# From the Dirty Tricks File: Al Sharpton a Republican stooge? (no, REALLY) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418 "2004-02-04T02:14:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418/21 "2004-02-07T02:15:35Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’ll reserve judgment until a more respectable news source investigates the story. Even if [Salon.com](http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/02/03/sharpton/index.html) or [The New York Times](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E12FD3D5C0C768EDDA80894DC404482) (abstract of article) is not enough, it’s hard to dismiss [this](http://www.blackcommentator.com/76/76_cover_sharpton.html) periodical geared towards blacks that admits to having had high hopes for Sharpton: > [@](#): > > Sharpton imposed a vibrant Black presence on the party’s primary process. . . “Big Al” was truly large on the stage, a daunting deterrent to the intrusion of the usual coded racial rhetoric into the Democratic debates or on the stump. But now, “[w]e know.” > [@](#): > > Sharpton comes across as a hapless stooge of the worst elements of the GOP . . . Al Sharpton finds himself – through his own moral and character flaws – the poor captive of Roger Stone, a rich, cynical, misanthrope who pummels democracy for sport. The article states, " . . . [Roger] Stone doesn’t appear anxious to hide the fact that he has captured a Negro." Ouch. Sharpton has become just as bizarre as Alan Keyes. But a “conspiracy theory”? Some attempt to smear a far left candidate by the _really far_, far left? Or are those radical, paranoid centrists of the DLC responsible? “Kucinich/Liebermann, you unholy bastard!” You guys really should use your “conspiracy theory” label a bit more judiciously. Otherwise its effectiveness won’t be anywhere near as long as some of those past and present classics like “special rights!” or “politically correct!” [Here](http://hnn.us/articles/1238.html) are further details about his past from the History News Network, not exactly a place known for shrill one-sided partisanship. Notice the author is Jim Sleeper, a lecturer in political science at Yale and the author of a book titled _Liberal Racism_.: > [@](#): > > . . . \*n 1986 Sharpton had endorsed outright the “Nixon” of New York politics, Senator Alfonse D’Amato, and, after losing the 1992 nomination [as the Democratic Party’s candidate for NY Senate] to [Richard] Abrams, had counseled black voters to sit on their hands, helping D’Amato win yet again. > > In the 1994 gubernatorial race between incumbent Mario Cuomo and George Pataki, Sharpton told a Harlem rally, “I’m not gonna be a battered wife for the Democratic Party.” The first black leader whom the victorious Pataki received in the Governor’s mansion three months later was Al Sharpton. Retarded, my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418/22 "2004-02-07T16:29:05Z")
> [@John Corrado](#): > > Anyone who advocates abolishing the Department of Defense and replacing it with a [Department of Peace](http://www.kucinich.us/issues/departmentpeace.php) is a freaking fruitcake. Not to mention his Natural Law party (you know, the yogfic flying crowd) connections, his original proposal to ban chemtrails and orbital mind control lasers, and his [endorsement by the little animals of the forest.](http://www.kucinich.us/endorsements/endorsements/grandfather_twilight.php) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418/23 "2004-02-07T16:48:13Z")
> [@John Corrado](#): > > Anyone who advocates abolishing the Department of Defense and replacing it with a [Department of Peace](http://www.kucinich.us/issues/departmentpeace.php) is a freaking fruitcake. Or just somebody who loves his Orwell. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418/24 "2004-02-08T03:09:04Z")
> [@John Corrado](#): > > Anyone who advocates abolishing the Department of Defense and replacing it with a [Department of Peace](http://www.kucinich.us/issues/departmentpeace.php) is a freaking fruitcake. Um, I missed the part where Kucinich argues for abolishing the Dept of Defense. Or were you being ironic? 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-dirty-tricks-file-al-sharpton-a-republican-stooge-no-really/227418.md?page=1)