Democrats scramble to court Sharpton By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer Wed Apr 18, 7:36 PM ET
NEW YORK - Democratic presidential contenders are scrambling for support in what's being dubbed the Al Sharpton primary. The civil rights leader livened up the 2004 Democratic primary with his pompadour hairdo and sharp, witty oratory. This election, the high-profile Sharpton, fresh from the fight over Don Imus' derogatory remarks, is attracting all the party's major candidates this week for his annual National Action Network convention.
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The solid attendance — starting with John Edwards on Wednesday and continuing with Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) later this week — reflects Sharpton's prominence in the party, concern that he might run again and the Democrats' effort to appeal to the base, particularly black voters.
No wonder the event was being called the Sharpton primary.
"I think some people really believe that we have put these things behind us; that the civil rights movement took care of all that and everyone is on a level playing field now," Edwards said in prepared remarks in which he talked about bigotry, intolerance and the Imus controversy.
In his remarks, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, a Sharpton rival in 2004, said Sharpton's commitment to civil rights was manifest in the crop of current contenders.
"I think even Dr. King would have been shocked to see the major competitors for my party for president of the United States would include an African-American, a woman and an Hispanic," Dean said, referring to Clinton, Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
Blacks are a key bloc of the Democratic base: About 75 percent of black voters are Democrats, compared to just 45 percent of white voters. The party's presidential candidates typically are eager to showcase their civil rights credentials at large-scale gatherings like this.
Even so, the national spotlight is relatively new for the 52-year-old Sharpton, who before his presidential run was little known outside New York except for his role in the controversial 1988 Tawana Brawley case.
Sharpton was a spokesman for Brawley, a black teenager whose claim of kidnapping and rape at the hands of six white police officers was dismissed after a grand jury determined their was no evidence to support it. Sharpton has never apologized for his role in the case, which inflamed racial tensions in New York and nationally.
"The communities outside the black community remember that. He was so identified with that case," said former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who also addressed the gathering. "I thought it was incumbent on Rev. Sharpton, if he wanted to be a crossover leader as he's very capable of doing ... to say that he was wrong about that. But he chose to go another way."
If anything, Sharpton over the years has become only more famous — and more defiant. After the Imus controversy, Sharpton announced he would pressure hip-hop and rap artists to stop making degrading comments about women in their music.
The Imus case centered on the radio host's comments about the Rutgers' women's basketball team, comments described as racist and sexist.
"A major emphasis is that we want to stop misogynist records, misogynist references," he told the group to applause. "If you are coming out of the 'hood, why are you calling the people you claim were pained the names? They're calling people in the hood 'hos' and say 'Yes, ma'am' in the Hamptons."
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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posted
I dont need them im a penguin....I just wanted to start a thread for the lefties cause I know they wont visit it...... Unless they go cannibull and start eating there own.
They really have nothing to say to eachother...its actually hysterical.........and pathetic
+ I really had to post that article on how they gotta suck up to sharp-ton.....LMAO...DISGRACES
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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It is fairly evident that he is an opportunist first and a motivated leader second.
That said, even misled organizations can create a benefit to society.
There are many churches and denominations that I would call misled...but I don't dismiss their campaigns to end hunger in Africa as insignificant.
I don't know that I would be ponying up to attend his party though...seems like blatent pandering. But then, so do Bush's $500 a plate chicken dinners. (Gee, I wonder what audience he was aiming for?)
Same game different channel.
So you want my opinions on the democratic candidates Rim?
Edwards should have pulled out of the race. He had spoken before that family comes first. I know this type of cancer his wife has isn't what he was talking about back then but it would have showed class. Besides, he's young enough he'll have more chances down the road.
Not a big Hillary fan but she's got experience, can't deny that. I think she would be a capable leader, not a great one but she'd get the job done just fine.
Obama is a wildcard I am interested in hearing more about. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders but he too new yet for me to judge if he's got what it takes.
Are there other contenders on the democratic ticket that are really worth listing?
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I think Sharpton never imagined himself becoming of national influence and prominance. Had that been an early objective, he is certainly smart enough that he would have molded that development and we wouldn't have much to chew on.
Clearly, he had no idea he would one day be called to account for the support of Brawley. He worked then in association with her attorneys and did act according to the strict standards and principles of the legal profession, whether or not us othar folk like that fact. I seriously doubt he thought (or knew) the woman was lying.
I, like Big, find him often annoying, but I also have to admit he is frequently a breath of fresh air on social situations and even more often shines a light on the insulting shenanigans of the far right republican machine.
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Hey Big, Thanx for your honesty. Your order seemed to be incomplete.. "It is fairly evident that he is an opportunist first and a motivated leader second."..I see him as a opportunist first, drug dealer second, demogouge third, wannabe motivated leader fourth
Wish I could find the hidden video footage of the sting opp... you southerners woulda loved it..he was sporting a nice cowboy hat back then. Maybe he was looking for some red state support?
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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A few years ago I was on a jury in Charlotte, N.C. Not surprisingly, there was Al Sharpton on the witness stand. My concern is that he always plays the race card long before there is any evidence of anything being of a race nature at all. That alone causes racial division..
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The guys a joke...its a joke that people have to play up to him...I like to call it legal- extortion. Hes gone legal...hes got his charities and funds set up...
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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Wether you like Sharpton or not he is a leader in the African American community when he speaks he speaks to a large following of people that listen.
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I like seeing those articles sometimes. Stuff like that and some of the news coming out of the French presidential race helps remind me that we aren't the only 1st worlders with big problems.
Tempers my patience for the idiot moves that get made in the name of my country to know that it happens elsewhere too.
-------------------- No longer eligible for government service due to lack of tax issues.
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They are both takin' the golden rule and beatin' we the people over the head with it. They don't care about U.S., they only care about their pockets.
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LoL...Sean Hannity keeps playing the tape saying he wants Baldwin arrested. Its Close the guy did say some scary sh!t....you gotta hear the fury in his voice
"I want you to know something, okay? And I want to leave a message for you right now because again it's 10:30 here in New York on a Wednesday and once again I've made an a** of myself trying to get to a phone to call you at a specific time. When the time comes ... I stop whatever I'm doing ... and you don't even have the goddamn phone turned on.
"I'm tired of playing this game with you. I'm leaving this message with you to tell you that you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me.
"You don't have the brains or the decency as a human being. I don't give a damn that you're 12 years old or 11 years old or that you're a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the a** who doesn't care about what you do. As far as I'm concerned, you have humiliated me for the last time with this phone.
"And when I come out there next week, I'm going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I'm going to let you know just how disappointed in you I am and how angry I am with you that you've done this to me again. You've made me feel like s**t. And you've made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this goddamn phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother. And you do it to me constantly and over and over again.
"... I'm coming out there for the day, and I'm going to straighten your a** out when I see you. Do you understand me? I'm going to really make sure you get it. Then I'm going to get on a plane and turn around and go home so you better be ready Friday, the 20th, to meet with me because I'm going to let you know just how I feel about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude, thoughtless little pig, okay?"
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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Next you are going to be saying Ann Coulter is human.
They might be able to get him for cursing on the phone. There is a statute for that.
Beyond that, we have monkeyed around in the private part of paranting so muh now it has destroyed a lot of paranting.
How about we start respecting parents, even when they screw up? It is a horrible responsibility they have that we tend to gloss over and there aren't even any shop manuals or users manual written in supposed English with Japanese word order.
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Call me crazy but...I think fox might have cut that tape up a little. I dont remember hearing "on this issue" and I dont remember hearing the "disapointed" thing.....I could be wrong .....
"And when I come out there next week, I'm going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I'm going to let you know just how disappointed in you I am and how angry I am with you that you've done this to me again. You've made me feel like s**t. And you've made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this goddamn phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother. And you do it to me constantly and over and over again
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quote:Originally posted by T e x: geez, I just scanned this thread---have no idea what y'all are going on about...
From "French presidential race" to yelling at kids ???
Basically.... the Left thread is for bashing anybody or anything associated with the Democratic left and the Right thread.....is for bashing anybody or anything associated with the Democratic left
BWAAAAAHH AHH AHH AHH AHH AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
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quote:Originally posted by T e x: geez, I just scanned this thread---have no idea what y'all are going on about...
From "French presidential race" to yelling at kids ???
Basically.... the Left thread is for bashing anybody or anything associated with the Democratic left and the Right thread.....is for bashing anybody or anything associated with the Democratic left
BWAAAAAHH AHH AHH AHH AHH AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!
ohhh...
OK, thanks... as I was scanning threads, thought it might be sumpin' interesting.
-------------------- Nashoba Holba Chepulechi Adventures in microcapitalism...
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