Contributor: Democrats, do not ignore Stephen A. Smith

LA Times via MSN ^ | March 9, 2025 | Kurt Bardella

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Hear me on this: Stephen A. Smith is no joke.

Democrats, do not underestimate him. Do not mock him. Do not take him lightly. Do not ignore him.

Do I think the face of ESPN (who, according to multiple sources, just inked a five-year, $100-million contract extension) and the most influential man in sports media is going to run for president on your ticket? No, I do not. But he’s not wrong when he boasts that he could wipe the floor in a debate with just about any other prospective Democratic candidate (Pete Buttigieg and New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being the exceptions).....

Every day on his nationally syndicated radio show and on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith offers a master class in storytelling, debating, reporting and entertainment......

Smith effortlessly blends charisma, passion, knowledge, controversy, humor and emotion to provoke conversation and debate. To me, that sounds like a recipe the Democrats could use right now. Ever since Donald Trump came down that golden escalator, the Republican Party has been remaking itself, putting larger-than-life personalities who can dominate the new media landscape at the tip of the spear. Meanwhile, Democrats have buried their heads in the sand, holding out hope that legacy media would carry their water for them and falling further and further behind Republicans.

Politics is a reflection of the culture. Smith is the most influential voice shaping sports culture. He commands the attention and respect of owners and players including the Cowboys’ Jerry Jones and the Lakers' LeBron James, not to mention the fans. How many Democrats have anything like his cultural capital?

[where's_the_Outrage?]

"Smith effortlessly blends charisma, passion, knowledge, "

Is there another Stephen A. Smith as this doesn't match the guy I've seen?

[hinckley buzzard]

Smith is interesting, but he doesn’t warrant this tongue bath.

[suthener]

“Smith effortlessly blends charisma, passion, knowledge, “

“Is there another Stephen A. Smith as this doesn’t match the guy I’ve seen?”

The only one I’ve ever seen is a low IQ black guy on ESPN (seen only at the gym) who appears to get very animated about sportsball. But his demographic does appear to be what the democrats are focusing on.

[Tell It Right]

Nor does he warrant $20 million/year salary.

[pepsionice]

On the spectrum....I would put Smith same position as Bill Clinton of the 1990s....definitely further right than Obama, Newsom, and Gov Whitmer.

The whacked-out far-left will hate the guy.

[ClaytonForester]

“Smith effortlessly blends charisma, passion, knowledge, controversy, humor and emotion to provoke conversation and debate.”

Seriously? He’s loud and obnoxious which apparently makes him seem humorous to some people. Like Bill Maher he occasionally gets something right but only occasionally. He’s not mean or evil just not something special.

[1Old Pro]

+1

[Kudsman]

He strikes me as a blowhard that believes he knows something.

[gibsonguy]

Any rat, especially a black one, who shows a particle of common sense gets the God treatment from MSM. They are desperate for a new Obama to swoop in and save the Dems.

[V_TWIN]

They can have Stephen A. Smith.....I’ll stick with Stephen Miller

[datricker]

How is that different than most politicians in DC? I didn’t know much about this guy but at least he had worked most his life, and in the private sector

[SunkenCiv]

He's just a disgruntled Demwit, and appears to veer, but don't be fooled, he's still on their plantation. The rest of the keywords, sorted:

• Stephen A. Smith Leads Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama in Betting Odds for 2028 Democrat Nomination [02/23/2025]
• WATCH: James Carville Tells Stephen A. Smith to 'Stop Running His *(*(&*& Mouth About Politics' [02/20/2025]
• Stephen A Smith says he would divorce Serena Williams for Super Bowl halftime show cameo [02/12/2025]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says he feels like a fool for voting for Kamala Harris [01/26/2025]
• Stephen A. Smith torches Democrats, praises Trump in fiery 'Bill Maher' appearance: 'He's closer to normal than what we're seeing on the left' [01/25/2025]
• Stephen A. Smith Has Officially Changed His Political Stance [12/15/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith Tells Dems to 'Shut Up' After Election Losses, 'Stop Talking About the Past' [12/03/2024]
• Stephen A Smith | Club Random with Bill Maher [11/25/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith distances self from Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel cries over Trump win: 'Wouldn't have been me' [11/07/2024]
• 'It's All Over': Stephen A. Smith Says Shooter 'Handed Donald Trump The Election' [07/16/2024]
• California delegate says Black women will 'blow the party up' if Demcrats pick a 'White man over Kamala Harris' [07/03/2024]
• 'We Gon' Blow The Party Up': Delegate Warns Black Women Will Destroy Dems If They Choose 'White Man Over Kamala' [07/02/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith Says Black WNBA Players Are Jealous Of Caitlin Clark [06/03/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith Admits Black WNBA Women Are Jealous Of Caitlin Clark Because Of Her Race [06/03/2024]
• Charles Barkley Makes His Opinion On Border Crisis Very Clear [04/08/2024]
• 'How in the Hell!' Stephen A. Smith Rips Apart Dems' Insane Economic Policies [02/08/2024]
• WATCH: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Furious at Biden, Believes Trump 'On the Verge of Getting Reelected' [02/08/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith brands Jason Whitlock 'a devil', and 'worse' than a white supremacist: 'The worst human being you will ever meet' [01/12/2024]
• Stephen A. Smith: A 'Disgrace' for Democrats to Beg Biden to Run for Re-Election [09/06/2023]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: America's Last Honest Sports Pundit? [04/17/2023]
• 2015 death of Murdaugh-linked teen Stephen Smith now considered a homicide [03/21/2023]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith laments Broncos' coaching hire: 'As a Black man, it is sickening' [01/27/2022]
• Stephen A. Smith reveals on ESPN he has COVID-19 [12/21/2021]
• Stephen A. Smith: Kyrie Irving 'Selfish' for Vaccine Hesitancy -- 'He Has the Right to Go the Hell Away' [10/14/2021]
• South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh shot months after wife and son were killed in unsolved case [09/04/2021]
• Stephen A. Smith: Shohei Ohtani 'harming' baseball because he 'doesn't speak English' [07/12/2021]
• Stephen A. Smith on Brad Stevens Taking Celtics' GM Job: 'It's Beautiful to Be a White Guy' [06/03/2021]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says Tim Tebow NFL comeback is 'white privilege' [05/22/2021]
• ESPN Host Stephen A. Smith Goes On 'White Privilege' Rant About Tim Tebow [05/21/2021]
• No, Stephen A. Smith, the hiring of Steve Nash to Coach the Brooklyn Nets is NOT 'white privilege' [09/08/2020]
• Charles Barkley On If Steve Nash Hire Was White Privilege [09/04/2020]
• Infectious disease expert slams NIH funded study that panned Hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: 'It's a sham' [04/28/2020]
• Medical Expert Sees 'Beginning of the End' in Coronavirus Fight with New Treatment Results [04/03/2020]
• If We Cancel Kate Smith, We Must Cancel The New York Yankees [04/23/2019]
• 64, who was left starving and unable to stand but still deemed 'fit to find work' DIES in hospital [04/21/2019]
• Stephen A. Smith To Blacks: Meeting With Trump Does Not Make You A Sellout, Respect The Office [01/16/2017]
• ESPN's Stephen A Slams Kaepernick for Not Voting -- 'Flaming Hypocrite' [11/09/2016]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith to Young Black Kids: Racism 'Doesn't Exist' for You [03/01/2016]
• Jackie Robinson West parents are suing ESPN and Stephen A. Smith [02/12/2016]
• Backlash Is Swift After ESPN's Stephen Smith Lectures Black Protesters About 'All Lives Matter' [07/21/2015]
• Mika: Stephen A. Smith Made 'Absolutely Valid Point' About Domestic Violence [07/30/2014]
• ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Gets Taste of Out of Context Liberal Wrath [07/25/2014]
• How can the NBA be a black league (Charles Barkley) if NBA commish says it's a multiracial league? [04/30/2014]
• Stephen A. Smith: Ostracizing Black Conservatives "Makes Absolutely No Sense Whatsoever" [12/15/2013]
• Stephen A. Smith denies using racial slur while talking about Kobe Bryant, tape says otherwise [10/25/2012]
• Labor faces a choice between two agonies (Australia's Gillard government in its death throes) [02/05/2012]
• All he does is win... Tebow music video [12/12/2011]
• STEPHEN A. SMITH DEFENDS RUSH LIMBAUGH'S BID FOR THE RAMS [10/12/2009]
• Stephen A. Smith On NFL Players Not Playing For Rush: "I Don't Give A Damn What They Said" (Video) [10/12/2009]
• Quote of the day- Mark Levin interview with Stephen A. Smith (must listen!) [09/20/2009]
• From McLuhan to Artest - Street-fightin' men stomp the quiet virtues. [12/02/2004]

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I have never seen or heard him. He has done well for himself in his career, but how does his real-world experience give him what it takes to be president? It isn’t enough just to have opinions and to talk well.

[Eccl 10:2]

Seriously, this is a guy to watch for the Democrats. Do not underestimate him.

I know at times he seems overanimated, and even a bit foolish. But once he polishes his political angles, and gets articulate with them, the Dems will rally around him. He will get political coaches and all kinds of media time.

He won’t be afraid to go on Joe Rogan (and others) like Kamala or Walz, I guarantee you. In fact. I’ll bet Rogan has him on his show before the year is out.

You don’t have to believe him or like him. But the Dems and the media will. That will make him formidable.

[vespa300]

Yeah, Yeah, another “rising star”....another new name, the latest hype, blah blah blah.

Democrats are children, just pure emotions. At this points, you just can’t help but hate em.

[Resolute Conservative]

“But he’s not wrong when he boasts that he could wipe the floor in a debate with just about any other prospective Democratic candidate (Pete Buttigieg and New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being the exceptions).

Buttparty and DonkeyFace? If they can best him he’s an idiot.

[joshua c]

they talk about personality

how does his policy positions differ from the usual leftist tripe?

[Cuttnhorse]

Smith is a loud-mouth hack...a black equivalent to James Carville.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[citizen]

2015:
Hear me on this: Donald Trump is no joke.

Do not underestimate him. Do not mock him. Do not take him lightly. Do not ignore him.

But, this is 2025 and Smith is no Trump. He's just loud but can make some headway. I do not know if Smith can survive his banishment from the Democrat plantation.