Al Sharpton At The Democratic National Convention

He talks the talk, but he no longer walks the walk. And it's easier to be sharp when you know you got no chance to win. Still, it's relief to see a colorful character in politics.

it's a pep rally. Sharpton got me riled up. Not bad for a non-contender.

Sharpton seems to be wising up lately. His whole entire reason to run for president was not to win, but to get minorities intrested in politics and make the DNC not forget that they have a huge amount of support against Dubya

Most NY'ers I know do have a particular loathing for Rev. Al based on his use of extreme tactics during the incidents named above, and I'm not one to condone using violence and prejudice to fight violence and prejudice. But you have to remember why people fight dirty in the first place: because they feel powerless, enraged, and left out of the "systems" that we as a society use to enforce what is right and just. It's not a surprise that the Rev's actions in the 80's/90's brought him to a position of prominence in his community, but it is interesting - and heartening - to note that now that he really does have power and a platform and a voice, he has decidedly cleaned up his act. During the election I have listened hard to what he's had to say, and have looked for all of the traits that my husband (a native Brooklynite) has listed with disgust. But I have to say that I have found his comportment during this election to be impeccable. I believe he offers a welcome perspective on poverty and race in this country, and I am listening.

Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where there are many perfect heroes or perfect victims. People can grow and change and can even reform. NY'ers may know a different side of Rev. Sharpton, but can't they also appreciate the good he's doing now?

Al has the "the gift of the gab" and he speaks for many who do not have a voice. That is important. Beyond that, it's touch-and-go.

I'm glad James threw a little cold water on you ignorant Sharpton worshippers. Can one of you fools explain how his actions in the Tawana Brawley fraud helped advance any worthy causes? Has he apologized to Steve Pagones or anyone else? Simply "changing tactics" isn't enough after deliberately harming innocent people.

"Fools" and "ignorant Sharpton worshippers?"

It's interesting to me that someone who has a problem with Sharpton's behavior would themselves jump to employ the same tactics (prejudiced assessment and incendiary language) with so little provocation. I get it that we're talking about two very different extremes (Sharpton's and Nola's) but so is the difference between a hate crime and a blog comment that offers a different opinion.

Yes, Amanda, I do have a "problem" with Sharpton's behavior. And I do believe that anyone who overlooks his actions is ignorant and foolish. If you think that using such language is in any way comparable to falsely accusing a married man of raping a teenaged girl, or inciting a crowd to torch a business, then you are an even bigger fool than I thought.

The above analogy to David Duke was right on the money. What would you say about a white politician who had deliberately accused an innocent black man of rape, or had encouraged a mob to wreck a black-owned business? I don't think we'd be hearing any feeble nonsense about how wonderful his message is.

I remember throwing eggs at him in the late 80's . He was marching down Cross Bay BLVD. in Howard Beach , so we got on the rooftops of some stores and fired eggs his way . Nothing but a troublemaker and a criminal . The man is a joke . Why the dems let him speak ? Didn't do anything for me last night .

Nola, you dont have to look so far as David Duke. Our own president was a COCAINE user.

Sharpton's like a old penny that keeps showing up. The DNC keeps him around because he's familiar and he reminds us all of where we've been. Tonite I think he broke through and showed us where we can go.

There just has to be a better destination than the one we've arrived at here with the Bush administration. I've never seen people so ridiculously polarized.

And BTW, David Duke is an inept analogy. That's like comparing a deranged trained-to-kill pit bull with a tired junkyard dog whose biggest mistake is zealously chasing the wrong car.

I hesitated to even get back into the fray, because people have not only become quite rabid throughout this discussion, but have actually turned really ugly.

james, your assertion that you "don't know any African Americans that look to [Sharpton] as a role model" has nothing to do with the reality that many of us in fact DO feel good about a lot of the things that he's done for our "community". I'm baffled by the fact that so many people believe that politcs and show business are mutually exclusive (someone should have informed Schwartzaneggar, Ventura, and Reagan). I'm not a fan of Giuliani (an understatement), but I recognize that his actions during 9/11 aren't negated by Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, or Abner Louima for many people. Giuliani's tenure wasn't focused on the safety and security of black and latino people. But the people who were the focus of his attentions feel quite warmly toward him and his time in office. He's a complex man, with a complex legacy. I say the same is true of Sharpton. Here is a black man who has access to a national microphone. And though he doesn't exactly speak for all of us (anymore than any man can speak for an entire group of people), it's quite powerful to feel that there is someone of even slight importance who understands the frustration of disenfranchisement and marginalization--particularly for those of us who don't have the vocabulary necessary to do our feelings justice.

Yes I've heard of Tawana Brawley. Yes I've heard of Howard Beach, but I think it is you who is doesn't understand that we live in a country with a very recent history that made it easy for people to believe that a black woman could be gang raped by white officers without repercussion. Just look at the recent hoax in France by a Jewish woman who claimed to have been attacked by North African Muslims. We're living in a climate which made her claim very credible. And two world leaders were duped in the process. As far as Howard Beach was concerned, I think a lot of black people were in a rage over Yusef Hawkins, and Sharpton certainly may have pushed buttons, but you'd better believe he was speaking for a lot of people in New York. 'Cuz I was in a rage about it in Boston.

What I'm saying is, you may not see his worth, but that doesn't mean that it's not very real for others. And that doesn't make us blind idiots or hatemongers. What it means to me is that children around the world see a black man running for President. A black man who knows he can't win, but wants the world to become accustomed to the sight of brown skin in the election so that one day the very idea of a non-white president won't be sumarily dismissed. I'm an idealist--call it stupid if you like, but I believe in the optimisms of the Kerry/Edwards camp. It's not just rhetoric to me, and I think it's exactly what this country needs.

Bec - that's fine, you have you're opinion, I have mine. This could go on forever. The man's actions speak for themselves and I'll let history judge him at this point. My guess, though, is that it won't be favorable.

You don't have to LOVE Sharpton to think he did a great job of rousing the crowd and venting some of the anger we dems feel toward Bush.

I was very glad he spoke as he did. He said things that needed to be said but not by Kerry, so it was extremely useful.

I too remember some of his obnoxious crusades, but last night was all good.

Bec, you and your pals are in need of help. If you dim bulbs can't see the difference between an honest mistake and a terrible lie you should spend less time surfing the net and more working towards your GED. One more time: Sharpton knowingly accused an innocent man of rape. He knew Brawley's story was a fake but ran with it anyway because it got him the national publicity he craved.

Of course it is plausible that cops could have raped someone and gotten away with it. That's what made Sharpton's actions so inexcusable. He knew her story was fake but exploited people's fears for his own gain, destroying an innocent man's reputation in the process. And you call yourself an idealist?

Since basic facts seem to go over your head, I'll also point out the crime rates dropped for everybody under Giuliani, not just whites. Your comment about him not caring for the safety of blacks and latinos is absurd. I guess the higher crime rate under Dinkins meant that he didn't care about the safety of anyone?

It is true that many police departments have doctored the numbers to play down actual crime rates. But even if you take that into account, crime rates plummeted under Giuliani. How do you explain the incredible drop in the murder rate? Are the police hiding all the dead bodies? Get over it, Coins, Giuliani was a smashing success. And I don't mock people who are trying to improve, I mock imbiciles who try to justify the likes of Al Sharpton.