't be anyone that's both black and a conservative, that would be an illogical construct, probably invented by evil whites, but he didn't actually say that, no, but he did write that they only got to where they are because white conservatives wanted to exploit them. Poor Powell, Rice, Watts, Thomas, Sowell and others.

Smily does have some good things to say. He believes (or at least did in 1996) that we ought to shut down the borders to illegals, deport those that are here now illegally, stop allowing so many immigrants to come here just because of family connections (they should be admitted because they have good work skills he proposes) and finally he proposes sanctions against employers that employ illegals.

Wow, for a minute I thought I was reading a conservative book. Look, now I know why I haven't heard of this guy before today, he'd never make it in liberal politics today, gosh, even a conservative espousing those views on immigration couldn't get elected. He also wrote that we ought to be able to cut down some old growth trees if it would help people and create jobs. Yeah, that'll go over with well with his fellow liberals, putting people over trees, wait, he's a racist and wants to ruin the environment, maybe he's really a white conservative Christian in disguise.

This reminds me of something I learned a good deal about in Tammy Bruce's book The New Thought Police. The left has no room for opposing viewpoints. And, ironically, Smiley, in this book, contends that one of the huge problems of the right is that the right doesn't allow dissension or drifts from the "party" line. It was the GOP that had speakers at its convention that are publicly known for being pro-abortion. Quickly, name the speaker at the Dems convention that is anti-abortion. Perhaps Smileys' contention might have been more true 8 years ago, but today, he's 180 degrees backwards.

I did get some enjoyment out of this quick read (about three hours or so) because it showed me the viewpoints of someone that had a proud "African America Liberal" label. I'm sure some of these viewpoints have evolved since the writing of this book, never the less, it was eye opening.

He believes that a black marrying a white is a betrayal and that nothing could be more harmful to the black community. Then he trashes Partrick Buchanans concerns about the diluting of the European blood in America. I had to laugh. As a white Christian conservative I'd like to think that I'd marry someone that was both a Christian and a conservative because those are my values, but that I'd not give a thought to skin color. I guess that makes me a racist too.

That reminds me of the other funny thing Smiley talked about. He thinks we conservatives are, or would be, angry at Asians if racial preferences were dropped at places like the UC system here in California (because they as a group stand to gain the most ground). God, that's a funny one. All of my Asian friends from high school went on to college and better jobs than me. God bless them. I'm the first to admit they worked harder than me in school, were more dedicated to the idea of college and were more supported by their families (in regard to college). I never once felt the "system" was against me, I made my own choices. I once met a refugee from Iran, a sweet woman that barely escaped with her family, she told me that she was denied entrance to a UC school because Persians are classified as white. It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.

I believe that Smiley makes a great case in his book, a great case for staying a strong conservative and fighting for conservative causes, that is. I do recommend it a little bit, for those that are interested in the feelings of an angry African American liberal that was happy O.J. Simpson got away with killing a couple of whites, this book will fit the bill.

Without exception the worst writing I have ever seen. No facts, no figures, just Tavis' opinions abound, presented as 'quasi-facts'. Pick up a Cornal West book (race matters, etc) for quality 'left-leaning' reading.

This book was written the way Tavis speaks, intelligently. A lot of people close their ears and eyes when it comes to hearing the truth about what they can't experience and understand so they'd rather belittle Smiley's point of view and experiences to "reverse" racism or tiresome rhetoric. But then nothing more is expected from those who walk through life privileged. Even the most liberal white man could never understand the plight of minorities, let alone conservatives, the party of I-have-mine-screw-you.

I consider myself a liberal democrat; politically, I am very close to Mr. Smiley. However, the lack of insight or intellectual rigor which he offers with this once-over presents complex views in broad and often incoherent strokes. Mr. Smiley's obvious lack of background on issues as broad as racism or as complex as affirmative action shines through. However, it is amusing in a way to watch the academic equivilant of a toddler playing with an uzi.

Thanks, but we don't need a liberal limbaugh.

Tavis Smiley is one of the most irritating television personalities I've heard, and he is worse as a writer. He taps into Black America's thirst for knowledge, any kind of knowledge, but unfortunately he doesn't offer much in the way of substance. Someone needs to pull the plug on him, and someone else need to stop printing this drivel. And this isn't random racism -- I'm an AFrican American woman who thinks WE can do better in producing good commentary. Clarence Page and George Curry offer much better insights than Smiley does.

Tavis Smiley is a self-centered dimwit. Who is he preaching to?
Why is his opinions so important? Maybe his prose would be worthy if he looked at the whole picture. His writing is his opinion. Readers buy books of quality. This is not quality it is meant to brainwash the mis-informed. This book is written like a mad man wrote it. Read at your own risk. A real waste.
And Tavis Smiley views of his race is a real disgrace.