Jamal Simmons and His Glorious Eyebrows Will Analyze Politics for CBS News
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 8:00AM
Jamal SimmonsYou know who I love? Jamal Simmons. The Man from Morehouse. That one guy your grandma screams about how you didn't land him? What's wrong with you? She bellows. You had a shot, right? I'm never going to have any great-grandbabies!
What a great guy.
Met him once at a conference at Harvard University. Got him to reveal that TJ Holmes was aware of my existence during my hardcore Google Stalking of TJ. (That ended after my beloved Teege got the "marrieds.") I asked Jamal if he would like to be Google Stalked due to the fact that so many Snob readers though he was the bee's knees.
Oh, the nervous laughter!
Now my favorite political analyst with the witty quips, keen political insight and those gorgeously thick eyebrows is coming to CBS News to give his take on the Democrats during the Midterm elections and he was kind enough to grant The Snob a little Q&A!
Coincidentally, the Morehouse-educated Simmons is the first black political analyst CBS has ever had. Sure. CBS had been on the forefront of diversity in other ways with a female evening news anchor in Katie Couric and African American reporters and producers of all backgrounds. But no black political analysts.
Enters Simmons and his encyclopedia-like resume in politics. He's worked as a United States Trade Representative during the first Clinton Administration. He worked with President Clinton during the 1992 campaign. He was a communications aide for Vice President Al Gore during his presidential run. He was a traveling press secretary for presidential candidates Bob Graham and Gen. Wesley Clark. He's worked for Sen. Max Cleland and was Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick's chief of staff at one point. He's also taken on advisory roles for the Democratic National Committee and for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.
Meaning -- Simmons knows his stuff.
We chatted over email about his appointment, minorities in the media and the Democrats' effort to get out the vote by reaching out to black bloggers.
Snob: With the advent of Obama's presidency and so many other strides by minorities in high profile positions, sometimes the media seems to be lacking in diversity. Is there an issue where a black man is good enough to lead the country, but not good enough to lead the nightly news?
Jamal Simmons: First there are really only three broadcast newscasts so the universe is very small and two of them are led by women. That’s progress. We have had African American men in the anchor chair. Remember Max Robinson at ABC. Also Bryant Gumbel was a very successful anchor on the Today Show for years. It has happened before. It will happen again.
Snob: Recently the Democrats have increased their efforts to get out the black vote in the Mid-terms. Chairman Tim Kaine met with influential black bloggers and now Rep. Clyburn had an on-the-record Q&A with bloggers Thursday. But some have been critical about how well the DNC has worked with black online media, as often the Democrats and the White House focus on more traditional black media outlets like the Tom Joyner Show or Ebony Magazine. What do you think of the DNC's efforts to reach out to black bloggers and voters with November less than a month away? And do you think the DNC will continue to reach out to the black online community and be proactive once November is over with or will there be a return to the status quo?
JS: The DNC has to do more outreach to all communities in the Democratic coalition and it has to be consistent. We can’t fall back into the old paradigm of waiting until the last few weeks to ramp up minority outreach. It’s too much like a one night stand where the Party says and does whatever it takes to get you to be with them and then never calls afterward. It makes you feel cheap afterward and the next time they come around you’re a little more immune to the sweet talk.
Snob: What do you think of your deal with CBS and what are you hoping to accomplish as an analyst?
JS: CBS has been great to me. Everyone is very welcoming and they are clear about their expectations from and for me and the possibilities that exist. My goal is to give viewers an insight based on years traveling the country as a campaign worker and relationships with people who are on the ground. I hate the echo chamber of the Beltway. In fact even hate saying “echo chamber” and “Beltway” because that’s already too cliché.
Snob: What things do you have on tap for the near future? You're on TV, so we're hoping well see more of you everywhere. What are some projects you're working on?
JS: I want to keep speaking around the country to large business groups and young people too. I want young minorities to know that the work they put in now with a lot of sacrifice can lead to wonderful opportunities, but there are few shortcuts. It’s not easy but anything is possible.
Simmons' job with CBS is effective immediately as he will provide insight on the 2010 midterms.
Reader Comments (4)
Nice.
Sorry about your computer woes. I think we need to fundraise for you to get a MacBook Pro. ;-) Love the blog as always.
Never seen or heard this guy, but if he is like the other blacks who get teevee air time, he is just going to pariott the network's line which is to attack President Obama. In spite of his "encyclopedia-like resume in politics".
CBS is no different than Fox and CNN which are lapdogs for the republicans. Anone who doubts that can try listing the number of black people and Democrats who appear on the chat shows.
Bob Schieffer = John McCain, anyone.
Hey, you got namechecked in today's Observer newspaper in England. Hadn't come across your blog before- greetings from London!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/03/jon-stewart-barack-obama
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