Longshot Democrat Sharpton to stay in race

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON - Al Sharpton, an asterisk in polls measuring support for the Democratic presidential candidates, told the head of the national party Thursday that he's in this campaign for the long haul.

In a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, Sharpton said he is staying in the race to ensure the Democratic Party platform reflects minority concerns.

"I will continue to campaign vigorously until the last day of the convention to give voice to all Americans who have been too long taken for granted by inside-the-Beltway policies and politicians," wrote Sharpton, one of two blacks in the race until Carol Moseley Braun withdrew last week.

McAuliffe has said he hopes the Democratic field, currently at seven, will be trimmed by early February, when several states hold primaries or caucuses.

The reverend from New York praised McAuliffe's proposal for a March 25 event with party leaders, which Sharpton characterized as a chance to raise money to retire the debts that losing candidates incurred over their campaigns. The DNC, however, had a different take on the so-called "unity" event, at which former presidents Clinton and Carter are expected to appear.

more: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/7772607.htm

[robsul82]

1. Well, yeah.

At the convention, I'm convinced it'll be Dean, Kerry, Edwards, Clark, Sharpton, and Kucinich. Lotsa egos.

Later.

RJS

[The Sushi Bandit]

2. This is my cut on the President-VP match-ups for the convention

President-Vice President
Kerry - Clark
Edwards - Kucinich
Dean - Sharpton (LOL)

[Terwilliger]

3. Did he even go to Iowa?

I think Al Sharpton is in the race to disrupt Howard Dean.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Al Sharpton is in the race for Al Sharpton

He is trying to become the unofficial leader of black America and gain power in the party. I'm glad that he finished dead last in Iowa among candidates who campaigned there.

[lancdem]

9. I agree

[shivaji]

14. Sharpton is playing the same game as Jesse Jackson which is

to play power broker at the convention by bartering the few
delegates he will win to others desperately seeking to add
to their own totals for a possible win by securing majority
of delegates.

In return, Sharpton will be promised a list of goodies, all
designed to benefit Sharpton.

[Very Good Dem]

18. Nice to know you can read Sharpton's mind

and to see you attribute nefarious motives to him that you don't attribute to other candidates who have no better chance than he has of getting the nomination.

[shivaji]

20. My guess is the other fringe candidates will drop out after..

March primaries....but Sharpton will stay into the convention.
You will see....

[Valjean]

4. Sharpton, Please Withdraw

After watching Al Sharpton's performance on "Real Time", I realize why the Tawana Brawley episode has stuck so well. Sharpton had very little substance and was 100% soundbite.

His message is so completely tailored to a "black only" audience that he is hopeless as a uniter. Don't we all wish we had Dr King back with us. Jackson, Sharpton and Farrakhan do nothing but create greater racial division for their own benefit.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Please don't include Jackson in the same group as Sharpton and Farrakhan

I will admit that I have some problems Jesse Jackson, but he is definitely head and shoulders above Sharpton and Farrakhan.

[morgan2]

8. agreed

I think someone should tell Sharpton off. Tell him he should stop making civil rights always about the black man, and make it about everyone. He needs to read up on Martin Luther King and stop trying to divide the population and learn how to unite them.

[Very Good Dem]

11. Yeah-where does Sharpton get off thinking civil rights is about black folk

[morgan2]

12. the point is

its not ONLY about black people. A lot of the time Sharpton acts like it is. Thats wrong. Even if 99% of civil rights abuses are against one group that doesn't mean you ignore the 1%.

[Very Good Dem]

16. Sharpton is not claiming it's only about black people . . .

Unfortunately, some people only seem to hear and see black whenever black people talk about civil rights. But Sharpton often talks about civil rights in a broader context than you give him credit for:

Al Sharpton on Massachusetts Supreme Court decision upholding the right to gay marriage, November 18, 2003:

"Today’s decision, while not going the full distance to fully and legally recognizing gay and lesbian marriage gets us much closer to the finish line. I applaud the Massachusetts court for having the courage to make the correct finding that all human beings should have equal access to civil rights and institutions, including the right to marry.

"Today’s decision is a victory, but we will not stop until we have total victory in the form of equality for all Americans regardless of race, color or sexual orientation in every state in the Union. In the coming weeks and months I will continue to work with leaders and activists from all segments of these communities to maximize our progressive voice in the Democratic Primaries and the 2004 Presidential Election."

I'm not a big fan of Sharpton, but I'm sick and tired of him being held to a different standard than other candidates - I don't see anyone here ordering Kucinich of Lieberman out of the race, even though neither of them has gotten as many votes to date as Sharpton.

[economic justice]

19. Held to a different standard?

"I'm not a big fan of Sharpton, but I'm sick and tired of him being held to a different standard than other candidates..."

WHAT???

Sharpton gets PREFERENTIAL treatment. The fact he's invited to the debates, etc. What other "preacher" who is a financial wreck with his own finances and is hypocritical on race issues would EVEN BE treated like a credible candidate?? Kucinich and Lieberman serve in congress and have substantial resumes. Sharpton's resume?

[Very Good Dem]

10. What do Jackson and Farrakhan have to do with anything?

[jenk]

6. you're just wasting our time Al

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

13. he's talking about a non-military based foreign policy now

"Trade and Aid" That's the way we get allies - wild applause.

[economic justice]

15. He can live off the campaign

Say it the way it is, Al. What a loser.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. I guess being a 'Reverend' doesn't pay that much

What church is he a minister at?

[Cheswick2.0]

17. good

I am glad he is staying in.

[shoopnyc123]

21. I think it's good that Al is there...

...the black vote for the past decade did not go to the polls; a LOT of them switched parties, (some call them Tony Brown Republicans). Tony Brown campaigned to get black people to join the Repub in the 80's, and they haven't gone back. The feeling was that the party had done nothing for them. Then came Bill. He started to heal that wound.

[LoZoccolo]

22. Strategically, I think it would be better if he...

...dropped out right before South Carolina, where he has a relatively large amount of support, but worked out a deal for him to endorse another candidate. He could try to get what he wanted from one of the leading candidates.

[dansolo]

24. Is Al expecting people to pay off his debts

That he will continue to incur through the convention?