My beef with Sharpton

[Mass_Liberal]

and this is not me crying with nostalgia for Dean.

When Sharpton criticized Dean for not having a black member on his staff as governer. That was the most bullshit comment ever. For several reasons.

#1: If proportional to the race distribution of his state Dean would not have one
#2: I bet Sharpton doesn't have any Asians on his staff. Or maybe he doesn't have any hispanics, or pacific islanders. Criticizing someone on the race of their staff is bullshit.

Sharpton had no real grievance, and was merely attacking someone on a bullshit pretense, which he seems to do a lot.

[sangha]

1. You would lose that bet.

I know for a fact that Sharpton's staff, small though it is, is very diverse. It's not just blacks

[Mass_Liberal]

2. I'm not saying it is just blacks

the point I'm trying to make is that everyone has probably had a staff that is missing certain minorities in their long political careers.

[sangha]

10. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply you had said that.

That wasn't my intention. However, I think you've gone a bit too far when you say that "everyone" had that problem.

Affirmative Action is really not all that hard to do. Where I work, we exceed the AA goals by a large margin without trying, and we have a nationwide reputation for excellence.

[Mass_Liberal]

14. ok

I'd read the link below. I don't think everyone has that problem. Of course none of the other candidates come from a state with that small of a minority community.

Prominent blacks in Vermont were offered jobs in the cabinet, but turned them down. They agree that he tried.

[spooky3]

22. is his top staff 50% female? That would be representative of the pop.

[KissMyAsscroft]

3. Diverse...

and backing a candidate who knows dick about the issues.

Sharpton is nothing more than a parrot and a preacher.

[JohnLocke]

4. Sharpton = anti-semite

[Mass_Liberal]

6. ???

why do you think so?

[JohnLocke]

11. He called Jews, "diamond-merchants," among other things.

[shoopnyc123]

9. While he has some problems...

he is not an anti-semite. If you attended one of his former Saturday rallies in New York, there are tons of diverse peoples there...and, a LOT of our jewish brothers and sisters.

[sangha]

13. Even Dov Hikind,

a radically conservative Jewish politician who has a habit of backing Republicans says that Sharptin is not an anti-Semite.

[lams712]

5. I thought it was fair question....

....if Dean in 12 YEARS as governor couldn't find a qualified minority anywhere, he had some explaining to do. And that explanation might have been satisfactory. Instead, he got flustered and choked. He could have handled it a little better.

[Mass_Liberal]

8. I disagree

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/1_12camp9.htm

[lams712]

17. That's my point....

.....his explanation might have been satisfactory (too bad he didn't explain it as well as the article you provided did), but it WAS a fair question.

For any national Democrat, racial issues are important and should be looked at and discussed. To the naked eye, nobody saw any minorities in higher office. Dean is definitely NO RACIST, and I don't think Sharpton was implying Dean was a racist. Sharpton's question was more a manifestion of minority's frustration with politicians who give only lip service to racial issues. Dean was, at first look, perceived to be one of the people who were giving lip service.

Of course, there was a good explanation and it's ashame that the good explanation never really got out.

[Mass_Liberal]

19. was

Sharpton implying that Dean was a racist when he said Dean's agenda was "anti-black"?

[buckeye1]

7. Dean asked for it.

After his bullshit comment that he was the only one talking about race,he had it coming.

[RetroLounge]

20. Poop!

EOM

[H2O Man]

12. I agree in part...

...but please remember that Rev. Sharpton is working with others to do massive voter registration in poor, urban, primarily black neighborhoods. He has a curious past. But he also has made many of the most valid attacks on the bush administration in the debates. He helps to draw a larger viewing audience. I'm glad he is in the primaries, and in the party. He adds a lot.

[Mass_Liberal]

16. He is funny

and smart, and does a lot of good things within the party, particularly expanding the base. But he also does say bad things without thinking.

i.e saying howard dean's agenda is anti-black, framing people for rape, etc.

[H2O Man]

18. I thought his Dean comment

was in poor taste. There are a significant amount of very serious problems involving race in America. I'm in favor of putting the cards on the table, and having a frank discussion. But I don't care to see ANY one of the democratic candidates resorting to making "debator's points" against another candidate. Dean is hardly part of the problem in race relations today ... in fact, there are some things that Rev. Sharpton did in the past that were ugly .... I want to see the party unite and have an overwhelming victory in November. It is possible, and actually more likely because of men like Sharpton, Like Dennis K, and like Gov. Dean. We are lucky to have a wide range of talents in our party .... especially considering the "other party" is led by liars and thieves.

[shoopnyc123]

15. By the way, the beef with Dean is covered here, (Sharpton's breakdown)

...and black folks were pissed about that too...

http://www.blackcommentator.org/64/64_cover_sharpton_pf.html

[SadEagle]

21. When Sharpton criticized Dean on that, he was working for GOP

Read this:
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/barrett.php

And remember, Shartpon as had a great deal to do w/many Republicans getting elected in NY. Personally, I think he should be called Zell Sharpton.