Has anybody else fallen in love with Al Sharpton?

[rpf113]

I've always been a huge Jesse Jackson fan. Jackson is really the person who got me into politics, and I always thought that Sharpton was just a wannabe.

Now after seeing him in the debates, though, I am so impressed with him. He has such a quick wit and a great sense of humour. He has great ideas for the country. He presents himself very well.

We all know he is unelectable, but is he going to emerge as the new leader of the African-American community?

I have to say that he is one of my favourite Democrats right now.

[travisleit01]

1. He's definitely saying what needs to be said. n/t

[rpf113]

3. I swear he's like the Democrats'

personal stand up comic / concience.
I almost cry every time he skips a debate!
I hope he'll endorse Clark eventually, they seemt o have a kind of truce going on between the two of them.

[copithorne]

2. My wife has

My wife has. I got her an Al Sharpton for President T-Shirt and buttons. She would have preferred George CLinton in the White House to Bill Clinton.

I keep working on her to vote for Clark and I think I'll prevail on election day.

[rpf113]

7. I'm not sure he's ready for the Presidency,

I just like having him around.

Honestly at first I thought Carol Mausely-Braun was going to be the candidate who best represented the African-American community. She seemed to be so sweet and honest. She charmed me. On the first poll I took I voted for her. But then every time she talked she sounded like she was coming from another planet. And what was up with her constant attacking of Edwards? And now she's WORKING for the Dean campaign?

Al SHarpton has definetly proved himself to be the voice of black america, in my humble whiteman view. Any African-Americans out there with an opinion? Obviously it would carry more weight than mine.

[windansea]

4. he is the hit of every debate

the guy is quick..wouldn't want to debate him

wonder if he will zing somebody tonight

[sangh0]

5. I fell in love with him many years ago

but I won't be voting for him this time

[wryter2000]

6. He's been fabulous

Right from the first with his remark about slapping the donkey. And I loved his answer about religion and government.

I don't know about leading the AA community, but he's sure shown himself in great light.

[displacedtexan]

8. Reverend Al needs a talk show!

He's great!

[rpf113]

9. Absolutely!

Let's start a letter writing campaing for MSNBC to give him a talk show!

[spooky3]

16. Fabulous idea!!!!

[Piperay]

10. Me...

I really like him, he's a breath of fresh air. :-)

[Sam Lowry]

11. Don't make me throw up

I'll compile a list of the outrageously anti-Semitic things this despicable turd has said over the last twenty years if you like.

Yes, he's clever.

Yes, he's got a great T.V. personality.

Yes, he seems like a cuddly person.

But he's on record as one of the worst race-baiters in American political history.

He's a real piece of garbage, Sharpton.

[sangh0]

13. Even Dov Hikind

a rabidly conservative Jew says that Sharpton is not anti-Semitic.

[Sam Lowry]

14. I don't know Dov Hikind

...and therefore can't comment on his misguided opinions. I can say, however, that calling Jewish shopowners "bloodsuckers" is a little to, shall we say, self-conscious to be anything but. Don't you agree?

[sangh0]

18. No, I disagree

If he had called them bloodsuckers merely because they were Jewish, I would agree, but Al called those specific landlords bloodsuckers because they are bloodsuckers.

BTW, Al rents office space from a Jewish landlord.

[Sam Lowry]

24. That's disingenuous

Sangh0, you know as well as I do that "bloodsucker" has been a code-word for Jew since the Protocols of the Elders of Zion or previous. To ignore this or imagine that Sharpton isn't aware of it is insane.

Sharpton has also railed against "the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights," referring to the Orthodox Jewish population (http://slate.msn.com/id/2089153/). It's also well known that as well as calling the Jewish landlords at Freddie's "bloodsuckers," he warned his troops against the "white interlopers."

White interlopers? What kind of rhetoric is that?

You don't have to defend the guy because you agree with him. I do too, much of the time. But the best you can say about him is that he consciously uses racially- and ethnically-tinged buzzwords to get his effect across. The worst you can say is that he is a bigoted piece of shit. Either way, he's kinda like a fatter, blacker Pat Buchanan.

Rock out!

[sangh0]

28. That's not a quote

I'd like to see a full quote.

White interlopers? What kind of rhetoric is that?

Al has apologized for that and admitted it was wrong of him to say that.

But the best you can say about him is that he consciously uses racially- and ethnically-tinged buzzwords to get his effect across

I disagree.

[Sam Lowry]

30. What's not a quote?

You've conceded he said "bloodsuckers" and "white interlopers." The other quote is referenced. Which quote do you doubt?

And if you deny that "bloodsuckers" is a code-word, then when do you graduate from grade school?

As far as Sharpton apologizing for the "white interlopers" remark, a) would it matter if I called someone a "black thug" and then apologized and b) that's an all-too-rare apology from this shred of human debris.

Keep rockin'!

[sangh0]

31. "the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights,"

It has absolutely no context.

And the word "bloodsuckers" doesn't have the same meaning for African-Americans (and that's who Al was speaking to) as it does to Jews and White Christians.

As far as Sharpton apologizing for the "white interlopers" remark, a) would it matter if I called someone a "black thug" and then apologized

Yes, especially if you then went on to help some of those people you insulted in their fight for justice and took personal risks to do so. Al has done so for Jews. I know this through personal experience.

[Sam Lowry]

33. Hrmm, yeah

Well, it sounds like you've made up your mind. I guess you have some way of defending Sharpton's behavior vis-a-vis Stephen Pagones?

What a dickhole!

[sangh0]

35. Yes, you're right!

I do have some way of defending Sharpton's behavior vis-a-vis Stephen Pagones

[Sam Lowry]

36. Hit me, baby!

[Isere]

27. Yes, and it's a shame.

Sharpton is quick witted and very funny. He adds sparkle to the debates. But to consider his candidacy in any serious way is an act of lunacy. His disgraceful and still unrepentant behavior during the Tawana Brawley incident should be enough to exclude him from any consideration.

Furthermore, you have to ask yourself "Is the Presidency a starter job?" Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't think it is. Let Sharpton first
prove himself in the congress or as a mayor or whatever. Let him show us that he can be entrusted with the public good. Let's see what he can do in public service before considering him for the White House.

Personally, I would never vote for him on the basis of his past record, but if others feel differently, that's fine with me. But at least be realistic about the man's abilities.

[Lurker Number001976]

45. I agree.

Particularly where you wrote, "still unrepentent". As disgusting as the Brawley incident was, I could gain a lot of respect for him if he ever admitted it was a hoax and explained what motivated him to do what he did at the time. It was a long time ago. He comes from a completely different place and time than myself, so I can understand how his perception of the events would be quite different from mine. But his refusal to acknowlege the hoax makes me believe he has not developed beyond the stage of local activist. Hopefully, he'll prove me wrong someday. I also think he should serve as a Representative or something before trying to get into the Whitehouse.

[NewJerseyDem]

12. NO!!!!!

He's a disgrace. Before you are ready to competely fall in love with him you should look into his background. The type of things that he did back in the 1980's are outrageous and he shouldn't be supported by anyone. He is a great speaker and does have a quick wit but he isn't a good person.

[Sam Lowry]

15. Hear hear

[Carl Spackler]

17. Yes!

I've watched pretty much all the debates and he is consistently excellent. He's blown off by the media as a joke, but he has had considerable impact in shaping the issues. I hope he sticks it out.

[West Coast Democrat]

19. Yes! I don't want him to drop out

and I've been a big fan of his ever since his protests after the Selection.

[SadEagle]

20. Sorry. I don't fall in love with D'Amato and Pataki supporters.

He is good at crafting his message, and making jokes, sure. But his record shows something entirely different.

[tishaLA]

21. I used to like Sharpton

and I have no problems whatsoever with the Tawana Brawley stuff. None. But when I read this week--I will now have to find the link--that Sharpton got his hits against Dean from a republican version of Lehene, and that he has been doing using this guy throughout the campaign DESPITE HIS CLAIMS OF DEMOCRATIC UNITY I lost all respect for him.

[NewJerseyDem]

22. Tawana Brawley

http://www.slate.msn.com/id/2087557

People can read this brief summary of the situation in this story from Slate and reach their own conclusions.

[kskiska]

37. This article doesn't describe the pure hell Pagones went through

along with his friends and family. Sharpton, knowingly, falsely accused him of raping this girl.

(snip)

As far back as 1988, Pagones said the reverend's charges had inflicted an emotional and physical toll: insomnia, stomach ailments, anxiety attacks.

Today, the father of two is divorced and has given up his law career to work upstate as a private investigator. He spent more than $300,000 on the legal case against Sharpton and the two other Brawley advisers.

Pagones did not even collect most of his judgment from Sharpton. Instead, Sharpton friends and supporters such as lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr. and businessman Percy Sutton covered the debt.

In his AP interview, Sharpton said he still believed Brawley, who never testified in court. The woman eventually left New York, changed her name and disappeared; she still owes Pagones almost $500,000 in defamation money.

http://www.charleston.net/stories/020103/wor_01sharpton.shtml

more on Sharpton:
http://www.etherzone.com/2002/maye011402.shtml

[sangh0]

40. So now Sharpton is responsible for Pagones' divorce?

How does *that* work? If I was in love with someone, I wouldn't divorce them just because someone sued them. It sounds like this lawsuit wasn't the only strain in the Pagones household

[tritsofme]

23. I don't like vanity candidates in general

and when he couldn't answer the question about the Federal Reserve it solidified my opinion.

[dogman]

25. Falling out fast

I liked him . I liked his wit and intelligence. He's made his point. I hate to see him wear out his welcome. He said on NPR he's going all the way to Boston. I think this hurts him in the long run. But in America that's his choice to make.

[Sam Lowry]

26. Hurts him? You kidding?

The man is a publicity hound. Nothing would hurt him but a big kick in the junk, which is what he needs.

[sangh0]

38. Actually, Sharpton would turn that kick in the junk

into gold, and you know it! :-)

[Sam Lowry]

39. Okay

Well let's hear your defense of his behavior vis-a-vis Pagones.

[sangh0]

41. There's nothing to defend

if you can't show that he did something wrong.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. He is recieving all of the support he deserves

in the primaries and caucuses.

[sabbat hunter]

34. i dont support sharpton

because he is a ordained minister. i am of the opinion that ordained ministers/priests/rabbis/ etc should not hold public office.

even if i liked him and agreed with everything he said and stood for i still would not vote for him or support him.


peace
david
:hippie:

[dumpster_baby]

32. Nope, just you....

...I think he makes just about everyone else sick to their stomachs. Research his background a bit.....

[Hell Hath No Fury]

48. Speak for yourself, please...

not "everyone else".

I appreciate greatly that his is speaking out about MANY of the things that need saying, and doing so in the blunt fashion the top tier candidates can't afford to.

Kudos to Shaprton & Kuchinich for doing a lot of the heavy lifting in these debates.

[barbaraann]

42. My teenage son and his friends are total Sharpton supporters.

They can't stand any of the other candidates.

(The boys are white suburban kids and one of them is from a super rightwing family.)

[MMT]

43. Al sees what Malcolm saw. And, as it did to Malcolm, it chaps Al's butt

But he's fighting it in a different way.

I think he's a powerful, complex, flawed man. Just like Malcolm was. And Martin. And JFK. And RFK. And LBJ, and Clinton.

People who curse him because he isn't perfect need to get a life.

[TopesJunkie]

44. Not particularly --

The cliches he offers are entertaining, but increasingly meaningless.

[Nay]

46. I sure like the guy. His outspokenness is refreshing and

he is definitely saying stuff that we are all thinking. I can hardly wait to see him at the convention, keeping everybody on the straight and narrow.

[leyton]

47. I have.

He offers great insight to the debates, mostly pointing out the faults and hypocrisy of the Bush administration, and he does it without sounding like he's whining. The passion and emotion that he summons sounds genuine. It's a shame he doesn't have more political experience or I'd vote for him.

[eridani]

49. He's a great speaker--

--but he hasn't even bothered with a volunteer base or reaching out beyond his own demographic. In the 80s, Jackson took the trouble to learn about issues specific to the midwest, campaigned in Iowa, built a Rainbow Coalition, and made a strong showing there. Sharpton couldn't be bothered. Compared to Jackson, he has the public speaking part but nothing else.