I saw a piece in the NY TIMES, talking about the Rev. Sharpton-he is “seriously” considering a run for president! Quite apart from mr. Sharpton’s numerous character flaws, is this guy even eligible to be president? I seem to recall the one result of the infamous Tawana brawley case in the 1980’s was tha Sharpton was found guilty of libel. He was ordered to pay damages, which (apparently) he has never done so. So does this make him a felon, and unable to be president?
I guess the Republicans can take heart-any party that would be so foolish as to actually consider this moron, shuldbe easy to beat!
Not a Sharpton fan here, however…
Well your last paragraph seems more pit worthy than MPSIMS…and also ill informed. Do you have a cite that supports your claim that the the Democrats are “actually considering this moron”?
I suspect not. :rolleyes:
You know, if I were a controversial high profile public figure who wanted to make sure that my concerns found their way into a party’s platform, I’d “consider” running for President, too. I’d also mention in passing that I might consider taking my hardcore following with me as an independent if I don’t get my way.
If reports I’ve seen are true, several Democrats are considering him. Not necessarily the party establishment, but his name has been getting tossed about recently. I seem to recall seeing some politicians (including the junior senator from New York) appearing with Sharpton at photo ops, or complimenting him publicly.
Of course, cynical GOP strategists are probably drooling at the prospect of Bush running against Sharpton. The guy could probably set some sort of record for alienating moderates. A true dream candidate to run against.
You know I was just talking with friends about how we as a nation could sink any lower than George W. Bush…
Elect a terrier? An eggplant? Either of those guys from the 1-800-collect commercials?
Guess truth IS stranger than fiction.
Al Sharpton’s going to be a Gary Bauer or a Pat Buchanan. If you think he’s going to win I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. The problem with him is that look at the first 3 primary states: Iowa (2.2% African American), New Hampshire (0.6%) and West Virginia (3.1%). Those are sub-Orrin Hatch numbers. Now, say he gets 70% of the African-American vote, plus a few more from white guilt, that’ll be about 3 percent in each of the first primary state, and that’s a generous amount. Al Sharpton’s a sideshow, nothing more.
I agree with gorewonfla with one counterpoint. If Al runs, he will become an issue for the other candidates. They will be unable to dis him for fear of alienating black voters, and be uncomfortable embracing him in a high-profile way for fear of alienating moderates.
People voted for Jesse Jackson out of “white guilt”. Anybody who votes for Sharpton is voting out of sheer stupidity, no matter what color they are.
If Sharpton gets anywhere near a nomination, I envision Prime Minister Jean Chretien and President Vicente Fox being forced to consider, under extreme pressure, a blanket amnesty for illegal immigrant Americans in 2004.
Most likely, the Dems will quietly expand some of their minority-oriented planks, and then just as quietly ignore Sharpton until he goes away again. The only trouble with that approach is that Sharpton always comes 'round again.
[John McLaughlin voice]WRONG![/John McLaughlin voice] As I previously stated, there are few blacks in the first 3 primary states. Besides, what could he stand for that would alienate moderate voters but is simultaneously important to blacks? Plus, if Al Gore gets the nomination he’ll get all the black votes. They revere him after the last election and see the Florida debacle as the latest fight for civil rights. Also, one of the driving factors behind Jackson’s candidacy was a) his participation in the civil rights movement and b) the fact he was running against Mike Dukakis. I don’t think the Duke’s going to make a comeback bid in '04 and Al Sharpton doesn’t have any history I know of in civil rights. All in all, the man is toast. And, should he win the nomination by default after all the candidates are killed by a far left fundamentalist group and the night before the election Bush Jr doesn’t pass the dead girl/live boy test, thereby giving Sharpton the election: I love Moosehead beer, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pierre Trudeau’s wife.
I think it’s pretty presumptuous to assume someone knows how “all” blacks, or any other group will vote. Sheesh.
Fine, he’ll get the 92% he got last time, with JC Watts and Colin Powell voting for Bush.
It’s a bit unclear from your posts whether you are referring to the primaries or the general election. I’ve already agreed with you that Sharpton does not have any chance to win the nomination. However, his being in the race presents problems for his Democratic rivals.
While it is true that there are few Black voters in the first primary states, all the major candidates - as well as those who hope to become major candidates (IOW everyone) - will have their eyes on the larger states down the road. Most or all of these do have sizable minority populations.
Your question
is simplistic. Beyond the fact that his persnality and history are themselves divisive, there could be a variety of issues that he can seize upon to energize his constituency.
As for his legal eligibility, I wonder…Was it a civil court matter, or was it actually a criminal case? And I wonder if libel is a felony. I might look into it tomorrow, but don’t cross your fingers. I’m starting school on the 4th and am committed first and foremost to laziness until then.
**buddy1 wrote:
He was ordered to pay damages, which (apparently) he has never done so. So does this make him a felon, and unable to be president?**
To be eligible to run for President of the US, you have to at least 35 years old and a native born citizen. I don’t recall any other requirements in the Constitution. Am I forgetting some part of my high school civics course? Your criminal record doesn’t matter.
Lyndon LaRouche has and probably will again run for president from the comforts of his jail cell.
Moderator’s Notes: Let’s try this topic in Great Debates. (Isn’t it a little early to be talking about presidential candidates for 2004?)
So? The fact that the black population in those states is so low will make it easy for him to lower expectations, and “win” those primaries not by getting the most votes, but by exceeding the lowered expectations. In fact, he may even make it a campaign issue that the first three primaries are held in states with such low black populations. It’s discrimination! I imagine a line like this would work well in the media, and in the democratic party in general.
He can certainly afford to lose three primaries and still get the nomination, seeing as how the Dems don’t use the “winner take all” system in their primaries, and, the first three states notwithstanding, blacks are disproportionately represented in the electorate in Democratic primaries. So a Sharpton nomination is plausible, especially if the anti-Sharpton vote is divided.
Oh yes, and I just wanted to establish, I did that John McLaughlin “WRONG!” thing first. 
By making this announcement, AS has already gotten several TV interviews and much other publicity. This publicity has big ecnomic value to him. At the same time, it promotes his status as one of the leading African-Americans.
What a mean trick it is to promote him as a leader of the African American community, when there are so many others who are so much higher quality. Note how AS is a poster boy for white bigots.
IMHO the media has committed a racist act.
It’s never too early to talk about the next presidential election. Some guys are planning for 2008 already. As for Sharpton, you also have to face the issue that not all African-Americans like him. Has he really accomplished anything? No. Is he annoying and divisive? Yes. If anyone in the African-American community actually believes he’s the best leader they can come up with they need to look harder. Start with the 9 statewide elected officials that are African-American, then look to the House of Representatives, which has 38. That’s a total of 47 possible leaders. Also, when you play the expectations game, generally that means you have to get at least 10% in a primary. If you try to spin 3% is good then you just look laughable and stupid, even to your core supporters. Also, instead of the many candidates dividing the anti-Sharpton vote they’ll just siphon more away from him. John Edwards and Al Gore have both received enormous support from the African-American community. In 1988 Jesse Jackson did so well because he was essentially running against Mike Dukakis. I think the Sharpton campaign comes down to how much humiliation they can take before they drop out. He might drop out after the straw pole. Liddy Dole, Lamar Alexander and Dan Quayle all did that in 1999, so it isn’t a new thing.