Sharpton Dazzles Churchgoers in Virginia (vows to stay in the race - mine)

AP ^ | Feb, 8, 2004

[Leroy S. Mort]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton dazzled hundreds of Baptist churchgoers Sunday morning when he took the pulpit, pledging to stay in the race for president and promising that good things happen ``in God's time.''

The preacher-turned-politician told worshippers that they should vote for the candidate who represents their views, not the one they think has the best chance of winning. He has won just 12 delegates to front-runner John Kerry's 411, according to an Associated Press delegate count.

``Just between us, there are six folk running,'' Sharpton said, ``Five will lose. The person you vote for may lose. The person you vote for may drop out. But I'm not going to drop out. I'm going to go all the way because we cannot be disrespected or marginalized.''

Sharpton brought the congregation to its feet with his accounting of the biblical story of Joshua, who struggled to rise as a leader, all in ``God's own time.'' Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Jewish people. By the end, Sharpton was singing his message as worshippers yelled, clapped and stomped to the beat of the bluesy gospel band.

Eric Wade, an usher at Cedar Street Baptist Church of God, called Sharpton inspiring and said he planned to vote for him in Tuesday's primary.

``He has enlightened a lot of people here today who didn't know what he stood for and now understand him a little better,'' Wade said. ``He's all about coming from nothing and going somewhere, no matter who you are.''

Candidate John Edwards spoke to the same congregation shortly after Sharpton left, one of three Baptist churches the North Carolina senator visited Sunday. Worshippers offered him polite applause as he delivered a shorten version of his standard speech.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Go Al, Go !

[Rodney King]

If a Republican did this the whole article would be about the "seperation of church and state".

[TailspinJim]

The "wall of seperation" has a ladder on the demo side/

[gcruse]

An enigma wrapped in a dirtbag

[exit82]

Hope the church has a good lightning rod.

Sharpton is as phony as a three dollar bill.

[Rodney King]

Great quote.

[Robert A Cook PE]

True.

We are specifically PROHIBITTED from even handing out fliers on church property.

And he preaches (er, capaigns!) directly from the pulpit.

As did Clinton, Hillary!, and Al Davis.

[ServesURight]

Sharpton BUMP. I'm voting for him here in WI on Feb 17th to cancel out a Kerry vote hehehe

And Wisconsin's primary is open to anyone over 18, regardless of party affiliation, with same-day registration.

[prairiebreeze]

First Al and then Little Eddie? LOL! And they stomped and cheered for Al but only offered polite applause to Little Eddie?

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!! This is about the best thing I've read all night.

Prairie

[Hank Rearden]

He's only in it for the room service.

Are his "followers" really too stupid to see that?

[DeaconBenjamin]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- it's simply a Fat Al Attraction.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

The preacher-turned-politician told worshippers that they should vote for the candidate who represents their views

Did the "preacher turned politician" also tell the worshippers how he came to scam his way into the headlines, threatening people and backing liars? Does the good Rev still think he can be a con man and still make it into the kingdom of heaven?