Democrat Sharpton Endorses Kerry for White House

Reuters ^ | March 15, 2004 | Staff

[AntiGuv]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Civil rights activist Al Sharpton dropped his longshot White House bid on Monday and endorsed John Kerry, saying it was time for the party to rally around the nominee.

Sharpton met Kerry for about 30 minutes in the Massachusetts senator's headquarters and emerged to say he was enthusiastically backing Kerry's challenge to President Bush.

"I informed him that I think that clearly he has won the nomination, and as I have stated during the race I would support the nominee," Sharpton told reporters after the meeting.

"It would be bad strategically and bad for the country to engage in continuing to attack or in any way differentiate with him during the primaries remaining," he said. "It would only help George Bush."

His withdrawal from the race leaves Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio as the only active challenger to Kerry, who has gathered enough delegates to win the party's presidential nomination this summer and plans to officially declare victory on Tuesday.

"I welcome his endorsement and thank him for helping to unify the Democratic Party toward our common goal: to beat George Bush in November and put America back on the right track," Kerry said in a statement after meeting with Sharpton.

Sharpton, who entered the race promising to energize minority voters and pull the party to the left, said he would continue to work on issues like education, health care and urban concerns.

"We've resolved who the nominee is ... we must resolve now what the party will stand for," he said.

Sharpton, a Pentecostal preacher best known for his fiery rhetoric and confrontational style, was a big hit in the joint debates among Democratic candidates but made little impact at the ballot box.

His best finish was a distant second place in the District of Columbia.

The endorsement could help Kerry build ties to black voters, one of the most solid and reliable Democratic Party constituencies.

Sharpton said he has built a good working relationship with Kerry, who greeted the New York native as he entered his headquarters through a phalanx of cheering staffers.

"I am very comfortable he is a good person," he said.

[Semper Paratus]

Looks like Kerry met Al's price.

[CounterCounterCulture]

"I informed him that I think that clearly he has won the nomination..."

Boy, nothing gets by ol' Al.

[Buck W.]

"I informed him that I think that clearly he has won the nomination..."

Al has a vice-tight grasp on the obvious, hasn't he? Nothing that is plainly evident can elude his observation.

[Buck W.]

"I informed him that I think that clearly he has won the nomination..."

Al has a vice-tight grasp on the obvious, hasn't he? Nothing that is plainly evident can elude his observation.

[CounterCounterCulture]

"We've resolved who the nominee is ... we must resolve now what the party will stand for,"

Sure. Dead babies, soft on crime, soft on terrorism, confiscate from the masses, racism, forced union goonism...what's to resolve?

[calljack]

Who cares???

[annyokie]

John F-ing now has the endorsement of an anti-Semitic bigoted race-baiter.

How cool is that?

[rllngrk33]

Looks like Kerry met Al's price.

Yeah, Kerry agreed to pay off the Reverend's campaign debt.

[CounterCounterCulture]

John F-ing now has the endorsement of an anti-Semitic bigoted race-baiter.

One of many.

[rllngrk33]

Remember, it's all about what's in it for Al Sharpton.

[Joee]

I wonder when Hillary is going to say "enough!" I don't see how she can allow Kerry to win the Presidency in 04 and still ever get a shot at it herself. If "Lurch" is a winner in Nov., we can be assured he'll also run in 08, which leaves Hillary an opening in 2012. Somehow, I don't see her agreeing to that. Maybe someone can set me straight as to what her position is/will be???

[onedoug]

That's all of his supporters as far as I can tell.

[lilylangtree]

"Sharpton met Kerry for about 30 minutes" begs the question: Which cabinet level position was promised to Al?

[CounterCounterCulture]

Sharpton's campaign greatest hits

"I call George Bush's tax breaks, even the small amounts that he gave working class people, is like Jim Jones giving Kool-Aid. It tastes good, but it'll kill you." (3 May 2003)

"I think that we must do whatever we can to regulate how guns are used. I've been a victim of, of a stabbing." (3 May 2003)

"I was here four years ago when democracy was mugged and the citizens were robbed right in the state of Florida." (14 July 2003 at the NAACP convention)

"One of the things I learned is you can't plant a watermelon seed and grow oranges." (26 October 2003, Democrat Debate, Detroit)

See ya at the convention, AlBaby. As Jesse Hi-Jackson would say... "Stay out da Bushes."

[freeperfromnj]

Remember, it's all about what's in it for Al Sharpton.

Secretary of State? LOL

[Joe Boucher]

Smart thing to do is make a list of just who would be in charge of what were ol smiley elected.
Just what liberal socialist p.o.s. senator would be in command of what sommittee. And what liberal socialist p.o.s. congresscritter would be in charge of what committee?
TAke for instance Charlie Rangle, senior member of the house arms committee i think. Senior member of committee is the guy in charge if his party is in power.
That be the person who pushes through legislation.
GOD save us.

[Ditto]

Headline:

Kerry accepts endorsement of noted antisemitic leader.

[clintonh8r]

John F-ing now has the endorsement of an anti-Semitic bigoted race-baiter.

And yet, most Jews will still vote for him.

[b4its2late]

Looks like W's numbers will improve now....