Bloomberg Courts The Black Vote

Mayor Bloomberg appeared at the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network Convention and called the reverend a "calming influence on the city." The Mayor added, "I don't agree with him everything but on balance I've become, over the years, a Sharpton fan." But even with that praise, Sharpton is still backing City Comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor. Sharpton did tell the NY Times that Bloomberg made an effort with the black community, unlike Ed Koch, "Koch gave us such good reasons to vote against him. That’s not the case with Bloomberg. Even on issues where we disagree, the mayor reaches out to us, so there isn’t that hostility." The Times' article focuses on how the mayor's re-election is making an "aggressive" push to appeal to black leaders and, in turn, voters; one political consultant pointed out, "Every black Democrat who votes for Bloomberg is like two votes. It’s a vote the mayor gets and a vote that Thompson was counting on."

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By Jen Chung in News on April 3, 2009 5:55 PM

Comments [rss]

kdny82

I hate the way that white liberals grovel at the feet of this bigoted fraud... I hope this costs bloomy lots of white votes

aspiringrapper

If by "calming," Bloomberg meant that Sharpton is a racist ambulance chaser who has been a major step backward for positive race relations in this city, then he nailed it.

leftylib

A calming influence on the city? Bloomberg is so out of touch its disturbing.

Snoopy

But look at all the good he has done for the city.

russ

"calming influence on the city"?

Is Bloomberg NUTS?

Oh wait, I forgot, he only wants votes.

There's no other reason than to kiss Sharton's ass.

Sharpton was sure calming the city when he Freddy's Fashion Mart was under fire, or the fake Tawana Brawley hoax destroyed Steven Pagones life.

felixthecat2

how can he even ask then for their support when he wouldn't even endorse Obama? Not that Obama wanted or needed his support but it show that our mayor of NYC didn't even support Obama vs McCain. Shame.

Toby von Meistersinger

Can't we all just stop ignoring the racist bigot known as Al Sharpton?

Snoopy

You are confusing me here. Do you want us to ignore Fat Al or as you say "stop ignoring" Fat Al, which means we should listen to Fat Al?

s0me_g0d

If Sharpton is a calming influence on the city, then I'm definitely seeing pigs fly past my window.

inoyourider

Why is Al Sharpton the unofficial mayor of black NY?

The guy is such a loser.

hotstepper

my thoughts exactly.

are the blacks really ok with the fact that Al "Snake Oil" Sharpton serves as a mouthpiece for their community? he's a self-serving charlatan; there's no one better than that?