Posted on 11/12/2003 11:59:43 AM PST by GaryL
I read an interesting article this morning by Paul Crispo of the Miami Herald titled: GOP is Becoming the Dominant Party. I posted it in the Free Republic news forum and so far has generated over 50 responses.
The gist of the article was that the leftward drift of the Democratic party has produced tangible results for the Republicans. The GOP now controls the White House, both houses of Congress, and has a significant lead in governorships. And, as if this isn’t enough, a majority of college-age voters identify with the Republican party for the first time ever. As the author suggests, this is a vast improvement from the situation just twenty years ago and could be the signs of a major political shift in the making. Let’s hope so.
And if you think the Democrats are drifting further leftward now…just wait! Their worse nightmare may soon be staring them in the face. His name is Al Sharpton. And if my proposed scenario occurs, they will have no one to blame but themselves. Instead of casting out of their party a lying demagogue who is a racist and an anti-Semite (as the Republicans rightfully did with David Duke years ago), they’ve embraced “Reverent Al,” giving him a national stage and pretending that he is a respectable political figure who deserves to run for the presidency of their party. Talk about a deal with the devil! And believe me, Sharpton is going to “make 'em pay” for this corrupt bargain before too much longer!
Think about it. What possible motivation could he have in making a run for the Democratic nomination? Sharpton’s no dummy – unless you say he’s “dumb like a fox”- so why would he be making a run that is obviously doomed to fail? I suggest that there must be an ulterior motive, one that could indeed turn out to be a disaster in the making for the Democrats. Follow me on this...
I’ve been thinking about the following scenario for a while and I think it’s a distinct possibility. I propose that as soon as Howard Dean (or someone else, if Dean falters) has an apparent lock on the nomination – probably sometime next spring – look for Sharpton to start making noises about his “right” to be on that Democratic ticket as vice president! That’s right! You heard me! He’ll demand to be on that ticket! It will probably start out as innocent-sounding “talk,” but will soon morph into sharper, more strident “demands.” I can just hear him now: “African-Americans vote 95% for the Democratic party in election after election, and what do they do for us?- nothin’. They throw us the scraps! All we ever get from this party is lip service, and we’re tired of it! I’ve got a right to be on that ticket! Give me what I want or I’ll make you pay”
And idle threat? I don’t think so. What’s his leverage, you ask? Well, I’d say he got some leverage! If they don’t grant his request, he’ll start threatening a third party run! This would indeed be the Democrats' worse nightmare and don't think that Sharpton doesn't know it. He’s got the Democrats, as we used to say, by the proverbial “short hairs!” They know they can't win anything without 90+ per cent of the black vote. Just the thread of a third-party run from Sharpton would throw the party establishment (and their willing accomplices in the media) into an absolute panic. And don’t think – as some have suggested – that he could be “bought off” with some powerless ambassadorship to some meaningless country. No, he’s going for the Big Time! Sharpton wouldn’t even have to get a majority of the Black vote to have this “hold” over them. All he would need is to garner 10-15% in a third party run - which he could easily get – and the Democrats couldn’t elect anyone for national dogcatcher! Sharpton know this, and so do the Democrats.
At a minimum, Sharpton will attempt to blackmail the Democrats into getting what he wants, which, of course, is more power for himself. And why shouldn't he, considering the numbers that Black voters deliver to the Democratic party, and the way the Democrats take the Black vote for granted. In this sense, at least, he’s got a legitimate gripe.
No, “Reverent Al” is up to something. He hasn’t put up with this marathon nominating process – which is starting to resemble a modern-day Gong Show – for no reason. He knows what he’s doing. He's got a lot of leverage over the Democratic party and don't be surprised if he doesn't use it, sooner rather than later. A threat like this could really pull the Democratic party “hard to the left” - and leave the ever-widening "middle" open for the GOP, if they’re smart enough to stay the course!
Body odor.
LOL!
If Sharpton pulls off this scenario he'll drive what few honorable dems there are over to our side, or they'll sit out the election thus guaranteeing W a win.
Looks like a win-win from where I'm sitting.
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Rev Al's better play is in 2008. This year, he could run as an independent and take, what?, half of the dems' 95% of the black vote. The dems would really take a bath and would give him what he wanted in 2008. Remember, the dems are corrupt crooks and can steal more from within an office than as an outsider. The dems get 95% of the black vote and give NOTHING in return. If Al leaves, the dems will do anything in 2008 (2006?) to get the field blacks back.
Sharpton as a third party will turn out the black vote in huge numbers. They may vote for the Rev at the top of the ticket. But they will pull the lever for RATS for senate.
One consequence of creating supersafe districts where black politicians never face a serious challenger is that the people who represent those districts have no need to be moderate or reasonable...thus the Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel types who seem to typify the black caucus in Congress. If the Democrats wanted to put a black candidate on the ticket, they'd have a hard time finding one with the right type of political experience who wasn't associated with extreme left-wing or race-baiting stances (since Condie Rice and Colin Powell are Republicans).
Did you see the reaction Jim Pinkerton had to the mention of Sharpton on this past weeks Fox News Watch? When Al was mentioned in relation to the debate, Jim leaned forward and said, "Al Sharpton is an evil demagogue." He then went on to recount the Freddies Fashion Mart fire and Tawana Brawley incidents. Nobody rebutted him n the least and the whole mood of the show went somber.
Now, I will admit that Rev. Al is a whole lotta fun on the stage, but I have to agree with Jim, he deserves no respect, even compared to those other clowns.
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