Obama-lackey Sharpton plans to sue in order to disenfranchise Florida voters

[DemVet]

Lawsuit Eyed by Sharpton Over Florida
By GRACE RAUH
Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 10, 2008

Laying the groundwork for a court battle that could divide the Democratic Party, the Reverend Al Sharpton is threatening to sue the Democratic National Committee if it counts Florida's primary results in the official presidential delegates tally.

Rev. Sharpton is traveling to Florida today to compile lists of residents who skipped the January contest because they thought their votes would not count. He plans to have those residents sign affidavits saying they would be disenfranchised by the seating of the Florida delegation, in the event the Democratic Party allowed that to happen.

The party had promised to exclude Florida and Michigan from the nomination process after the states scheduled their primaries in January, earlier than party rules had allowed, but the close contest between senators Clinton and Obama has turned attention toward those primaries, prompting debate between the campaigns and party leaders over how to handle the lockout.

Mrs. Clinton's campaign has said it wants the Florida and Michigan primaries to count, while Mr. Obama's campaign has said it will support the Democratic National Committee's rules.

Mrs. Clinton won the Michigan and Florida primaries. Mr. Obama removed his name from the ballot in Michigan prior to the primary.

Rev. Sharpton has not endorsed a presidential candidate, but his efforts in Florida are widely viewed as benefiting Mr. Obama, who has won more delegates overall than Mrs. Clinton.

A professor of political science at the University of Virginia, Larry Sabato, said he thinks Rev. Sharpton is trying to say that if Mr. Obama wins the most pledged delegates and the most popular votes, but loses the nomination, there will be consequences.

"One of the consequences will be legal trouble or lower turnout by African Americans. That's what they are threatening. I'm not saying that necessarily will happen" Mr. Sabato said. "Who knows whether legal action will occur? Who knows whether African Americans would actually take a walk — they may end up voting Democratic anyway — but that would be the threat."

Rev. Sharpton did not return calls for comment yesterday, and a spokeswoman said he could not be reached because he was participating in a march in Selma, Ala., and then was delivering a speech there. His signature-gathering effort in Florida and the threatened lawsuit were disclosed in a news release from his staff.

He is scheduled to visit Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Miami, and Daytona during his two-day trip across state, and will meet with local chapters of the organization he leads and founded, the National Action Network....................

http://www.nysun.com/article/72572?page_no=3

[cali]

1. Sorry, a lie isn't true just because it's uttered with conviction by some

hill supporter. Sharpton is not an Obama lackey. He hasn't even endorsed him and he is in no way connected to the Obama campaign. Furthermore, try using a better source than the wingnut Sun. Or perhaps that filth is right up your ideological alley.

[leftofcool]

2. This has been all over the MSM and in about 8 newspapers

including the local Pennsylvania newspapers

[cali]

5. Way to miss the point. My point was clear: It's a flat out lie

to claim that Sharpton, who hasn't even endorsed Obama, is a "lackey" of the Obama campaign, and there are better sources to link to than an ultra right wing rag.

[leftofcool]

9. That is the way it is being perceived

even by the NAACP

[pampango]

3. I've heard Sharpton called many things, but never a "lackey" until now. n/t

[scheming daemons]

4. Having Florida RE-VOTE in NO WAY disenfranches them....sorry...

...

[Birthmark]

6. Yeah, Al, as opposed to the 1.75 million...

...that WILL be disenfranchised in a new primary. Smooth.

[leftofcool]

8. Al does what benefits Al and or puts him in the spotlight

[Birthmark]

15. He IS amusing, though.

He's an incredibly smart and witty man. But unfortunately, he seems to know it. Worse still, he wants everyone else to know it, too.

[leftofcool]

21. He is smart and a great political analyst

but he sticks his nose into things he should stay out of tending to create more chaos than balance.

[Birthmark]

23. Yup.

He also has a tendency not to take responsibility for his mistakes.

[uponit7771]

7. Why is Sharpton Obama's "lacky"?

[Jersey Devil]

10. Sharpton may be a lot of things, but he's nobody's "lackey"

Sometimes I think Al is so far out he is in the stratosphere, but never for one second would I think that he marches to anyone else's drumbeat except what Al Sharpton believes in. He is probably more honest than most of our elected representatives.

[chascarrillo]

11. Sharpton is right

You know what? If Washington state Democrats decided that - after telling everyone that the primary wouldn't count - they would actually use the orimart to determine delegates anyway, I'd be pissed. And disenfranchised:

Sharpton's right on this. Sorry.

[Ian David]

12. I fucking hate Sharpton. I wish his hair would eat his head. n/t

[bluestateguy]

13. This is none of his business

What standing does he have?

Hey Al, BUTT OUT!

[Vinca]

14. The nasty face of racism again. Sharpton is black so he must be

filing suit on behalf of Obama. Forget that he doesn't endorse him.

[DemVet]

17. Yeah, everything that is directed at Al Sharpton must be "racism"

Define "racism>"

If you truly knew it's definition, you wouldn't use it in such a context.

[sfam]

19. If not because he's black, why are you labling him as Obama's lackey?

He hasn't endorsed Obama, and is not associated with his campaign. So again, on what grounds are you saying that he's Obama's "lackey"?

[leftofcool]

Al only benefits Al and what Al wants

it is the perception he is creating among voters, Dems and Repukes alike. Even in the Black community he is being called a racial huckster and a charlatan

[Vinca]

20. Exactly. nt

[ellacott]

16. He's saying the same thing that many others are saying

But because it comes from Al Sharpton you folks lose your mind. It is no way fair to have those delegates seated based on the current primary results. If this does happen you all will from more than Sharpton.


Some of you are pitiful. You can't get past your hate to even consider the issues.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

18. That's how Obama won his IL state senate seat...sued and eliminated the 4 others & won unopposed

[quantass]

22. Wait a minute -- You got it wrong....i heard him speak about this....

He said he would sue Florida if Florida intends to use its votes of the past (in January) and not be willing to do a re-vote since the old votes doesnt include many who didnt vote back then since they were told it wouldnt count....what Sharpton was saying actually makes sense....he would sue for the sake that Florida would be disenfranchising since they'd be using the tainted votes of the past....he wants it to be fair and the fairest way is for a re-vote, and so if Florida doesnt want that (and that depends on which FL uppper people u speak to) then i can see what Shartpon is saying.

[oviedodem]

24. When have you heard Obama and Sharpton in the same sentence.

All this is proving to me is that this country has not evolved at all, and Ferraro proves it along with stupid innuendo's.

[mckeown1128]

25. When did Clinton change her mind about MI and FL?????

Since when does she want them to count?!?

NHPR's Laura Knoy: "So, if you value the DNC calendar, why not just pull out of Michigan? Why not just say, Hey Michigan, I'm off the ballot?"

Hillary Clinton: "Well, you know, It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything"

http://www.nhpr.org/node/13858