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Ear to the Ground

Damage-Control Time for Sharpton

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Posted on May 9, 2007
sharpton
AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Foot in mouth?  Sharpton (pictured here in an earlier photo) says his comment was taken out of context and misunderstood.

For someone who works the media as frequently and avidly as he does, and for someone who does so largely to address issues of discrimination, the Rev. Al Sharpton wouldn’t be expected to be accused of bigotry on the grounds that he denigrated presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s religion.  But that’s what happened after a debate Tuesday in New York.


CNN.com:

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who recently urged that radio host Don Imus be fired for making a racially insensitive remark, said in a debate that “those who really believe in God will defeat” Republican Mitt Romney for the White House.

But Sharpton denied he was questioning the Mormon’s own belief in God.

Rather, the New York Democrat said he was contrasting himself with Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.

“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation,” Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library’s Beaux-Arts headquarters.

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By Plantsman1, May 11, 2007 at 12:19 pm Link to this comment

“I have been warning you for years now about this cult born out of the pits of hell and responsible for sending millions of souls to eternal damnation. For the nearly 200 years this cult has been in existence they have strived for mainstream acceptance. They are the most devious of all the cults since they have always tried to portray themselves as ‘just another Christian group’ when in fact, they are no more Christian than a Muslim is!”
–  Televangelist Bill Keller

Man, Sharpton’s got some work to do!!

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By Plantsman1, May 11, 2007 at 3:35 am Link to this comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lGi0SS4w6I

That’s a link to the Youtube video of Sharpton on Paula Zahn’s show. They actually run video of both Sharpton’s and Hitchens’ remarks concerning Mormons. I’m interested to know people’s honest opinions after they view the video. By the way, blacks became officially human according to the Mormon church in 1978, not ‘65, as Zahn insists. I distinctly remember the news stories about that. Not that it makes a hell of a lot of difference, of course.

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By Acanthus, May 11, 2007 at 3:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Here’s John Ridley’s post on this matter at Huffingtonpost:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/stop-the-presses-al-shar_b_48027.html?p=7#comments

Read it and see if he mentions anything about what Hitchens said just before Sharpton made his alleged bigoted statement. Keep in mind that Ridley was on Hardball when Chris Matthews interviewed Sharpton. Do you see any mention of Sharpton’s explanation (whether you think it was bogus or not) in Ridley’s post? What does that say aout Ridley?

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By Art, May 10, 2007 at 7:09 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I can’t believe the acid tongues in response.  Seems that all the comments are just name calling.  What ever happened to some meaningful commments.  Calling Al evil and going to Hell does not help.  I believe he is probably headed lower to, but mentioning it on comments here does not offer anything new.  The attacks about Mitt also did not carry any value either. 
Mitt was trying to issue support for the right to bear arms.  I am very similar in that I too have shot “vermin” and that’s about it.  I still support the right to bear arms.  I have said the same thing that I am a life time hunter even though I have rarely hunted.  I don’t see the big deal.  His views on abortion and the reason for changing have also been throughly complete. 
You see what you want to see.  I see a person that is honest and willing to say he has changed views.  I have also.  My view of this site is that commenting does not cause any useful commentary back only people with little to say and insults to sling.

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By J- WINDT, May 10, 2007 at 12:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Sharpton is an idiot yes, but he’s right in a sense. Although Christians and Mormons have the same non-sensical belief in a completely made up story, even your “real Christians” can see that Mormons have taken faith to a whole new level. Anyone voting for Romney should look into the history of the L.D.S Churchs founder Josoph Smith & his successor Brigham Young. You all heard the joke, ” I don’t care how ya bring-em just bring-em young.” Mormanism was founded on one man’s quest for power and a way to fulfill his sexual perversions. Joe had over 240 wives! Wow! A good percentage of them were very young girls. Brigham was no better. Secret meetings ,hand-shakes, ceremonies and rituals. No way !

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By rowdy, May 10, 2007 at 12:32 pm Link to this comment

i read comments posted by readers on many websites. it is amazing how many comments are posted by quasi-literate idiots whose best shots seem to be along the lines of personal attacks on other comments. descending to the level of YOUR MOMMA: YOUR MOMMA, is not edifying. it is refreshing to read most comments on truthdig. perhaps this site gets a higher caliber of intellect than most others. my only complaint;this site should jump on current news a little faster. please, no paris or britney.

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By FrostedFlakes, May 10, 2007 at 11:01 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Rev. Al vs Mitt Romney… What is this, the battle of demagogues? Both are just marginal airbags and not even worth the bother.

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By Gabir, May 10, 2007 at 10:48 am Link to this comment

During the four years at my present address , I have been visited (More like solicted) by young , always male “Missionaries” (as they call themselves) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or Mormons for the unenlightened folk who do not realize that they are the same entity .
    The approach of these “missionaries is always the same - that they possess a supreme Biblical knowledge that all other Christian Denominations are in error of . I , as a Roman Catholic was actually laughed at by two Mormon Missionaries upon my disclosure to them of my Catholicism and the fact that I was not in need of their “enlightenment’ .
    I also posed the question to them that as “Missionaries ” , shouldn’t they be going to areas other than the the village I live in which is comprised mostly of middle and upper class individuals and families . My belief is that missionaries usually risk more than the repetative ” NO THANK YOU” these people encounter .
        Getting back to Mitt Romney , The recent appearance at Regent University , the school founded by Pat Robertson was for me another piece of evidence that Romney will rub shoulders with anyone to gain publicity , and despite being a Mormon , courting the very finge (in Pat Robertson’s Case , INSANE) members of the Christian Right .
        The more I see and hear about Mitt Romney , I see an F- grade politician who will never be able to sell his no-brain campaign to his party and beyond that , to the American voters .
        Maybe he should have been courting The Hon. Reverend Al Sharpton instead of Lunatic Robertson , but at least this appearance with Robertson increases by one his encounters with VARMINTS (OR varments) . Again , no mention from Mr. Romney about the various hurtful , inacurate ,racially motivated , and downright crazy statements made by Robertson over the last few years , especially .

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By Leona S, May 10, 2007 at 10:10 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

God knows there’s a special place at the Imus Ranch for the Irreverent Al Sharpton. What’s good for the goose is good for the slanderer.

Can you give me an A-men Al?

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By KYJurisDoctor, May 10, 2007 at 8:05 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Though his comments may have been overboard, I do not see anything wrong with Sharpton calling out Romney on the Mormon faith’s discriminatory practices. Now Romney’s comment that his father marched with King demands some PROOF.

http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org

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By archeon of thrace, May 10, 2007 at 5:42 am Link to this comment

Mitt Romney vs Al Sharpton?  What a gas!  Two assholes as peas in a pod!  Hey Mitt - tell us about the LDS doctrine and dogma of seperation of the races (APARTHEIT!)? It was foundational doctrine and was only eliminated around 1970.  What about celestial marriage?  What about expost facto baptism (baptism of the dead)?

I think Mitt’s problems are bigger than whether or not Al believes Mitt has faith in the “correct” god.

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By THOMAS BILLIS, May 10, 2007 at 1:14 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Al Sharpton is and always be a street hustler.Anyone who confuses what Al does with legitimate civil rights ought to have lived in New York for twenty Years.No matter what he does the media will give him a pass because he is good with quote and photo ops.
Which other figure could have polarized a city and been so wrong in the Tawana Brawley affair or looked to hang the boys from Duke and still be considered a national figure.
Give Al an issue and a way to extort money and you have a best friend.Where has the civil rights movement come from King an Abernathy to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.Seems like reverse evolution to me.

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By Gabir, May 9, 2007 at 10:05 pm Link to this comment

I for one am not suprised at the petty complaint from Mr. Mitt Romney concerning Mr. Al Sharpton’s comments . Where has Mr. Romney been as during the time that the air waves have been polluted by the likes of Don (R.I.P.)Imus , Bill O’Reilly , Ann Coulter , etc. .
      Mr. Romney will clutch at any straw to gain ground towards the Republican Nomination . The last humor line that was meant by him to be a “qualification ” of his manhood and his claim as Presidential material was his claim to being an avid hunter , which in truth boiled down to a few boyhood excursions . Maybe he will graduate someday to shooting old men in the face and totally fabricating the facts concerning the “accident” .
      I would vote for a Sharpton Presidency any day over Mitt (The Fabricator) Romney . Mr. Sharpton may not be perfect , but he is a person dedicated to civil rights , equality for all races and religions and he seeks the truth in matters that affect us all . I am a caucasian man , but I am tired of the GOOD OL BOYS CLUB . I really wish that this time around being a white male would automatically disqualify that person from running for the office of President .    Sharpton and Rangel in 2008 - That’s the Ticket !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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By MPJ, May 9, 2007 at 7:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Between Hitchens and Sharpton…how was there any air in the room left for anyone to breathe, much less debate?

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By Art Melander, May 9, 2007 at 6:59 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

One of the issues I see is that it is okay to criticize religions directly as long as it is not one of the “mainline” religions.  I am a Mormon and offended.  With all of his rhetoric about Imus he is about the biggest hypocrite I have known.  He has not even attempted to apoligize for his comments and then he wants me assume that he just got tongue tied.  He has been saying things like this for decades.  It is just the liberal press being scared of reporting it that is the issue.

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By QuyTran, May 9, 2007 at 6:55 pm Link to this comment

Hey Al,

Just keep your damned mouth shut then making more money from your stupid followers. If you don’t, just go to the HELL where a lot of devils will welcome you as their buddy. We’ve all thrown up when looking at your face. It really looks like that of DRACULA !

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