The Ed Show tonight: I like Al Sharpton!

[patrice]

He's a little dicey, kind of a loose cannon, but he's also smart and pretty honest; I like that combination, have for quite a while. Love his affect on conversation.

When Cornell West got after him a couple of weeks ago, I was highly impressed that Sharpton's reaction was not defensive and arrogant. It appeared that he listened openly and perhaps even accepted West's criticism (about something going on between Sharpton and the CBC . . . ?) a little humbly; that's NOT an easy thing to do.

[BoWanZi]

1. Remember Tawana Brawley!

[KittyWampus]

3. What about her? God forbid someone take the word of a young black girl

[ecstatic]

5. +1 nt

[BoWanZi]

7. LOL the whole fake rape and setup made me have no respect for Sharpton ever

[Luminous Animal]

11. He did not set up anything. He only advocated on her behalf. Quite simply, he trusted when he

should not have trusted.

Many of us fall for a flim-flam, large or small. But many of this do not have a high profile. Our humiliation is private.

[BoWanZi]

12. You know, you guys are right. I have had this disrespect for Sharpton ever since 87...

...but I was always under the impression that he and his pals were the ones that set it up or kept on pushing it after it was obviously a fake. Now remember, this happened 25 years ago and I was a much younger man of only 20. But ever since then, I just disliked Al because of the whole Brawley incident.

I was under the impression that he was the mastermind of it all.

[Luminous Animal]

14. His biggest flaw was sticking by her when the holes in

her story became more than evident. But I've been there as a victim's advocate and assisted mounting a campaign based on total fabrication. It is very painful to face the truth that you've been totally duped.

It was an excellent tool though, for racists, bigots, and the powers that be to discredit Sharpton for all eternity.

[BoWanZi]

15. It was, I have always discredited him for his particaption in the hoax, I wonder...

...if i should reevaluate my position.

I'm pretty sure that it was far more than just racists and bigots who wanted him discredited.

[Luminous Animal]

16. Goodonya for thinking about reevaluating.

And yes, more than just racists and bigots... that is why I added "the powers that be". Sharpton is (in my opinion) a remarkable populist advocate. There is a lot of risks in that undertaking.

[pacalo]

17. Thanks for that. If we could step into his shoes for *just a year* before his civil rights

were legally acknowledged, we might understand how he bought into the girl's rape story.

Al Sharpton gained my respect during the 2004 Democratic primaries. His comments showed good judgment & common sense. And he was very witty.

[Luminous Animal]

9. Exactly. In todays whack-an-activist "pragmatic" world , nobody is allowed to take risks.

And heaven forbid that citizens be allowed to choose their own advocates, warts and all.

[my2sense]

10. +1 n/t

[sasha031]

2. loved it when he was a presidential candidate

[KittyWampus]

4. He looks to have lost a lot of weight.

[Cleita]

6. I thought he was thoughtful, informed and intelligent when

he ran for President, but like Dennis Kucinich, he got treated like the kid that shouldn't try out for the team or try to get the scholarship. He wasn't one of them.

[TheKentuckian]

8. I'm bitter on him schlepping education deform.

[Luminous Animal]

13. I'm not bitter but rather, disappointed. I wrote him a letter but unfortunately...

never heard back.

Maybe it's time for another letter citing excerpts and links to Madfloridian's journals.