Do You Agree With Al Sharpton When It Comes To Obama?

[babsbunny]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/294494,CST-NWS-obama13.article

Sharpton tears into Obama
'Why shouldn't the black community ask questions?'

March 13, 2007
Activist Al Sharpton lit into presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday, suggesting Obama shouldn't take blacks' support for granted.
"Why shouldn't the black community ask questions? Are we now being told, 'You all just shut up?'" Sharpton told a TV reporter from a New York CBS station.

"I'm not going to be cajoled or intimidated by any candidate," said Sharpton, a New Yorker who ran for president in 2004.

Sharpton went on to criticize Obama on other issues, including his relationship with Sen. Joe Lieberman, who's controversial within the Democratic Party.

[BeyondGeography]

1. I'm still wearing flame-retardant clothes from yesterday on that one

but here are the links posted elsewhere on Obama's support for Lamont:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=obama+campaigns+for+lamont&spell=1

Al will have to come up with a better "reason" than that.

[saracat]

4. Obama didn't campaign for Lamont.He sent a last minute email.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Hence my use of the word "support"

[elizm]

2. When exactly...

...did Obama take the blacks' support for granted...which Sharpton is referring to?

[benddem]

5. I think

Sharpton is reacting to some of our buds in the SCLM that keep saying that Obama should have the support of the black community or intimating that.-

[Horse with no Name]

3. I think Sharpton asked legitimate questions

and if Obama wants Sharpton's support, he should answer them.
It's really very simple.


"Senator Obama and I agree that the war is wrong, but then I want to know why he went to Connecticut and helped Lieberman, the biggest supporter of the war," Sharpton told TV.

[rinsd]

9. The problem is Sharpton is deliberately misconstruing Obama's positions

Obama said he supported the Democratic incumbent before the primary. (and his support basically amounted to a one time endorsement at a Democratic dinner). Obama gave his support to the Democratic nominee in the general election.

And the conflating of victims of police brutality with Obama position on tort reform is disengenious. The tort reform position is not one of my fav from Obama but to throw in the hot button of police brutality is a bunch of BS.

[Ethelk2044]

22. Sharpton Does Not have Valid Questions

He has issues because Obama did not Attend the State of Black America conference. They dogged him out at the conference because it was the same day he announced he was running. They went on further to state that they had sent him an invitation to attend the conference, however he decided not to attend. While at the conference several members on the stage stated he should have announced he was running at the conference in Washington instead of in Chicago. They were very upset at him because he did not do this. However, Jessie Jackson stated they should not get mad at him because he did not attend the conference. Instead he informed them they should wait to see what he has to say during the debates before going after him.

Instead Sharpton has come out in full force against him. Now tell me if someone is wrong.

[sandnsea]

6. He's making an issue where one didn't exist

and I can't understand why. Obviously everybody is going to ask Obama questions.

[Colobo]

24. Al probably realizes that

Barack is being taken way more seriously than he ever was.

[daveskilt]

8. Funny old Al Sharpton demanding that he still be considered relevant

This is not about the support of the 'black community' it is about Al Sharpton and his getting his name out there again. While I like him a whole lot more than holy Joe - he and leiberman are master media whores.

[roseBudd]

10. If memory serves me, Sharpton's '04 bid was bankrolled by some big R donors

[MADem]

12. No, that was NADER.

Here's Al's breakdown...he took federal funds, too:
http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/summary.asp?ID=N00001109

Al's top donors:

Radio One
$15,200

Hawkins Food
$8,000

Earl G Graves Publishing
$8,000

Global Hue
$8,000

Pepsico Inc
$6,000

Dental One
$6,000

Loop Capital Markets
$5,000

Sheet Metal Workers Union
$5,000

Rush Communications
$5,000

Global View Technologies
$4,000

Goldman Sachs
$4,000

Princess Palace
$4,000

Prestige Consulting
$4,000

Don Coleman Advertising
$4,000

Healthnet Affiliates
$4,000

BET Holdings
$3,000

Standard Distributing
$2,500

Time Warner
$2,300

Uniworld Group
$2,250

City of Newark
$2,250

[tyne]

13. Rupert

This is the Murdoch hit piece Al was referring to in which he claims that "the Obama Camp" put out.
Why he concludes Obama did this, we'll never know. It doesn't make much sense that Obama would slam Al in order to get his endorsement.

"'JEALOUS' REV. AL BLASTS BARACK 'It’s driving Al crazy that Obama is as impressive and popular as he is, and he’s not happy about it.'
— A black Democratic activist

March 12, 2007 -- THE Rev. Al Sharpton has launched a "big-time" effort to tear down Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as a candidate for president, The Post has learned.

"He's saying that Obama never did anything for the community, never worked with anybody from the community, that nobody knows the people around him, that he's a candidate driven by white leadership," said a prominent black Democratic activist who knows Sharpton.

"When it comes to Al's attacks on Obama, frankly, I don't know where to begin," said the activist, who supports Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Here's more
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122007/news/columnists/jealous_rev__al_blasts_barack_columnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm

[wtmusic]

16. Please don't give Rupert the time of day

is there any particular reason he deserves it?

[tyne]

18. Sharpton thinks

the Obama camp went to Rupert and "sourced" that hit piece.

[Colobo]

26. Sharpton might be creating an issue to justify

Not supporting Obama and supporting...

[MADem]

57. Sharpton has not ruled out endorsing Obama. That story is a lie,

per Sharpton's own words on video on FauxSnooze.

[NYCGirl]

25. No, but his campaign was run by Roger Stone, a GOP dirty-tricks operative.

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0405,barrett,50745,1.html

Roger Stone, the longtime Republican dirty-tricks operative who led the mob that shut down the Miami-Dade County recount and helped make George W. Bush president in 2000, is financing, staffing, and orchestrating the presidential campaign of Reverend Al Sharpton.

Though Stone and Sharpton have tried to reduce their alliance to a curiosity, suggesting that all they do is talk occasionally, a Voice investigation has documented an extraordinary array of connections. Stone played a pivotal role in putting together Sharpton's pending application for federal matching funds, getting dollars in critical states from family members and political allies at odds with everything Sharpton represents. He's also helped stack the campaign with a half-dozen incongruous top aides who've worked for him in prior campaigns. He's even boasted about engineering six-figure loans to Sharpton's National Action Network (NAN) and allowing Sharpton to use his credit card to cover thousands in NAN costs—neither of which he could legally do for the campaign. In a wide-ranging Voice interview Sunday, Stone confirmed his matching-fund and staffing roles, but refused to comment on the NAN subsidies.

[roseBudd]

36. And why do you suppose a GOP operative would want to help Sharpton's

dead in the water campaign? No one thought he had a chance. Is it because the GOP likes that one of the faces of the democratic party has hair that belongs on James Brown?

[MADem]

45. Why would a primary run MATTER???? Come ON.

Who would Al be knocking out with the miniscule number of votes he took in the few primaries he ran in? I mean, really?

The guy wasn't a third party NADER, he was a Democratic primary candidate. He ran to put his voice in the mix, that's all.

And Al had (he cut it) JB hair because Al used to work for JB. It was an homage to the man. I think Al looks good, myself--way better than he did in his fat, "Jumpsuit Al" days.

[roseBudd]

55. The GOP wanted Al in the race because a sizeble percentage of white people have a negative

opinion of Sharpton.They practice "you are known by the company you keep" which is why Michael Moore & Barbara Streisand are their favorite name to use when speaking of democrats.

[MADem]

56. Like people who would be swayed by the mere presence of Sharpton would vote for a Democrat anyway.

Or Moore, who isn't a Democrat anyway, or Streisand.

That's convoluted logic.

Be AFRAID of hanging around with Black Folk, candidates, just in case some WHITE voters won't like you? And they otherwise would?

Those people aren't voting D in any event.

That whole argument is absurd. Makes no sense, none whatsoever.

[roseBudd]

64. Those folks may have voted for Kerry because Bush was so incompetent, it was to keep crossovers from

crossing. Sharpton's high negatives are partly from his flashy ghetto fabulous style and partly from his checkered past. Biden was right when he said Obama was the first. He has never been referred to as a poverty pimp.

Some of our biggest supporters have such high negatives if they really want Ds to win they sometimes need to keep quiet and not be seen.

[MADem]

65. I completely disagree with that 'conventional' assessment. And strongly, too.

You said:

Some of our biggest supporters have such high negatives if they really want Ds to win they sometimes need to keep quiet and not be seen.

What makes US

different from THEM

is that we are not

ASHAMED

of our own kind.

We accept, and to the extent we can, embrace, differences.

We listen to varied opinions.

And we don't try to shut up the unpopular points of view.


Sorry, I like Al. And I don't always (indeed OFTEN) agree with him. Sometimes I think "Oi, Al, enough!" That said, I am the first to want to hear Al.

Because he speaks from PURE AND SINCERE passion and belief.

And I would never try to shut him up. Ever.

If we play the games of silencing factions, we become THEM.

I don't ever want to do that.

[Solo_in_MD]

14. He is a bit of a one trick pony

[MADem]

11. Al can support the candidate that he feels most comfortable supporting

owing to ideology, past political connections, or what-have-you.

Why this insistence to try to shove Al in Obama's camp, and challenge him because he's not "in line?"

The continued carping about Sharpton (the sleazy, unsourced "he's jealous" assertions in this very article and elsewhere were cake-takers--like there's no other conceivable reason they might disagree) detracts from the more important coverage about the candidacy of Senator Obama.

I'm keeping an open mind. I'll consider Sharpton's comments, but I'll also consider others' views, too. Obama has a ways to go before his words really BREAK OUT. Right now, he's a 'fascinating possibility.' But I haven't heard enough FROM HIM to decide. And I have no intention of making up my mind on him, on HRC, on Edwards, Dodd, Richardson or even Biden, until I hear them in the context of a debate or three or four.

So, this is just scuttlebutt ... it doesn't say much. It means less.

[tyne]

15. Wait a minute...

I see no evidence that Obama is trying to shove Al in his corner. Just because Murdoch puts out a hit piece citing unnamed black activist sources doesn't even make it close to being true.

Madrassa anyone?

[ShortnFiery]

17. Good point tyne and welcome to DU

:hi:

Yes, let's not make something out of nothing? However, I must admit that although I enjoy watching Al Sharpton for the entertainment value, sometimes he talks just to hear the sound of his voice. My point: Like tyne suggested - don't make a big deal about a few off hand comments. :shrug:

[tyne]

20. Thank you

Just to clarify,

Al is all up in arms over a highly probable hit piece put out by Murdoch. The published story he was responding to in the original article:

"Obama's camp wouldn't answer the charges. The TV report said that Sharpton was responding to a published story claiming he was undermining Obama.

The New York Post wrote that Sharpton, who has vied with Jesse Jackson to lead black Americans, is "terrified of being overshadowed by someone of Obama's class and character."

is the same one I posted previous. So, IOW, Al gobbled Murdoch's bait. IMO Read the whole NYpost piece and see if it looks even close to being credible.

Obama probably won't answer the charges because, just like he shut out Fox, he's shutting out the silly NYpost attempts. Hopefully, he and Al have privately talked this over by now.

[MADem]

19. That's not what I said. Everyone ELSE is trying to do it, not Obama.

It's like it is the sin of the century that the Revererend "Negro" Sharpton isn't supporting the Senator "Negro" Obama. I swear, I feel sometimes like I'm watching one of those television shows from the early sixties, where the "Negro" actor wasn't just a token, but had to haul a Passion Play on his back along with spouting his lines.

Everywhere I look, here included, people are getting PISSED at Sharpton for not 'toeing the line. '

Shall we get pissed at women who choose not to support Senator Clinton? How about crucifying White Southern men who don't support Edwards? It would fit the pattern. How DARE Al not support his "own kind"--that's what I sense here.

This is the SECOND thread I've seen on the subject. I find it troubling that there's any suggestion by anyone that Sharpton doesn't support Obama because he's JEALOUS. That seems rather odd to me, frankly. Like Al has no brain, he's ruled by petty jealousy. It's a bit, no, more than a bit, offensive. IMO.


Edit--SunTimes is a Murdoch rag. So why are people here paying it, and its unsourced allegations, any mind?

[tyne]

21. Who is

getting pissed at Sharpton for not "towing the line"? I'm disappointed that he is towing Murdoch's line. Why did he take the bait?

[MADem]

23. Read the article. The article takes Al's comments and extrapolates from it

that he's jealous, using an "unnamed" activist. The whole thing is just cheap and sleazy bullshit.

Sharpton and Senator Clinton have New York in common. It wouldn't surprise me if he's inclined towards her for that reason. Quid pro quo and all that. So what "bait taking" is involved if he supports another candidate and his words are selectively used to foster a Black Cat Fight???

There was a thread here yesterday where members here touted the same bullshit story line. Al's jealous, his time has passed, that kind of shit.

My question--why "must" Sharpton support Obama? Why must Obama's candidacy be vetted by Sharpton? Why is this story repeated ad nauseum? Who set this up? I doubt Al Sharpton came out, said two sentences and left, he's incapable of that...what was the CONTEXT of his words? What else did he say? This whole article looks like a few sentences got cherrypicked out for thrills.

Why even give this insideous shit bandwidth here?

[BeyondGeography]

29. You've reached your own conclusions about this, others differ

And, as for the "insideous shit," it's all over the media today (google "Sharpton Obama" and count the number of headlines that say "Sharpton rips Obama"), so people are talking about it here, which, I think, is the whole point of this site.

[MADem]

32. The story is from a Murdoch outlet. You posted it two days ago, and here it is again.

The story IS all over the place, but it's ALL the same words, ALL the same source.

A Murdoch source.

Headline writers making the news--and way too many people lapping it up like Gospel.

How about "Cowardly,Uunnamed 'Black Activist' Makes Cheap, Unsubstantiated Insinuations About How Al Sharpton Feels About Senator Obama"--there's an accurate headline, too.

And no one is putting Al's words in context. As I said, a Black Cat Fight.

Because that's what sells--women in jello or mud, pulling hair...Black guys slugging it out. That sort of cheesy imagery.

Feh!

[BeyondGeography]

39. You're wrong, but that's nothing new

I posted a story from The Louisiana Weekly that had quotes directly from Sharpton. The NY Post story was sourced from an unnamed black activist. The other stories that came out yesterday were based on a live interview with CBS News. Seems Al wants this story to take off even more than Murdoch. If Obama is smart, he'll ignore it all completely, as Sharpton is more trouble than he's worth.

[MADem]

40. It's the same damned words with a different headline.

but hey, whatever makes you happy.

You aren't helping the candidate you purport to support with this shit, you know.


Or maybe you DO know. And that's a shame.

[BeyondGeography]

41. Oh, and I forgot Al's Hannity & Colmes appearance

If you haven't noticed, Obama is totally ignoring this story, which is exactly what he should be doing as Al mounts his "I'm not jealous" media tour. Of course, my posts here at DU are completely undermining Barack's approach to this matter and I expect to be reprimanded by his campaign any minute now.

[MADem]

42. If the Senator is doing that, that's good. So why must YOU bring it up? It's Murdoch spin, is all

It does demean Obama when one of his own supporters continues to shop the "Green eyed Al" theme, as though all Black Men Must Be In Lockstep.

You're just not letting it die, even if he is ignoring it.

I've said this to you elsewhere.

It reads poorly. It doesn't reflect so much on the Senator, though it doesn't HELP him, it reflects on you.

[BeyondGeography]

46. I'm demeaning Obama? Call the police

You're a smart person, but you say the most absurd things sometimes and you suffer from selective reading comprehension disorder. Sharpton is all over the media saying things about Obama and his campaign, and we're not supposed to talk about it here at DU....Oh, I know, we're just playing Murdoch's game by even posting about it, but where does that leave Al? He goes on Murdoch's network Tuesday to give Sean Hannity another chance to talk about Tawana Brawley and the 125th St. fire. Shouldn't you be directing just a little of your scorn towards him for taking the so-called bait?

Plus, the lockstep argument is crap, and I've NEVER shopped it. You've ignored my statement that I don't even care what Al does, as he brings positives and negatives to the table. What I have said is that Sharpton, in my view, sees Obama's cross-cultural appeal as a threat to his status as a power broker, so it's no surprise to me that he's been critical of Obama. An intelligent person such as you should be able to recognize that this statement is not tantamount to saying everyone should get in line.

[MADem]

48. Gee, that is some profoundly selective interpretation, but there is a link here, to VIDEO

of what Al actually has said about Obama. You'll find the links on the page cited at the bottom of this post.

What is dominating the news cycle, though, isn't THIS story, it's the 'gaffe' regarding a statement he made about the Palestinians.

You're the one who is keeping this story bobbing along--the bulk of the coverage I've seen gathered up here, and just that Murdoch hit piece, rerouted and recycled. I don't trust the reporting in it, frankly. I don't trust the perspective, either.

And you tell me how many Democratic voters even watch Faux? The answer is none. So why keep giving the whole Murdoch-Faux theme play here? It just doesn't help your candidate.

As for Al, he's not running, is he?

I dug around to see if I could find Al, in his own words, on this. And I did. And here's what HE's saying about the whole imbroglio, that you and Murdoch seem determined to keep alive. There seems to be some rather UGLY MISCHARACTERIZATION of the Reverend's actual views going on up in here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/13/sharpton.obama/

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton has denied he is jealous of Sen. Barack Obama's popularity, a charge made Monday in a New York Post article.

The article, printed just two weeks after Sharpton and Obama publicly shared a hug in Selma, Alabama, said the reverend "has launched a 'big-time' effort to tear down" the Democratic presidential hopeful because he is jealous of his soaring popularity.

Sharpton responded Tuesday by saying Obama's campaign planted the story. (Watch Sharpton sound off on Obama )

"It's important to point out, they started this," Sharpton said. "I mean, I wake up yesterday morning with no warning and 'Is he jealous because he won't endorse?' I've never heard anything like that in my life in politics.

"This is one time I didn't start the fight," he said.....Sharpton denied the claims and said he wants to know more about where Obama and the rest of the Democratic field stand on civil rights issues before he offers support.

"I want to talk about a civil rights agenda as a priority, and the answer to that is not, 'Oh if you want to talk about issues you must be jealous,' " he said. "This is what we have always done."

Sounds to me that Al has NOT ruled out endorsing the Senator. So why would anyone run around insisting that is the case, and that the man is "jealous" somehow????

Hmmmmmmmm.

[BeyondGeography]

49. Who's running around "insisting" anything is the case re. an endorsement?

Please find that in any of my comments (hint: you can't). I have observed a dynamic that is in play, that's all. Obama changes the rules for Sharpton. Al's world is more complicated than it used to be. Like most people, he doesn't like the applecart to be upset, hence his attempts to put Obama on the defensive ("I'm not getting in line," "Why did he campaign for Lieberman," "If he's only got 44% of the black vote after 60 Minutes and the cover of Time magazine, he's got a problem," etc.).

I don't mind that you disagree with my observation. It's when you imply that I'm for all blacks endorsing Obama simply because I make that observation that your rhetorical train goes off the rails.

[MADem]

50. My point remains that flogging this tale is unhelpful to the Senator, especially when it isn't true.

And here's Al's words on FAUX, which don't sound "jealous" at all. Al knows he is a player, and he has every right to campaign for advantage like any other individual with a constituency and some clout.

THE REVEREND AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I'm very impressed with him, but I think, you know, there was this story that some of his people floated that I was not supportive because of some jealousies. What I have said is I have not come out for any candidate until we deal with various issues.

I'm very committed to a civil rights agenda. I don't see where the difference is. Reverend Jerry Falwell hasn't come out for a candidate, Pat Robertson. Newt Gingrich just left here. Why don't you have a story that Newt Gingrich hasn't come out for any white candidate yet? I mean, why are we playing the black guy against the black guy?

COLMES: Why do you think your endorsement is significant?

SHARPTON: I don't know. I didn't create the story. I responded to a story. I think that, when we come out, we will try to mobilize and organize in areas that people respect us, but I think it must be around an agenda, like everybody else in power.

COLMES: How important is it to break the race barrier with the presidency?

SHARPTON: I think that it is important to break the race barrier, as long as we are talking about issues that are good for everybody. We broke the race barrier with the secretary of state, but I didn't agree with the policies of Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice. So race is...

COLMES: But certainly Obama is much closer to where you are politically than Colin Powell is.

SHARPTON: And I think that that's we need the discussions. Edwards is talking about poverty. I think that's good. Some things that health care Mrs. Clinton is talking about is good. Something Obama is talking about is good.

We need to not have to guess on what's going to happen to the Justice Department, what is going to happen with issues that we consider very important, in terms of discrimination, and broader issues like health care and education. And that's why it would be premature to get personality before we deal with policy.

SHARPTON: I hope he will. I hope that, if Obama is the nominee, I hope he wins. I hope if any of them are, I hope they win. But, again, every part of that broad constituency has concerns that all ought to be heard. And nobody should be assumed to inherit anything without being clear on the policies of the...

(CROSSTALK)

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: Are you sure his team floated that story?

SHARPTON: I believe they did.

HANNITY: You believe -- do you have any evidence?

SHARPTON: I was told that by some of your friends in this corporation that owns...

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: Is he trying to bully you into an endorsement, as the "New York Daily News" said today?

SHARPTON: I think probably some people support -- I don't know that it's him. I mean, he and I are exchanging phone calls. We have not talked yet. I think some...

(CROSSTALK)

......

I dunno. I find this unfair characterization of Sharpton, well, regrettable. Here he says that the story came out of Murdoch's shop--that FAUX told him that Obama's team was floating the jealousy story. That he isn't refusing to endorse, he just wants his views considered before he decides, like anyone else, and his words are being twisted. Sharpton is being unfairly portrayed in these insidious little articles. I wonder why?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258711,00.html

[BeyondGeography]

51. Who knows why, but Al Sharpton as innocent media victim doesn't really work for me

I've seen the master at work in NYC for years, and few people know how to get a hold of the narrative like Al. I've seen him torpedo Democratic candidates for mayor like Ruth Messinger and Mark Green to the benefit of Republicans, and they can tell you all about his skills at the "unfair portrayal." I've also seen him protect the rights of police brutality victims that no one else would stand up for, so I'm not completely anti-Al.

Obama's restraint thus far on this matter speaks well for him. Conflict, real or manufactured, with the old guard activist community is very familiar ground for him, and he has a great advisor in place in Bobby Rush, the former black Panther. He got stomped by Rush in a 2000 congressional election, in no small part because Rush derided him for being an out of touch Harvard-educated elitist. Now Rush is advising him on just these types of situations. It will be interesting to see how the story ends.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/231872,CST-NWS-obama27.article

[MADem]

52. His words on the TV are his words. His words 'in print' are another story altogether.

Unless someone is dubbing him, he's saying what he's saying. But Murdoch print can, and does, contort.

And all I can say is, if "The Master" Al Sharpton has the ability all by himself, by saying what he thinks, to "torpedo" a candidate, they weren't much of a candidate to begin with. I mean--come on.

That very assertion is odd, to put it nicely. And then, to set him up as a providing 'benefit' be it deliberate or accidental, to the GOP? He's a Democrat, a liberal, a guy who puts social issues first.

Sorry, you lost me totally with that argument. It's a bridge way too far.

Obama has to run his own campaign, and not bank it off Sharpton or anyone else. And people who say they are supporting Obama need to start talking about Barak, and stop talking about Al. If they're really serious about seeing the Senator succeed, that is...

[BeyondGeography]

53. You're certifiably naive about Al

See you on another thread.

[MADem]

54. No I'm not. He's not the Devil, it's silly in the extreme to even suggest that.

Obama will sink or swim under his own steam. If a guy who can't carry five percent of the vote can somehow magically sink him in a primary contest, then he doesn't deserve to get the nomination.


But, you're right. There's no possibility for accord here.

[Morgana LaFey]

58. Sharpton is routinely unfairly characterized here at DU

and he's not the only black,just the most prominent. If you haven't already, you'll see the same racist, talking points that the rightwing uses against Jesse Jackson here as well. It's tiresome, it's loathesome, it's regrettable, and it'll probably last forever.

I hate it, personally.

BTW, great job pointing outo the actual FACTS of what Sharpton said, which I too think are entirely appropriate.

[MADem]

59. I'm a bit sickened, actually, myself.

I don't understand the anger, I don't understand what seems to me like resentment or fear. And the characterizations!!! His hair? I mean, come on.

I look around and wonder if I've wandered into the wrong forum.

I think Al adds to the debates. I honestly don't see him winning, he has too much baggage and his focus is more domestic than international. But I think his voice is IMPORTANT. Who else is there to speak for the poor, the ones struggling so hard to keep a roof over their heads that they can't spare a dollar for anything above subsistence needs? Without his voice, an entire stratum of society is unrepresented in these discussions.

I hope I am wrong in the impression I am getting that Al needs to be pushed aside, simply because there's only room for "One Black Guy" on the stage.

I guess we're not as evolved as some would like to think, where there's only room for "one of each" that isn't a White Anglo Saxon Male.

Good thing Pelosi isn't running!! There'd be a duel to the death to push Senator Clinton into the orchestra pit!! And if, say Sen. Menendez decided to run, would he be required to wrestle Richardson for the right to stand at the "Hispanic" podium?

We have a ways to go, I guess...!

[beaconess]

27. Sharpton says interesting things all the time-why is it only a story when he criticizes a black

person? The press ignores him almost completely whenever he says anything, but let him say something arguably negative about another black person and suddenly, it's front page news.

I'm sick and tired of the media trying to start food fights between black folk.

[MADem]

33. Because this is a MURDOCH story, see? NT

[Connie_Corleone]

28. Obama has continuously said that he doesn't expect black people

to support him because he's black. He knows full well that he has to make his case to blacks as well as to all Americans.

Al Sharpton is just making shit up when he talks about some phantom people telling him to just shut up and that black people shouldn't ask questions.

He can support whoever he wants. He's irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

[ripple]

35. Thank you

The problem is that Sharpton is implying that Obama has the arrogance (or the audacity, if you will) to assume that black voters will automatically vote for him. Obama has said all along that he has no such expectation.

In other words, Sharpton is attacking the straw man he created.

[zulchzulu]

30. Hey Al...ever heard of this thing called Google? Lookie what I found...

Hey Al...that's you and some dude...whathisname...refresh my fucking memory, Al...

Oh...and Al...Obama gets a 100% rating from the NAACP... Al...it doesn't go up to 200%...really...it doesn't.

[MADem]

43. That's just stupid and childish. You can find a pic of ANYONE with Holy Joe if you look hard enough

OOOOPSIE!!!!!!! Different DAYS, too (note the ties)



The Senate is very collegial. Get used to it.

[bluehighways911]

31. Just Pay Sharpton

That's all he wants.

Or make him Sect'y of Bullshit.

[kerstin]

34. Sharpton shares the same concerns about Obama

many of us here have expressed. To reduce this to "jealousy" simply because he, too, is black is ridiculous.

Sharpton was one of the most powerful and substantive voices during the '04 campaign. He is no clown.

[Colobo]

37. Powerful voice? Are you sure about that?

[MADem]

44. I am. I thought he added IMMEASURABLY to the debates. When everyone else was waffling, he was on

point.

Al knew he wasn't going to win when he ran. He ran to put his issues, of poverty, access to education, medical care, decent housing, our nation's role in the world and so forth, which are important to all of us, front and center.

He performed a real public service. I was glad he ran. Had he not, the debates would have been nothing but who said what when, a load of idiotic parsing, a lot of heat and little light. He demanded a focus on the issues. And he got it.

[Colobo]

61. What does mainstream America thinks about Sharpton?

[MADem]

63. Is :mainstream America: some sort of borg? What does it think about anyone?

And why does that matter?

[DemKR]

38. Yes, Al Sharpton is absolutely right. He represents the African-American community as a whole nt

[ellacott]

47. I'm sorry but that's a very uninformed statement

It's almost laughable.

[Colobo]

62. LOL! You don't know what you are talking about...

[rocktivity]

60. Sharpton's just being his usual legend-in-his-own-mind, camera-worshipping self

Obama's national success has left Sharpton without a reason for being for '08. He's so resentful, he thinks he can get away with accusing Obama of "sleeping with the enemy" when he's done it himself.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MADem]

66. Wow, I am surprised at you, really....of all people

Repeating that easy Murdoch theme.

The only people making this an Al v. Obama contest is Faux news.

Pull the string, do some research, you will see. What DID the GOP get out of Al? Nothing. Al pushed a bunch of social issues onto the plate, is all. They got NUTHIN' from the boy. He played THEM, he took their money, and he raised awareness about (not very GOP things like) poverty, social injustice, education, medical care, jobs, opportunities...I mean, really.

I'd retract, if I were you.

They gotcha. Divide, conquer.

Don't let them. Al has NOT ruled out supporting Obama. He's just not going to do it based solely on skin color.

Wow, what a concept!

[rocktivity]

67. I agree that Sharpton's a "player."

But unless he can create the illusion that Obama can't win the black vote without him, he's played out--and he knows it.

:headbang:
rocknation