Obama Should Apologize to Sharpton..

[Tellurian]

Sharpton tears into Obama

'Why shouldn't the black community ask questions?'

... after all, Al Sharpton IS the voice of the black community. Or does Obama want to split with Sharpton and his support? What should Obama do..Apologizing would be the easiest way of making amends..imo-


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.

"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.

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.

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

[Tellurian]

1. Obama needs Sharpton's support..

He would be wise to make Peace with Sharpton. He needs his support.

[Tellurian]

17. Sharpton Faults Obama Support For Lieberman

Sharpton Faults Obama Support For Lieberman

By JILL GARDINER


March 13, 2007


The Reverend Al Sharpton, one of the most prominent black civil rights activists in the country, is challenging the policies of the only African-American candidate for president.

Rev. Sharpton told CBS News yesterday that he wanted Senator Obama, a Democrat of Illinois, to explain why he backed Senator Lieberman when the Connecticut lawmaker was locked in a tight race for the Democratic Party nomination for the Senate last year.

"Why shouldn't the black community ask questions? Are we now being told, ‘You all just shut up?" CBS quoted Rev. Sharpton as saying. " 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."

Rev. Sharpton's decision to criticize Mr. Obama's support last year for Mr. Lieberman is an interesting one. Mr. Lieberman, who was elected as an independent but is still caucusing with the Democrats, has a tenuous relationship with his former party. But he is crucial to the Democrats because he holds the key to the party's Senate majority.

http://www.nysun.com/article/50358

...Obama should have know this was a big faux pas. Has he apologized for supporting Lieberman? Anyone?

[Nikki Stone1]

2. I'd like to know why Obama supported an Independent candidate instead of his own party

..

[Crunchy Frog]

5. He didn't.

He did not support Lieberman after Lieberman lost the primary. I wish he hadn't supported him at all, but I'm not going to exagerate the egregiousness of the offense.

[Tellurian]

21. I'd like to know IF Obama is really Irish?

Such is the claim coming from his camp.

http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=5549169

[NYCGirl]

25. Ancestry.com is NOT Obama's camp. What a pitiful post. NT

[Hav]

27. .

Is that a crime? Does that make him not black enough, now?

And what does that have to do with the point the poster made?

[Tellurian]

71. Wow..

no one handed you a ball to run with. Attacks are so ugly. Why do you add nothing but attacks to a conversation?

[Crunchy Frog]

28. Looks like the claim is coming from Ancestry.com.

I wouldn't find it at all surprising that his mother had some Irish ancestry.:shrug:

[Tellurian]

33. Would it be against the Muslim religion..

to eat corned beef? I really don't know. Just askin..

[Hav]

35. .

Strange that you continue to make that a topic.
As far as I know, Obama is a Christian. Oh wait, another poster already told you that but that wouldn't stop you, right?
I would have never imagined that there would be this kind of cheap attacks on DU towards a fellow Dem. Shameful.


And for those wondering, obviously this is the reason for this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3165764

[Tellurian]

39. It was a simple question..

nothing more..

I have all the confidence in the World in Hillary.. Obama is being tested, thats all. I want every candidate tested before the primary.

[NYCGirl]

36. Lame and stupid. The Irish don't eat corned beef & cabbage in Ireland, that

custom originated in the US. If you're going to create a smear, at least make sure it isn't completely stupid.

[Tellurian]

45. I visited Ireland last St. Patrick's Day...and it was a big celebration w/ Corned Beef and Cabbage..

After Mass, the festivities started, featuring the Celtic dancers. If, you're attempting to be personally insulting. You've succeeded in revealing your true self.

[NYCGirl]

49. Your posts are insulting. That's not personal.

Edited to add:

http://www.europeancuisines.com/Why-We-Have-No-Corned-Beef-Recipes

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aCBeefCabge.html

GOOD GRIEF - NOT BEEF!
I just want to put something straight
About what should be on your plate,
If it's corned beef you're makin'
You're sadly mistaken,
That isn't what Irishmen ate.

If you ever go over the pond
You'll find it's of bacon they're fond,
All crispy and fried,
With some cabbage beside,
And a big scoop of praties beyond.

Your average Pat was a peasant
Who could not afford beef or pheasant.
On the end of his fork
Was a bit of salt pork,
As a change from potatoes 'twas pleasant.

This custom the Yanks have invented,
Is an error they've never repented,
But bacon's the stuff
That all Irishmen scoff,
With fried cabbage it is supplemented.

So please get it right this St. Paddy's.
Don't feed this old beef to your daddies.
It may be much flasher,
But a simple old rasher,
Is what you should eat with your tatties.

[Tellurian]

57. But The Irish do eat Corned Beef and Cabbage in Ireland out of respect..

for the Irish who created the custom after they immigrated.

I thought you knew that?

[Crunchy Frog]

40. This question is relevant how?

Obama isn't Muslim. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork, not beef.

[Tellurian]

47. If you reread the post you addressed. Obama wasn't mentioned..

I was asking a question regarding Muslim customs.

[Crunchy Frog]

48. The question was asked in a thread about Obama, but I apologize for assuming.

I guess it was all about bunnies with pancakes on their heads after all.

[Hav]

52. .

Yeah, you always take care to never explicitly mention Obama in all your "A muslim will never be President" posts. It's just a coincidence that it was/is a far right wing attack against Obama and that you always post that in threads about Obama, especially in one thread discussing a claim about him once being a Muslim.

Hillary Clinton deserves supporters that can make a better case for her candidacy instead of some people who essentially only point their fingers at Obama screaming "Look, he's a Muslim!". Because that is the real message behind all these insinuations and it's really cheap.

[Tellurian]

58. Bullocks..

I've never pointed a finger at Obama being a Muslin..Could it be your delusions have become wishful thinking?
Obama being Muslim is being researched as to the legitimacy of the claim. I didn't invent the story of Obama's Muslim childhood. You sure know how to distort facts and parlay them into malicious innuendo.

[Hav]

64. .

Oh right, I'm the one distorting facts, now. And wow, a nice projection there regarding "malicious innuendo". You surely now about these kind of things, right?

It is not a delusion that you have repeatedly posted on threads about Obama that a Muslim will never be President although you know that he is a Christian.
You don't care at all whether all these claims are legitimate, every chance to use something against him is good enough for you whether it true or not. And btw, this thread dealing with this claim was about what he did when he was a small kid, for god's sake! Even if he were a Muslim, it would be totally irrelevant.
The reason for these kind of tactics and to what kind of emotions you want to appeal is obvious, not only to me but other posters as well.
You may actually have the belief that you are so smart that you can play these stupid games with them but you aren't fooling anyone.


But whatever, just go on with your desperate and pitiful attempts to attack Obama.

[Tellurian]

72. If you can point out an attack..

please show me..

[Nikki Stone1]

32. OK

...

[Ethelk2044]

6. Obama does not Need Sharpton's support

He needs to distance himself from Sharpton as much as possible. I am an African American. I feel it would be much better for him to distance himself because sharpton has had issues in the past.

[zulchzulu]

46. Can you say....Tawana.... watch Al run as fast as he can from that hoax

Sure he'll deny it. Conmen do that all the time.

[Tellurian]

9. Yes, the fact he supported Lieberman is odd indeed..

I have no ideas on why he did that.. except, perhaps his mentor, Dick Luger (R) advised him to do so.
Maybe, a way of raising political capital, as in a "guarantee"?

[Telly Savalas]

13. Like Sen. Clinton he backed one of his colleagues in the Senate

and like Sen. Clinton, he withdrew his support when Lieberman left the party.

Your Rovian bullshit is pretty pathetic.

[zulchzulu]

43. Perfect! You took the OP's bait!

Obama gave lukewarm support for Lieberman during the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY...not after...but the OP wants to trash Obama in a Carvillian way. Pathetic.

[NYCGirl]

3. Who died and made Al Sharpton the "voice of the Black community"? Sharpton

speaks for Sharpton.

[TheConstantGardener]

4. Sharpton's dead right, we shouldn't play racism politics

Obama doesn't "deserve" black votes just because he's black. Like all candidates he has to prove why he's best for the black community.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. Obama has repeatedly said he does NOT feel this way.

This has been discussed at length on this message board.

[TheConstantGardener]

8. OK then we should all stop talking about it

It's a dead subject then.

[Ethelk2044]

10. Sharpton

Sharpton wants Obama to speak for Black people. Obama is right he is running for all american not just for African Americans. Therefore he needs to include all people in his speeches.

[CreekDog]

34. Obama never said he should get black votes because of his racial background

How utterly ridiculous.

Perhaps you could criticize Obama for things he actually said or perhaps that's harder than just making stuff up such as he's taking black votes for granted.

[CreekDog]

38. And Sharpton doesn't represent the black community because he is black

So, back at ya.

Obama shouldn't apologize to Sharpton unless Sharpton raises a legitimate reason requiring an apology to Sharpton.

[ariesgem]

53. That's what Obama said..

Maybe you need to do a little research.

[nevergiveup]

11. Obama should ignore Sharpton.

Al is just reacting to not having had much press lately.

[TheConstantGardener]

12. He reacts well

With legitimate concerns. And Obama answered them. No one is to blame here.

[NYCGirl]

14. Maybe Sharpton can do more TV commercials for loan sharks:

http://www.alternet.org/story/30407/

Reverend Al Sharpton finds solace in strange places.

"When I'm out fighting for the little guy and I need quick cash, I find comfort in knowing that LoanMax is here for me."

This is from a television ad he did in early December for LoanMax, a predatory auto title lender. After some criticism, Sharpton relented and declared a moratorium on the ads, saying he wants more financial data from LoanMax.

[TheConstantGardener]

16. Almost all our high level politicos are wrapped in Big Money's embrace

It doesn't start and end with sharpton, or AIPAC-Obama.

[NYCGirl]

18. We here in NYC know Sharpton and his scams. And did you know he hired GOP

operatives to run his campaign?

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

[TheConstantGardener]

20. And we have Ms. Campaigner for Barry Goldwater

running one campaign, and AIPAC-Obama on the other.

We certainly have a lot of work to do, that's for sure.

[NYCGirl]

24. I'd happily work for Obama and I will vote for Clinton if she wins the primaries.

You do whatever you want to do.

[TheConstantGardener]

26. Stand with people all over the world being killed by these bastards

I'll look and see how to place my votes, campaigning time, and money with that goal in mind, thanks.

[NYCGirl]

29. So much silly hyperbole. NT

[TheConstantGardener]

30. To you this might be politics on CNN

To some people, this is a cluster bomb in their living room.

It's not hyperbole to someone like me who travels the world and has a realistic view of what this all is. It might just be a hobby to you.

[NYCGirl]

31. Yeah, Obama is responsible for the Iraq War, World Traveler.

:eyes:

[Tellurian]

50. Your insults are as conspicuous and plentiful as

freckles on a redhead!

[NYCGirl]

51. Here's a good picture of Joe for you (thanks to zulchzulu below)!

[Colobo]

54. Zing!

[Tellurian]

59. It might do Obama some good if

his picture was taken with Sharpton instead of your friend, Joe!

[NYCGirl]

60. Yeah, maybe it would...

[Tellurian]

62. Nice Pic of Hillary..

Thanks for posting it!

[TheConstantGardener]

70. The one with blood on her hands?

That's the accurate one.

[Tellurian]

73. In your distorted vision, perhaps..

Hillary is not the topic here. The topic is Sharpton and Obama as is in mainstream news.
Do you have a problem with that? Take it up with management.

[TheConstantGardener]

75. No Iraqi would agree with you

But she has never cared for those poor disposable people.

[HRC_in_08]

15. that is ridiculous. eom

[CanonRay]

19. B.S.

I don't know what my great-grandfather did or didn't do to someone, but I'll be damned if I'll be held accountable for it, or apologize for it. That is just plain nuts. I'll be responsible for MY actions, thank you.

[Loge23]

22. Yeah, right after Sharpton apologizes....

...to Steven Pagones. Remember him? He's the former Dutchess County (NY) ADA who was slimed by Sharpton and his cronies over the Tawana Brawley hoax (look it up if you don't know about it).
In brief, Ms. Brawley claimed that she was abducted and raped by Mr. Pagones and his cohorts in 1987.
The story was proved as a hoax, but Mr. Pagones' career and reputation were permanently damaged. There was no voice as loud as Sharpton's calling for Pagones' head.
Sorry but after that fiasco I could never look at Sharpton with any respect at all.
Sharpton is no MLK, no Malcolm X. Sharpton is a one-man PR firm employed for himself.

[Hav]

23. .

Jeez, another one of these BS smear threads. How boring.

Maybe I missed something, did Obama tell them to shut up? Did he say he takes the support of the black community for granted?

[Colobo]

37. Nobody should care about Sharpton. America doesn't need that man.

[bigdarryl]

41. Al Sharpton can go to hell he doesn't speak for all african americans

[zulchzulu]

42. The "black community" deserves better than Al Sharpton

Sharpton was good as a court jester role in the debates in 2004.

But when you really look at Sharpton's past, the man is an amusing opportunist who feels that he has been appointed king of the "black community".



What's funny about the OP that posted this article is that he/she is a Senator Clinton shill. Obama gave his support for Lieberman during the primary, but not after Lieberman lost that race. It's a great way for some Senator Clinton fans to play dirty pool and is expected, since people that I consider absolute dirtbags are integral in her campaign. That's not a surprise by any means.

What this OP has done is typical disingenuous, pathetic desparation to somehow sway people to who many consider an unwinnable candidacy. So be it.

[beaconess]

83. And the "white community" deserves better than George Bush

Oh - that's right. No one ever assumes that white politicians represent all white people. It's only black politicians who are assumed to represent everyone in their race - and only black pepole are expected to expressly denounce or be held responsible for everything that other black people say or do.

Obama doesn't owe Sharpton an apology. Sharpton doesn't owe Obama an apology. They are two unconnected individuals, neither of whom is responsible to the other. Moreover, Al Sharpton has just as much right as anyone else to express his opinion about Obama's chances of winning the presidency. Everywhere I turn, I see white folks pontificating about Obama's race, how it affects his candidacy, whether black people think he's black enough, whether he should run, etc. - one need only read the posts right here on DU to see it day after day. Yet when a black person - in this case, Al Sharpton - offers his opinion about the same topic, many of these same white people attack him for it, call him a race baiter, insist he's irrelevant and then lecture Obama on how he should respond to it.

Yet another instance of white folks talking about us in front of us as if we can't hear them or maybe just not caring that we can hear since they assume we can't think for ourselves and they know so much better than we do what's best for us and how we should approach politics.

This whole thread is nauseating.

[Seabiscuit]

44. Sharpton should apologize to his own black ass for being such an asshole.

[ariesgem]

55. ...

... after all, Al Sharpton IS the voice of the black community. Or does Obama want to split with Sharpton and his support? What should Obama do..Apologizing would be the easiest way of making amends..imo-



What gave you the idea the he's THE VOICE of the "black community"? Did the "black community" hold some sort of election that I missed?

I'm black, from New York, my family and most of my friends thinks he's a joke.

[Tellurian]

61. Well, then..

If Obama doesn't want Sharpton's endorsement, then the point is moot!

[ariesgem]

63. What gave you the idea Obama wanted Sharpton's endorsement?

[Tellurian]

65. Then you have a statement saying Obama doesn't want Sharpton's endorsement..

please, post it..

[Colobo]

66. What are you trying to prove or accomplish tonight, Tell?

[Tellurian]

68. Either one of those questions is irrelevant..

Unless you consider open discussion of public information is somehow out of bounds for a message board.

[ariesgem]

67. He didn't say either way

YOU are the one saying "Obama Should Apologize to Sharpton", "Al Sharpton IS the voice of the black community", "Obama needs Sharpton's support". This is YOUR silly creation.

Can you provide an official statement from the "black community" that says we elected Al Sharpton to speak for us?

[Tellurian]

69. I said no such thing..

Taking words out of context always works, when you intend on changing the meaning of a statement..you seem to have intentionally omitted the full text as I posted it..

after all, Al Sharpton IS the voice of the black community. Or does Obama want to split with Sharpton and his support? What should Obama do..Apologizing would be the easiest way of making amends..imo-

I asked two simple questions.. and an optional outcome.

[ariesgem]

74. everything you said after

"Al Sharpton IS the voice of the black community" kills any meaning in whatever the hell your trying to say. Have you had discussions with numerous black folks on how they feel about Sharpton? You do know we ALL don't think alike. Our opinions DIFFER the same as with any other race of people. Do you really think that we're that sheepish to let ANYONE tell us how to vote? Some folks I know will vote for Obama. some for Clinton and it's NOT because a "self-appointed black leader" is telling them who to vote for.

Again, provide a statement from the "black community" that says we elected Al Sharpton to speak for us before I can get past anything you say about this subject.

[Tellurian]

76. You answered your own question..

I never said Al Sharpon was elected. You did..

"Our opinions DIFFER."

If you can't get passed it. Then I guess we're done here.

[cali]

81. Candidates don't put out statements

expressly for the purpose of stating that they DON'T want someone's endorsement. But then I'm sure you knew that. This thread and your bizarre and ugly comments littering it like stinking little piles of dog shit, are disgusting.

[madville]

56. It is very simple

Obama needs to pay Sharpton more money than Clinton does if he wants his support. That is the way politics work around here. Set him up with a paid travel and a nice consulting fee and he will be onboard, but you really have to ask the question, does Sharpton's support hurt or help, I don't really know.

[Superman Returns]

77. you do realize that with these constant pitiful attacks

on Obama, you are going to cause people to increasingly dislike Hillary considering you have her avatar and signature of support?

[Tellurian]

78. How does that work?

The only attacks have been from Obama supporters. Does that mean Obama will lose support because, I, as a Hillary supporter am being attacked by people who support him? Interesting, we'll see if your theory works in the Obama Camp.

[bling bling]

79. I'm surprised at you. I thought you were different than this.

I can't believe some of the things I've seen you post about Obama, because I thought you were into defending the Dems here against rumors and gossip.

I'm really surprised and disappointed to see the rumors and gossip being spread by the one of the few people here who I thought was above that.

I do believe I even saw a post by you a couple of weeks ago that was a veiled insinuation that Obama may even be the anti-christ, what with his charisma and the middle-east wars and all as if to suggest that he seems to represent the prophesy. I almost responded to that post with a link to the National Geographic that explained the book of Revelations but I hesitated because I thought I must be completely reading your post the wrong way. But after some of the other things I'm seeing from you I'm starting to think my initial impression of that post was correct.

Bizarre.

[Tellurian]

82. Thanks bling bling for noticing..

If you think about it, the reason you are flummoxed is because no one has dared to ask for clarification of the questions (not attacks) I've asked concerning current news releases of Obama's personal life. Obama has gotten a free pass even when his response has been exactly identical to that of Hillarys'. It is she that is always smeared and derided unequally for using the same words as her rival. Yet no one here is brave enough to admit it as a truth without a flicker of conscience crossing their mind. The HATE demonstrated here for Hillary, the democratic front runner, is neverending and unwarranted in a Democratic forum!

What you have read in this thread are my questions. What you have also read are answers to my questions with the posters own conclusions smearing me. In some cases, my one liner posts are connected together by an outside poster, from several different threads where the headers are current storys regarding Obama . Check for yourself, it's a commonly accepted practice to rework the truth into something of a different meaning here. There are just a few of us standing up to the lies, smears and prejudicial statements because a huge consensus of supposed Democrats are agreed it's OK to smear Hillary. The usual effort consists of tearing Hillary down to enhance the appeal of their candidates Obama, Clark or Edwards.

It isn't unusual at any one time, to click on GDP and see anywhere from 5 or 6 threads crucifying Hillary with lies and misrepresentations of her statements with conclusions far and away from the intent of her statements. Just as was done to me last night. I have never behaved in such a fashion to post outright lies or posts filled with malevolent innuendo to anyone opposing her, not even her closest rival, Obama. The few of us that continue to clarify her position and defend it as the TRUTH it is are always subject to attack and no one here thinks anything of it. Some, I would say, out of fear of being ostracized by the pack are unable to withstand the de-socialization that occurs with defending the truth from a mob mentality.

"I'm really surprised and disappointed to see the rumors and gossip being spread by the one of the few people here who I thought was above that"

Well, I hope your disappointment is temporary, because I did this as an experiment to give the populous here a taste of their own medicine, after the abusive slaughtering they applied to Hillary the other night over the 'morality' statement which incidentally was identical to Obamas'. The proof of it is the title of this thread, (which I invented as the example for what regularly goes on here as acceptable and OK.) I emailed several regulars here of my intention after starting this thread. If they want to remain anonymous, it's ok by me.

Perhaps, I'll repeat this scenario from time to time seeing as I may be the only one who dares give them a mirror reflection of what I and a few others face daily defending my candidate.

on edit:

If you'll notice, this is the first 24 hr span that has gone by where 2 or 3 Hillary hate threads have been absent from this folder. Why? Because the attack squads are on full alert waiting to flame and deride not discuss or make their case if this Obama thread continues yet again today.

[zulchzulu]

80. Watch and learn. Sharpton will be endorsing Obama next April

When Obama finishes up with enough votes for the nomination next April, you can bet that Sharpton will be endorsing him.

All likes Al the most. And Al knows where the TV camera is.

Obama will give him a lukewarm nod, knowing that Al is more of a political liability and NOT someone to use as a surrogate on the campaign trail.

[Forkboy]

84. And some whine about lame attacks on Hillary

You've met the enemy and it is you.

[paulk]

85. actually, Obama should tell Sharpton to stick it up his ass

it would be his "sister souljah" moment.

Seriously, Sharpton is just a publicity hound. He doesn't speak for anyone but himself.

[LWolf]

86. I don't know about that.

To be honest, I don't really care one way or the other if Obama apologizes to Sharpton. I like Sharpton better than Obama. If I were going to pick between the two, Sharpton would get my vote any day. If I were going to pick a presidential candidate because she was black, I'd be supporting Cynthia McKinney, Stephanie Tubb-Jones, Barbara Lee, or Maxine Waters.

[hedgehog]

87. Getting back to the original post, why should Obama apologize to

Al Sharpton. Someone wrote a story citing unnamed sources quoting Sharpton as somewhat critical of Obama. Then Sharpton came out and accused Obama of planting the first story in hopes of stampeding Sharpton into endorsing Obama. As far as I can see, Obama had nothing to do with either story. Both stories look to me like Sharpton is trying to grab a little publicity by throwing mud at Obama.