Sharpton downplays Obama rise

[BeyondGeography]

This article from The Louisiana Weekly also includes some shameless sucking up to the Big Dog by Al and some tepid words of encouragement from Jesse Jackson...It's not just the New York Post that's getting the story of black candidates of the past and their ambivalence towards Obama:

Obama passes Clinton in black support
By Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent
March 12, 3007

...<"I guess anyone has a chance," says activist Al Sharpton, a Democratic candidate for president in 2004. "But, the poll challenges him more than anything else. I see the poll saying that he was better than he was, but he's got a long way to go before he talks about winning."

<A Washington Post-ABC News poll shows Clinton at 36 percent and Obama at 24 percent generally consistent since January. But, in Black support, the poll shows a dramatic shift since January when Clinton led Obama 60 percent to 20 percent. The most recent poll late last month showed Obama with 44 percent to Clinton's 33 percent. The margins of error were three percentage points.

<Sharpton is not impressed.

<"He's got to get more than 44 percent of the Black vote. He's got to get double that and a lot of White votes to win," Sharpton says. "With the cover of Time Magazine, 60 Minutes, all of the positive press put together, and he doesn't have 50 percent of the Black vote? That's not good,">

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20070312c

[saltpoint]

1. The Obama campaign is still in the early going. Polls might zoom up or

down any which way.

Not even his sharpest detractors would count out a talented man like Barack Obama.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Al's looking pretty small here

I think he should refrain from commenting on all things Obama for awhile.

[saltpoint]

5. There are young people out there who've never voted before, and

they're going to hear our line-up of Democrats, and they're going to register with the blue team.

I'm thinking Barack Obama is going to be one of the speakers who motivate them to register to vote, to join the process.

His Boston keynote address was one of the landmark speeches in my lifetime. It packed a hell of a punch and it lifted some of the people I was with off the floor. It was that good.

Sharpton is Sharpton, and I generally respect the guy, but I think he's underselling a talented man with this one.

[MADem]

11. Should he shut up about Edwards or Biden, too? Or is it just Obama? NT

[TwilightGardener]

2. Shaddap, Sharpton. I know you like Hillary, but it's too early to

disparage Obama. Most unhelpful!

[MADem]

4. How DARE Al Sharpton endorse the candidate of his choice!!!!

How dare Jesse actually recognize the politics of quid pro quo!!!!

I realize you think you are helping the candidate in your avatar, but you aren't.

You're better off posting articles that highlight his good points and positive press, rather than swiping at Sharpton or Jesse, who have a long history of political interaction with both President and Senator Clinton.

I'm not clear what you're saying frankly. What it SOUNDS like, to me, is that you are suggesting that because those two Reverend/Activists happen to be Black, they should check their loyalties, brains, political motivations, and old alliances at the door? I hope that isn't what you are saying. But that's what your post suggests--and that kind of suggestion reflects poorly. Gee, why didn't they support Steele for governor in MD, then? Or is it race AND party that are the only blocks to be checked? Never mind a long history of interaction over the years...never mind loyalties.

I realize you probably didn't mean it that way, but that's how I am reading it. It's how it SOUNDS, too.

[BeyondGeography]

7. You're off the mark...again

Sharpton and Jackson can say anything they want. If they want to be snippy, be snippy. They'll be called on it, that's all.

[MADem]

8. No, I'm not off the mark. I told you how it looked and sounded.

You may not have meant it that way. But that IS how it comes off. And the hole got deeper, there.

Don't get huffy about endorsements. It makes it appear as though your candidate is coming from a position of weakness. Campaigns, unless they are DIEBOLDED, are won on vision/hope/energy/enthusiasm, not "Whassamatta with these old, outdated Black cronies for not getting on the Obama train?" type posts.

And what's with "snippy?" They support a different candidate right now. This is a democracy, they have the right to support whomever they choose. Why is that "snippy?" Because they aren't going with "their kind?" Why pick on them at all? Could it possibly be that because they are BLACK reverend-activists, that there's some perception that they're obligated to support the BLACK candidate?

Who else is snippy? Anyone supporting Edwards, or Biden? Why aren't they called out, ever? Or are only old school Black Reverend/Activists snippy here?

[BeyondGeography]

9. Life is so much more interesting than you make it out to be

There's a real story here; the changing of the guard in African-American politics as represented by the candidacy of Obama. This leaves some winners of yore on the outside looking in, so there's tension. The article reflects that tension. Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the show. It will be interesting and we'll all benefit in the end.

[MADem]

10. I am an undecided voter. I want to see every candidate who has declared to this point

stay in until we see a few debates.

I find posts that suggest--however obliquely--that Black political leaders are expected somehow to support "the Black candidate" every bit as offensive as those that say the female politicians must support the female candidate.

Your post says nothing about "changing of the guard." Your posts say Al and Jesse, the two Black Reverend/Activist guys, aren't "onboard." As though they SHOULD be. Because they're BLACK.

Don't retroactively expect me or anyone else to be a mind-reader as you shift the focus.

Again, I offer this critique not to be argumentative. I think Obama is a great candidate, and I want to hear more from him. But playing to old stereotypes and making suggestions that loyalty is owed -- or that old loyalties should be abandoned like last year's fashions-- due to ethnic or other considerations sits poorly with me. And that is how this thread comes off to me.

[flpoljunkie]

12. FYI, "Old school, black reverend/activist" Jesse Jackson is supporting Barack Obama.

[MADem]

Well, isn't that lovely. The OP called Jackson's support "tepid." NT

[Ethelk2044]

13. Jessie Jackson

Jessie Jackson actually came out in support of Obama. He stated as much at the State of the Black Union conference in DC last month. He even went on to tell the people to actually listen to what Obama say before misjudging him.

[MADem]

15. Again, the OP called said support TEPID. That means the endorsement wasn't ringing. NT

[Nedsdag]

35. So WHO is the candidate of Al's choice?

Hillary? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

It's not Edwards. He dissed Edwards in the last campaign.

[ccpup]

6. I think

Obama is living Sharpton's dream and Al don't like that. Usually, with Sharpton being such a mild mannered, quiet, hide-his-light-under-a-bushel type fella, you couldn't drag him in front of a mic to mention it, but I guess he found the courage this time. :sarcasm:

[AtomicKitten]

14. Although I thoroughly enjoy Sharpton's participation in the debates ...

.... I think he is selling Obama short.

Perhaps the green-eyed monster is rearing its ugly head?

[knight_of_the_star]

31. I loved how he answered the wrong question in one debate

Where he spent two minutes giving an in-depth answer only to be reminded when he was done that wasn't the question that was asked.

[AtomicKitten]

33. he always breaks the tension with humor

which is pretty entertaining

[Connie_Corleone]

16. Who cares what Jackson and Sharpton think?

No one I know pays attention to what they say anymore. Maybe it's because the people I know who follow politics are under age 50. I could care less if they support him or not. They've had their chance to run for president. It's time to move forward.

[Colobo]

17. Exactly

I don't know any young person, African-American, white American, Hispanic (of any race) or Asian-American who actually cares about these two guys.

In fact, most of my friends, studends and co-workers hardly know who they are.

[MADem]

18. The young don't vote in profound numbers, though. At least not to this point.

There are a boatload of older people who do enjoy the Reverends, though, and appreciate their different perspectives on the issues of the day.

The young are going to have to roll out of bed and stand in line in larger numbers this go-round. Perhaps Senator Obama will motivate them to do that.

[Colobo]

19. I hope so

Still, the point is that the Reverends are not in touch with what young Americans think or feel about racial, social and political issues.

[MADem]

25. I realize that. But the geezers who do vote still zero in on them.

Especially Al Sharpton. Al can speak truth to power better than anyone. He was a delight at the last debates, and he was the one who kept them both interesting and forced others to respond to issues of equality and poverty with more than platitudes.

The Reverends speak to a crowd that already gets out and votes. Thus, their influence remains important, and their endorsements are not inconsequential.

The young may not listen to the reverends, but they haven't lived up to their voting potential, either. At this stage, it's like saying that, say, CATS don't listen to Al Sharpton. But cats don't vote, either.

I hope the young get motivated and go to the polls in decent numbers this time. Every election, there's noise about how they are going to get out there, and then they just don't show up. They really let Dean down, and they let Lieberman's opponent Lamont down in a big way,too.

Absent a draft though, I wonder if they will bother to go stand in line. What the hell more will it take? How many liberties abrogated is enough? How far must the economy fall? How bleak must the future look?

I hope they get the spirit this go-round...

[DemKR]

20. Obama was one of Lieberman's biggest supporters n/t

[Laurab]

21. Not quite as big as Hillary and Bill I don't think. n/t

[Connie_Corleone]

22. He supported Lieberman during the primary, just like the other

leading Democrats, including your candidate Hillary.

After the primary, Obama's Hopefund sent Lamont $5,000 in PAC money.

[Colobo]

23. LOL

This poster criticizes Obama for what his/her own candidate did as well... :)

[MADem]

27. It's silly to bitch about Lieberman. He was the DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT at the time.

It's simple politics to support the damned incumbent. Reading ANYTHING into that, be it from Obama or any other Democrat, is just....ignorant of the political process.

Once Lieberman lost, the Democrats supported the primary winner. Jeez. Sur-prize, sur-prize...that's ALSO how it's done in party politics.

[Colobo]

29. I know, but tell that to the person who opened this thread...

[MADem]

26. As did other Democrats.

http://wonkette.com/politics/clinton/harry--hillary-loan-top-goons-to-lamont-campaign-196756.php

[creeksneakers2]

24. I didn't read anything Sharpton or Jackson said

as praise or condemnation. They just gave their assessments of Obama's prospects for the black vote and the primaries in general. I don't see any reason to believe they weren't candid and honest.

[oasis]

28. After the dust settles, Al will do what's best for the Dem party. (eom)

[Cha]

30. It's still too early for anyone to

be the projected winner.

[NDP]

32. Downplays? Sounds to me like Sharpton has a brain, and enough intelligence not to be

fooled by media coverage. It's so funny to me how people criticize the media, but when they give Obama or Clinton free coverage on top of coverage even when they haven't said anything to deserve it, you think they are doing it for "good reasons." Sharpton knows better. Thanks for that dose of reality, Al.

[mtnsnake]

34. Might be the Strom Thurmond in him coming out. nt