Rev Al Sharpton: Democrats 'too tame to deal with Trump'

[mfcorey1]

Civil rights leader says waiting for US president to self-destruct is ‘not a political strategy’

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

Speaking to a group of Guardian journalists following a visit to 10 Downing Street and a session with black MPs, the Rev Al Sharpton warned that the likely challengers to Trump are failing to galvanise opposition to the president. “They’ve lost the ability to dramatise. He [Trump] understands spectacle and drama and they don’t.”

Citing the current controversy over migrant parents being separated from their children, the veteran civil rights leader said Democratic would-be candidates “should be right there, getting themselves arrested” by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“What was the civil rights movement if not drama? Martin Luther King was the master of street theatre. No one would have listened if he just gave speeches.”

In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, Rev Sharpton expressed his fear that this lack of leadership could lead to disappointment in the midterm elections in November. Landslide wins for Democrats would take a mobilisation that he had not yet seen, he said. “You can’t just announce a wave, you have to organise a wave.”

As to who might take on Trump in 2020, he said that Oprah Winfrey “could beat Trump in a heartbeat”, speaking especially to poorer voters: “She’s been broke longer than she’s been rich,” he said. But he suspected the TV star and entrepreneur was not keen to run. Former vice president Joe Biden would enjoy strong black support, Sharpton said, not least because “he covered [Barack] Obama’s back for eight years”.

He noted that Bernie Sanders struggled to win African-American backing in 2016 because he “could only see class, not race and class.” He said Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, tipped as the possible standard bearer of the Democratic left, might fare better as she was more readily attuned to “the racial dimension.” But overall, he believed the current Democratic field was lacklustre and too easily distracted by Trump’s “bizarre and theatrical shenanigans”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/06/rev-al-sharpton-trump-democrats-midterm-election-2018-political-strategy

[dembotoz]

1. amen

[oberliner]

32. Why are people siding with someone who is attacking Democrats?

[dembotoz]

50. really?????????????? lol REALLY

[Anon-C]

53. ...

[BeyondGeography]

89. "The way to move a donkey is to slap the donkey."

Al has given some good advice over the years. I like his instincts on this one.

[dembotoz]

136. i catch his show from time to time. if a family has a kid brutalized by the cops, they call al.

The just do.....And Al responds.
Hillary does not respond, Bernie does not respond....
Al responds
He shows up.....

They call him.....
gotta count for something.....
we ignore him at our own peril

[Jake Stern]

147. When someone wants to perpetuate a hoax, they call Al

And, true to your statement, he responds

And yes it does count for something. - that he helped drag innocent people's reputations through the mud based on a lie and did not even have the goddamned common courtesy to apologize. Instead he doubled down: When asked if he would apologize his response was "Apologize for what? For believing a young lady?".

When he stands face to face with the people he worked so hard to slander, looks them in the eye, and apologizes I'll consider reassessing my views of his character.

On Edit: Forgot about his hand in the violence at Freddy's Fashion Mart by shit stirring through his radio show.

[dembotoz]

164. Soooo black lives don't matter.. good to know

[Jake Stern]

168. Never said that but

I stand by my view of him as a shameless media whore who far too often has acted without getting much of the facts of the case, if any, while virtually never making restitution (others paid his judgment to the DA in the Tawana Brawley case) to or even showed contrition when he damaged someone's reputation.

[dembotoz]

172. Nice that u r perfect

[Jake Stern]

180. Nowhere near perfect

Then again I don't take on the mantle of spokesman.

[dembotoz]

182. leadership is a funny thing.some seek it. for some its what did i get sucked into now

don't know how rev al got involved.
For me it was with the local dem party....election time and no one stood up....either somebody stands up or close the local party.....so i became chair of the tiny local party. When i got home and told the wife i was chair...she laughed hysterically.
You see i am really not social.....
As chair there are meetings you have to go to.....As chair you are expected to participate. You become thought of as a leader for this committee or that. And then just seen as a leader
i have no ambition for leadership....often it is just doing what you see has to be done.
So you don't like Rev Al...but if no rev al,,,,,who......
i would like to know

who

[WhiteTara]

178. I worked in OKC news during the Tawana Brawley case

It was really never determined that was a hoax. OKC in the 80s was a very racist place.

[Jake Stern]

181. The case happened in NYS, not Oklahoma City

And a grand jury ruled the incident a hoax perpetuated so that she wouldn't face punishment at home for being out late.

[Kingofalldems]

106. Ironic post.

[Oneironaut]

175. I really dislike the idea that any criticism of the Democratic Party amounts to an "attack."

There is a difference between, for example, calling Democrats "useless losers" and saying "Democrats are too X," or "Democrats should do X." We can always improve as a party. I resent the idea that "We're perfect now, nobody criticize the party!" because it's clearly untrue.

[Hortensis]

67. Watch out: People quick to abandon accepted mores and liberal

principles are also quick to attack us for being weak. Rev. Sharpton should understand our nation's crying need for a strong moral compass to turn to now that the Republican Party has become completely corrupted and even an active danger to our nation. Rev. Sharpton has also forgotten that, in spite of unprecedented subversion from multiple sides, our nation chose us in 2016, and not for our "tameness."

Our weapons are our government and judicial systems, which are all mostly based on liberal principles. To push aside the scruples that have brought us this far and behave even somewhat like the right would be to confuse those looking to us and weaken our moral authority, and with it our systems of government.

This battle had been waged continually over the 240 years our nation has existed. We won the battle for what kind of government we would have then, and ever since we've been the victors far more often than not. We are the stronger. It's no accident of history that the conservative party has become rotted and corrupted to its core in this era of enormous money in politics while we remain essentially what we've always been.

[RandomAccess]

93. Sharpton has forgotten NOTHING

But you have. "The battle" has NOT been waged continually over the 240 years our nation has existed.

The REAL battles get waged anew each time we need to take a step forward or, in this case, seize lost ground.

Sharpton remembers Frederick Douglass, along with Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

ETA: To be sure, we need both rabblerousers AND the nice, tidy, polite people who will get themselves elected or politely lobby the lawmakers. But we DO need BOTH and when the situation gets dire, as it is these days, the rabblerousers are incredibly, urgently important. And what we need perhaps above all is someone in authority (Schumer, Pelosi) to PUSH BACK against all the noisy lies and insults from Trump. Otherwise more and more of the electorate will simply beleive the lies. Every day I hear "no collusion" and NO ONE PUSHING BACK on that (except Feinstein in a very poorly reported press release last week).

[Hortensis]

114. Rev. Sharpton is a talented attention grabber and

has always been the voice he calls for from the outside. Note, however, that neither he nor all the other left-wing noisemakers out there have managed to grab more than a few moments' of media attention away from the right. Sharpton has failed at what he demands everyone else do. Btw, Elizabeth Warren spoke out today or yesterday, got shown briefly on cable too -- just what you want. Happy? No? Why not?

That's because the right operates far, far, far beyond any line a decent society could draw, and THAT is getting all the attention these days.

But go, join Reverend Sharpton in being the Democratic voice you want. There's a boulevard out there. Go. Be a noisemaker. Take a bottle of water with you.

[RandomAccess]

143. Thank you. So glad to have your permission.

Sheesh. Get real.

Note, however, that neither he nor all the other left-wing noisemakers out there have managed to grab more than a few moments' of media attention away from the right. Sharpton has failed at what he demands everyone else do.

Failed by what metric? What exactly do you think is his goal that YOU think he's failing at??

The people he's "demanding" do something are the people in power in the Democratic Party -- specifically Schumer, Pelosi, and others in leadership who are in a unique position to get the kind of press coverage he's calling for. He's not.

... the right operates far, far, far beyond any line a decent society could draw, and THAT is getting all the attention these days.

And you really don't think some good, earnest, robust pushback wouldn't get some attention? Seriously?

I truly don't understand what people -- including you -- are so afraid of. Care to enlighten me?

[Hortensis]

144. Lol. No, I don't think I could persuade you or

others like you to stop posting these notions that there are almost magically powerful words and deliveries that our best leaders are all refusing or too incompetent to use. Doesn't matter.

DUers know full well that America liked what we said in 2016 and was on track to elect us by wide margins when the elections were hijacked.

And DUers are very aware that we're doing very well right now in the specials and primaries. We're not looking to get a majority in the house -- and as of two days ago even the senate! -- because majorities of reachable voters don't like what our candidates are saying across our nation. You may not, but you're in the minority.

[RandomAccess]

145. I am not in the minority

And thanks for cleverly separating me from the "real" DUers. Nice little trick there.

Apparently you missed this:

BREAKING *WSJ-NBC Poll- By a whopping 25% voters prefer a candidate who will be a check on Trump
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210704509

The only way to demonstrate our candidates will be a check on Trump is to speak up. LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD.

[Cha]

151. Sharpton is talking about Bernie Sanders, too.. ya know

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

[RandomAccess]

160. Yes, I assume he's talking about EVERYBODY

esp. the top leaders, but maybe NOT Maxine Waters.

[Cha]

161. Yeah, maybe not Maxine..

[RandomAccess]

162. +1

Auntie Maxine. I love her too.

[Caliman73]

130. I don't think that Sharpton is telling Democrats to act like the right wing.

Certainly, Martin Luther King Jr. did not use any of the tactics of the right wing to advance civil rights. Sharpton is telling Democrats that we have to be more passionate and vocal about things.

I think the what Senator Markley did is an example of what Sharpton is saying. He went to the detention center to try to check on the children being separated from their parents and almost got arrested.

There needs to be more of that kind of activism because it is absolutely a fight to save progressive/liberal values. The fight has to be both public and political. Understanding that the Democrats are in the minority in both houses of congress, there isn't going to be much opportunity to push legislation so the fight has to be at the detention centers, at schools with the Parkland students, on the picket lines in South Dakota with teachers (I know the strike is over).

We should never cheat or be morally corrupt like Republicans are but we need to boldly announce our values and the policies we want to enact to make those values into reality.

I do think that Sharpton made a mistake in calling Democrats "tame". He needs to be constructive not demeaning in his criticism. He could have said,"Democrats need to be bold and be proud of being the party that actually stands with and for ALL of the people, and right now, there aren't too many that are out there standing loud and proud."

[Cha]

149. those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are "too tame

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

Al's talking about Bernie Sanders, too.

[sweetroxie]

2. I agree

too polite, too politically correct, too weak

[oberliner]

33. He's wrong

And this sort of bashing of Democrats is insulting.

[bluecollar2]

47. So what kind of bashing of democrats

Is acceptable?

It has been my experience that there are those on this forum who believe that absolute fealty to the party is required in order to be a "good" Democrat.

Say anything that doesn't put the leadership on a pedestal, or questions the progressiveness of the party results in being alerted on.

I'm assuming my failure to capitalize the D in my reply title will probably evoke some kind of indignation.

[treestar]

55. Absolute fealty in voting

Republicans have that. Why do you concede them that advantage ? It is necessary for our interests to band together. Not a demand doe absolute fealty.

[bluecollar2]

117. I never had an issue with fealty on election day.

I've been voting a Democratic ticket since 1976.

When did I concede the advantage?

I do believe that I am entitled to speak out when i feel that the leadership is wrong on the issue or being too conciliatory.

So I'll repeat my question...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

129. No, we should keep going down the same path that got us to this place.

[Kingofalldems]

107. You mean oberliner, like the endless bashing of Al Franken?

Just a few. Do you recall?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029956366

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029882230

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141920766

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029865792

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141915573

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029864792

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

126. Are we allowed to agree? If so, I do... if not, no comment.

[mountain grammy]

139. ....

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

140. Hi back mg!

[Cha]

148. No, our Democratic Party is not too "weak", sweetroxie..

I know this Senator tried to push that insult but it's not true.

Here's BS wanting to work with the Fraud..

Bernie Sanders: I see areas where I can work with Trump

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/bernie-sanders-can-work-with-trump-233532

Bernie Sanders says he could work with Trump on trade policy

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/bernie-sanders-says-work-trump-trade-policy

[IronLionZion]

3. Plenty of good Dems don't want to run for president

because it sucks. There's a certain type of person who wants that job as it's not for everyone. And we haven't had insurgent candidates run for that office for quite some time.

Of course the other party had the worst candidate imaginable run and somehow manage to win. It's disgusting.

[NewJeffCT]

15. Except for maybe a handful

I think most members of the Senate - of both parties - have at least some ambition to eventually become president. Maybe not in 2020, but after that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. He's absolutely right.

But you'll get trashed if you say it here.

[oberliner]

34. No, he's not. And Sharpton should get trashed at DU for bashing Democrats

Last edited Thu Jun 7, 2018, 09:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Democrats are not "too tame" by any stretch.

[JCanete]

157. hehe...that's the ticket. If anything they're too fierce..

[bluecollar2]

48. Amen...n/t

[Magoo48]

5. Agreed...Until the majority of the party is at least as progressive as the majority of our citizens,

and stands unified before the collected unrepresented clearly laying out the particulars of their policies and who will benefit and how they will benefit, it’s simply political backwash as usual.

[ehrnst]

16. Who are the "collected unrepresented?"

And who is guilty of "political backwash?"

[Eliot Rosewater]

103. When will it be OK for me to ATTACK people who are ATTACKING my party?

I want to say things like:

"Tell Putin you are not going to get anywhere HERE!"

[brer cat]

29. If the majority of our citizens are "progressives,"

why aren't "progressive" candidates winning handily from coast to coast? Selecting a label, self-defining it, and then declaring that it represents the majority is simply self-serving and divorced from reality. Candidates who are women and people of color, the very ones we have been told are "distractions" from the great economic message, are soaring. The voters are speaking; are you listening?

[NurseJackie]

121. Because it's delusional for someone to make such a claim when it's demonstrably FALSE!

29. If the majority of our citizens are "progressives,"
why aren't "progressive" candidates winning handily from coast to coast?

Because it's delusional for someone to make such a claim when it's demonstrably FALSE! As you rightly point out, the majority of our citizens are NOT progressives.

All I'm trying to say is that it makes people look foolish whenever they repeat a lie over and over, and everyone can easily see that it's untrue. Maybe the people who do so are subscribing to the political strategy of "if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth".

Well, anyway.

[Magoo48]

174. I do not believe it is a lie to state that the party works primarily on behalf of "moderate" Dems.

Progressives are generally maligned or ignored. I don’t believe it is a lie to state that the majority of citizens hold more progressive views on single payer health care, the insanity of endless war, and strong curbs to corporate power, than do the so called moderate Dems.

[Demsrule86]

30. Oh, I don't know. I would prefer a few more liberal Democrats than that...since the we are a

center left country and the majority of our citizens are not liberal...look at the Senate...without moderates we lose power.

[oberliner]

35. This is ridiculous

Democrats are not "too tame" at all. I am sick of Sharpton bashing our party.

[Magoo48]

52. One individual's bash is another individual's considered opinion.

From a leader who misplaced his walking shoes during Madison to an impotent congressional minority who, at the very least, could raise one hell of a ruckus in powerful and public ways and doesn’t... tame is correct.

Just expressing my considered opinion

[Eliot Rosewater]

105. Why is this OUTRIGHT attack of the Democratic Party on this website?

[Magoo48]

173. Living in an echo chamber, where no alternative points of view are considered,

Is how conservative-authoritarian, republican, corporate-drones operate. How can this board serve our common welfare if we don’t openly recognize our differences?

[marble falls]

179. Because we Democrats do not march in lockstep? Because purity testing is devisive? Because...

this criticism is about building up our ranks to keep any further cheetolinis from coming out of the woodwork.

Tacking right to compete against the GOP and libertarians is a losing proposition - they're never ever going to buy into our inclusion. We need to attract those who feel disenfranchised, who feel neither party listens to them, we need to show the Democratic Party stands for everyone not cookie cutter'd into the GOP. And especially get it through to them: every single vote/every single election absolutely counts.

Cheetolini should absolutely prove one thing especially: both parties are not the same, all candidates are not interchangeable.

[treestar]

56. Al did not say a word about that

He claimed it requires drama. Which is kind of caving in to Dotard.

[George II]

88. If you look at the citizens as a whole, the "majority of the party" is probably MORE progressive....

....than the majority of our citizens.

[ehrnst]

171. Crickets...

No surprise. I didn't think you would actually be able to quantify your accusation.

[democrank]

6. Rev. Sharpton is right.

We regularly hear from a few Democratic members of Congress like Eric Swallwell, Adam Schiff, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Murphy, Maxine Waters and a few others. Given the damage Trump has done to this country, Democratic leaders should be out in force....every single day....in droves, at microphones, on television, in newspapers, on radio....anywhere and everywhere.

The Parkland teenagers have been more effective leaders than any single politician. They're brave, fierce, vocal, focused. Democratic politicians should follow this example, forget comity and lead.

[oberliner]

36. No, he's not

And I don't understand how someone can bash Democrats and get positive comments for it here.

[uponit7771]

7. +1, "No one would have listened [to MLK] if he just gave speeches."

[superpatriotman]

8. I fear he is correct

We're bringing politeness to a divorce hearing.

[oberliner]

37. He's not

The Democrats are not "too tame" - in fact, quite the opposite.

[RhodeIslandOne]

73. We had a sitting Dem Senator retroactively bash the party's nominee....

.....and say he might vote for Trump in 2020.

Yup, he needs to “tone it down”, right Mr Profile In Courage?

[shanny]

177. Saying the same thing

over and over and over does not make it true.

[ehrnst]

9. If it was someone who had actually been in elected office saying this, I might give it weight.

Martin Luther King was a leader of a movement, not a politician.

Effective politicians are up to their armpits in policy and administrivia.

Effective leaders of movements don't have to have their time taken up with management and paperwork.

“You can’t just announce a wave, you have to organise a wave.”

That's what all those non-dramatic people working in local elections are doing, and we saw real results on Tuesday. It may not be entertaining or draw thousands to a rally, but it's what actually gets the job done.

[betsuni]

158. +1

[Luciferous]

10. He's right

[oberliner]

38. No, he isn't

And this kind of bashing of Democrats is ridiculous.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. Yes indeed.

[oberliner]

39. No, indeed not

How are people speaking favoring about someone who is insulting the Democratic Party in this way?

[mcar]

109. Just another day on DU

[NRaleighLiberal]

115. sorry - I think that we as a party in general take butter knives to nuclear fights.

Just my two cents - you don't have to agree.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

12. I may be wrong but I think...

The silence is because they think that calling out trump will cost them votes, enough to lose close races. But wrong is wrong and they should be yelling on every street corner, in every news cycle, sending out emails, whatever it takes to shine light on the destruction of this country.

But the average American probably can’t even name their Senators. I’ll go so far to say, I bet they don’t even know how many senators their state has. Blissful ignorance.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

127. Bernie is unafraid and not too tame... another example where Democrats should follow his lead.

[McKim]

13. Excellent Comments

These are excellent comments by Rev. Sharpton. Our Democratic leadership has allowed itself to be intimidated and bashed into not standing up for our values. So afraid of criticism, they will do anything to stop the bashing from the abuser Trumpster Wave.

The constant focus on Russian interference, while the serious issue of the day and the biggest threat to our democracy, is not something that your average Joe can get upset about. Meanwhile back in the real world of working people who are barely able to make it paycheck to paycheck, if they are lucky enough to be working for peanuts, Joe and Jane are struggling. Do their struggles ever make news? No it’s Mueller and Russia 24/7 on cable news!

Rev. Sharpton is right, instead of chasing and refuting the stories of Trump’s daily outrages and rubbing our noses in it as he trashes our values, Democrats need to be visibly creating their OWN NARRATIVES to reach Jane and Joe.

[oberliner]

40. Sharpton is totally wrong. He needs to stop bashing Democrats.

We are not "too tame" - screw that.

[Kingofalldems]

108. Not fooled one bit.

[treestar]

58. Would the media pay attention !

It is the media that decides what to highlight.

[CrispyQ]

96. I'm tired of this excuse. What are they waiting for? An invitation?

They are US Congress members & should demand air time. They should be prepared with snappy talking points, on all the issues, like the GOP is. Pull out that old Joe Conservative essay & hit all those points. Face the fact that politics is marketing. Also, maybe the dems/left shouldn't have capitulated radio to the hateful right, back in the 80s. The continue to ignore that at their peril. That Jones/Moore race shouldn't have even been close! I'm tired that the democratic party will not face up to its part in this clusterfuck. Dem leadership should have read George Lakoff's "Moral Politics" when it first came out, but it would still do them good to read it now, even though they are seriously behind the 8-ball in framing the message.

[dlk]

14. This is Why the Right Hates Hillary So Much-She Could go Toe to Toe With Any of Them & Win

Brilliant and accomplished women, with compassion, who are also politically astute, and tough as nails are extremely rare. Our country lost an incredible opportunity when Hillary was denied the presidency. There is a reason the Republicans have invested $ millions for decades to take her out and it wasn't because of Benghazi or emails.

[NewJeffCT]

18. Clinton handily beat Trump in the debates

but, she doesn't have that same natural stage presence and charisma that Bill had back in the 90s. She's even admitted that she's not a natural politician like her husband and Barack Obama.

She always seemed a bit awkward trying to explain the media manufactured emails and private server issues when on the stage, even though she had months to prepare a good answer to a question that she knew was coming.

I say that as somebody that donated money to her campaign several times in 2016 and happily voted for her for president.

[ehrnst]

20. Bingo. (NT)

[oberliner]

41. I don't understand how bashing Democrats is viewed favorably

This is ridiculous.

[JustAnotherGen]

60. Okay we get it we get it

In your opinion - it's not analysis - it's 'bashing'.


In my opinion - its good advice. Both Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Menendez need to go back to the detention facility and get arrested.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/390569-menendez-says-he-was-also-turned-away-from-migrant-processing-facility-were

They will own the news cycle if they do.

You gotta go big in Trumplandia - or just go home. You gotta gotta gotta attack him - like Murphy did here in NJ to excite people.

And he is spot on - in regards to Senator Sanders vs Warren.

Let's not forget - he too (Sharpton) has run for President in the Democratic Party and lost the nomination. He was Sanders and Warren waaaaaay before Sanders and Warren.

I think if this distresses you enough (Sharpton's comments) that you can post the same thing 14, 14, or 16 times - at this point you should probably reach out to the Admin or the GD Hosts and see if you can get the thread locked. Also - ATA would be a great place to ask Admin that if you give them a list of anti-Democratic Pundits and Politicians and Opinion Writers - can they issue an edict that those Pundits, Pols, and Op Writers can never be posted or referenced at DU.

Even if their ideas can HELP US WIN. Even if it's food for thought. Even if it's a failed Democratic Party Presidential Candidate who has spent their life in Democratic Activist Circles and gone head to head with 45/140 many many years ago.

Never underestimate the power and knowledge of a native New Yorker going up against the ass wipe piece of shit in the White House. No sleep til - Brooklyyyyyyyyyyn!

[ehrnst]

68. How am I or the poster I agree with "bashing Democrats?"

Your constant accusations and re-posting of this is what is ridiculous.

Your dog whistles might as well be train whistles for all their subtlety...

[IronLionZion]

26. The worst candidate to ever run for the office still managed to stumble in

without putting in hardly any effort at all. It's like Trump woke up one morning decided he'd like to be president and managed to do a big sloppy belly flop right into the white house.

Even with Russian hacking and Benghazi and emails, it should never have even been close.

[radius777]

163. Trump is politically talented in a Machiavellian sense,

a skilled conman and reality show ringmaster who knew that the true heart of the GOP base is white cultural and racial resentment - he appealed to that directly, instead of using the typical dogwhistles and high minded talk about so-called 'conservative ideals'.

Trump also had alot of help from the media ('..bad for America but good for business') Wikileaks, Russians, FBI - and Hillary still would've won easily without Comey's letter with 11 days to go before the election.

This is also with Hillary/Clintons being unfairly slimed by the media for 25 years.

She could've run a better campaign, but she did torch him in the debates, and was well on her way to being the first female president.

[3Hotdogs]

17. Instead, now we get Schultz who quits Starbucks and maybe wants to be president. He says we need

reduced Medicare and Social Security. Nothin' about redistribution of our nation's wealth and reduction of military spending.

[RandiFan1290]

19. Absolutely correct, sir! nt

[oberliner]

42. No, absolutely not

The Democratic Party is not "too tame" by any stretch.

[RhodeIslandOne]

75. Yeah, we need Senators to endorse Trump, right?

Not tame enough, eh Obie?

[CrispyQ]

94. You keep saying that, but where are the links to videos of this outspoken party?

Pointing out that the dem party is partly responsible for the clusterfuck we're in now is not bashing dems, & in fact, if dem leadership doesn't look back & learn from what they've done wrong for the past four decades, then we are going to lose our government. Out of over 200 dem congressional members, we see a handful of dems on a regular basis, & they are largely the ones on the investigative committees. Where is the rest of the party? Where are all the senators that spoke out so loudly against Al Franken? Why can't they hustle up the same kind of outrage at what's happening to our country? Like it or not, the dems are perceived as weak, & personally, I think it's a deserved reputation.

Also, this is a discussion board. You don't discuss. You state your opinion like it's the final word, with no links, no debate. You are boring us.

[G_j]

21. Good observations

Last edited Thu Jun 7, 2018, 09:34 AM - Edit history (1)

I fear he is correct (to a point).

[oberliner]

43. He's not correct

And it's insane that people are supporting a person who is attacking our party in these ridiculous ways.

[mountain grammy]

22. Will we listen?

He’s right you know.

[oberliner]

44. We shouldn't listen to people who bash Democrats

Especially when so many have been fighting the good fight for so long. We are not "too tame" by any means.

[RhodeIslandOne]

76. Joe Manchin, you mean?

[Luciferous]

84. Lol

[mountain grammy]

85. Yes we are!

[Cha]

156. I'm glad he included BSanders in that, too.

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

[Roy Rolling]

23. Well Said

Mobilization is key. Street theater is needed. A strategy is essential.

Yesterday, two guys in their 30s delivered a mattress. I decided to enlist their support. One was quiet, one said he was skeptical of Trump, but ALSO skeptical of BOTH parties. He was attempting to be socially reasonable.

I told him in no uncertain terms there is a gigantic difference between Republicans and Democratic politicians. And made examples of how Republicans have fu**ked the "working man" like them.

They thanked me at the end, they have simply been to busy working like a dog to make ends meet to educate themselves on the issue. Those of us who know the Trump threat, must now become vocal.

[oberliner]

45. He's completely wrong. Democrats are not "too tame"

We have been taken on Trump day after day and have been very successful in doing so.

[NewJeffCT]

24. I tend to agree

The most passionate and outspoken Trump critics in the media have been Never Trump Republicans like Rick Wilson, Ana Navarro, Dave Jolly, Jennifer Rubin, Bill Kristol and several others. (Rubin and Kristol in print and on Twitter)

Chuck Schumer always responds to Trump. However, his words, while firm, are usually too filled with lawyer-speak rather than passionate and spoken from the heart. And, many Democrats are similar to that when they tweet or give their sound bites to the TV media.

Nancy Pelosi does show *some* fire and passion when speaking or issuing statements/tweets, but still defaults to the lawyer-speak too often.

Joe Biden can do it, and he has a knack for great one-liners as well. But, Joe is 75 years old and doesn't get on the air that often. Sanders can do it as well, but too often he has to knock Democrats in the process, and I agree with Sharpton that Sanders doesn't speak to minority voters.

Cory Booker has shown that passion at times and has potential, i think.

[oberliner]

46. The Democrats are not "too tame" - we've been fighting since day one

Sick of people like Sharpton bashing our party.

[NewJeffCT]

49. can you site examples

of senior house or senate leadership passionately fighting against Trump when appearing on CNN, MSNBC or one of the broadcast networks?

Chuck Schumer or Dick Durbin?
Nancy Pelosi or Steny Hoyer?

Ted Lieu has been great on Twitter, but he is not a senior leader and not eligible to run for president.

I will say that part of the problem is the media not covering the Democrats, either

[Duppers]

25. What if this were written

By a DUer, not Rev. Al?
Would it be alerted on?
Just speculating.

[beachbum bob]

27. the media been too tame, I have heard plenty of hard hitting democrats

and once in power, we take our country back

[Glamrock]

28. Oh shit

Sharpton's criticizing dems. Bring out the knives! Oh wait, he didn't run for president this last election. Okay. His words carry weight.

[oberliner]

31. So sick of Sharpton bashing Democrats

Screw him - we are not "too tame" to deal with Trump.

[dembotoz]

54. i am so sick of you bashing civil rights leaders...shame on you

whether you like him or not he represents a rather large segment of the black community.
and he speaks the truth

[Jake Stern]

116. Typical DU hypocrisy

if those exact words had been posted by a lowly DUer they'd have been alerted on as "Bashing Democrats" but because Sharpton said it it's all good.

[tazkcmo]

138. So alert on him.

Oh wait... he's not on DU.

My point is you bring a false equivalency. On DU we have no true free speech due to agreeing to the TOS while Rev Sharpton is not bound by the sane constraints.

[dembotoz]

165. So shame on Al for not being on du.....ok

[RhodeIslandOne]

77. Is this your new schtick before the mask comes off?

[appalachiablue]

51. Concerns that Rev. Sharpton also expressed, from the article,

"Democrats needed to pay less attention to the president’s tweets or the latest twists in Robert Mueller’s probe into collusion with Russia, Sharpton said, and craft instead a message based on “rights, jobs and healthcare. You got to get the message right; then you’ll get the messenger.” He added that waiting for Trump to self-destruct “is not a political strategy.”

"Warning that civil rights once thought safe were again under threat, he cited Monday’s ruling by the Supreme Court in favour of a Colorado baker who had refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple on religious grounds. “This was one of the worst civil rights decisions I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Sharpton said, warning that once “homophobic” discrimination was allowed, sexist and racist discrimination would be next."

[JustAnotherGen]

63. Amen!

"Democrats needed to pay less attention to the president’s tweets or the latest twists in Robert Mueller’s probe into collusion with Russia, Sharpton said, and craft instead a message based on “rights, jobs and healthcare. You got to get the message right; then you’ll get the messenger.” He added that waiting for Trump to self-destruct “is not a political strategy.”

[SharonClark]

81. I agree with that.

[marieo1]

57. minngal

I have thought the same thing, Al Sharpton!! Democrats are nice people, they just don't campaign the way DJT did, they are truthful, honest, decent people, and honestly want to help and fight for people. DJT main motive is to save his own skin!! I can't believe some people were stupid enough to vote for DJT after all he has done that is against the law, against moral standards, against society's standards, and I could go on and on. DJT is a common criminal with a super huge mouth!! He doesn't know the meaning of the word truth and just throws obnoxious things out there because he knows some people will applaud him for his uncouth and vulgarity. I've been a democrat all my life and in my lifetime no democrat has ever been as obnoxious as DJT. My prayer is DJT gets sent to prison for his crimes. All we know about is what the media tells us, I wonder what really bad crimes he has done and has gotten away with. All of them should be exposed!!

[JoeOtterbein]

59. Preach it loud Rev!

Now is the time to fight. Every issue, every minute of every day!

[JustAnotherGen]

61. Rec

Al Sharpton knows exactly what we are dealing with - with 45/140.

He's gone toe to toe with him.

Time to make the news cycle - not just get caught up 45/140's evil games.

[jalan48]

62. Where are the Democrats on this one? Where's the Party leadership?

"Citing the current controversy over migrant parents being separated from their children, the veteran civil rights leader said Democratic would-be candidates “should be right there, getting themselves arrested” by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

[JustAnotherGen]

65. Menendez and Merkeley have both gone

They need to go back - together - and do something to get arrested.

If Menendez wants a solid win - he'll do this. Let's give them a REAL reason to try you for a 'crime' Senator. They failed on one - take the arrest, the trial, and the conviction.


We need to start making the 'news' and driving the story. 45's Propaganda requires it.

[jalan48]

66. Can't we get more than two? I think that's Sharpton's point. I feel at times our Party

leadership appears lifeless.

[JustAnotherGen]

69. I've called Booker's office several times

I can only get to Menendez and Booker as I'm their 'party leadership'.

I'm in the 7th in NJ. In the past year and a half of activism, bringing Leonard Lance to heel, getting Malinowski the Nom, getting Murphy over the finish line, and in the assembly - maintaining a D seat and flipping the other . . .

WE are the leadership.
WE are the bosses of them.

If every DUer with a Democratic Representative 'stormed' the phone lines and their local offices -

They will do it.

[jalan48]

71. Actually WE aren't the leadership. Pelosi, Shumer and other are. Why aren't they in Texas as

Sharpton suggests? Merkley is my Senator and I'm glad he's speaking out. Why would any Senator or Congressperson need to be contacted about such an abhorrent act by our government? They are housing children in cages.

[JustAnotherGen]

74. Oh - you guys don't have a good activism game in Oregon

Sorry - here in NJ

They step and fetch for us - or else.

It has been sustained 'visits' to Lances local offices and call bombs.

I can't help you if you guys won't nail ovaries and testicles to the walls if they don't do what you tell them to do.


Your Senators and Reps do NOT need Permission from Chuck or Nancy to engage in a personal act of civil disobedience.

[jalan48]

79. Pelosi, Shumer, etc. aren't from Oregon.

I hadn't heard, is Booker planning a trip to the detention centers or is he waiting for more phone calls?

Sharpton's words in the OP.

"Citing the current controversy over migrant parents being separated from their children, the veteran civil rights leader said Democratic would-be candidates “should be right there, getting themselves arrested” by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "

[mountain grammy]

167. I've called my Dem Senator Bennet

About this and so much more... raise our voice!

Thank you Reverend Al!

[Pepsidog]

64. It's time to fight a guerilla war like our revolutionary war heros did.

During the American Revolution our side didn’t stand toe to toe against the much superior British Army. The Americans did not mass in front of them but instead chose to slither on their bellies - these Yankees scoundrels, as the British called them - fired from behind trees and stone walls. We didn’t come out into the open like gentleman's fight that the British expected, and instead, our guerilla tactic took a devastating toll on the British army. We are fighting for our republic. It’s time for polite society to step aside, it’s hand to hand combat from here on in.
[part of comments above from NPR interview with war expert. I cannot find the link]

[MontanaMama]

70. I read Rev Sharpton's comments as

constructive criticism not bashing. I may not have chosen his exact words but I see his point in that MLK could fire people up and hold their attention with his brand of street theater. It’s magic when someone can do that. While we have many thoughtful intellectual leaders speaking truth to power, we haven’t yet found that Dem who has the same ability to stop people in their tracks long enough to tune out the noise and listen. I’d like to think we could be our polite and civil selves but that isn’t resonating as effectively in this age of tRump. I believe we’d be wise to listen to honest criticism right now. As my late father used to say, “if the truth offends you then by all means avoid it.” It used to profoundly piss me off when he said that but he was right.

[G_j]

82. well said. nt

[bdamomma]

86. MontanaMama

I also took Mr. Sharpton's comments as constructive criticism too, not bashing as some are saying here. We have a good crop of Democrats that have been speaking out.

[CrispyQ]

95. Love your post & totally agree with it.

And your last sentence made me

[G_j]

100. Using the term "Bashing" often becomes our version

of yelling “fake news” at stuff we don’t like.

[Duppers]

112. And I agree with Al.

Just asking if this were a post and not quoted, would it be allowed and not alerted on?


And, btw, Bernie could draw crowds but he isn't a Dem.

[treestar]

142. The Rs never need that

No charisma or magic needed. They line up behind whatever idiot is nominated, be it Dubya, McCain or Dole or even the Dotard.

[nini]

166. Rev, let me know when the msm gives them the airtime the fascists get

And we get control of congress to do something.

This should have bedn a repky to the OP. Sorry. Im too lazy to move it on this stupid phone

[mountain grammy]

169. +1000

Well said.

[NurseJackie]

72. More bashing. More whining. This is sabotage. It's destructive. It's divisive.

the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,”
(...)
But overall, he believed the current Democratic field was lacklustre

Good grief! GMAGDFB!! Want some cheese to go with your whine, Sharpton?

[G_j]

80. one could also say

that calling all criticism bashing, is divisive.

[MontanaMama]

90. Yes. n/t

[NurseJackie]

91. Oh, brother! When it's without merit, unfair, unrealistic, and when it's poorly timed and when it's...

that calling all criticism bashing, is divisive.

Oh, brother! When it's without merit, unfair, unrealistic, and when it's poorly timed and when it's self-serving... it's BASHING!

[Cha]

152. At least he's throwing BSanders in there, too

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

[bdamomma]

78. Mr. Sharpton

you speak the truth. But tRump has tarnished the office and the country by making it a fucking reality show.

We need to energize and bring truth and facts back into the American psyche. I only wish this would happen.

That is why Putin's plan is working we need to put the brakes on him too. Just a mini rant.

[MontanaMama]

92. In their own way, the Parkland

students have done what Sharpton suggests... from their chants of “we call BS” to their mastery of Twitter...it is exactly that kind of theater that the Rev is talking about. Dems need to shake people up by bending some of our norms while not crapping all over them like dotard has done. It’s okay to say this. It isn’t Dem bashing.

[KG]

87. I lulz'd

Last edited Thu Jun 7, 2018, 12:26 PM - Edit history (1)

seems there's no such thing as 'constructive criticism', it's all bashing

[Adrahil]

97. It's why "Our Revolution" hand ringning needs to fuck right off...

We are engaged in a serious conflict for the future of this nation. The bad guys know it. Not enough of us do, yet.

It means that perfect cannot be the enemy of good enough. And it means we will have to be more vicious and less nuanced than many of us would prefer.

[Yavin4]

98. Sharpton has been around for decades and has keen insights into politics

People should listen to what he has to say,

[Eliot Rosewater]

104. As long as everyone here today defending him has a track record of defending him

when he stood on the side of civil rights against white supremacy, in every case.

I am willing to bet that is NOT the case, however.

[ADX]

99. Al is 100%, stone-cold correct...

...if we don't get our shit together and really start kicking ass and taking names, Chump is going to coast to victory in 2020.

[Duppers]

113. I like your way of putting it.

We "snowflakes" better turn into one heck of a blizzard.

[ADX]

128. Well said, Duppers...

...well said, indeed.

[bdamomma]

131. I like that

you made me

[ck4829]

101. Time to get tougher, time to fight dirty

The right is gunning to eliminate the liberal and the 'other' from political and the fringes want it from public life as well, time to respond.

[bdamomma]

133. The right is gunning

for liberals and elitists as they say, that was that stupid Bannon and Stephen Miller mindset.

We need to band together and be united front. We have too much at risk now to be squabbling.

[Yavin4]

102. For those attacking Sharpton, ask yourself this question. What would Republican leaders be saying..

or doing if Obama did 10% of what Trump is doing? You saw for yourself how they went after Hillary over Benghazi which was nothing more than made up fiction.

Republican leaders would be all over the networks decrying Obama, and you know it. Where are the Democrats? You cannot outsource opposition to Mueller and the Parkland kids.

Sharpton is 100% right when he says that Democratic leaders should personally be at the border to question the tactics of border security agents taking children away from their parents.

[NurseJackie]

110. So... "Be more like Republicans." Uh-huh... got it.

GMAGDMFB!

[Yavin4]

125. In some sense, yes

How do you think they won majorities in both chambers of congress, the presidency, and the SCOTUS? This is what Sharpton is talking about. They don't play fair. They lie, cheat, and steal, and if the Dems don't get tough, they're going to lose.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

111. So, what would he have Democrats do to combat Trump that would make us better than him?

Responsible leaders don't lie and make unfounded accusations that they can't back up with actual facts. Honest Democratic politicians can't (shouldn't) go off the hinges and claim that Trump is guilty of treason without solid facts. It's weird whats going on with Melania but no respectable Democrat will outright accuse Trump of spousal abuse or foment conspiracy theories about her. Democratic politicians (most) aren't going to stoop to Trump's level of crassness. Honestly, Trump is self-destructing and dragging himself and his reputation down even without Democrats lifting a finger. And Democrats have been winning elections all of the country since Trump was elected- even in blood-red Trump countries. So, I'm not quite understanding the panic. Not understanding the "easily distracted" part either.

[NastyRiffraff]

118. Another day, another attack on the Democratic Party

It's boringly predictable on DU. And apparently, it's now considered okay in the DEMOCRATIC Underground. (Hint: The Democratic part stands for the Democratic Party.)

[NRaleighLiberal]

119. when we become lockstep in mandatory agreement on everything, and hold other Dems

as infallible and blindly follow and don't ever look to increase our understanding or do things more effectively, then we become no different than republicans.

[NastyRiffraff]

120. "we become lockstep in mandatory agreement"

Said nobody, ever. As you know. Stop with the strawman.

[G_j]

122. they did not directly quote you

but it seems like a pretty good translation.

[NastyRiffraff]

185. You may have many talents

but I very much doubt that mind reading is one of them. Stop pretending you know exactly what I'm thinking. "Translation" indeed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

134. bullshit. And you know it.

[NastyRiffraff]

186. What's bullshit?

That you threw up a straw man because you have no argument? Okay. I'm done with you anyway. Cheers.

[treestar]

159. Then we'd win elections?

We're different from Republicans in not being able to get the votes of people who would vote for us, but are being like really picky about being "inspired."

[RhodeIslandOne]

146. Another day, another criticism of our "strategy"

"Lay back and wait for them to implode" didn't work last time.

[Cha]

153. This time, though.. BSanders is included..

Donald Trump is on course to be re-elected in 2020 because those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates are “too tame to deal with an untamed opponent,” one of the party’s key power-brokers has said.

[Quixote1818]

123. Of course! We have a fucking lunatic / potential Hitler in office and he should be treated as such.

Dems should be going ballistic!

[tulipsandroses]

124. I agree , I don't think constructive criticism is bashing

Every criticism is not basing - You don't get better at anything if your faults are not recognized. Trump and the republicans are not playing by norms. Sorry, but the Dems, need to get tougher to deal with these thugs. We don't need to be snowflakes and cry the people are bashing us every time there is a criticism.

[NY_20th]

132. He's opining on Biden, Sanders and Warren

" those in the current crop of potential Democratic presidential candidates"

I'm omitting Oprah Winfrey since she is not running.

He's not wrong that those three potential 2020 candidates have yet to find a strong, inspiring message. There's still time though, and of course other potential candidates will also emerge.

[Hekate]

135. Rev Al makes one cogent point after another, sparing no one...

Waiting for Trump to self-destruct is not a political strategy....

The current crop of Dem leaders has lost the ability to dramatize. They should be confronting ICE over the detention of children, getting themselves arrested. What was the civil rights movement if not drama? MLK was the master of street theater.....

You don't announce a blue wave, you organize a blue wave.....

And finally, something I have been saying for years: Bernie Sanders could only see class, not race and class. (Or gender.)

I have to say I respect the good Reverend more every day.

[MariaCSR]

137. I agree.

[radius777]

141. Agree, but Sharpton actually understates the problem,

in an effort to sound more diplomatic, but the situation is fare more dire.

Dems seem beholden to three main groups:
(1) white working class populists - who tend to be racist/xenophobic.
(2) white alt left - who tend to be big apologists for (1).
(3) white women - who tend to dislike confrontation, aside from their issues/feminism, but will vote for Bush/Trump to "keep me safe" ie soccer moms/security moms, ie big enablers of Trumpism, only 42% voted for Hillary, potentially the first female president.

Sharpton gets politics, is a big city Dem, and understands that the true base of the party is diverse metropolitan areas and their surrounding areas, as well as rural PoC.

You must inspire these constitutencies and turn them out to win - and you start by standing up for them strongly.

Immigrants who have lived here for 30 years are being deported, beaten, ill-treated, separated from their families... a human rights issue that Dems are meek on.

ICE is a gestapo, and immigrant detention centers are often rife w/sexual and physical abuse by guards and other detainees.. similar to prison rape/violence issues.. yet you hear very little from Dems and white liberals on either of these issues.. which MeToo does not really address, but instead focuses heavily on the issues of middle class white women.. there needs to be a voice specifically for immigration/poc/prison/detention abuse issues.

Policing and profiling issues out of control, can't even BBQ or goto Starbucks.

PoC athletes being treated like slaves forced to kiss Massa Trump's feet.. make no mistake the whole flag thing is about that.. forcing PoC to kiss the feet of the white man, who view the flag is a symbol of whiteness/Americaness that PoC could never be.

Gun violence out of control, kids not even safe to goto school.. Parkland kids standing up tho, only ones w/stones.

Trump and his strongmen militia are burning the Constitution and are in the process of imposing a white nationalist dictatorship.

Such a situation demands a fierce and passionate response by Dems, which doesnt exist now.

You can't spit in the faces of immigrants/PoC/others and think you're going to get away with it.

There has to be a price paid for what Trump is doing.. the deplorables must pay a price.. but Dems just want to act nice... this is a big problem IMO.

[saidsimplesimon]

154. I watch him on MSNBC when I can.

[mountain grammy]

170. He's on Sirius XM Urban View

Channel 126.

[oberliner]

176. Hugh Hewitt is also on MSNBC

[EndGOPPropaganda]

155. Well, there are aspects of a good point there.

Avenatti is successful because he knows how to work the media.

Schiff and Warner could learn from him.

Ted Lieu knows how it's done, but he can't get on the TV machine. He doesn't have the salacious hook Avenatti does. And he doesn't throw enough fireworks on TV.

So the Democrats could stand to watch Avenatti.

[Garrett78]

183. Spectacle for the sake of spectacle I can't respect. However...

Democratic Reps and Senators getting arrested at the border would likely prove beneficial. For the victims of this tragedy, and also for Democrats, as Trump and Republicans currently dominate the airwaves.

When Republicans pull off some horrific spectacle right before the November elections, Democrats will be wondering why they didn't do more to command media attention.

[Orsino]

184. Nope. Democrats are too FEW to deal with Trump.

We wouldn't hear this off-the-table bullshit if we gave the Dems majorities.

[Cha]

187. KICK

[Cha]

188. ..