Let me see if I have this straight: talk show host Tavis Smiley blasted Rev. Al Sharpton and other black leaders because they're not pressing President Obama to promote a black agenda? Yeah, that would be a brilliant move for Obama.

It's not enough that he's under constant assault from birthers, Tea Partiers, neocons, Fox News, assorted hate groups and the Republicans. It's not enough that he's struggling for support of his goals on health care, the economy, climate control, financial reform, fighting terrorism and putting terrorists on trail. It's not enough that he's criticized from the left and from the right, for either pursuing bipartisanship or not trying hard enough, as he yields on certain positions and sticks to others - all while the GOP seeks to wrest control of Congress in the midterm elections.

No, if Obama really wants to break gridlock, siphon the Republicans' energy and give his sagging approval ratings a bump, now is the perfect time to champion policies designed specifically for black folks.