FLASHBACK: Sharpton Calls Dean's Agenda "Anti-Black"

[DoveTurnedHawk]

We've had many threads related to the debate earlier today, but I didn't see any that dealt with Sharpton's past criticism of Dean during this primary campaign, nor any that dealt with Dean's past failure to support race-based affirmative action.

In my opinion, Dean has been very sketchy on affirmative action, an issue which is very important to me (as in one of my very top three issues). In light of his past comments on affirmative action, anyone who thinks Dean is somehow stellar on issues of race has not been paying very close attention to his record, in my opinion.

Here is the original article that describes Sharpton's criticisms:

Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton launched a blistering attack on Howard Dean yesterday, accusing his rival of promoting an "anti-black agenda."

"Howard Dean's opposition to affirmative action, his current support for the death penalty and historic support of the NRA's agenda amounts to an anti-black agenda that will not sell in communities of color in this country," Sharpton said in a statement.

He said his comments were in response to a news report yesterday that Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) plans to endorse Dean, the former Vermont governor and presumed front-runner for the 2004 Democratic nomination. Sharpton has had a long-standing rivalry with the congressman's father, Jesse L. Jackson, who twice ran for president.

"Any so-called African American leader that would endorse Dean despite his anti-black record is mortgaging the future of our struggle for civil rights and social justice," Sharpton said.

His statement cited a 1995 interview in which Dean appeared to question the need for affirmative action programs based solely on race. "I think we ought to look at affirmative action programs based not on race but on class," Dean said on CNN's "Late Edition."

<...>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31895-2003Oct28.html

Here is a slightly more complete transcript of Dean's comments on affirmative action:

Dean: You know, I think we ought to look at affirmative action programs based not on race, but on class, and opportunity to participate.

CNN: You sound like Newt Gingrich.

Dean: People from working class families who have not had the educational opportunities, regardless about whether they're white or black, ought to be given some kind of opportunity. And that may mean doing something for those groups of people.

But I don't think it ought to be done by race.

(From CNN on April 9, 1995, re-aired on CNN on October 29, 2003.)

Here is a long thread from a few months ago on this issue that may be illuminative to some:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=609403

DTH

[Renew Deal]

1. Sharpton was 100% right in that WaPo article the other day.

But he was way over board last night. He almost seemed like a disrupter. Maybe SHarpton was making a play for the black vote.

[Marian]

6. Disagree.

Perhaps we watched a different debate; I think it's about time someone tell the truth about any kind of prejudice the candidates have evidenced and that is just what Sharpton did last night.

So the truth is disrupting? I think I've heard that somewhere before.

[realdem]

2. Is this older than say ... 12 hours? Why is it here?

[Renew Deal]

3. This is GDP, not LBN.

Look around

[wndycty]

4. You see its not pro-Dean. . .

. . .so some on this board will look at anything, technical or otherwise, as a reason to have it locked. Make sure your punctuation or capitalization is up to snuff.

[Marian]

5. Gotta love wndycty!

eom

[DoveTurnedHawk]

7. LOL!

I get the feeling you don't like my posts. :-)

DTH