Why Are Al Sharpton and Gary Coleman Immediately Dismissed

[linazelle]

when serious politics are discussed? Bill Maher provided examples on his last show of the media's marginalization of Sharpton. I was just on another board and a conservative is jokingly supporting Gary Coleman. On the one hand I want to laugh--but another part of me says hey, wait a minute. Why can't we take them seriously? Does it have anything to do with their race first?

[FlashHarry]

1. Are you serious? Gary Coleman?

Sharpton... maybe. Coleman? Gimme a break!

On edit: race has nothing to do with it. Neither are experienced enough to govern. That goes for Ah-nold, too. And Bush, for that matter (but we already knew that).

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. You said it.

You said it. Neither Gary nor Arnold are experienced enough to govern. But Arnold is a tall, white action star and Gary is a short, black, comedian. Race has nothing to do with it?

[FlashHarry]

22. Nope. Popularity, pure and simple.

Ah-nold has a massive box-office hit. What's Gary Coleman done lately?

[Ripley]

2. Yeah, like everyone supports Gallagher.

And that 100 year old white female. Duh.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Wouldn't Gallagher be able to "SMASH the deficit"?

[Ripley]

15. Damn right he would!

And he'd probably legalize pot.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Sharpton is Black. Coleman is Black and Short.

[Pepperbelly]

4. Coleman said he will vote 4 Ah-nald so if he doesn't think he'd be better

how can anyone else?

I like Sharpton a lot.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Oh.. I guess if he says its a joke, it must be a joke.

Oh.. I guess if he says its a joke, it must be a joke. Too bad, this country could use a short, black governor.

[Systematic Chaos]

6. I hope I don't get flamed for this

But, I am willing to give Gary Coleman the full benefit of the doubt concerning his ability to handle the job. If you know anything about him, the man really has had a tough life. That may give him more of a sense of compassion and empathy that would, IMO, be of benefit to the people of California.

No, I'm not at all saying he's the most qualified person for the job out of the entire field. I'm only saying that he's probably more qualified than some. If I were forced to choose between Coleman and Schwarzenegger I would go with Coleman in a heartbeat.

[paulsbc]

9. because

Sharpton is a loon and has tons of baggage

and Coleman is a person associated with a funny old TV sitcom that hasnt' done much since.

now, IMO, if you put up a real solid person with a good background, and sound political knowledge, he/she will not be dismissed.

[Robbien]

10. Appearances.

Sharpton does not look like a politician. If he looked more like a "suit" he would probably get more attention. Kucinich has the same problem, he is far from handsome and everyone says he can't win. Coleman--yeah, height.

I know it is shallow, but true.

[otohara]

11. I Worked W/ Gary Coleman

He's a loser - who never came into work and that only required a couple hours per day.
Al Sharpton is a smart guy - Gary Coleman is not

[paulk]

31. did you work at Caboose Hobbies?

I saw him a couple of times working there.

[tom_paine]

12. Coleman is dismissed for the same reason Ahnold SHOULD be dismissed

Neither knows anything about governance.

"What chu' talkin' bout, tom_paine?!?"

[Knurled99]

13. Ahnold: democrat-friendly?

He is obviously influenced by his marriage into the Kennedy family and has been taking some democrats aboard for key positions should he be elected (such as Warren Buffet for chief financial advisor.) His only real foray into California politics brought new services for underpriveliged kids... He also has a degree in business and finance, so he's not COMPLETLEY retarded. I say if there ever had to be a repuglican in office, Ahnold is the most democrat-friendly there could be.

[JohnKleeb]

21. I agree hes not a right wing shill

but I dont see how he could fix the crisis but he isnt as bad as Simon and McClintock I think it is.

[tom_paine]

38. No! Don't buy into that BULLSHIT!

Ahnoldd = much help from the RNC and the Bushevik White House.

And that means TOTAL ACCESS for Bushevik operatives (which they might still have even if the Dems are in control) to CALI's voter database, registration system, and those modems to the nice little electronic Stalin machines.

At this critical juncture, it is KEY that California not fall into the hands of the Imperial Family, because that will just about seal the fate of the Old Republic as California mysteriously goes Repug against all the polls.

Like, I'll be sooooo shocked.

[slackmaster]

14. I'm considering voting for both of them

Since I will have opportunities to do so.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

20. vote early and often?

[birdman]

16. The reasons are pretty simple

Sharpton has a 20 year history of making his living
by calling other people racists whether the charges are
valid or not. He is not and will never be a serious
candidate. And even Gary Coleman acknowledges that he
is not a serious candidate.

[linazelle]

17. None of the candidates is experienced....

so what makes Aunullld more qualified than Sharpton or Coleman? Not much in my book and they all have baggage. It seems to me we are more willing to accept baggage when whites have it than vice versa. <Bracing for the onslaught...>

[AntiCoup2K4]

18. Gary Coleman could never be taken seriously

and his skin pigmentation has nothing to do with it. The fact that he will forever remain a 4'11" ex child star famous for the catch phrase "whatchyou talkin about" has everything to do with it.

Al Sharpton could potentially be a serious candidate someday, but as for now he has no experience outside of his activism. In any event, I'd take him more seriously than an actor. Actually, if the question is going to be asked strictly on the basis of race, I'd like to know why the Repukelican party shits all over Alan Keyes. True, Keyes' views are on the scary fringe of right wing conservafascism, but at least he's honest about it. Yet he was arrested for trying to get into his own party's convention in 2000.

Schwarzenegger also shouldn't be taken the least bit seriously (and don't even get me started on Bush Jr) either, but the same corporate media that recently turned the Idiot Son of an Asshole into a fighter pilot worthy of a Top Gun sequel has now convinced the FAUX News fans that The Terminator can solve the Bush/Wilson/Enron-caused California budget disaster.

[chadm]

19. Good point

I thought Sharpton actually won the last debate. If he were white he'd be a contender. What's the deal? Is the Democratic Party racist?

[paulk]

32. if Sharpton was white he'd be running neck and neck

with Dennis Kucinich. Neither he nor Gary Coleman is taken seriously because neither has a snowball's chance in hell of winning.

Arnold does.

[Cheswick2.0]

23. because this is still a racist country

anyone who denies it needs a class in sociology.

Gary Coleman may be doing this as a Lark , but Sharpton is not. It makes me sick that people here who can't admit to racism accuse him of reverse racism.

[AntiCoup2K4]

24. How is it racism to say that

...a guy who has absolutely no political experience whatsoever is not qualified to be President of the United States and has no chance in Hell against an incumbent whom the media treats as if he were the Messiah??

Yes, racism still exists in this country. Along with sexism, classism, homophobism, and every other ism you can think of. And there probably are some (hopefully not here) who would be opposed to Al Sharpton just because he's African American. But he's just not a viable candidate, and there's nothing prejudiced at all about saying so.

Sharpton's best move would be to drop out of the Presidential race and run for a local or state office first. He might even have a good shot at Congress.

[Cheswick2.0]

26. You wouldn't feel that way if he were white

I'll bet. Otherwise you wouldn't be so defensive. If the shoe doesn't fit don't wear it Cinderella.

He is in the race to be heard and I have no idea why that is such a problem for you. Don't vote for him. :shrug:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. It's not

It's not, but I don't think that was the point. "He's not a viable candidate" not is not racist, but part of the reason he is not a viable candidate is racism.

Although with Sharpton, it is a tough call, no matter how articulate he is, and really, no matter what he does, he has a lack of credibility because of the Brawley (sp?) thing. So he is really not a good test for how viable a black candidate could be.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. I Have Been Thinking About This For A Long Time

America will embrace an "ethnic" as long as they act in a manner consistent with the majority.

For instance look at the more or less universal acceptance of Colin Powell and the marginalization of ,say, Jesse Jackson.

For instance, if Joe Lieberman spoke and looked like say, other Jews like Paul Newman or the late Michael Landon would he be so marginalized.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. Right...but.

America is most certainly still racist.

Sharpton is my first choice. I think his lack of support from Democrats isn't necessarily, or only, because he's African American but because he's "uppity" and obviously left wing and goes against the grain of the DLC types. "Nice", "moderate", blacks would be welcome like the rep (can't remember his name) who opposed Pelosi because she was "too liberal".

[Isome]

36. "uppity"? HA HA HA HA

You're thinking of Harold Ford. I doubt he'd get support either.

[Kamika]

25. time for the true but oh so non pc answer

coleman is a gnome

[HFishbine]

29. Go Coleman! Seriously.

I saw Coleman on The Factor last night (spare me) and he was very intelligent, stuck to the issues, and sounded quite sincere. Even when O'Reilly made some dumb comment about Webster, Coleman was ten times the man and talked about what would be best for California.

Tell you the truth, I was impressed. I'm not in CA, so it doesn't matter, but if I were, I'd sure as hell give him serious consideration just because of his demeanor and his ability to speak to the issues.

[Terwilliger]

30. Gary Coleman is a fucknut who said Davis should quit

and AHH-nold's going to win. He was never serious about running but he;ll leave his name on the ballot anyway

:spank: :nuke:

[beanball]

34. Racism in the homeland

come on brothers and sisters,wake up its morning in america and here are the facts,america is a racist country,susprise,susprise,look around you,who controls this country? it surely isn't the blacks or hispanics, its surely not that they are are not able, so whats the reason? its very simple simple we live in a racist country,if you don't agree prove me wrong.

[Isome]

35. Of course it's because they're Black.

Don't be silly.

Typical of the DU I've been most unfortunate to uncover, many here don't recognize their own prejudiced reactions to people of African descent. But, you can witness it firsthand everytime Al Sharpton's name is mentioned. When a person of African ancestry pops up on the radar screen, there are double standards, distorted facts, irrelevant non-issues, and derisive name calling to contend with.

I still can't find a single thread hailing the bravery of Barbara Lee or Cynthia McKinney. Those two Black women have more courage in their discarded eyelashes than all the weak-willed, slow-witted, tongue-tied Democrats combined and multiplied by 10.

[piece sine]

37. funny you should mention him

Coleman endorsed Arnold days ago and said he was on the ballot in name only, which for all instensive purposes, so is Al Sharpton.

Good thing everyone takes Carol MB so seriously.

[Isome]

39. I've got a question...

What political office was Hillary Clinton elected to before she became a goddamn Senator? Which one? She was an elected official's wife, and a lawyer.

Are those two items given more weight on one's resume than more than a decade of community activism (which entails grassroots organizing of the most difficult sort)?

Stop with the experience bull! White folks (running for any position) with less experience and less of an association with Democratic principles/platform (like Arianna Huffington, whom I like by the way) are given far more credence by DUers. And, she was a republican at one time if I remember correctly. Hell, she may still be one.

[dsc]

40. Coleman isn't being taken seriously

due to not taking himself seriously. If someone says he is voting for one of his opponents then why on earth should we vote for him?

Sharpton isn't taken seriously due to an inability to win Democratic primaries in a liberal city and state. He lost to Ruth Messinger in NYC and to Shumer in NYS. That said, he has done phenominally well in each and every debate but since he has governed nothing it is a little hard to imagine him as President.