Somebody Needs to Disown Sharpton:

[mdguss]

Sharpton's speech did ZERO to help get Kerry elected. It was too extreme and too rabid. It's off putting to the voters (and you won't find many of them here) that will decide the election.

I hope somebody will say, "We are a tolerant party, we are a party of many voices, but we are not the party of Al Sharpton."

Inexcusable for Sharptoon to go over the line like that. Hopefully no one saw or heard it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Get. Over. It.

The Truth needs to be said. Often.

[wolfgirl]

2. Sharpton

was Brilliant! He spoke from the heart for millions of Americans...he won't hurt Kerry/Edwards!

[Atman]

3. I completely disagree.

It was great to hear some real passion, not warmed-over recycled GOP drivel.

[Massacure]

4. I liked his speech

The convention would be boring without any red meat.

[NC_Nurse]

5. You are SO WRONG!

His speech was dynamite!

We're not going to win over people who are that easily threatened. I didn't find it extremist at all. He was brilliant!

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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

[Doug Decker]

7. How do you know?

Do you have a polling organization in your home?

I thought he gave a great speech, but you certainly have the right to your opinion, but not to "the voters". They get to make up their own minds.

[peacetalksforall]

8. A lot of people love Al. Count me in. He will draw out voters.

And, hopefully, they won't just be NY voters.

I haven't seen or heard his speech yet, but I'll trust the cheers coming from DU posters.

[RodneyCK2]

9. Wow, I totally disagree.

I am glad to see someone fire up the party and more importantly address the president's remarks and policies directly.

IMO, this scripted convention needs one or two speakers bold enough to rally the troops and get everyone out of their seats screaming and yelling in agreement.

Go Al, I say!!!

[silverweb]

10. What the hell are you talking about??

Sharpton's speech was awesome. My daughter and I are white -- and we sat here and cheered.

You need to explain yourself, my friend, and get a grip.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[liberalmuse]

12. Sharpton rocked the house!

How did he go over the line? He said what needed to be said.

[juajen]

13. Count me in, too

I love Al Sharpton!!!!

[aquart]

14. "Sharptoon"????????

We all hope that's a typo, dear.

[BeyondGeography]

15. His speech completely sucked

He was just short of screaming most of the time. Compare this with Barack Obama's speech last night and tell me what Al did to win one extra vote.

I don't buy that he alienated the swing vote, the moderates, or all those other people who need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Democratic camp. I'm simply saying this was a mediocre, poorly delivered speech, given the setting, and given the goals of this convention.

[NoQuarter]

30. The purpose

of this convention is to get people fired up and ready to go out and get others fired up.

Since we are not all citizens of Stepford, wouldn't it seem reasonable that several different approaches to get as many people fired up as possible is the best thing to do.

So Al doesn't speak to you: someone heard him loud and clear.

and isn't that the point and purpose of this convention?

[BeyondGeography]

33. I was on board with Al a long time ago

So were you and everyone else in the room. This was a weak TELEVISION speech. The only plausible strategic value of this speech was to mobilize the black vote, but, ultimately, you increase turnout on the ground, not on the tube.

Al didn't cost us any votes, he just underperformed, in my view. His delivery was shrill, and the content wasn't strong until the end, by which time he had gone on for too long.

Of course, everyone has their opinion. And here's mine: Al Sharpton just made his first and last speech at a Democratic convention.

[supernova]

34. "His delivery was shrill.."

Obviously you've never spent any time in a black church in this country. His speaking style and cadence are very familiar to those of us who have.

Think about what you're saying before you insult people.

[BeyondGeography]

38. Thanks for the "education"

In terms of structure, cadence, and content, see Barack Obama's speech for something that amounted to a great sermon and great television.


This didn't measure up. Sorry.

[Th1onein]

37. HEY!!!!

Welcome to DU!

[nycmjkfan]

16. Sharpton

Come on who are we kidding? White America shut the TV set when they saw Sharpton coming to the podium.

This speech was for the minority voters. This speech was to give them a swift kick in the ass to get out and vote. The apathy in minority communities is awful.
If more black and latino voters came out for Kerry, this election would not be even close.

Sharpton was NEVER going to sway Joe from Middle America, no matter how eloquent he was.

The speech, was great for the audience it was intended for. EVERY news outlet will play his "Mule" line in the evening.


The GOP pundits were gonna bash him anyways, so who cares about FNC?

[Zidane]

39. Oh really?

"White America shut the TV set when they saw Sharpton coming to the podium."

And what america is this? Did the klan members down the street turn it off?

Don't tell me what "white america" did. MOST people have respect enough to listen to those who are not white. Obviously some do not...

[Lizz612]

17. You need to back up this post fast.

"Sharpton's speech did ZERO to help get Kerry elected."
Either you need to edit your posts better or should we start calling you Ms. Cleo?

[Desertrose]

18. Bless you AL for telling the truth...

nice to know we can still count on him!

Sharpton is a greater asset to the party because he is not afraid to tell it like it is. I hope everyone heard him!!

Peace
DR

[calico1]

19. I disagree. I think he said what a lot of people are

thinking. And he can get away with it so I am glad he said it. Plus, I think one of his intents was to fire up the black voters and get them to go vote. I think he was great. If Al Sharpton tried to give a speech like my "dear" Sen. Lieberman, well...THAT would be weird. LOL. But Al Sharpton is who he is. I think the Democratic Party is doing the right thing by letting all kinds of representatives of the Party speak.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

20. Hmmm...Sharptoon?

I missed that first go-round. You got a few minutes to explain yourself, before I hit the alert button.

I do so hope you don't have a systemic problem with "uppity black folks" or something like that. I really, really do.

[CaTeacher]

22. Sharpton is one of the

very best orators that we have. I absolutely LOVE hearing him talk. I think he is a wonderful representation of the Democratic party and I am very proud of him.

[Bronco69]

21. It's that "let's play nice and let them walk on us if they want to"

attitude that is sure to lose us the election. I say let em have it with both barrels and don't stop!

[desi]

25. It's precisely why we are in Iraq

Some in this party are afraid to speak out for fear of what the wingnuts will say....who gives a rat's ass what they say..??? They are living in fear of the radical right and the Bush "terrists."

[mo5quito]

23. I loved it...

I think Sharpton's speech was wonderful. It all needed to be said, by someone other than Moore, so Al said it. Yes, the dems are a party of many voices which should all be heard otherwise the party becomes stagnant and just the only thing better than re-electing Bush instead of an organization that can inspire a nation.

P.S. I was watching on CNN and got extremely upset at the handful of interviewers who were talking after Sharpton's speech (especially the woman who interviewed Sharpton) because they thought the speech was bad. I'm sitting with a beer at home on my own (I have to go to work in a few minutes) and I was getting tingly listening to his speech because he was saying things that needed to be said... and they were accusing him of screwing up the entire day at the convention. It was just said. Okay, I just realized that this P.S. was one of the most poorly written things I've ever typed out... stupid beer ;).

[ET Awful]

24. Sorry, but Sharpton was the best speaker thus far tonight. . . .

and perhaps thus far in the convention (with the exception of Obama).

Notice that every single person in the Fleet Center was on their feet cheering?

[Mel]

26. I disagree

America the beautiful for everyone and that includes me and Sharpton! I'm riding the donkey and so is Al this is his party just like it is mine! We gonna' ride this donkey and it's to bad you don't agree but that's the way it is we are here! :kick: :dem:

What would put me off is not including Al Sharpton and a big fat Amen to my Brother Al and his speech was one of the best ones so far tonight it's right up there with DK's speech COURAGE! AMERICA! COURAGE!

[a kennedy]

42. I was cheering so loud for Al my husband kept telling me to be quiet!!

I thought this was just the speech this convention needed.....he was fire & brimstone. I said on another thread that I really felt sorry for Bob Graham having to come behind him. Al was just awesome!! Love the we gonna' ride this donkey all the way to the white house!! I was a very, very early Al Sharpton supporter just because he got me riled....he got me excited to be a Democrat again!!! I was an independent, still am really, but when I first heard him, I thought if this guy can make it I'm voting for him. I loved his fire, and everyone in that convention center was rocking.....they were ready for a speech that made them stand and hold hands with the person next to them......he rocked the house. Way to go Big Al!!!

[supernova]

27. You have got to be kidding

But it's the most unfunny post of the night.

Rev. Al Sharpton commands very deep respect in the Democratic Party.

If you can't handle being with the likes of us or Al, then perhaps you are not a Democrat.

[Capn Sunshine]

29. The avatar is a clue

Pro war, pro corporate welfare, don't rock the boat and scare anyone DLC. I'm a member. It's a pledge we all sign.

[emulatorloo]

28. No, it was a great speech - EOM

[skippysmom]

31. Al kicked some ass

but I predict that once Edwards speaks, no one will even remember it, except maybe some Fox whores.

[brook]

32. That you, Tweety?

Contrary to your 'analysis', I'd say Al Sharpton got it just right. He's one of the best orators of our time - and when Al speaks, this white chick sits up and listens and cheers.

[Pepperbelly]

35. flame bait. nt

[LWolf]

36. Did you notice

how off-putting it was to the democrats at the convention? Boy, he really turned them off, didn't he?

:eyes:

I say,

WE ARE A TOLERANT PARTY, WE ARE A PARTY OF MANY VOICES, AND AL SHARPTON IS A VALUED VOICE IN OUR PARTY.

[sleepystudent]

40. I find it telling...

that the original poster has not responded. I have put some inflammatory things on here, but I least I came back and clarified and defended myself. Not coming back to defend oneself just makes you look bad.

And since his speech was not being carried by the big networks at the designated hour, I doubt it will have much impact beyond the already converted who are already watching. Someone doth protest too much or is trying to stir stuff up for fun.

[PhuLoi]

41. Keep Al, lose the DLC n/t

[mdguss]

43. There's a difference:

Between disagreeing and being disagreeable. Sharpton was disagreeable, off-putting and dismissive of anybody who didn't think his way (that's typical of the far-left, as seen in this thread). For instance, you've already said that I was pro-war. I'm not. I've been for a better and more peaceful solution in Iraq for a long time. I fought at the local level against an RNC-backed resolution supporting President Bush. When I did that, I made sure that I respected others opinions on a touchy subject.

Barak Obama eloquently said, "There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots that supported the war in Iraq." Respect is important. Kerry will not win on the anti-war vote alone. A campaign that tries to convince people the war is wrong will not win votes. By contrast a campaign that says we understand this is a difficult issue and there are patriots on both sides will be successful.

That's the difference. That's why Barak Obama has reach-the-sky potential and why Al Sharpton is a discredited minister from New York who's good at losing elections.

[Moderator]

44. Locking

flame bait.