Posted on 07/14/2008 5:46:20 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
None other than the Rev. Al Sharpton has come to Milwaukee. Well, at least his voice is here.
Sharpton’s syndicated radio show recently began broadcasting from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays on WMCS-AM (1290). That’s probably welcome news for some in town; for others, not so much.
For some Milwaukeeans, Sharpton is part of the unholy trinity — along with Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson — of outspoken black men who never let white America forget its sad racial past. To others, it’s a welcome relief to have a nationally syndicated African-American radio program with a political focus during daytime hours.
This is the town, after all, where Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity can be heard on a regular basis, along with a horde of local impersonators.
Seriously, how much more annoying could Sharpton be?
I was a guest on Sharpton's radio show last week as part of a promotion for Milwaukee's addition to the show's syndication list of approximately 30 cities across the country. As it turned out, the scheduled topic of conversation was an issue raging both in Milwaukee and black America in general: Jesse Jackson's crude remarks about Barack Obama.
You probably heard the substance of Jackson's offhand remark during a break at a TV studio caught by a "hot" microphone when he was unaware his words were being picked up. Let's just say the good reverend had a "Lorena Bobbitt" moment.
When the remark was finally aired on cable news and Internet sites, it prompted a wave of analysis and speculation about a bitter relationship between the man who used to be known as America's foremost civil rights leader and the first serious African-American presidential candidate in history.
The words were described as "crude and hurtful" by Jackson himself in a swift apology. It was a barnyard variety insult not fit for a spiritual leader but also not to be taken literally by any sensible people. But the media ran with it.
During my appearance on his show, Sharpton wanted to learn more about the reaction to the Obama/Jackson flap in Milwaukee; he had been taking questions and comments from listeners all day and knew many African-Americans were both distressed by Jackson's comments and upset with the focus by the mainstream media.
I told Sharpton I blamed Jackson for carelessness in front of the media that suggested he had learned nothing from a 1984 incident in which his hurtful off-the-record characterization of New York City as "hymie-town," in reference to the Jewish population, once threatened to derail his public career.
Jackson survived that because his civil rights work and political advocacy on behalf of oppressed people continued to be appreciated, despite his critics. While many Americans see Jackson as nothing more than a race-hustler, for many others he is one of the few personalities in black America that powerful people and institutions always pay heed to whenever he shows up in their towns.
They might not like Jackson, but they sure don't want him outside the door with a bullhorn.
Sharpton has the same kind of reputation, even after his own missteps leading a campaign on behalf of Tawana Brawley, a black teen in New York City who made rape allegations that later proved to be a hoax. Since then, his work leading the fight against police brutality in New York and elsewhere has redeemed him with many supporters.
Jackson and Sharpton are admired in many circles because, despite their flaws, both are seen as usually fighting on behalf of powerless people with no voice, which goes a long way.
Jackson's vulgar remark about Obama cast him in the role of jealous older black leader looking to sabotage the career of a younger rival who stands on the verge of eclipsing his own role in history. Many black folks prefer keeping their dirty laundry out of the headlines, but last week many callers to the Sharpton program made it clear they felt Jackson was in the wrong on this one.
There were some callers who also criticized Obama for a moderation in his campaign stances since winning the Democratic nomination. A few others said they agreed with Jackson's position that Obama's criticism of black fathers during recent church appearances amounted to "talking down" to African-Americans.
Sharpton, an Obama supporter, reminded his listeners time and time again of a crucial fact in terms of Obama's historic campaign: "He's not running for president of black America; he's running for president of the United States."
This was my first experience with Sharpton, the radio talk-show host. He showed an ability to deftly address the issues and defend his arguments while fielding a steady barrage of calls. Even though the majority of his audience seemed like enthusiastic sycophants (you know, just like all of the other national talk shows), he also engaged in lusty debate with detractors who dared to take him on.
After my appearance, I heard from some readers who wondered why I agreed to appear with someone like Sharpton. Frankly, it's amazing to me the same people who profess admiration for polarizing broadcasters like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly think they can ostracize Sharpton for speaking to his audience in a similar fashion.
Hopefully, there will be more substantive issues to discuss as election day grows nearer, but it's likely few will demonstrate just how combustible this campaign has already become. Without warning, the littlest spark - or an insult caught on a hot mike - can become a raging fire.
With all the competing voices on cable news and talk radio, it's more than likely there will be plenty more fires by November.
The Reverand Al couldn’t carry Rush’s, well...you know.
This is like an episode of Amos ‘N Andy.
Let the games begin.
It is so obvious that this whole incident was staged as part of Obama’s attempt to appear to be centrist. It tells me that he is in big trouble. My guess, his internals do not show him winning the votes of working class Democrats.
Eugene Kane is a race-baiting apologist of the worst kind.
‘Nuff said about EK.
When you look at Jackson’s past, you will note that he was the default black man when white media and political operatives needed the “black perspective”. That held him in good stead as long as there was a white democrat as President.
The last eight years has left him somewhat impotent since the White House has been occupied by a Republican. His influence has been diminished considerably. The calls for TV discussion panels have been fewer and shared with Sharpton. Jackson has been relegated to running his protection racket on corporations.
Now comes Obama. If he becomes President there will be no need for Jackson or Sharpton. Obama can do for himself and the Democrat party what used to be farmed out to the usual suspects. There is good reason for Jackson to want to castrate Obama, in the figurative sense, anyway. To have Obama defeated would make all things right in Jackson’s world. He would again be the “go-to” guy for the black, liberal, entitlement movement.
Jackson sees the handwriting on the wall. Obama’s election will render him completely irrelevant. He is a drowning man seeing his very existence passing before his eyes.
<..or maybe the Rev Al(bring in the clowns) is paying for the time slot.
(bitc)=bring in the clowns...
Right on the money.
The author of this piece is even more shallow than BO.
His conclusion is that “an insult on a hot mike (sic) -can become a raging fire.”
Wow. Way to go out on a limb Gene.
I'd say that all three are on record as being antisemitic BIGOTS using hate filled pejorative slurs.
I don't recall the Left taking this stance when Fox News came about. After all Dan Rather and others presented outright fraud and hoax as legitimate scandalous news. How much worse could Fox News (such that it is called "Faux News" by critics)?
How were the "oppressed people" helped by Jesse Jackson collecting money on their behalf and then using the funds to pay child support to his mistress for his love child?
They don't want negative press so they pay his protection racket. That is the definition of a hustler.
They are "seen" this way but it is a fraud, a lie.
“This is like an episode of Amos ‘N Andy.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With far less dignity and decorum.
When Obama spoke to hispanic groups, did he address the issue of mens' responsibilities to their kids?
WRONG analogy. Al Sharpton is on tape using phrases like "Jew them down".
A better analogy would be the writer of this idiotorial going on Don Imus' radio show or even one hosted by Michael "Kramer" Richards.
There is no such skelton in Rush or BOR's closet.
Democrats got Congress in 2006 over the word "macaca".
...”part of Obama’s attempt to appear to be centrist”
That is what I took away from it as well. BHO is a baller. This was nothing but Machiavellian stunt in order achieve ‘strategical-separation’ much earlier in the election cycle. This is just part of the ‘unspoken’ reasoning for having an extended election cycle and is crucially dependent upon the American short attention span. These guys have to run left in the primaries, then jettison life long views and attempt to fool the sliver in the middle. The difference this time, much more political capitol could be had by jackson’s act of self-immolation. Simple political expediency, nothing else. This was planned quite some time ago, as was j.wright et al. These scripted actions take time and the sooner the political ‘head-fakes’ take place, the better. How better to distance a candidate’s campaign from the most unsavory elements of his given political base. Quick and efficient, just like the action described by jjackson. After all is said and done, jackson will ‘not’ vote for McCain.
Unfortunately, I’m still just a bit concerned with the state of general public awareness and their inability to discern provable fact from a genpop-fluffer’s fiction. All the nobama marxist propaganda makes me wanna hurl!
the Deets
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