For Democrats, all paths to the White House run through the House of Sharpton

[brooklynite]

Los Angeles Times

A glimpse at the guest list for the Rev. Al Sharpton’s confab here this week would surely astonish any New Yorker arriving in a time machine from the 1980s. Every major Democrat who has launched a White House bid has cleared their schedule to get in front of the Reverend.

Few things once seemed more improbable, save perhaps for the White House being occupied by Donald Trump, who once competed with Sharpton for screaming tabloid headlines and airtime on what was then a nascent medium known as “trash TV.”

But today, Sharpton’s approval is sought by political candidates far and near. The crusades he launched decades ago against police abuse and racist enforcement of drug laws — back when his issues were widely denigrated as fringe and his look ran to velour tracksuits, giant gold medallions and a pompadour the size of Queens — are now central to the speeches of almost every Democratic 2020 hopeful.

...snip...

After Sen. Kamala Harris of California launched her presidential bid, one of her first trips was to see Sharpton. She burnished her bona fides with black activists by dining with the reverend before a horde of cameras at Harlem’s power restaurant, Sylvia’s.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand never forgets to call Sharpton on his birthday.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. You'd think, with all that popularity, Reverend Al would launch his OWN campaign.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[sfwriter]

2. Jesus, he did in 2004.

He has too many skeletons to be a serious candidate. His time as an informant for the FBI in 1983 for example. He helped bag the cocaine operations of the Genovese and Gambino crime families but has been forced to deny informing on civil rights activists. Dredging that back up could be messy. If it were me, the less said of the Genovese and Gambino crime families the better.

He has appeared in ads for LoanMax, a predatory lender and committed tax fraud. That wouldn't fly today.

He has done well to position himself as a powerful black kingmaker and his radio show is pretty good.

[monmouth4]

3. I had the pleasure of meeting the Reverend years ago when I worked on West 57th. I believe it was

Dinklage running for Mayor and the Rev. Al was right in front of our building across from CBS. We stood there, and he asked me a few questions, was disappointed I was from NJ but was amazed I commuted there every day. He was very sweet and I noticed then how smart he was. Good for our Dems to give him his props. He deserves them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Yes, Reverend Al deserves the props he gets... he's a dependable progressive voice.

Good for him!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[JI7]

4. on MSNBC a few days ago he seemed to really like Buttigieg