Duke has run for political office more than a few times, and in fact won a seat in the La. legislature. When he ran for governor in 1990, he was able to force a run-off by beating out the incumbent Buddy Roemer. He ended up losing to Edwin Edwards, who, if you follow Louisiana politics, you will know takes a back seat to no one when it comes to corruption and cronyism.
Duke is considered politically untouchable by all major parties. No Republican considering a bid for a major election would dare meet with him. No Democrat either, for that matter (Duke’s first run for President years ago was as a Democrat). As one recent Republican (Foster) recently discovered, even buying Duke’s mailing list is a political no-no.
The point I’m trying to make is along the lines of
and that I think pandering to Sharpton is just as morally bankrupt as pandering to Duke. Actually, Sharpton might be the scarier of the two: he at least has some major political figures that find him important enough to talk to. Thus, he has a somewhat credible platform from which to demagogue and otherwise voice his bigotry.
It is evident that you have a problem, but I seriously doubt that it’s me. You need to reread this thread and perhaps you will notice that YOU attack ME for NO reason. Let me also remind you that you have NOT seen any bile from me whatsoever.
You wanted a discussion about something you seemed to know very little about, Al Sharpton, but when I posed a question DIRECTLY to you you have avoided answering. You did not like my opinion of the pseudo Rev but now that some other posters have verified that he is indeed a race baiter you have modified yourself, but hedged it a bit by saying “he has done some good things.” So did Hitler, economy, volkswagone etc, but he was still a damn monster. DUH!
Next time it might be usefull for you to have all the facts before you engage your keyboard in undeserved attacks.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Very accurately stated, Drive. Crimes and bigotry from the Left do not get any attention, or condemnation. If Guilani had met with Duke, he never would, he would have been run out of town, but Hillary Rodham sits down with a race hater, inflamer and liar but does not draw any outrage. Hillary has shown her true colors by this association.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Sharpton is in fact a race-baiter, inflamer and liar. But (and this is the important part) he is an important, established race-baiter, inflamer and liar on the NYC political scene. If a Republican wants to get elected dog-catcher in North Carolina, he kisses Jesse Helms’ ring. Democratic candidates in New York have to do a photo op with Sharpton. It’s a political reality, if an unpleasant one. Serious politicos know this, which is why they don’t make a big deal of it as long as the proper distance is kept over time.
Abrams (or whatever that Atty General who ran for Governor was named) I think got out of it because his office was considering a prosecution of him and it would have been improper.
But everyone else has to sit down with the guy. He can affect turnout; he can make or break candidates in tight races, of which this looks to be one.
I never said it was bile directed at me. Certainly directed at HRC, Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson, among others. It’s general bile.
No, I didn’t. I don’t think you’re being rude to me at all. Just rude in general. I’m sorry that you interpreted it that way–not my intention.
Funny, I thought I said the same thing about you. Something there about pots and kettles . . .
I don’t mind your opinion. Just your way of presenting it.
No, I’ve seen opinions, not facts. The only facts I’ve seen are the voting numbers for Sharpton’s mayoral race and the fact that he was endorsed by El Diario. But that’s ok. As I’ve said, I think Sharpton’s scum. If you want to see me as an apologist, go ahead. But I can’t understand that much vitriol over someone like him.
To the OP: You stated in the OP that bringing up the spectre of Dr. King was artificially inserting race issues into the race. True enough. But a couple of people have pointed out that maybe her dealings with Al Sharpton weren’t strictly race-related. To which you replied by saying that Sharpton is Hitler. Pretty much a non-answer.
So, once again, it begs the question: did you start this thread to debate or to bash Hillary?
Thanks for the exposition on the Dukes-Edwards race. It made me recall one of the most honest campaign slogans in American politics- the “proEdwards with a clothespin” bumpersticker: VOTE FOR THE THIEF.
Andros, Manhattan et al,
I really don’t like rating the comparative vileness of scoundrels, but your posts sort of require it. I also don’t like minimizing my distaste for Jesse Helms (as a matter of fact, possibly bumping him out of his Foreign Affairs chairmanship makes voting for Democratic Senatorial candidates very tempting). However, I have to explain my opinions as to why Sharpton should be equated with the “not with a ten foot pole” Dukes, rather than the “with a clothespin on your nose” Helms.
Sharpton actively creates race-based injustices and injuries, even to the point of death. In addition to the specific example I previously mentioned, Sharpton has led campaigns and economic boycotts against Jewish and Asian merchants. He has called them “parasites”, “bloodsuckers” and “foreigners”. He has targeted specific merchants, based solely on their race; during one of his protests a neighborhood resident burned the store down, killing at least one of the employees.
Now Sharpton did not intentionally set that arsonist on his course, but his rhetoric very likely contributed to the atmosphere which led to the arson. The key point to me is that after the event Sharpton did not repudiate his rhetoric, and has continued to repeat it. The man is, intentionally or not, promoting another Crystallnacht [sp?]. That is why I believe he should be completely beyond the pale, regardless of how many votes he might deliver.
As Andros said, not all the causes Sharpton supports are wrong. He is just as willing to get in the limelight for a good cause as an evil one. He can sound remarkably responsible and reasonable when he wants to. As Divemaster alluded to however, this only makes him more dangerous though, if the effect is to lent credibility to the racist activites he promotes.
Finally, to JohnJohn: while I don’t accept your view seeking to somehow equate Jesse Jackson with Al Sharpton, I do believe you should be commended for condemning Mrs. Clinton’s meeting with Sharpton. Those who actively promote racial conflict as Sharpton does should be received with bile.
While I realize there are certain political realities that may force one to eat chicken with people you are not crazy about, or put your arm around a former challenger for a photo op, I do not think it is proper to have sit-downs with tyrants or bigots. That is essentially what Hillary did, and Guilani WILL NOT DO.
You will not see Guilani pandering to this race purveyor to get votes, which will hopefully disprove your pointthat is necessary. This charaltan, “Rev” Al Sharpton, has only fringe black racists as his core constituants anyway. What decent person wants that vote anyway? HILLARY.
Manhattan, you raise a good point but I’m hoping that in this instance you are wrong. We’ll see.
I think we both have misunderstood each others posts, I did think you were referring to me, so I’ll not nitpick your post and further the dispute. Let’s go from here.
You might call debating Hillary a bash anyway, so let’s admit that we are on two different sides of this issue. Why do you think she would be good for NY, or anywhere?
After learning the true story of Sharpton from Mabhattan, Nebuli and me, would you consider Hillary’s meeting with this “beyond the pale racist” an indication that Hillary will do anything to get elected, including sitting down with monsters, which Sharpton is?
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Nebuli, your excellent post goes right to the heart of why this woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton is unworthy of getting our votes for the Senate. She has fleas!
Guilani is above that type of low down pander for votes. You might think he’s a bit harsh but you’ll get the truth and will know that he is doing the best for this State and the country.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Fair enough, John John. We’re not really on opposite sides–I just choose not to view anyone as purely evil.
HRC acts like an idiot. But so do most politicians. Hell, so do most people. I just can’t understand why people hate her (or her husband, or anyone they’ve never met) with such vigor.
Al Sharpton is an extremely polarizing man. People either adore him or violently loathe him. I was hoping for something in-between.
I think what set me so on edge, John John were two things: your insult of Jesse Jackson and your not acknowledging your “2000 votes” gaffe.
nebuli, thanks. I understand your logic, although I do perceive the unrestrained loathing I mentioned before. And as a former North Carolina resident, I’m right there with you on Helms.
I don’t want this thread hijacked, or to be consumed with a black leaders discussion, except as it pertains to Hillary. That might be a suitable thread in itself. Perhaps you would want to start a Jesse Jackson thread, “Charlatan or Preacher?” I say charlatan. Let me explain.
Rev King DID NOT LIKE, OR TRUST, JACKSON. He was quoted by Abernathy as wanting to get rid of him, and planning to do so. He was perceived as an opportunist that wanted to be in the “inner circle” of Civil Rights but was deemed unworthy by Rev King, whom I admired greatly.
Jackson rode the King coattails after his death and exploited the situation for his own ends, usurp the leadership role in Civil Rights.
I also do not like the way he sticks his nose into Foreign Affairs, a thing he has zero qualifications for, which only attain results which are designed to embarrass the US. I do not like his “Hymie Town” comment, which showed his real feelings, I thought. It is also interesting, and revealing, that he has not publiclly denounced Kalid Muhummed or 'Rev" Farrakhan.
Sharpton is the protegee’ of Jackson. What does THAT say about Jackson? What does that say about Hillary? NOT GOOD, AND NOT GOOD FOR NY.
gaffe on 2000 and not 200,000? Ok. Sad that there are that many people that will follow that bigot.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
By ROBERT MACY
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Gennifer Flowers, the woman who claimed to have a 12-year affair with President Clinton, says in a lawsuit that first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton ran a ``war room’’ to attack her husband’s opponents in the 1992 presidential race.
… Mrs. Clinton thus conceived of, ran and used the war room to smear, defame, and harm perceived adversaries such as plaintiff, in order that her husband, Bill Clinton, and she could attain the benefits and trappings of the office of the President of the United States and first lady respectively, the lawsuit contends.
…
[Portions deleted by David B because this was a copyrighted article.]
Now she wants to do for NY what she tried to do for the country. Does this woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton, have the moral fiber to be seated in the Senate of the United States of America? NOPE!!!
Is Hillary an enabler to her husband Bill’s crimes an indiscretions? If she cannot run her own family, how can she help run anything else?
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Ms. Flowers had an 11 year affair with Bill Clinton and he had numerous affairs while in the White House, and Hillary did not know about it? If she is that unaware would you want that person in the Senate representing you. I don’t think so.
The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. Gracian.
John John – As you can see above, I had to delete out portions of the article you posted as it was copyrighted. I left in the parts that seemed most important to your point. However, you should know better than to post an article like that.
Now Hillary Rodham Clinton is playing the gender card, complaining that people should vote for a woman. It seems that since she can’t make it on legitmate issues she’ll stoop to playing race and gender card. Is that fair?
She was quoted as saying that now that she’s a resident, a few weeks, she shares OUR pain. I don’t think so!
The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. Gracian.
I do not listen to Rush Limbaugh but the contractor adding my deck was and the guy filling in for Rush mentioned that Sharpton went into a store, ordered all of the blacks and set fire to it. A few people died and he served, I believe, 7 years. I don’t recall when this happened, does anyone have any details?
I figure Hillary went to Al to see make sure that he would not run for the same post becaue she knew then that she would lose.
And as a former North Carolina resident, I’m right there with you on Helms.