The Real Al Sharpton

[Rooktoven]

http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2004/02/tomasky-m-02-19.html

Check it out.

[madfloridian]

1. Ooops, Al and Roger.

SNIP...."You've already seen how he did it to Howard Dean. Sharpton's challenge to Dean at a pre-Iowa debate about the latter's lack of African-American cabinet officers was a devastating moment for the former Vermont governor. And for that moment, Sharpton enlisted a co-producer: The idea for the question to Dean was fed to the reverend by Roger Stone, the veteran Republican consultant with a long history of campaign tricks that culminated in his leading the infamous right-wing mob that shut down the Miami Dade Board of Elections around Thanksgiving 2000, when the board was attempting recanvass of presidential ballots. The great investigative reporter Wayne Barrett of The Village Voice has documented the Sharpton-Stone connection -- and many other dubious aspects of the current Sharpton campaign, from its shady finances to its appallingly shabby treatment of respected Democratic campaign veteran Frank Watkins. He even documented that Sharpton ran up an $18,000 tab on one of Stone's credit cards......"

[Rooktoven]

2. The Dean people

Whom I have immense respect for, should not forget this.

Sharpton gets a free ride because if he isn't catered to, he whines "racism".

He has no business being considered a legitimate candidate.

[Sotarr2004]

3. ... and to top that. . .

. . .the Freepers are supporting Sharpton to "embarass" us....

[liberalnurse]

27. Bow Tie is a real leader of this crowd.

If not a leader he sure does carry a lot of water to the Hill.

BowTie is the name for Tucker Carlson on Crossfire......

[fujiyama]

24. From the Village Voice Article...

"Sources say he's living in Don King's apartment. Sharpton concedes that King has a unit there, but says it's not the one he lives in. King is a major Bush backer, GOP donor, and longtime friend of Sharpton and Roger Stone. A doorman said the Rev stays there "three nights a week," whenever he's not traveling. "

Isn't that just great.while I found him amusing and entertaining in the debates I never did trust him and it was obvious he was trying to tear Dean down from nearly the begining. I would expect him to attack Kerry soon based on an incident where Kerry questioned affirmative action.

[R3dD0g]

4. Tucker Carlson & Robert Novak

have been chatting up a Sharpton candidacy on Crossfire for over a year.

Until I read the Prospect piece a few days ago, I didn't realize some sleazebag Repug had actually taken them seriously.

[Rooktoven]

5. More serious than the fact that the repubs are pushing him

is that he is going along willingly. I stand by my comment in another thread that he is a charlatan who is running fo the glory of Al Sharpton (and the ability to spend $3200 of donated money per night on lodging...)

[IrateCitizen]

10. His one and only goal is a speech at the convention

Hell, he's stated it himself on a number of occasions. He sees himself as the heir-apparent to assume the "leadership mantle" of the "black community".

Please note, I put those terms in quotes to demonstrate that there is no such thing as a "leadership mantle" of the black community, because the "black community" is not a monolith of opinion.

That is his one real reason for running. To benefit Al Sharpton first and foremost. That's been his number one reason for everything he's done in his life -- to benefit Al Sharpton first and foremost.

[Rooktoven]

11. Thank you, Irate. --nt

[Nederland]

17. One more thing you and I agree on (nt)

[IrateCitizen]

18. What, is the total up to four now?

:silly:

:toast: Here's to finding a few more areas of agreement before November!

[Nederland]

19. I'll drink to that

:toast:

[fujiyama]

25. Gee...that sounds like another guy...

that's planning on making his announcement on Sun. (Btw there is evidence that the GOP or other rightwing groups were funding anti Gore, pro Nader ads).

[candy331]

6. This is old news to some

and I might say is not much of a surprise. Selling to the highest bidder is seen all across the board and Sharpton is not alone by any means.

[Rooktoven]

7. Not alone, sure, but--

the most blatantly egregious in this respect. Also most people running don't have a history of sabotaging democrtatic campaigns.

[plurality]

8. yet no one cares when known PNACers and other neo-cons assisst...

the establishment candidates. Gotta love hypocrisy.

[Rooktoven]

9. names please?

Also please address how the establishment candidates sabotage democratic campaigns. Notice I did not knock DK. He has honor. I'm merely saying Sharpton doesn't.

[Mairead]

12. Sorry, guys, this is really unsavory. I think you should take a long

hard look at what you're saying here.

[Rooktoven]

13. Sorry if the truth is unsavory.

I'm out to douse the conception that Sharpton is a credible representative of the Democratic party.

spelling, sorry

[RichM]

15. Yes, but the Democratic Party is also not a "creditable representative

of the Democratic Party," for the most part.

[Rooktoven]

16. allow me to clarify then:

Al Sharpton is not a credible representative of the people who comprise the voters of the democratic party.

Ugh, excuse the prior spelling.

[IrateCitizen]

14. Mairead, this was covered extensively on Democracy Now...

... a week or two ago. This guy, Roger Stone, has extensive ties to the Republican Party -- and he has been a major operative in the Sharpton campaign throughout.

There is no way that Sharpton can claim ignorance on this one. Frankly, I think that the whole thing fits in with Sharpton's history quite clearly. Personally, I don't think that Sharpton is some kind of Republican stalking horse or anything of the like. Rather, Sharpton's primary concern (to the exclusion of all others) is what it has always been -- Al Sharpton. And if by employing a Republican advisor to help him attack other Democratic candidates in an effort to build himself up as a "truth-teller", in hopes of getting that coveted convention address and higher standing in the "black community", then he's going to do it.

Please note that I am not denying that Sharpton has had some valid points in the debates, because he most certainly has. And he quite often makes those points in a colorful and flamboyant way. But it's important to note from where all of his campaign has sprung, and it hasn't been a larger interest in service to anything except the personal motives and goals of Al Sharpton.

[Mairead]

22. I think my point is that the number of candidates for politician sainthood

is not large, and there are plenty advisors who work whatever side of the street pays them most (as we saw recently with Venezuela). But it's only Sharpton who deserves a beating for it? Even though he's given us any number of catchphrases ('slap the donkey') that will make life hard for the GOP long past November? Even though his behavior has been faultless? (the idea that he somehow outed himself as a GOP agent by taking that dig at Dean is simply mindboggling. What do people here think 'opponent' means, anyway?)

No, I stand by my comment, IC. The people involved in this really need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

[Rooktoven]

23. No, but the number as corrupt as Sharpton running for president are few.

I'm not sure how "Slap the donkey" is a catchphrase that will beat the republicans anyway. It sounds like they'll ridicule us with it.

The bigger issue is not the shot at Dean (which was entirely unwarranted, unjustified and cheap) it's that his campaign is being run by a republican operative who organized thugs to intimidate people counting votes in the Florida fiasco. Al Sharpton has NEVER done anything positive for the democratic party that would help a democrat get elected.

I can look at myself and feel fine about making these statements with a totally clear conscience.

[fujiyama]

26. We have already beat...

the other candidates here to death. Kerry and Edwards (especially Kerry) have recieved their share of flogging. Dean did. Clark did. Hell, even Kucinich has recieved a lot of flack earlier on about his record on abortion rights. Somehow Sharpton is supposed to escape criticism?

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberalnurse]

28. Why are you still insulting Rev. Sharpton?

You have been told by the DU Administrator that it is unaccptable....This was yesterday and you continue to behave badly.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=120&topic_id=13603

[Rooktoven]

32. _I_haven't been given that warning and would leave DU

if given that ruling. Regardless, Al Sharpton deserves ridicule and condemnation for his self-serving actions.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bushwakker]

29. thank you

I wanted to start a thread like this but was afraid I'd get banned. When I hear people compare Sharpton to Jesse Jackson I want to puke. The only thing they have in common is the color of their skin. Jackson has worked tirelessly for years for workers and victims of all kinds as well as being a party stalwart. He has been responsible for Dem victories in the south with his voter registration and gotv drives. By contrast Sharpton has done none of this. He has endorsed the GOP when it suited his needs. Not to mention his anti-Semitism which none of the candidates has had the guts to confront him with. He's gotten a free ride. Now he cries racism when he's exposed as a GOP shill. If I'm Kerry or Edwards, come convention time I tell Mr Sharpton that his support is not wanted and that he is not welcome inside the hall - much less getting a prime time speaking spot.

[revcarol]

30. I really hate to tell you this but he has PLEDGED delegates.

So his name can be placed in nomination for the Party candidate for the Presidency.And there will be seconding speeches, etc, as there will for ANY of our candidates for the Presidency.

Everyone here seems to want to believe the worst of all the candidates. Believe it or not, they ALL have lots of individuals as well as constituencies they represent.

So alienation of these individuals and constituencies is counter-productive.

Honey...vinegar...honey...vinegar

[Rooktoven]

33. I really don't care if I alienate Sharpton supporters

probably most are republicans, and the ones that aren't need to be slapped awake.

[snoochie]

31. So in effect, he helped to elect Bloomberg

wonderful