I respect Sharpton more than Obama

[quinnox]

Sharpton has done a lot to contribute to the debate in this country. He did a respectable job running for president, and he often surprisingly made the best points in the debates.

He knows his stuff.

Sharpton, I hope he runs, he is a candidate I can respect, not some flash in the pan.

[Captain Hilts]

1. He gives a great speech, but he's a charleton. Tawana Brawley, etc. nt

[quinnox]

2. I disagree

Sharpton is awesome.

[WinkyDink]

53. He is, indeed. But it's hard to forget his intransigence over the Tawana

Brawley fraud.

However, he tells it like it is, and scathingly. Would other Democrats had his wit.

[stranger]

6. neither of them can win, so it doesnt matter

Do you really know enough about obama to respect
him less than sharpton? Most of su know litlle about obama.
I certainly wouldnt buy a pig in poke.

al sharpton is smart, but lets be honest here, he cant win-and neither can obama. so for me, it isnt relevant at this time. jmho.

[Dorian Gray]

55. I only know Sharpton's

public persona, and he comes across as clowish sometimes. He seems to be in on it, though. (The Tony Awards a couple of years ago, he poked fun at himself while appearing in a skit for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. And in the debates, saying that he'd most like to "party" with Kerry's WIFE.) He can be fun, but those paired with his past transgressions (T. Brawley), make me think he is not the greatest leader in the African American community.

Obama, on the other hand, has released a VERY good book. A best seller that has placed his life out there, for us all to see. He is a fascinating man, and doesn't have to defeat the "clown" factor that Sharpton created for himself. He's much more likely to be taken seriously by his fellow politicians, and the community as a whole seem to respect him.

[ProfessorGAC]

68. I'm From Illinois

I know Obama. He has the goods.
The Professor

[BlooInBloo]

33. Please expand on the "etc." part?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

51. Tawana Brawley had a lot of people fooled

...his actions were honorable.

Sharpton is fast on his feet. He never lets some RW talking head nail him.

I don't think he could ever win in '08, I would like to see him in the race for as long as he could aford it. He's a great spokesman.

[WinkyDink]

54. During, but not after the fraud was revealed. Rev. Al never apologized.

[applegrove]

3. He also used the words of a GOPer who was sponsoring his campaign ..and

went after Dean for not having African Americans on his campaign team..a team that has its basis in Vermont. That was bad judgement. But I agree he does highlight issues, clarify debate and give great speeches. I just wish he had shown greater judgement in at least who he accepted financing from.

[NYCGirl]

4. As a New Yorker, I don't respect Sharpton more than Obama.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Al_Sharpton

[theboss]

5. Obama needs to falsely accuse some people of rape

And have no visible source of income while living like a prince.

That will fix 'im.

[dorkulon]

7. Shapton's campaign funds came from republicans.

He's a shill.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0204-09.htm

[Just-plain-Kathy]

63. I didn't know that about Al.

I knew that about Ralp Nader, but I didn't know that about Al.

[LoZoccolo]

73. More information on Sharpton the race-baiting Republican shill.

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

[butterfly77]

8. I get so tired of these talking heads who seem to think that...

blacks play follow the leader as though they don't have the sense to determine if they like any so called leader says black or white. By the way who is the leader of whites and other races in this country? If all people are created equal why do blacks have to pick out a specific leader or vote for a specific person because of their skin color. Blacks see and hear the same info as other races,the media wants to paint black people in a box.

[stonecoldsober]

23. Who is the white man that speaks for all whites?

The entire premise is preposterous and racist.

On edit: This isn't directed at quinnox's OP, but at the attitude of the press that someone can speak for all blacks.

[butterfly77]

36. I would like to know that also...

Is there a specific leader for whites like the media portrays for blacks...

[stonecoldsober]

40. Pee Wee Herman?

or maybe BORAT?

[rosesaylavee]

45. Pee Wee's my man and ALL whites

follow his lead!!111!!!

If he's elected, I understand that Globey's going to be Sec'y of State.

[ContraBass Black]

59. I'd love to meet him. Wouldn't you?

[OKNancy]

9. I don't n/t

[quinnox]

10. yea, I knew it

Here come all the Sharpton smears.

Well, it won't affect what I think of the guy, he is great. Anyone who watched the presidential debates in 2004 knows how good Sharpton is.

[monmouth]

11. I love it when Al Sharpton is on Hardball. So does Chris. I heard Chris

say one time that Al was his favorite guest. Sharpton is very, very smart and politically savvy. I'm sure he's very supportive of Obama but may be smart and not coming right out kissing his feet. He's a wait and see guy, I just love him. Has he ever been on Jon Stuart's show? That would be awesome...

[theboss]

12. Are they smears if they are true?

I mean, he did falsely accuse innocent people of rape and never apologized.

[Renew Deal]

26. And anyone that has seen Sharpton pre-2004 knows

how terrible he can be. He's come a long way, but he does have a rough history.

[rinsd]

29. Sharpton 2004 insinuated Dean was a racist and had Ron Stone working for him

That would be Ron Stone infamous GOP dirty trickster

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:QSSH546YOEMJ:www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/barrett.php+sharpton+republican&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[seabeyond]

13. i love listening to sharpton. he is a fast wit and i enjoy that immensely

he is smart and to the point with a jab here and there. he is colorful. he can be all these things cause he knows he is not going to win. so though his voice is greatly appreciated and valued.... i also know it is not a realistic expectation of the other politicians vying for the job. i listened to obama on a video. maybe it was a leno interview. maybe it was a couple different ones. in the video forum du has. they are excellent if anyone wants to get to know obama a little better. i agree with some posters here, do we really know enough about obama. gosh, i wish i can remember what the interview was. but it was long.

i liked his discussion on his childhood, his perceptions, and what he has grown to. again,.... i havent heard enough, i am not endorsing obama just my two cents.

[quinnox]

14. yea, he is fun

He makes his points with wit like you say.

[kevinmc]

15. I like Sharpton , but I saw a Info-commercial last night

and he was part of it. It was for some snake oil guy name Master Prophet .. forgot the rest on his name .... if you call him up he will sell you a Prophetic Message. Sharpton was in it saying how great this guy is. Maybe this guy is using Sharpton's image out of context. After seeing this I am thinking on somehow contacting Sharpton and asking him if he knows he's on this scam commercial.

[kevinmc]

44. Found the Master Prophet's name ....

Master Prophet Bernard Jordan

http://www.bishopjordan.com/home.htm


For a seed of $3,000.00 you will experience the benefits of
prophetic coaching, direction, and guidance
through the end of 2006

http://www.bishopjordan.com/special/ProphCircle.htm

Here's an article on this .... don't know anything about the guy who wrote it. Just did a Google search on that Master Prophet and this came up..

"Master" Prophet Bernard Jordan

OK - normally, I'm skeptical of the religious media "watchdogs" that perform the service of self appointed "theology cop" to the Christian world. HOWEVER - let's talk about "Master Prophet" Bernard Jordan for a minute. What is a "Master Prophet" anyway? Is that like a "Master Plumber?" I don't really find that designation in the Bible...

Anyway - I started watching him on BET early in the morning when I'm working out, and let me tell you - you can just get lost in his website. You can order a personal prophecy, be part of the "prophecology" event (whatever that is), pay $1199 for a year of prophetic teachings, or for only $3,000 become part of the prophetic "inner circle."

I mean let's face it- this guy has endorsements from Al Sharpton, Russel Simmons, and even Rev. Ike. How can you go wrong with that?

http://www.philcooke.com/bernard_jordan

[NYCGirl]

66. That isn't the first commercial Sharpton has done for dubious businesses:

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

"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.

What data does Sharpton need? To get an auto title loan, a borrowers put up their car title as collateral along with an extra set of keys. They get a 30-day loan equal to a maximum of 50 percent of their vehicle's trade-in value. If the loan is repaid on time, the borrower gets the title back. If not, the vehicle is repossessed and sent to auction. In some states, the lender keeps the full proceeds of the auction, even if it exceeds the loan. To be fair, LoanMax isn't interested in repossession since it makes more money from customers' rolling over their debt from month to month. Trapping customers in a cycle of debt is the cornerstone of fringe lending.

LoanMax makes 500,000 title loans a year through 200 stores in 21 states. Its average car title loan is $400, and at a 30 percent monthly interest rate, it makes $120 on a $400 loan for 30 days. Since LoanMax claims that most borrowers repay their loan in two to three months, in only 90 days the average customer pays $360 in interest on a $400 loan. If customers take a year to pay off the debt, they'll spend a whopping $1,440 in interest on a $400 loan. Borrowers also pay title recording fees, plus some lenders add a $50 annual membership fee.

[butterfly77]

16. We wouldn't be having this conversation if these were white people...

are blacks suppose to be less of a person or second class citizens.

[quinnox]

19. where did that come from

Of two prominent African-Americans in politics, I respect Sharpton over Obama. It is prefectly legitimate topic.

[butterfly77]

22. Not for some...

I respect them also...

[seabeyond]

20. like we havent discussed hillary, edwards and kerry, lol

i dont get your point. or is it the poster chose the two african american to compare.

[durrrty libby]

24. "we"???? wow ...what a foolish statement and so full of projection

Guess what?

I think Senator Clinton is 10 x smarter than Edwards

Oh no...they are both white. Is that why I'm mentioning it?


:spank: :spank: :spank:

[butterfly77]

32. No you are mentioning it to TRY to prove that it has nothing to do with their being black...

now tell me who is smarter Obama, Sharpton,Jesse, Farrakhan...are these the only blacks that represent blacks. By the way there is nothing foolish about my statement,Here is some more projection for you, because he is biracial he can win, CAN'T HE. Can Farrakan win also...Obama happens to be the politically correct black. So now all blacks are suppose to fall in behind him and vote for him...

[durrrty libby]

38. Sorry, but you make no sense to me n/t

[butterfly77]

39. Keep listening over time ...

you will get it...

[durrrty libby]

43. Sorry, and for the last time, I will never GET ignorance n/t

[SaveOurDemocracy]

17. Sharpton will never be President ...

He'd be a blast at a party, though.

[durrrty libby]

18. Well.....we have known Sharpton a lot longer

I like him, warts and all

Obama seems intelligent and credible but he is still a newbie

[earthlover]

31. Lincoln was a "newbie" too...

Lincoln had 2 years experience as a Congressman and as many years in the Illinois State legislature as Obama. Dang, why on earth would anyone nominate a newbie?

[durrrty libby]

37. Well dang ...I never said he could not be nominated

Dang... I just stated that we don't know him yet

And dang-it....the projection people are noxious today

[earthlover]

49. projection...noxious?

...then how would YOU, if you were living in 1859, respond to someone saying...."Lincoln seems intelligent and credible but he is still a newbie"?

[WI_DEM]

21. Obama can be nominated and actually have a chance to win the election

which Sharpton can't. Obama is considered too moderate for some on DU and Sharpton is considered much more progressive. But in the end whoever we nominate had better be able to get 270 electoral votes and Obama can and Sharpton can't. I respect both men.

[porphyrian]

25. I like and dislike them both for different reasons. Regardless, I'm glad they're on our side. - n/t

[asthmaticeog]

27. *cough* Tawana Brawley *cough cough*

[citygal]

28. Obama can win. While I enjoy listening to Sharpton

on MSNBC, I definitely have more respect for Obama. IMHO he is a capable, intelligent and caring individual.

[rinsd]

30. Anyone who runs with Ron Stone is contemptible

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:QSSH546YOEMJ:www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/barrett.php+sharpton+republican&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[earthlover]

34. Obama can change things

One of the reasons Obama can win, in my view, is that when people see him they see his enthusiasm and his charm. They don't see him as a black man running for president. This is how it should be. We don't see white candidates and see them as white men running for president. We judge them based on the content of their character, to use a King phrase. Obama is so charismatic he transcends the race issue. And, of course, if he does win...that will make future black candidates less conspicuous, and make it more likely for them to be judged on the basis of the content of their character too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

35. Well, You've Known Him A Lot Longer. In Due Time After Further Exposure You May Find Yourself

changing position.

[scarletwoman]

41. Me too. I haven't read the rest of the thread yet, but I wanted to post my concurrence right away.

Obama does nothing for me. All flash, no substance.

Sharpton, on the other hand, has had MANY great moments of speaking truth to power -- whatever his other weaknesses. He's a genuine human being with a genuine soul.

sw

[ecstatic]

42. Not to you directly, but so many liberals took his run as a joke

He was viewed as the comic relief during the debates.

He was not given any respect and his major talking points were stolen by all the other candidates, including my second favorite, Dean.

Now that a candidate that will be taken seriously is running, you want Sharpton back in the race. Don't get me wrong, I love Sharpton, but I'm just trying to figure out where you're coming from.

[Kahuna]

47. You see it's like this. There can only be ONE black candidate..

while there can be 20 white candidates....or MORE even! :eyes: So quinnox is saying that since there can only be ONE black candidate, he'd rather Sharpton. Get it now. :thumbsup:

[Kahuna]

46. What does Sharpton have to do with Obama???

Oh, that's right. They're BOTH black. :crazy:

[Miss Chybil]

48. Is this the "Compare the Black guys" thread? nt

[marmar]

58. Exactly....

I respect John Kerry more than Tom Tancredo..... When's that thread coming, even though there is no apparent political correlation other than they are white men.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

64. Exactly...

It is very disturbing...

[mzmolly]

50. Egadz. Does the name Tawana Brawley ring a bell?

Sheesh. Sharpton is an egomaniacle opportunist with a good one liner now and again. He needs to prove himself in lower office before he's to be taken seriously, and even then it would be a stretch. ;)

[eridani]

52. Obama is the wrong comparison

Compared to the Jesse Jackson runs in the 80s, Sharpton just shows no signs of even attempting to build the multiracial coalition that any black candidate needs to have to be serious. Jackson worked very, very hard at populist outreach to every conceivable constituency. Sharpton has the rhetoric, but not the will for doing coalition work. Obama isn't the populist that either Jackson or Sharpton is. What all three have in common is that they are all are spectacularly good speakers.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

56. Get Used To President Obama

Because he's going to go through the Democratic field like a knife through butter...


I haven't seen a Democratic candidate offer this much hope since Robert Francis Kennedy...


He's selling hope in bottles and he's exactly what a hopeless nation needs...

[LWolf]

57. I don't know about respect.

I like him better, without doubt.

Respect is a funny thing, though. While I extend basic "respect" to all life forms regardless of their conduct, a deeper level of "respect" requires me to know and understand them better than I know either of those men, or most other politicians, when it comes to that.

[TZ]

60. I don't like bigots

Al Sharpton is a reverse bigot. And an anti-semite like Louis Farrakhan. He just has hidden it better in the last few years. But its obvious to me that he doesn't like white people period. And that bothers me as well (as much as some might deserve it). As far as I can tell, so far Obama has not struck me as resentful towards the majority which unfortunately many black candidates are and that makes it very difficult for them to be accepted outside of the african american community.

[Nye Bevan]

61. I love Al

but hated what he did in the Tawana Brawley incident.

He really needs to get past this issue by apologizing to Steve Pagones (the DA that he implicated)- a photo-op where they shake hands would work wonders for Al getting this ugly affair behind him.

[lonestarnot]

62. That Al is one of my heros! Agree with all of your points.

Get Down James Brown helped educate him. He just gets better with age.

[Cleetus]

65. 2 words..

Tawana Brawley..

I lived in NYC when this happened. I will never forgive Al Sharpton.

[npincus]

67. Amen. Sharpton is a loathesome liar.

Why isn't he in prison? He lost the civil suit brought by Steven Pagones, didn't he?

[NoGOPZone]

70. Huh?

Since when does losing a civil suit immediately result in jail time?

[npincus]

71. those are 2 unnassociated thoughts.

The jail time comment would relate to a criminal prosecution-- which never happened. I'm not a lawyer (obviously), but after living through that unhealthy episode (I'm originally from NYC) it seems like perpetrating that kind of fraud and injury upon people should result in more than a fine.

[JacksonWest]

69. Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

72. What Does Obama Have To Do With Sharpton Or Vice Versa?

Pray tell...