BOSTON - Al Sharpton, who failed in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, told the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night that he was living proof that kids can grow up poor and make it in America.
Sharpton repeatedly departed from his prepared text — text that had been scrubbed by John Kerry's staff — and the amended message resonated with the delegates who interrupted his address with cheers and applause repeatedly.
One of many standing ovations went on for a minute after he told delegates that after the nation failed to deliver on Civil War-era promises of "40 acres and mule" to freed slaves, "we didn't get the mule so we decided we'd ride this donkey as far as it would take us."
"Mr. President, the reason we are fighting so hard, the reason we took Florida so seriously, is our right to vote wasn't gained because of our age," Sharpton said. "Our vote was soaked in the blood of martyrs, soaked in the blood of good men, soaked in the blood of four little girls in Birmingham. This vote is sacred to us. This vote can't be bargained away. This vote can't be given away. In all due respect, Mr. President, read my lips: Our vote is not for sale."
He drew one of the biggest responses when he said: "The issue of government is not to determine who may sleep together in the bedroom, it's to help those that might not be eating in the kitchen."
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