Sharpton Admonishes Blacks Who Voted For Bush Over Gay Marriage Fears

[davidinalameda]

Go Al Go!

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/011005sharpton.htm

African Americans were taken in by a "con" game by Republicans last November former presidential candidate Al Sharpton said.

Speaking to parishioners at Atlanta's Butler Street Christian Methodist Episcopal on Sunday, Sharpton said Bush manipulated the gay marriage debate to draw attention away from the Iraq war and his domestic problems.

"I think George Bush manipulated a lot of religious feelings about marriage when the president has little or nothing to do with marriage," Sharpton said.

[liberal N proud]

1. Go Al Go!

You are so correct.

[purduejake]

2. Sharpton is great...

Why didn't I see him in DC on the 6th? Or was he there?

[RubyDuby in GA]

3. Don't know anything about that, but

I got to meet him this past Saturday. What a character!
And he's totally right about getting suckered in by gay marriage.
I hope the local person that he was aiming this message at got the message. BISHOP EDDIE LONG!!!

[jdj]

45. He said this throughout the whole campaign.

He is right on point, I honestly wish we had more dems with balls like his.

[BrainRants]

4. I really wish Al didn't have such a controversial past,

he was a great candidate. Still had the best lines in all the primary debates, his humor was genuine and he was the only one with the balls to answer questions honestly.

I gained an enormous amount of respect for him eduring the past year or so, I hope he can stay relevent.

[BrendaStarr]

8. One of the reasons Al has such a controversial past

Is because the Republicans have been gunning for him for decades.

Its the same reason Clinton was so controversial.

Also because the Democratic party likes to keep its liberals poor and powerless so he used what he could to make up the difference as in the last campaign.

I like Al. He was my candidate in the primaries,and no I'm not. And though he certainly had offers from rich people he resisted going third party.

[NYC]

14. Bush has a controversial past.

It didn't hold him back.

[goclark]

26. Bush has a controversial NOW and PAST

and it hasn't hurt him one damn bit.

Al Sharpton is a self made man that came up by his bootstraps. As an African American that is mighty hard.

GW was hatched with a silver spoon in his beak and he is the unpresident of the free world.

Al Rocks!

[Barkley]

40. "Arnold has has controversial past too."

It didn't hold him back at all:

If a Al Sharpton (or any black man) had grobed that many white women he would wouldn't run down the street to say nothing of public office.

[NYC]

43. When you are a Republican, any controversial past

is mere "youthful indiscretion", even if it happened 5 minutes ago.

[jdj]

46. It's all about the Media.

It's not just an entity, it's a rightwing weapon.

[okieinpain]

5. yes, too bad he has all of that baggage. he could do a lot of good.

[Chovexani]

12. "Could"?

In this community Rev. Al has done a LOT of good. And continues to. I should know, one of his lawyers represented my family in a discrimination case we filed.

No one in this town gives a flying fuck about that old bullshit except people who want to dilute his very important message. I wonder why certain DUers always want to bring up that old crap?

[BrainRants]

16. Sorry, didn't mean it in a confrontational way...

Admittedly, my knowledge of his past is probably the result of the slime machine. I'll plead ignorance. :)

I don't live anywhere near NYC (Midwest) to have any first hand knowledge of his past, however my admiration is mostly based on his past year in the big show, where he has been the "go-to guy" for honest, no-spin opinions on just about every topic.

My social circles cover a wide politcal spectrum, and he was the one everyone was talking about, almost all (except the hardcore wingnuts, hey you can't pick your family) in a positive way.

I'm on his side, I thought he was a great candidate. I want more!

[okieinpain]

27. because that old crap is relevant in al's case. any time he makes

a good point, all the repugs have to do is drag out tawana.

[Laughing Mirror]

15. The rich man has a lot of baggage too, Sharpton has said

But the rich man can pay somebody to carry it for him.

[whistle]

6. Re-poll the african american communities where the votes...

...differed substantially from the exit polls. I think they'll find that a poll of vote verification will expose the fraud and vote stealing.

[JI7]

7. it's not just Black voters but Latino also

we all know how the Republicans exploit race issue , especially in the south to get white voters.

but now they are doing the same with the gay rights issue when it comes to black and latino voters.

i have a latina friend who lives with her father and step mother in a small apartment and get by paycheck to paycheck with all having to work in low paying jobs to support themselves. i convinced her to support kerry based on economic issues but she said she didn't like him after hearing him talk about abortion and gay rights. she also thinks bush is some good christian. not everyone votes on economic issues.

but it's something our party will have to deal with. perhaps the liberal christians can convince them that it IS a christian value to be accepting of gays. i'm not christian but i'm sure the liberals who are can help out here.

[BrainRants]

17. By most every measure, Jesus was a Liberal!

The Wingnuts usually come back with "Well, what would Jesus think of Abortion and Gay Marriage?"

He'd probaly think they were more compassionate than stoning, the general method of dealing with the issues back in the day.

[area51]

38. Jesus

The republinazis' view of Jesus is in the cartoon "Supply-side Jesus".


"Prosperity is just around the corner." -- Herbert Hoover
"The economy has turned a corner." -- GW Bush

Herbert Hoover = GW Bush

Neither man cared about the Depression their economic policies created.

[VegasWolf]

9. I do admire Sharpton's thoughts and humor! n/t

[hilster]

10. "Go Al Go!"

so glad to know that he lives just a few blocks away from me..

[jukes]

11. TX, rev sharpton!

testify!!!

[jhain]

13. His Convention moment..

is the high point of the Democratic Party's year, imo:

http://tinyurl.com/5zf59

snipped:

Look at the current view of our nation worldwide and the results of our unilateral foreign policy. We went from unprecedented international support and solidarity on September 12, 2001, to hostility and hatred as we stand here tonight. How did we squander the opportunity to unite the world for democracy and to commit to a global fight against hunger and disease? We did it with a go-it-alone foreign policy based on flawed intelligence. We were told that we were going into Iraq because there were weapons of mass destruction. We’ve lost hundreds of soldiers. We’ve expended over 200 billion dollars at a time when we face record state deficits. And when it became clear, that the weapons were not there, the president sought to shift the purpose of the war and to challenge our patriotism.

We are also faced with the prospect, in the next four years, that two or more of the Supreme Court Justice seats will become available. This year, as we celebrated the anniversary of Brown vs. the Board of Education, this court voted 5 to 4 on critical issues of women’s rights and civil rights. It is frightening to think that the gains of the civil and women’s rights movements of the last century could be reversed if this administration sits in the White House for four more years.

This is not about a party. It is about living up to the promise of America.



more

[BrainRants]

18. Brilliant! He and Obama had all the talking points! n/t

[Stand and Fight]

20. Obama my ass!

Obama is no where near the caliber of leader and statesman as Al Sharpton. Just look at his recent statements -- I bet you Al Sharpton would have signed with Senator Boxer!

[BrainRants]

21. I really wasn't commenting on statesmanship or making a comparison.

I was commenting on their talking points relative to the rest of the party.

To your observation, Obama is an incoming freshman Senator.
Sharpton is a seasoned politician.

It seems to me your comparison is irrelivant today. However if you're looking for a future statesman, I believe Obama will be more than capable of effectively carrying that flame in the future.

Not flaming you, just clarifying.

edit: spelling

[Boosterman]

41. Hmm what did Obama do?

I really like him btw. He does seem like he shows great promise.

[JoFerret]

37. Sharpton presents a great alternative

to the mealy-mouthed and sanctimonious Obama on this issue.

[ernstbass]

19. Al Sharpton is a breath of fresh air!

[Rainscents]

22. I Love Al!!!

He is very funny and everything he says is always right! Al is true LIBERAL!!!

[DrZeeLit]

24. Al is unconditionally consistent. I admire that and his humor. n/t

[donheld]

23. Too many Democrats unjustly bash Sharpton

He is right on the money in this one, just as he was in his speach at the convention.

[LiberalinNC]

25. Right on AL!

He's so right! :)

[xchrom]

28. what a character -- i love him.

he is a breath of freah air in a stale world.

[JoFerret]

29. Thanks Al -

- you're a pal.
(I do wish he could find a way to put Tawana Brawley behind him. That was such a big error. And it wouldn't matter except real people had their lives ruined by that episode of poor judgement. An apology would be a good start.)

[Just Me]

30. If only he was "granted" broader coverage,...that reached more people,....

,...more often.

The man is spot-on almost all the time!!!

He articulates fundamental "values" with clarity and humor and honesty.

I just love to see him in action.

I just hate that the RW has persecuted and diminished his character.

I hope he continues to GET OUT and SPEAK because he is just so fabulous at touching people.

[CornField]

31. The black community needs to be reminded of how the "church" protested

inter-racial marriages 30+ years ago. Several states had passed laws to ban such marriages until the Supreme Court delivered a ruling which struck them all down.

[bumblebee1]

32. Rev AL

I could listen to Rev Al Sharpton all day. I loved his speech at the Dem. National convention.

[bling bling]

33. I know some women who deserve

to be admonished also. I couldn't believe how many women rushed out to vote "yes" last year to amend our constitution to ensure that gay people can't get married. The turnout of voters was unprecedented for that time of year. Many women in my state evidently need a history lesson.

[fortyfeetunder]

34. Shows black folks are immune to critical thinking

I was frankly appalled that the black ministry, of all people, had promoted discriminatory and intolerant behavior, and their black sheeple followed them to voting for *.

The irony is in voting their "interest" in Bush for eliminating gay marriage they were voting against losses of civil rights for themselves.

I will have a very hard time going to any of those churches again....

[otohara]

35. Ken Blackwell Comes to Mind

the man is terrified of "gay marriage" - had to steal election to prevent gays from marrying

[Vidar]

36. Good point for Al.

[BiggJawn]

39. And I'll admonish White voters who got taken in by Bush.

Shame on you! (yeah, I know you're here, lurking to see if we're as crazy as Rush tells you we are)

What business of the Government is it, anyway? Marriage is a "contract" between 2 people and their god, right? NOT a covenant with The State?

Oh, I forgot, The thought of Gays getting married somehow threatens the already 50% percent Hetero divorce rate...My bad...<sarcasm>

[livinginphotographs]

42. Al Sharpton is awesome.

As a white man, I don't feel the least bit threatened by all his "baggage."

If he was a rich white guy, he wouldn't have to worry about it.

Guys like Al are what the Dem party needs; someone who has the balls to stand up for what he believes in, and doesn't court minorities in the primaries just to turn around and abandon them in the general election. I'm a realist: he didn't have a shot in hell of winning, and neither did Carol Mosely Braun. But if I thought they did, I'd have voted for both of them in the primaries (Carol had dropped about before Virginia's primary)

[w4rma]

44. Bullseye!! (nt)