Al Sharpton sticks his foot in his mouth

[ejs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_el_pr/sharpton_romney_2

Sharpton denies questioning Romney faith

By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 41 minutes ago

BOSTON - The Rev.
Al Sharpton, who recently urged that radio host Don Imus be fired for making a racially insensitive remark, said in a debate that "those of us who believe in God" will defeat Republican Mitt Romney for the White House. But Sharpton denied he was questioning the Mormon's own belief in God.
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Rather, the New York Democrat said he was contrasting himself with Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation," Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library's Beaux-Arts headquarters.

The comment was first reported Tuesday in a blog on The New York Times's Web site.

The Romney campaign, which has been wary of campaign trail criticism of Romney's faith, jumped on the Sharpton comment. If elected, Romney would be the first Mormon to serve as president.

"It is terribly disheartening and disappointing to hear Reverend Sharpton offer such appalling comments about a fellow American's faith," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden. "America is a nation of many faiths and common values, and bigotry toward anyone because of their beliefs is unacceptable."

Romney himself said Monday during an appearance on Fox News program "Hannity and Colmes": "I think there are differences between different faiths in this country. And there will be battles between different religions. ... That's a great thing about this country. We don't decide who's going to be in office based on what church they go to."

In a tape of the debate, Sharpton can be heard defending the role of religion in the civil rights movement and shunning any suggestion that there wasn't a religious underpinning to the efforts of its leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Then Sharpton spoke of Romney, although a tape reviewed by The Associated Press does not reveal why.

In a later interview with the AP, Sharpton denied questioning Romney's belief in God and suggested the Romney camp was trying to stir up a controversy because of their political differences.

"What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican," Sharpton said. "A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God."

He said he was contrasting himself and other believers with Hitchens, who is the author of a new book, "God Is Not Great."

Last month, Sharpton led the calls for Imus' ouster last month after the talk show host referred to members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

[PinkMartini]

:eek: Wow.... Amazing (but not suprising) coming from Al Sharpton... As a LDS, I can gurantee you that we believe in God.. I don't understand all of these issues people have with what we believe. Anyone who wants to find out can :confused: I guess myths and rumors are more interesting :rolleyes:

[jnettie]

That is insulting on so many levels. I can't even begin to express.

[kris97]

Sad thing is, this is just one of the terrible things Sharpton has said and done over the past three decades. Why he continues to have a following I will never understand.

*cough*Tawana Brawley *cough*

[tenofcups]

Kris, I agree completely. I expect Sharpton to say idiotic things -- he always does.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Honestly, I saw the thread title and thought, happens so often, how is that news? ;)

[phoenics]

Sad thing is, this is just one of the terrible things Sharpton has said and done over the past three decades. Why he continues to have a following I will never understand.

Well, since you asked (though I don't consider myself a follower)...

Stupid comments aside, he's probably done far MORE for civil rights and equal rights than many of us have ever thought of doing... sure, he has foot-in-mouth disease, but people around him actually know the good he has done. And as an AA, I also know that if you end up the defacto person that the media and nearly everyone else turns to whenever something 'racial' happens, you become a lightning rod and you end up accused of 'playing the r-card' whenever you point to a situation that ends up being a 'false positive'... but since you are the ONLY one who even looks into these situations (besides Jesse), then you'll encounter those 'false positives' a lot and worse, the media will focus mostly on those false positives... leaving any real accomplishments of yours in the dust and painting a biased picture of you.

He was wrong for his comments, however. Completely, completely wrong and he needs to just shut up.



*cough*Tawana Brawley *cough*

I don't think Tawana Brawley has much to do with what he said - other than to say that AS has made mistakes just like other people have. If he was saying that a candidate was to be defeated because he fanned the flames without knowing the truth (based on what TB said), then we could call him a hypocrite, I guess.

Otherwise, it just looks like people are just predisposed to hate on him due to his past (but only the negative past that they hear about in the press - not his accomplishments for civil rights which they dont' hear about, nor do they really CARE about because they never bother to look) - regardless of whether his words have merit (sometimes they do have merit - because sometimes his cries of racism actually are real instances of racism).

I'm not trying to defend Al Sharpton, I am just getting tired of both him putting himself out there in such a grandiose way that make little sense, but I'm also getting tired of people who typically don't do a thing to combat racism (not speaking of you specifically, just general people) attacking him whenever he (or JJ) does speak out (on racism - which he isn't in this case). The problem is that until more people in general speak out, everyone will look to JJ and AS to do it.

I'm beginning to think that AS just likes controversy - or that he's blunt. Thus when something racial happens, he's the go-to man because he won't sugar coat it. But when it's something ELSE that isn't clear-cut, then he's an idiot - because he just says things bluntly with little afterthought to how offensive he is being. In that, he could be just as guilty as someone who makes a racial comment. Dumb idiot.

Maybe I need to get a platform and replace him, lol - but I don't have nearly the background in terms of working for civil rights that he does.

Sorry, I know I got a bit off-topic...

[isign]

I'm glad you got off topic. It seems like everytime we hear something from him it's negative, and if he has done anything positive, like you say, I would like to know. It's so easy to tune out people like him because he does have a talent for saying things he shouldn't.

[LyLMyssChaos]

I don't blame Al Sharpton for his comments. I mean, he is responsible for voicing them, but there are MANY people in this country whom believe as he does in regards to the LDS church.

I think that we as LDS need to try to find the positive in this comment. Perhaps it will cause others whom might not otherwise do so to investigate what it is that we do believe, and they will learn something about us.

[phoenics]

I'm glad you got off topic. It seems like everytime we hear something from him it's negative, and if he has done anything positive, like you say, I would like to know. It's so easy to tune out people like him because he does have a talent for saying things he shouldn't.

Lord does he ever. I'm tired of him too ya'll, lol. I just wish he would THINK before he speaks. And then when he is called on the carpet - I wish he would cop to it - I don't see any way to look at what he said other than how it came out. I don't see how he can even try to deflect it.

[meatpie]

I can't even start with him. But when I can calmly speak about it I would love to discuss what this man has really done for the Civil Rights Movement and how in many ways he reinforces negative stereotypes of African Americans. First (for me) he is an anti-Semite. Second, all he has done successfully is insert himself at the front of a controversy. That is not in my opinion pro-active and again what the Civil Rights Movement stands for. Many occassions his actions and words have led to escalation and I don't mean public awareness - I mean more violence and more hatred.

ETA: Phoenics I think he thrives on controversy. I really can't believe that he has done good when his actions have caused relations between groups to worsen on several occassions.

[jnettie]

Al Sharpton, who recently urged that radio host Don Imus be fired for making a racially insensitive remark, said in a debate that "those of us who believe in God" will defeat Republican Mitt Romney for the White House. But Sharpton denied he was questioning the Mormon's own belief in God.

Rather, the New York Democrat said he was contrasting himself with Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.

See, this is what actually gets me. Let's say he was implying that Mormons don't believe in God. His backpedaling still implies that those who are atheists are of a lower moral ilk. That's what offended me.

And, sorry Phoenics, Al Sharpton has never seemed anything more than an attention whore to me. In my 11 years living in New York City, I've never heard anything about what he's done that hasn't simply been to get in the spotlight.

[phoenics]

See, this is what actually gets me. Let's say he was implying that Mormons don't believe in God. His backpedaling still implies that those who are atheists are of a lower moral ilk. That's what offended me.

And, sorry Phoenics, Al Sharpton has never seemed anything more than an attention whore to me. In my 11 years living in New York City, I've never heard anything about what he's done that hasn't simply been to get in the spotlight.

You'd have to go back further than 11 years - most of his real work, imo, came from the 70s and 80s, imo. I grew up in Atlanta (until I was 11) and he used to march a lot with Mays (pres of Morehouse at the time), Jesse, Andrew Young (mayor of Atlanta at the time) and other notables.

And you've never heard of anything that he's done because no one really looked at him much until he started jumping out into the press and the press saw him as a lightning rod for 'controversy' (albeit intentional many times). I also think that most of his good work isn't publicized, but here are a few items that I knew of when growing up - living in Atlanta, he was a fixture there - atlanta is kind of a mecca for civil rights activism..

From wikipedia:

In 1969, Sharpton was appointed by Jesse Jackson as youth director of Operation Breadbasket, a group that focused on the promotion of new and better jobs for African-Americans.

In 1971, Sharpton founded the National Youth Movement to raise resources for impoverished youth.

In 1991, Sharpton founded the National Action Network to increase voter education, poverty services, and support small community businesses.

In 1999, Sharpton led a protest to raise awareness about the death of Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea who was shot to death by NYPD officers. Sharpton claimed that Diallo's death was the result of police brutality and racial profiling. Diallo's family was later awarded $3 million in a wrongful death suit filed against the city.

It's no question that Al Sharpton has misstepped - but many times when he's cried out, he's been RIGHT. It's no defense for his idiocy at times, but he has done a lot for civil rights - he's been on the ground working in the trenches a lot longer than he's been 'grandstanding'.

I wish Sharpton would go back to more of his silent but effective work.

[Delta]

Al Sharpton is interesting to me because on one hand I think he's really, really smart about certain things and can turn an argument back on an opponent like nothing I've ever seen. But he's really too much of a lightening rod to be of real benefit at this point, and most common reaction I think he provokes is eye-rolling, even if he does have valid points. He also seems to be lately the go-to guy for the media when they need a 'black voice', but from what I have heard and read ever since the Imus episode last month, some blacks are frustrated by that. (I'm talking about people I've seen on the cable news shows or certain black columnists.)

[phoenics]

Al Sharpton is interesting to me because on one hand I think he's really, really smart about certain things and can turn an argument back on an opponent like nothing I've ever seen. But he's really too much of a lightening rod to be of real benefit at this point, and most common reaction I think he provokes is eye-rolling, even if he does have valid points. He also seems to be lately the go-to guy for the media when they need a 'black voice', but from what I have heard and read ever since the Imus episode last month, some blacks are frustrated by that. (I'm talking about people I've seen on the cable news shows or certain black columnists.)

Yeah, I think we are frustrated because I honestly think that shows and the media could find other people to 'represent' us, but I almost think they want to encourage the buffoonery. I know I spelled that all wrong. But the frustration is because typically we know that we usually get judged so to speak by the actions of one of us out in the public arena... so it's frustrating when that 'appointed' person mucks things up.

The problem is, as I've said, many of the rest of us aren't stepping out to say anything either - nor do we have the clout to do so, imo.

When I was working last weekend on the scholarship committee for my sorority (we give college scholarships out to young black youth), one soror mentioned something embarassing that happened at the scholarship announcement the previous year. One of the sorors kind of got overly emotional and unintentionally embarassed one of the recipients by divulging too much information. This soror is great at some things, but not great at others like being able to speak on the spot (she sticks her foot in her mouth)... I think Sharpton is the same - some stuff he says needs to be said yes, but some absolutely doesn't.

It's time he passed the torch on to someone who is more gifted in the sense of knowing what to say when and how not to get emotional and stuff.

*rolling eyes at me saying 'and stuff'*

[gayle]

Phoenics said
"It's time he passed the torch on to someone who is more gifted in the sense of knowing what to say when and how not to get emotional and stuff."

I completely agree.

I was around when Sharpton really DID have a positive impact as a civil rights leader. In the 70's and 80's he did a lot of very positive things.

Unfortunately, in the last decade, he speaks before he thinks, and not only is it not good for the civil rights movement, it demeans Sharpton himself, and defeats his credibility, of which he has much in terms of previous effective work.

He needs to get out of the public eye, keep his mouth a bit more controlled, and just concentrate on what he is really good at.

[phoenics]

Yes! Exactly Gayle!

[meatpie]

Phoenics said
"It's time he passed the torch on to someone who is more gifted in the sense of knowing what to say when and how not to get emotional and stuff."

I completely agree.

I was around when Sharpton really DID have a positive impact as a civil rights leader. In the 70's and 80's he did a lot of very positive things.

Unfortunately, in the last decade, he speaks before he thinks, and not only is it not good for the civil rights movement, it demeans Sharpton himself, and defeats his credibility, of which he has much in terms of previous effective work.

He needs to get out of the public eye, keep his mouth a bit more controlled, and just concentrate on what he is really good at.

Again, I have a tough time even giving him credit for his actions back in the 70s and 80s. He was spewing anti-Semitic rhetoric back then. It's just tough for me...

[gayle]

Hmm, maybe I have some sort of blinders on. Or maybe, I am a product of my very activisit civil rights upbringing (my father is a lifetime member of the NAACP, and marched with Dr. King and Rev. Jackson more than once). But honestly, I don't remember Sharpton ever being anti semitic. And if he was, I would tend to chalk it up to his particular tendency to have "foot-in-mouth" disease.

I would be open to hearing specifics if he has been anti-semitic. I am legitimately curious now.

[meatpie]

Gayle - this sums up two incidents. But the dates confuse me (my reference to the decades you mentioned). Perhaps I'm thinking of Jesse Jackson as well. He made the ""Hymietown" comment of NY in the 80s and was quoted as saying that he was "sick and tired of hearing about the Holocaust" in the late 70s.

In terms of AS he incited anti-Jewish violence in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in 1991 and in Harlem in 1995. In the latter incident he encouraged the explicitly anti-Semitic boycott and picketing of a Jewish-owned store named "Freddy's." Eight employees of the store were killed in a fire started by one of Sharpton's followers.

You can read many different accounts of those incidents from several different sources/religions/races.

I think why many are not aware of the Crown Heights incident, in part, was because the Rodney King riots and aftermath in LA was the story at the time. Living in Southern CA at the time of the riots I know I heard about AS's role/statements in Crown Heights much later - after the incidents happened.

[gayle]

I will do some research on that Meatpie.

IF, Sharpton (or any other civil rights leader) voiced anti-semitism, or anything remotely racist towards anyone, my feelings are, it undermines their voice in a very important cause. I won't condone it, nor sanction it. Civil rights is just that, civil rights for everyone. And, if a prominent member of the Black Caucus, took that approach; SHAME on them. They should know better.

I will research this more.

However, I will still stand on the position that Sharpton really did some good work. He is a master at unification, and garnering enthusiasm for the cause, not only among the AA community, but among the business community as well. He has garnered alot of funds toward a very important social movement, and I will always commend him for it.

That doesn't take away from that fact that in the last 10 years I am more inclined to have a "palm-hits-forhead" moment, almost everytime he opens his mouth. Hence, my suggestion that he get himself off-camera, and merely work, for people and human rights. He IS good at that.

[jnettie]

meatpie - I was going to bring up JJ and his lovely "all the Hymies in Hymietown" when refering to NYC. And also the Crown Heights Riot - which is still a huge open sore here in Brooklyn for both the Jewish community and the African American community.

And, Phoenics, sorry, but I wasn't even alive for the first two examples you gave. :p So, I couldn't remember if I tried.

[meatpie]

I will do some research on that Meatpie.

IF, Sharpton (or any other civil rights leader) voiced anti-semitism, or anything remotely racist towards anyone, my feelings are, it undermines their voice in a very important cause. I won't condone it, nor sanction it. Civil rights is just that, civil rights for everyone. And, if a prominent member of the Black Caucus, took that approach; SHAME on them. They should know better.

VERY well said, Gayle (as usual)

[thegurl77]

Al Sharpton is a total anti semite. I was going to list the reasons that meatpie did, plus his latest beauty when referring to some data as "Jewing down the numbers":rolleyes: I don't know if we hear about his crap more being from the NYC area, but for as long as I can remember it's been a pretty known thing that he's an anti semite. As a Jewish woman I absolutely cannot look past this type of stuff to see any "good" he's done. Sticking your foot in your mouth gets you 1 free pass not 100.

[phoenics]

meatpie - I was going to bring up JJ and his lovely "all the Hymies in Hymietown" when refering to NYC. And also the Crown Heights Riot - which is still a huge open sore here in Brooklyn for both the Jewish community and the African American community.

And, Phoenics, sorry, but I wasn't even alive for the first two examples you gave. :p So, I couldn't remember if I tried.

Doesn't mean they didn't happen, but I understand - I just wanted folks to be aware. And I wasn't born until 1973 - but because I grew up in the cradle of the civil rights belt, so to speak, I was taught about these things - I think it's a shame that more non-AA people aren't taught more about what CURRENT AA's (or even non-AA's) are doing for civil rights. A friend of mine and I are talking about revamping black history month so it focuses more on current day pioneers in black history - thus you would have known more about AS's civil rights accomplishments - rather than what you probably know about black history - the old song and dance about MLK. This kind of touches on my earlier point in another thread where I said that I think that everyone in this country should learn more black history - not only OLD history, but new as well. Honestly, we should be learning more about all of the different cultures that make up our melting pot.

And I need to be honest, there was tension in the Jewish and AA community long before JJ or AS made those comments, sadly. And I don't consider JJ in the same category as AS.

I don't know what JJ was saying when he said he was sick of hearing about the holocaust, but I CAN say that many times when I was in college, many of us expressed hurt that 'society' seemed to focus so much on the holocaust and reparations, yet no one ever tried to make reparations to the AA community for the middle passage - which took many lives as well (the actual numbers of those who died aren't even fully known - but it's a LOT) - not to mention slavery after that. I'm not condoning what JJ said - I've not heard it so I don't know the full context - but I can say that in the AA community there is still resentment (toward society that sometimes gets misplaced toward the jewish community) because it feels like society always applies an 'either/or' attitude to reparation - as though there is only room for one set of reparations to be made and society has decided that it will be for the holocaust. That doesn't mean that there should not be reparations for the holocaust, but I still joke with my friends that I'm still waiting on my '40 acres and a mule', lol. I'm joking, but even still ... the tensions relate to strife that can exist between minority groups because of the feeling that 'there can be only one' - and that's what's frustrating.

But could you point me to references to that comment by JJ? My feeling is that he was probably speaking more towards the idea that there would be reparations for the holocaust - but none for the middle passage or slavery - but his anger was misplaced. But I can say that it's only been recently that the US Government finally formally apologized for slavery - who knows - maybe JJ's comments urged that on (even if I think his anger was misplaced - sort of like blaming other victims instead of the oppressor).

ETA: Nevermind, I found the whole quote I think - he said that 'Jews didn't hold a monopoly on suffering.' It's as I feared - crabs in a crab barrel. One minority group grabbing at another because society in general tends to dole out the 'help' in small portions. Kind of like how I remember being super-competitive with other AAs if we were competing for a scholarship (with other nonAAs) because the presumption was that only one 'token' AA would get the scholarship.

Either way, his anger is misplaced - and given the politics of the time - weird. I admit, the politics of the time are confusing to me - wasn't JJ given some political support by the Jewish community and then there was an expectation that he would support the Israel status-quo? But then he didn't believe that was right? Wasn't there something with Farakhan? Need to go bone up on some old current events I guess.

[phoenics]

Al Sharpton is a total anti semite. I was going to list the reasons that meatpie did, plus his latest beauty when referring to some data as "Jewing down the numbers":rolleyes: I don't know if we hear about his crap more being from the NYC area, but for as long as I can remember it's been a pretty known thing that he's an anti semite. As a Jewish woman I absolutely cannot look past this type of stuff to see any "good" he's done. Sticking your foot in your mouth gets you 1 free pass not 100.

I'm forced to agree. I am shocked he would say something so offensive and I think he needs to simply remove himself and pass the torch!

I think he is anti-Semitic.

[meatpie]

It's sad. I think about this all the time - Phoenics. How these "important" men and leaders seemed to be severly flawed time after time. Clinton was an incredible president in many ways, and obviously brillant, but his handling of his personal life still shocks me. Same with AS. I realize he is supportive of gay rights (and that's important to me), and worked hard in the beginning of his career to support youth and not just AA youth - but his anger toward Jews completely erases anything good he has done. I think this is why some textbook authors stay away from writing about other Civil Rights leaders than MLK because at least AS and JJ are flawed and their anti-Semitism is well documented.

I'm saddened by the lack of a unifying presence/leader/person/movement who does not also alienate. There are too many of these leaders in power today, whether it is AS, GWBush, Clinton (I feel he alienated women - at least he did me), JJ, etc.

Anyway...thanks for the engaging discussion everyone.

[meatpie]

Since you asked about JJ and his relationship with Jews. This sums up the fallout after his Hymietown quote. From the washington post:

Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman. Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman, but several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews.

A storm of protest erupted, and Jackson at first denied the remarks, then accused Jews of conspiring to defeat him. The Nation of Islam's radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and old Jackson ally, made a difficult situation worse by threatening Coleman in a radio broadcast and issuing a public warning to Jews, made in Jackson's presence: "If you harm this brother [Jackson], it will be the last one you harm."

Finally, Jackson doused the fires in late February with an emotional speech admitting guilt and seeking atonement before national Jewish leaders in a Manchester, New Hampshire synagogue. Yet Jackson refused to denounce Farrakhan, and lingering, deeply rooted suspicions have led to an enduring split between Jackson and many Jews. The frenzy also heightened tensions between Jackson and the mostly white establishment press.

[phoenics]

Thanks meatpie.

I think we would find that many 'great leaders' have 'issues'. Some have less than others though - the problem is when leaders get self-righteous - then it's harder to look at them with any kind of compassion.

[jnettie]

I hear ya, phoenics. And I appreciate all the posts you make. I've received quite an education from you over my time on CC. :)

I'm kind of surprised that I haven't learned more about Sharpton since I, too, have parents who were involved in the civil rights movement, as well as the women's movement. I know far more about Jackson, probably because I'm from Chicago.

[phoenics]

I hear ya, phoenics. And I appreciate all the posts you make. I've received quite an education from you over my time on CC. :)

I'm kind of surprised that I haven't learned more about Sharpton since I, too, have parents who were involved in the civil rights movement, as well as the women's movement. I know far more about Jackson, probably because I'm from Chicago.

That's probably it. But Jackson is more known in general I think.

[msnicolea]

Anti-semitism within the AA civil rights community always struck me as totally misinformed and misguided--Jewish-Americans were some of the most ardent, vocal supporters of the CR movement.

[LyLMyssChaos]

Well, it appears something positive has come out of this:

Sharpton, LDS leaders still plan to meet, but it may not happen soon

LDS Church leaders will meet with the Rev. Al Sharpton — the only question is how soon.

"Mr. Sharpton and church leaders are looking at possible dates for a meeting, but nothing is imminent. It won't happen next week, but they are looking at dates," Scott Trotter, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Friday.

Sharpton asked for the meeting when he apologized to two LDS Church apostles by telephone Thursday for a comment he made during a debate on religion in New York City that suggested members of the church did not believe in God.

Click (http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660219973,00.html) for the rest of the story.