I never really paid much attention to Al Sharpton

[motely36]

But I really liked what he said on CNN just now. We need to get on the offensive instead of being on the defensive

[mcg]

1. He was good on the Daily Show also.

[redqueen]

2. So many have been saying this

They tried... they did. But a complicit media and a largely moranic populace were a lot to overcome so quickly.

I think if we stick with building the infrastructure that's just begun to take shape, we can have a lasting impact in the future. We did really well all things considered, I think.

[motely36]

3. I'm not criticizing John Kerry

or his campaign. I think he did a great job. I just think we need to move to be more offensive tahn just trying to defend ourselves.

[kcwayne]

4. Then you have missed many, many pearls of wisdom

Rev. Sharpton is an excellent speaker, charismatic, quick witted, and brilliant.

He has a lot of baggage from the Brawley incident and is perceived as a demagogue by many, so he does not have the cross cultural attractiveness that would make him an excellent candidate for President. But this man should be cherished and welcomed by the party, because no one in the party is better as smacking the hypocrisy of the Republicans while making you laugh than Al.

Whenever he comes on, I stop what I am doing and tune in. I love this man.

[wanpete]

5. this party needs a "white Al Sharpton" to win in 08.

We've got to be charasmatic and willing to step out there and call things for what they are. The milquetoast dem will not work for us. We've got to get real here if we expect to ever win again. no flame baiting, just keeping it real. By the way, I'm black. I'm realistic enough to know that America is not ready for a black president.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

6. Some of us are ready. Obama in '08!

[kcwayne]

8. I'd vote for a black Al Sharpton

if he had the credibility of a MLK, Obama, Edwards, Dean, etc.

And I am white. If the minority vote in the south, along with white progressives were energized enough, it seems like it could happen. There are alot of Hispanic and black voters in the South that don't go to the polls. The question is whether a charismatic leader like an Al Sharpton that was well respected and offered a compelling vision could energize this base.

Of course, the only candidates that I have ever voted for that won were Bill Clinton, and unfortunately Richard Nixon (when I was 18 and had not escaped my redneck upbringing), so what do I know?

[henslee]

19. Are you implying Al is white???

[kcwayne]

27. ?????????

[miss_kitty]

7. Al Sharpton is always dismissed by white people

for racist reasons, I'm sure. Not familiar enough with the culture.

If there was a white candidate as dynamic as Sharpton, we'dve had a President. 4 years ago.

An excellent article from The Nation, on The Reverend Al Sharpton, if you want to know more. From 2001, called 'He Has A Dream'

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20010416&c=1&s=sherman

[JimmyJazz]

9. It's not all the color of his skin, though. In his early preaching days

in NYC, he was pretty radical. I wanted to like him in the same vein that I liked Malcolm X, but his opinons were extremely radical - he was one to easily blame white people for everything wrong with society. While I admit that is true to some degree, I just have never felt that was a particularly effective speech to give to motivate people to action. In fact, it almost says there is no hope because white people will try to hold you back no matter what.

I like him now though. He has softened his message and seems so much more effective as a speaker than he was 15 years ago. Also, he has a sense of humor that I like which was absent years ago.

[miss_kitty]

10. Hey grow and learn!

you and I know what that's about...I have always been one to appreciate a radical viewpoint. I liked him in the day and I like him now. He speaks from the heart.

On Edit: I think it's mostly about his skin. White people (patriarchially speaking) view strong black men as a threat to their power and their wimmin.

[JimmyJazz]

11. Grow and learn definitely fits, but he will never recover from the

Tawana Brawley case - I do like the man. Again, I really love his humor which he is just now starting to display. I thought he was a total class act during the debates - never once got into the poo slinging thing. I think Obama will be our first black president, though.

I can't really get too deep into this or I will be accused of PUI. I can do the light stuff, but the intellectual conversations will have to wait for another day! :hug:

[miss_kitty]

12. The article URL I posted talks about that case

and I ToTally dig not wanting to go deep in the lounge, PUI or NOT :D. But whenever I want to find this article i always type Al Sharpton Tawana Brawley in The Nation search engine.:P

:hi:

[JimmyJazz]

15. I'll look at it tomorrow. I have swatted a few noses in my day

for getting heavy in the lounge (and I don't mean petting). Puleeze - we're here to have fun and forget. Anyway -come stalk me and short bus - it's fun! :hi: We'll think about the heavy stuff tomorrow (mucho vino en mi cabeza?) OH MY GOD - SHORT BUS HAS TAKEN OVER MY BRAIN AND I AM SPEAKING SPANGLISH) :P

[miss_kitty]

22. I am offending people without meaning to

I'm taking my marinol and going home! :hi: nighty night!

[JimmyJazz]

25. You have NEVER offended me - I love you!

and SBP hasn't a clue how to be offended, so there's two!

:hi:

I'll hug you tomorrow.

[motely36]

14. PUI?

[JimmyJazz]

17. that would be "Posting under the Influence"

:P

[motely36]

18. thanks

:)

[wicket]

13. It's because of Tawanna

I know a lot of people who will never forgive him for that

[henslee]

21. 20 plus years ago Al tried to march in my town after a black kid got beat

up by drunk football players. Bottom line was these football guys were assholes hated by everyone and a crew of white kids ended up kicking their asses. It was not a racial issue. In fact the black dude had grown up with everyone and it was really a matter of two guys just being assholes. Al blew it up and tried to march but no one showed up. A few years later, Tawan Brawley fiasco happened. Having witnessed his antics first hand, I was skeptical and rightfully so. Its interesting to see what he's become. Actually, I admire him. He is quickwitted, frank and his hearts in the right place. I think he's a vital figure.

[Jack Schitt]

16. Al Sharpton is the man!!!

[Dude_CalmDown]

20. Even my father, a newly converted liberal,...

...(read: former puke), loves Al. We are very lucky to have him on our side. It's pathetic to see so many of our Dem "leaders" work so hard to separate themselves from Al.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. I would've been happy with Al Sharpton as Democratic nominee.

He's very intelligent, an articulate and forceful speaker, and he was my favourite of the "not a chance in hell" primary candidates.

[Blue_Tires]

24. i'm a big sharpton fan

but it did worry me that his campaign adviser for the race was a HIGH-level GOP pollster...something didn't sit well about that

[FatSlob]

26. People actually pay attention to him?!?!

I'm shocked. After all, he's responsible for the Tawana Bradley incident, he was suspected of laundering money for Don King, he incited mob violence against Hascidic Jews, called the Jewish NY AG "Hitler", incited violence against the Jewish owned "Freddy's Fashion Mart", and has no credibility with me. In my opinion he is racist against Jews and reflects poorly upon the party.