HotlineScoop.com | Friday, September 7, 2001
Al Sharpton Is An Art Form
et's take Al Sharpton's presidential run seriously.
For the moment, let's suspend the jokes, the suspicions and the inclination to label the Al Sharpton for President Exploratory Committee as just another publicity stunt.
Is there a precedent for his doomed bid for president?
It's a good time to ask why the mainstream media is giving him a pass at one of the biggest taboos of public life: mixing politics with religion.
His candidacy has been compared to Jesse Jackson's. And on CNN's "Crossfire," Sharpton called it "a very ridiculous notion that I would be any different than Doug Wilder or Alan Keyes."
One was a quixotic campaign, the other a quixotic threat of a campaign. There's even been nostalgic mention of Shirley Chisholm's 1972 run.
But there's one better precedent for Sharpton. It's Arthur Fletcher. He ran a gadfly campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996.
Fletcher ran solely to defend affirmative action against perceived attacks by the GOP. A lifelong Republican, Fletcher was assistant secretary of labor when he instituted affirmative action. (Incidentally, trivia fans, when Fletcher signed the "Revised Philadelphia Plan" plan in 1969 on behalf of President Nixon, he became the only non-president to sign an executive order in U.S. history).
Compare Sharpton with Fletcher.
Their rhetoric in support of economic equity sounds similar. Sharpton told Bill O'Reilly, "We need to have a budget that invests in Americans, invests also in the infrastructure of the country that produces jobs." And Fletcher once said, "If I've got enough money, I can buy all the social justice I want."
Their means sound similar. Fletcher's legacy is using procurement law and contracts to utilize minorities and women. On "The O'Reilly Factor," Sharpton called for "having partnership between the government and the private sector" through contracts.
And their political careers are similar -- both lost races for citywide and statewide offices. Sharpton ran for Senate in 1994 and for New York City mayor in 1997. Fletcher ran for mayor of Washington in 1978 and almost ran again in 1990. He also lost a bid for lieutenant governor of Washington state in 1968.
But there's one big difference. Fletcher, a former chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, always worked within the party structure, not against it. In fact, taking advantage of the Gerald Ford vs. Ronald Reagan split in 1977, Fletcher ran for chairman of the Republican National Committee. He got 22 of 150 votes cast. Sharpton is most certainly on the outside of the Democratic Party structure.
And while we're taking Sharpton seriously, it's a good time to ask why the mainstream media is giving him a pass at one of the biggest taboos of public life: mixing politics with religion.
Don't forget, he's the Reverend Al Sharpton. Normally, the religious affiliation would cause the media to shrieeeeeek!!!! But, I suppose, it's different with an African-American Democrat from New York.
Cal Thomas mischievously diminishes Sharpton as "another minister without church portfolio." But the "Reverend" has been adopted by the media.
The New York Times titles Sharpton with "Rev." Same with the Daily News, Newsday and the New York Post. Nationally, the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times call him Rev. (The Washington Post identifies him as a "civil rights activist.")
Of course, there's nothing wrong with calling him a reverend because that's exactly what he is. But no one in the media questions this man of the cloth running for president like they did Pat Robertson.
Since he announced his exploratory committee, Sharpton has appeared nationally on "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer," "Rivera Live," "Fox News Sunday," "Hardball With Chris Matthews," "The O'Reilly Factor" and "Crossfire."
Anyone think to question him if religion would play a role in how he governed the country? Nope, not a one.
Too bad the media had lost that instinct for the jugular. Or maybe they selectively apply it.
Sharpton can't pass the Robertson religion smell test if the media doesn't administer it. In the old days, the media loved to pounce on the Christian Coalition for handing out voter guides on church premises. Too bad they've lost that instinct for the jugular. Or maybe they selectively apply it.
Should Sharpton's active advocacy of religion earn him greater media scrutiny and skepticism? Yes -- if his presidential candidacy becomes a faith-based initiative.
I suggest we follow these two bits of sound advice for deciding whether to accept Al Sharpton into our political heart.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said during last year's presidential campaign:
"Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."And liberal law professor Alan Dershowitz once wrote:
"The time has come for voters to insist that candidates stop running on their religious beliefs. Jesus condemned as hypocrites those who prayed near the doorways in order to be seen. Our Constitution condemns excessive entanglements between church and state. Any candidate for president who does not support our constitutional wall of separation between church and state is not qualified to hold our highest office."Seems reasonable to me, and it's a reasonable test for Sharpton.
During this presidential campaign, we may finally resolve whether Sharpton is a "gadfly" or a "Godfly."
EXTREME FRIDAY TRIVIA CONTESTAnd now, the weekly political trivia contest, brought to you by the good folks at Extreme Mortman.
First, the previous question:
The famous "60 Minutes" interview of Bill and Hillary Clinton followed the Jan. 26, 1992, Super Bowl. Name the featured act during that Super Bowl's half-time show, and name the songs the act performed.
The answer: Gloria Estefan performed two songs, "Live For Loving You" and "Get On Your Feet."
The winners: the dynamic duo of Empower America's Seth Leibsohn and the Republican Jewish Coalition's William Daroff. Wahoo!!! Wahoo!!!
Honorable mentions for speedy correct answers go to:
(By the way, the alternative "Doritos Zaptime/'In Living Color' Super Halftime Party" featured Color Me Badd performing "I Wanna Sex You Up." Seemed more fitting for the Clinton interview.)
- Joe Luchok, communications manager, Health Insurance Association of America
- Joe Garecht, budget director, National Republican Senatorial Committee
- Joe Lenski, executive vice president, Edison Media Research
- Doug Mintz, VentureReporter.net editor and ex-Hotliner
- Eric Felton, Housing and Urban Development speechwriter
- William Jackson, associate at the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner
- Brendan McManus of Bemidji, Minn.
- Steve Krupin, intern at the Washington bureau of Cox Newspapers
- Tige Watts of Columbia, S.C.
- Jason French
- Ade Patton, associate consultant at Bain & Company Inc. in Boston and ex-Hotliner
Now, this week's question.
Tell me the most recent time that two alumni of the same college or university competed against each other for president, either primary or general election. Name the year, name the two candidates and name the college or university they both attended.
E-mail me your response. And please tell me how to identify you.
First right answer wins... public praise, and your name in bold, in next week's Extreme Mortman!
Watch Extreme Mortman
Our old friend and stand-up comedian Bill Shein stops by the Webcast to hawk his latest comedy novelty item, the Pocket President.Shein explains, "Now you too can have the president of the United States, George W. Bush, in your pocket."
How's that possible? Find out what Shein is talking about by clicking here.
Plus, this week's apparel shout-out goes again to Anheuser-Busch. Next week: the League of Conservation Voters. Reminder: Send me your organization's T-shirts and other clothing for a special Webcast plug.
For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.
