Al Sharpton and Romney
Just lately, more than a couple folks have asked me to comment about the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Sharpton has been in the news even more than usual in recent weeks.
First, he led the charge against Radio/TV personality Don Imus after Imus made his insensitive, sexist and racist comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Imus lost his job over the comments.
More recently, in a debate with an atheist, Sharpton more or less stated that people who believe in God will defeat Massachusetts Republican Gov. Mitt Romney's bid to become president.
Romney has fought back, accusing Sharpton of a bigoted comment. Sharpton in turn has accused Romney of misconstruing his comment in an effort to breath life into his flagging campaign.
Here's exactly what Sharpton said: "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."
Here's what I think. I think Sharpton is an opportunist who looks for ways to appear morally superior and to incite debate about race issues. He probably costs the Democrats more votes than he gets them.
But I defend Sharpton's comment about Mormons was intentionally bigoted. And I defend his right to stir things up, in the same way that I defend everyone's right to free speech, and in the same way that I defend Romney's right to practice any religion he chooses.
That's what I think. What do you think?
posted by Patrick Rice @ 2:41 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Of course he’s an opportunist, and he’s been a racist for a long time. It’s ironic that after making such a big deal about the Imus incident he hasn’t said a word about Opie’s comments about Secretary Rice, which were far worse than anything Imus ever said.
But in the politically correct world in which we live it’s okay to make racist comments about white males or Republicans, so more of the same can be expected.
I do expect to see this issue get more coverage as the election nears though, because a lot of people in this country are not enlightened as much as some would think. There are people who won’t vote for Romney because of his religion, there are those who won’t vote for Obama because of race and there are those who won’t vote for Clinton because of gender.
If we have a close election like we had in 2000 and Obama or Hillary loses by 500 votes in the last state and it costs them the election you can bet there will be fireworks. If they lose by 500 votes and 2000 come out and declare they voted against the democrat because of race or gender you can bet they’ll file a job discrimination lawsuit to try and overturn the election. Since race or gender can’t be used to make employment decisions you can bet they’ll try to invalidate votes.
In the end though Fat Albert is looking for attention and as long as he gets it he’ll be in the spotlight playing the profession victim. If he didn’t get the attention he’d go away, but with so many news channels looking for ratings he’ll continue to get on the air more than most people would care to hear him.
I really don’t care what he says, but your right he can say anything he wants. Just like we can call him a fat, whining, racist blowhard. He’s a nobody, so it really doesn’t matter what he or JJ says, because, in the end, they’re nobodies and they don’t matter.
"Fat Albert"? Let's just call it like it is...he’s a bigot. We don't need foolish name-callin.
I could care less if you speak your opinion. This is a free country. But it is one thing -- and I'm speaking for all here -- to say these things on a NEWS channel like CBS or MSNBC, etc. And you also don't say stuff that directly contradicts your statements, which in Sharpton's case, is to get rid of bigotry in America.
Rev. Sharpton has done some good things in his lifetime, but this definitely isn't one of them.
Bottom line: Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk.
Al Sharpton (Rev) can say waht he wants not because of free speech and the U S Constitution, he can say what he wants becaquse he is black. Free speech does not apply anymore ask Don Imus. If Imus were black, no issue would have been raised by anyone. I don't defend stupidity or the natstiness of Imus's comments. But don't tell me free speech means anything. The media is responsible for the fame of the good Rev Al, without them he is just another loud mouth with many words to utter, but nothing to say.
Expedia needs to revise their definition of racist and biggot...
Racist---Al Sharpton
Biggot---Al Sharpton
We talk much about free speech, and Sharpton certainly uses his mouth, but free speech also includes being accountable...it is also free speech to describe what he is, a racist biggot. He gets away with it because he is black.
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