I think Sharpton would be the best President. Because he understands the

[BlueHeron]

"Populist Wing" of the party. He speaks to all the issues that I like.....and he's best in the Debates.

Why can't he be President... I don't want to hear about Twyana Brawley, or Brooklyn Zionist stuff, I want to know what he said in the debates.....and why I shouldn't like him because of the Debates???

I know his history. I think he's moved forward.

[IranianDemocrat]

1. Can you even begin to comprehend how much baggage he has?

?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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

[maha]

6. Brawley and Crown Heights, among other things,

indicate that Al Sharpton has no integrity or character. He'll do whatever needs to be done to promote Al Sharpton, no matter who he hurts in the process.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

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

[birdman]

46. He has a very public record on integrity and character

He has neither. And if you know anything
about this mans career you either realize
that or simply refuse to see it.

And throwing bricks at Bush does not justify
Sharpton. The point is to get someone better
than Bush.

[maha]

50. I know because I'm an old lady who's been watching him for a long time.

His past escapades are not ancient history to me, as I remember them.

It's beyond belief that anyone takes him seriously as a candidate.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Why Are You Calling American Citizens Most Of Whom Happen To

be Jewish "Brooklyn Likud"?

Maybe you don't like their beards....

Or is it their long sideburns?

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[are_we_united_yet]

41. Oh yeah. No other candidates have any baggage including Bush n/t

[maha]

54. Nobody has baggage comparable to Sharpton's.

Not even close.

[maha]

2. Well, if you don't want to hear

about his history as an opportunistic race baiter, at least consider that he has no experience whatsoever at anything other than flapping his mouth.

[BlueHeron]

3. And, for example, here's something that Sharpton thinks on the Iraq Thing!

Long shots are anti-war

In contrast to some of the party's more established contenders, the political long shots in the field are vocally anti-war.

The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at length against war, noting that he has opposed it "from the beginning." Carol Moseley-Braun, the former Illinois
senator, accused Congress of abdicating its "constitutional duty to declare war" in authorizing Bush to use force at his discretion. She decried
a "mad rush to pre-emptive, unilateral military action."

And Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered an anti-war manifesto, saying war would "steal from this nation the joy of our purpose in the
world and faith in our purpose at home."

Taken together, the Democratic field comprises not just two camps on Iraq - pro and anti-war - but four or five. Lieberman supports regime
change. Gephardt supports unilateral action if necessary. Kerry and Edwards want the United Nations' support and criticize Bush for alienating
allies, but voted for the resolution that allows the president to act unilaterally if he chooses.

Dean criticizes those four for supporting the Iraq resolution but says he would back war if the U.N. authorized it. And others, such as Kucinich
and Sharpton, oppose a war, period. For Kucinich, the leading anti-war Democrat in the House, opposition to war appears to be the central
rationale for his candidacy.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/feb03/120587.asp?format=print

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[camero]

25. Don't forget his DUI

The fact that we actually have a FELON as president. That sent shivers up my spine.

[maha]

27. The DUI was the least of it.

Believe me, if the only black mark on his past were that felony I would forgive it. It's the rest of his background that gives me the willies.

[camero]

44. I thought the DUI was the one people would identify with

But I was wrong. Clinton gets a BJ and lies about it (like everyone else we know) and they get in a fit.

GW drives drunk (which is much more dangerous) and gets away with it.
Go figure.

His other actions also really give me the willies too. There were some I did not know about.

[joeybee12]

5. Sorry, but he hasn't moved forward until he apologizes for Tawyna Bradley

And until he does, I will not consider him a serious contender, and I doubt many other people will also.

It's about taking responsibility, and he ahs yet to do that.

[Padraig18]

7. Dear God in Heaven!

He is one of the 3 candidates who could make IL become a red state!:wtf:

[Kahuna]

14. And lose the other 49 states.

What the heck are you smokin'? No offense of course. :7
:eyes:

On edit: You were being facetious, right? :shrug:

[Padraig18]

16. LOL!

Above all else, I am a pragmatist who wants to win. 3 of our 9 can't and would only guarantee an electoral defeat of unprecedented porportions--- and Al is one of the 3.

[Kahuna]

22. LOL! I sorwy! tee hee...

What can I say? Color me red. :silly:

[alcuno]

8. I don't need understanding, I need leadership.

I can get understanding from my family or a therapist.

[ShaneGR]

9. BUT I THOUGHT YOU WANTED DEAN OR KUCINICH???

I think you are gonna get tombstoned.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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

[ShaneGR]

24. Well gees Terri, he backs 3 different candidates... all at once

And who is Loyal?

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. For all his unelectability he sure has a lot of people sweating

and falling all over themselves to explain how why yes, of course, we are just as surprised and delighted as anyone to discover that a black man, um, I mean, Rev. Sharpton, is so intelligent, um, I mean, so informed, um, you know he is a really good speaker and so witty, that's what I mean, but of course almost all black people would agree that their interests are better represented by a white guy from New England, or a retired General, I mean, even the poorest people know that part of the price of freedom is paying something for health care, and so many of the candidates are making real efforts to reach out to the minority congressmen, you know they are all so admired in the inner cities, those congressmen, And sure, you have to agree with Sharpton, nobody can deny he hits it on the head, knows his stuff, has some damned good ideas but it's just, I mean, you have to understand, seriously um, uh - TAWANA BRAWLEY

What do you mean nobody cares about that but other peoples' campaign workers? Yes, it was a long time ago, but such a scandal! Clark should do an ad about it. So should Dean. And Kerry. Maybe the 3 of them could go in together, maybe even sing a little. Sharpton doesn't sing. Oh, but I bet he can! Love to see him in church. What if the 3 of them did a little dance, kind of a hip-hop spoof? That would fly. I think that would fly.

[maha]

17. Here's a clue.

I'm not opposed to Al Sharpton because he's black. I'm opposed to him because he's Al Sharpton.

I love your reverse racism; the Republicans do it all the time. Whenever the GOP nominates some extremist right-wing judicial nominee who is also black or Latino, and the Dems vote him down, they say the ONLY reason the Dems don't like so-and-so is that he's a minority.

Well, stuff it. I hold everybody to the same standards; nobody gets a pass just because of color.

If a white guy with Sharpton's background were running for president, would you look at HIM twice? I doubt it.

[DuctapeFatwa]

28. LOL reverse racism? That's all I get?

Yesterday someone said I had no human decency. The day before that someone else called me a disgusting excuse for a human being.

If you want to get in the game, you're going to have to do better than reverse racism for THAT post!

[maha]

34. I'm sorry, but I'm not here to play games.

You expressed an opinion and I criticized it. I don't know you at all and am not particularly interested in playing "gotcha" with you.

[DuctapeFatwa]

38. As I told the others, while I'm not able to respond to personal attacks

or accusation of various and sundry isms, I am nevertheless amused by them, and you did not respond to my opinion, which is stated in the title of my post.

I find it intriguing that such an interest is taken and so much effort being made to bash Al Sharpton by the very people who insist that he is unelectable.

The body of my post was commentary on their manner of doing that.

[maha]

40. Sorry, I thought I had responded to it.

My response was that Sharpton's lack of character and history as a race baiter and shameless opportunist made him unviable as a serious presidential candidate. Further, he has no executive experience whatsoever. He's a good speaker and has great stage presence, but that doesn't qualify him to be president.

I've said this same thing several times in this thread, in various ways.

So what part of the above do you not understand?

[DuctapeFatwa]

47. What I don't understand is, if all you say is true

then supporters of the other candidates shouldn't have anything to worry about, and should save their energies for caulking up any unintentional differences between their candidates' platforms and PNAC and arguing among themselves about issues that resonate with the top 25% income tier.

I would advise you, though to be careful talking about character and shameless opportunism, though, as regards politicians in general, since those are very subjective qualities. Race baiting? It's one of the most successfully proven strategies in American politics.

[maha]

48. The other candidates are not worried about Sharpton.

Sharpton is not a serious contender for the nomination, and the other candidates know that.

Race baiting may be a proven strategy in American politics, but that doesn't make it right, does it?

[DuctapeFatwa]

51. So if he's not a contender, why all the fuss?

Why not just go on back to how surprised you are that he knows so much and is so witty and what a great thing it is to see him and Carol there on the platform.

[maha]

52. He's always been a good speaker.

I'm not surprised at all, as I've been watching him for years. He's a riveting speaker and a nimble debater. This is often true of scoundrels.

What's this about "him and Carol"? I like Carol Mosley Braun very much. Are you assuming that because I don't like one black candidate I must not like the other, either? And what do Sharpton and Mosley Braun have in common other than skin color and Democratic party affiliation? Not a whole hell of a lot, as far as I can see. IMO CMB is a serious candidate who deserves respect.

I think you need to reflect on your own racism, sir. All black people are not alike.

[DuctapeFatwa]

58. Sorry to disappoint, but I wasn't talking about you

I am referring to many posts by many different people over the months, the general tone of Sharpton related posts has taken a very sharp turn lately, from what I alluded to in my previous post to what we see today, and in which I do include you.

I hope you will forgive me for not centering more of my remarks around your views exclusively, but since the nature of my original comment had to do with a more collective sense, I hope you will understand and try not to take it personally.

It is still unclear to me why, if everything you say is true, that there is this upsurge in concern over Sharpton.

From what you say, there is clearly no need to worry that the public will be misled by his obstinate refusal to speak in half-truths and sugar-spun soundbytes like the qualified candidates.

The voting classes are not so naive that they would be blinded by mere clarity of thought, knowledgeable insight or reasonable proposals.

The serious candidates with the requisitely plumped campaign coffers and gentlemens' agreements with the appropriate entities, as well as their impeccably attired and affluent supporters should not spend their valuable time worrying about Sharpton when there is still the unsettled question of which of them can be counted on to be tougher on terror and more generous with Ariel Sharon than the bush regime.

[Mairead]

68. DF, you've got a *vicious* mouth on you

Bravo! :evilgrin:

[DuctapeFatwa]

72. Thanks! LOL

I confess that I am not able to get the image out of my mind:

Kerry, Clark, Dean, all thugged out, doing a little rhyming and moving, Yo, Dog! Unity!

[Mairead]

77. Har!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. I think Sharpton has moved forward too

New York politics gets rough and dirty, and Sharpton was an effective spokesperson for a community that gets shafted every time. Remember Diallo? Remember Abner? Doesn't seem so crazy does it?

[maha]

21. Yeah, I remember Diallo, all right. LOL!

I remember when Amadou Diallo's mother stopped having anything to do with Sharpton because she realized he was just using her. I bet YOU don't remember THAT!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. There Is No Scenario Where Sharpton Can Win

NT

[maha]

19. I doubt Sharpton WANTS to be President.

He's not stupid; he knows he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting the nomination. He's running to promote himself.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. Ahhhhhhh.......

I'm of two minds about the Reverend.....


I don't think it's particulary productive to trash him .....

[maha]

26. Sharpton has valuable talents.

Running a country is not among those talents, but let's go on ...

"Vanity" presidential candidates are an old tradition in American politics; Sharpton would be far from the first. There were a mess of 'em in the early stages of the Republican race four years ago, for example.

It's very common for someone who has no chance, who knows he has no chance, and isn't even especially interested in being elected president to get in on the early part of the race and pretend to be a candidate. People do this to call attention to their ideas, to pick up some influence within the party, to lay the groundwork for future political moves, etc. etc.

I DON'T think Sharpton is stupid enough to think he could get the nomination. Once he drops out his candidacy will have opened other doors for him, which was the point all along.

[HPLeft]

42. Thank God

NT

[BlueHeron]

29. Reading this thread I don't get a read about where any of you are coming

from. I think Sharpton is a GREAT Candidate. But, I get hit on my "post count" and that I don't know about Brawley Incident, wheich I already said I did know about. You all are liike the Repugs going against Ted Kennedy over Chappaquidic When does the "Statute of Limitations Run Out?"

You all trash Sharpton for "STUFF." Look at the man!
Edit: My spelling is crap.....sorry! That place in Massachusetts....I can spell that!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. I Question His Electability Not His Character....

I also question Ted Kennedy's electability... God Bless Him....

Politics is about winning.... Losers can't do a damn thing....

[BlueHeron]

31. Yeah, but why does Ted Kennedy get trashed his whole life, and those other

people get off? If Bush I gave Kennedy an award then why is Sharpton trashed for Brawley? Why? And, they both are better than Shrub? Aren't they.

Plus Sharpton has a better reading of the Democrats out there in America than Bush or Kennedy have?

Doesn't he? He's been there and he's seen it all? He's a "common" man. When he goes into restaurants they all look at him and his hair and stuff.....they don't see him like Kennedy or Bush people. He goes to the "back room," but the others get "Front Room Table Service." (I was a waiter, I know table seating)

[maha]

39. Try this

Kennedy's episode at Chapaquiddick was ONE episode.

Shartpon, on the other hand, has a long-standing pattern of unsavory behavior. It's true that over the past ten years or so he has toned down a lot, but he still has never apologized for Tewana Brawley or Crown Heights. And he still uses people for his own self-aggrandizement.

For example, during the aftermath of Amadou Diallo's shooting he stopped wearing suits and went around in white robes, apparently for the dramatic effect of it. And he glued himself to Diallo's family so that NOBODY could get to them except through him. After a few weeks of this Diallo's mother realized he was using her son's shooting to promote himself and stopped talking to him. And that was, what, 1997? Not THAT long ago.

[maha]

35. If you can't tell where the rest of us are coming from

then something is wrong with you. Several people have expressed their objections to Sharpton clearly.

[BlueHeron]

32. Well, here's his website....I'm sick of this conversation. If you want to

know more go here.

http://www.sharptonexplore2004.com/

[maha]

36. I spent a lot of time on Sharpton's web site last week.

he has some good ideas, but none are original, and his site has a great deal less content than any of the other candidates.

[Solomon]

33. Sharpton is the best candidate, but I agree he can't win.

Sharpton is smart enough to know what he doesn't know. He's smart enough to rely on the people with knowledge. Besides, there's nothing he could do as president that would be outside the mainstream because he would get no support for his program.

The idea that Sharpton is not capable of being president has been forever trashed by George Bush.

America is not ready for a black liberal yet. A black conservative, maybe. A black liberal, no.

[maha]

37. This is a hoot.

"The idea that Sharpton is not capable of being president has been forever trashed by George Bush."

You think George Bush is capable of being President? HA!

[Solomon]

45. No I think that because of the coup, he IS the president.

Last time I checked he made stupid tax cuts, got us into a war we shouldn't be in and other sundry things. The point is, when he says go, soldiers go, and that's because whether elected or not, he IS the president.

You're so turned off to Sharpton, (and I was too at one point), that you simply have your mind closed up. You're still living in the 80's.

I have not let my previous opinion of him interfere with LISTENING to what he is saying now. You might want to try that sometime. Maybe he wouldn't bother you so much if you did.

[DuctapeFatwa]

49. I think the problem is, they ARE listening to him

A few months ago, all we got was white folks talking about how surprised they were to find out that Al is smart.

I bet not one of them even thought twice about how that sounds.

One other thing I've noticed - you don't hear a lot of the bigdolla candidates making speeches about how it ought to be easier for poor folks to vote :)

[maha]

53. Sharpton doesn't bother me at all.

It's fools who think he's a serious candidate who bother me.

Also, I do listen to what he says and agree with a lot of it. He's been very effective in the debates. That doesn't mean he'd make a good president. All of the candidates say a lot of things I agree with. Even Clueless Joe Lieberman now and then says something I agree with.

There's a lot more to being president than moving one's mouth and exercising vocal chords.

[DuctapeFatwa]

59. Oh, I wouldn't worry about those fools who think he's serious

They are mostly poor people, who think there's more to being president than making deals with rich people and making sure the defense and energy industries stay strong, and that the polls stay open for only 12 hours on a working day.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. I Think A Main Stream Non Threatening

African American, Jew, Asian, woman, fill in the blank could run a competitive race for pres....

Whether a person from those groups could actually win is debatable.....

[BlueHeron]

56. Yeah, Condi and Colin, are great examples. No one complains about them

but Shapton is too black and his hair is too long and he doesn't talk like Condi and Colin. So, he gets trashed. And because Condi and Colin didn't hype up a story about a fake rape. Maybe they had advantages in education and parents who could support them, and Shapton had more to over come. Or, maybe they are just "put ups" because they know how to talk like the educated people that the Bushies like to tout as their tokens for affirmative action. That doesn't make Sharpton worth less, but the way he looks and his past are marks against him.

[PurityOfEssence]

55. I'm guessing that you also like the fact that he's a man of the cloth,

judging from your previous posts. To me, this is not only troublesome. it's dangerous.

[Silverhair]

57. Take a look at one of his current issues.

He wants slavery reparations. Try getting Joe Average, whose ancestors never owned any slaves, to vote for paying the ULTRA HUGE tax that would take. Orientals and Latinos would never vote for something like that. They would leave the Dem Party and not come back for at least a generation.

Can you see the Rep TV spots on that issue alone?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. Hint

the word "oriental" is pejorative.....


To some Asians and my girlfriend is one that word has all the connotations of the "n" word....


http://modelminority.com/printout275.html

[Silverhair]

65. Thank You. n/t

[HFishbine]

61. Why not?

How about calling other African-Americans "Uncle Toms?"

Sharpton has a lot of great things going for him. I even hope there will be a place for him in the new administration, but America does not want a president who scolds others for making distinctions based on race and them turns around and does so himself.

[bigtree]

69. distinctions based on race are always wrong?

what about the sell-outs? What about the obstructionists?

What about pointing out the hypocricy of blacks who benefited from affirmative action yet oppose it? Is that wrong to point that out?

Do you believe that there are toms? Do you think race can influence how you view this issue of tom-calling?

My parents knew what toms were and called them on it. What would you have them do? Shut up and take it? There are (were) plenty of blacks who allowed themselves to be used by white establishment to hold other blacks back, by lying, obstruction, and deliberate complacency.
My parents lives and livlihoods were on the line. The collaborators deserve(ed) exposure and condemnation. What would you call them? Does it matter?

By the way, the tom charges against Al are a smear. The articles which reference the statement list seperate comments in a seamless way to make it appear that the comments are related. Al might have a point, it's no clear who he is referring to, however.

You are pretty quick to smear Al with the media's second-hand construction. You are an accomplice to the press smear which smells of republican dirty tricks.

[robbedvoter]

63. Do you want to hear about his getting NYC a GOP mayor?

One that got RNC to have their convention at ground zero and denies us protest permits? One that tries to do away with partisan primaries?
If Sharpton character would match his brilliance as a speaker, I'd be volunteering for him these days!

[Q]

64. Every candidate has their own type of 'baggage'...

...but many enlightened Americans will only forgive that baggage for white candidates.

- Blacks and women won't become president any time soon because of the racism and bigotry that still permeates our society. They can't come right out and say they won't vote for a Black candidate...so they'll talk about their 'baggage' instead.

- Reagan, Poppy Bush, Clinton and the Lesser Bush* all had much more baggage than Sharpton. But their considerable baggage wasn't connected with racial activism so they were given a pass.

- RWingers are primarily the ones keeping these scandals alive because they fear the power a strong black leadership would have on the election process. That's why they have character assassinated each and every Black leader in a position to gain such power. From MLKjr to J Jackson...they use their past against them to smear their names and discredit them in the eyes of the public.

- It's a damn shame that some on the left have joined them in such dirty poliics.

- As I read through this thread...it's clear than many posters don't even realize they're being racists...as they talk about Sharpton's 'hair' and the way he talks. I never fully realized...until I read through all the Sharpton threads...that the Dem party has so many bigots in their ranks.

[birdman]

66. Exactly how is it bigotry

to to vehemently disapprove of someone who knowingly accused
an innocent person of being a racist child molestor. That's
a little bit more than "baggage".

To disapprove of anti-Semitic statements that inflame divisions
and lead to violence.

To disapprove of a guy who's made a habit of blackmailing the
party and endorsing right-wingers. He already laying the
groundwork to do the same next year. He'll probably invent
an excuse to call the party racist and then sell his endorsement
to Bush.

Progressives believe in fairness and equality and justice. You
can't believe in those things and support Sharpton.

[bigtree]

73. Al apparently had the wrong guy

But NY pigs at that time were out of control. That's why Brawley's claims were so readily believed.

Let's all here elevate the cops above Al. Let's second guess the whole case.

Brother did what he thought was right. He was apparently wrong. But don't believe everything you read.

By the way, where are your facts for the bulk of your accusations? Unbelieveable! You smear the guy with no supporting facts of your own construction. If I didn't confront you, you would let your smear stand. How is that right? How is that better than the prevarications that you accuse Al of?

[birdman]

74. Bullshit

Two Sharpton associates quit because they
knew that the Rev. Al knew that Brawleys accusations
were false but he pressed the charges anyway and a
civil court found him liable for the false accusations.

[bigtree]

76. Where does the court say that Al knew the charges were false?

The jury found Sharpton liable for making seven defamatory statements about Pagones (district attorney), Maddox for two and Mason for one on a series of radio appearances.

Al pushed the story too far. He accused the whole bunch of raping Brawley. But man, I've much worse slander from Al's detractors here and elsewhere. He pushed in defense of this woman and he went too far. He paid in court for it. But nowhere does the court say that Al knew that Brawley's claims were false

This was in Al's neighborhood. He reacted like I would want an activist to act. With passion.

And he wasn't the only one who believed Brawley. Bill Cosby marched in defense of her.

And others:

http://www.workers.org/ww/brawley.html
On April 4, family adviser the Rev. Al Sharpton, singer-activist Pete Seeger and nine other defendants were sentenced to 15 days in jail on disorderly conduct charges after they took part in a large protest in support of Brawley at the State Capitol in Albany. There was also a big march, mostly of women, in midtown Manhattan, in support of Brawley.

The case hasn't dissappeared. Brawley still insists that she was raped. No testimony was heard from the medics who treated Brawley for her injuries after she was found near death.

"snip"

"Reopen the investigation into the Tawana Brawley case. That’s the message Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois has reportedly sent to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. New York filmmaker Curt Stewart says the senator issued the request after he sent her a copy of his new documentary on the Brawley case, which is called "Is Justice a Joke?"

Stewart told reporters he has found evidence that supports Brawley. Stewart says he has found the medics who treated Brawley and that they confirm her injuries. The medics, who never got to testify, are still willing to appear in court, according to Stewart.

Does it seem inexplicable that the grand jury did not hear testimony from the medics? The "investigation" into the crimes against Brawley was such a sham that supporters maintain it was a calculated and extensive cover-up.

"snip"

[Solomon]

70. Hah hah! You took the red pill. You can see too.

And you can never go back Q.

[KoKo]

67. Well, I'm checking back to this post from last night, and think Sharpton

although with baggage, has some good points!

[bigtree]

71. About those moderates

"First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's greatest stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action'; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advised the Negro to wait until a 'more convenient season.' Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."
- Martin Luther King Jr., excerpt from his April 16, 1963 letter from Birmingham City Jail.

This is what I think Al is fighting against. His is an effort that all progressives should understand and embrace. Remember, Al is old enough to know the hell of Jim Crow and segrgation. Al surely knows what a tom is. Does anyone here? Has anyone here had a tom standing in the way, keeping them down? Marginalizing your important concerns? Providing cover for do-nothings? What do you call them? Does it matter?

Where the hell am I anyway? This democratic board can't understand where he's coming from? What are we really settling for as we attempt to stifle Al's critisism? Doesn't the defense of the alleged toms give the sell-outs aid and comfort?

[KoKo]

75. big tree, I watched a James Brown Special on PBS the other night and they

had many clips from Al Sharpton, who looked on James Brown as a "father figure" and Brown looked on him as a son. Both of them flamboyant performers, who could be viewed as controversial, but with much in common aside from their ethnic background. The show took Brown from 1952 onward. Starting with the time of the segregated South and what black performers had to go through when the were "on the road." It was an interesting retrospective to see in "today's times," of go anywhere do anything no matter who you are. In our "not so long ago" history, things weren't like that in America.

I posted about it on DU and it didn't get much interest. But, frankly what I saw about Sharpton just my own insight from watching that show, pretty much agrees with what you posted here.

I see where you're coming from, and think your post has a good insight. Sometimes here on DU we don't talk about what you're saying in your post.

But, some of us know what you are trying to get at. Some of us who grew up in the South, know.

And some of us who are white who grew up in the South, probably understand more than those who grew up elsewhere.

Sharpton is making a point by being a candidate. I'm glad he did it. Just as I'm glad that Moseley Braun represented NOW. Both of them could say things as candidates that the others wouldn't. And, their voice needed to be heard. As disruptive as some Democrats might think their presence is, they are speaking for many of us, who don't even know that we are a "minority," now, too.

And, we are in this boat together. The Repugs own and control what looks like everything these days. So, what's left for the left?