From The Road
June 25, 2008 9:34 PM

Sharpton Calls Nader's Comments "Most Troubling"

By
Ryan Corsaro
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(NEW YORK) Rev. Al Sharpton sent an open letter to consumer activist and independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader today following comments he made about Sen. Barack Obama, in which Nader claimed Obama "talks white" and ignores issues of poverty.

In the letter, Sharpton said he found Nader's comments divisive and "most troubling."

Nader's comments were published today in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News and quickly spread on the Internet, in which he said, "(Obama) wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician...He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful."

"I don't know how one "talks black or white," wrote Sharpton in an email which was emailed to members of the press.

"There are clearly different styles and speech cadences in every community."

In closing his letter, Sharpton wrote accused Nader's comments of being "beneath the respect many have had for you and more importantly below the level of political discourse we need at this point in history."

"Those of us that deal with real people in real pain in the black community every day need real answers and real change and that is more important than the volume or style in which it is presented."

Earlier today in Chicago, Obama dismissed the comments by Nader, who has announced earlier this year that he is running for president as a third party candidate.

"He's somebody who is trying to get attention and whose campaign hasn't gotten any traction," said Obama. "So what better way to get some traction than to make an inflammatory statement like the one that he made."

Add a Comment See all 33 Comments
by jennrich2 June 27, 2008 2:50 AM EDT
Rev. Sharpton and Senator Obama get over it. Ralph Nader has worked tirelessly for the disenfranchised in America, both black and white. Spin this all you want, Nader is a great man.
Reply to this comment
by reunionpi June 26, 2008 9:31 PM EDT
Read page 11 of the income tax return of Al Sharpton''s tax exempt
Line 65 - Payroll taxes and related interest and penalties $ 1,879,278. Cash Overdraft 74,922

www.webofdeception.com
Reply to this comment
by Mr_Technical_Dude June 26, 2008 6:17 PM EDT
Both Nader and Sharpton have missed the point by equating poverty to Black. Next thing you know they will be equating it to alcoholism. While I agree that Obama comes off as a White man with Black skin (a mockingbird) I agree that his view of poverty is no clearer than Nader''s or Sharpton''s.
Reply to this comment
by Mr_Technical_Dude June 26, 2008 6:17 PM EDT
Both Nader and Sharpton have missed the point by equating poverty to Black. Next thing you know they will be equating it to alcoholism. While I agree that Obama comes off as a White man with Black skin (a mockingbird) I agree that his view of poverty is no clearer than Nader''s or Sharpton''s.
Reply to this comment
by smoothrn June 26, 2008 5:04 PM EDT
"Most troubling" is that Al Sharpton advocates for poor and mostly urban blacks yet has the tenacity to criticize Mr. Nader over his misunderstood comments.

Ralph, in so many words, said that Obama should be advocating more for cracking down on subprime mortgages scams and fighting for universal healthcare - which he is not.

Should any group act in a particular way? No. Nader''s point was that Obama would be more inclined to support aggressive and progressive policies toward issues that haunt much of the African-American community (since Obama identifies with that community).

www.votenader.org
Reply to this comment
by rowdywicca June 26, 2008 4:56 PM EDT
Just like Al Sharpton and ilk...a person doesn''t have a right to speak out and voice an opinion...it might offend his delicate little sennnn saaa biilities!
Reply to this comment
by rowdywicca June 26, 2008 4:54 PM EDT
Obama has won over 40% of Independents in the Primaries compared to 8% for McCain.

First of all, that''s not true...the independents are split in half, just like the democrats were in primaries...read some more besides Obama''s lying website.
Reply to this comment
by smoothrn June 26, 2008 4:54 PM EDT
"Most troubling" is that Al Sharpton advocates for poor and mostly urban blacks yet has the tenacity to criticize Mr. Nader over his misunderstood comments.

Ralph, in so many words, said that Obama should be advocating more for cracking down on subprime mortgages scams and fighting for universal healthcare - which he is not.

Should any group act in a particular way? No. Nader''s point was that Obama would be more inclined to support aggressive and progressive policies toward issues that haunt much of the African-American community (since Obama identifies with that community).

www.votenader.org
Reply to this comment
by smoothrn June 26, 2008 4:51 PM EDT
"Most troubling" is that Al Sharpton advocates for poor and mostly urban blacks yet has the tenacity to criticize Mr. Nader over his misunderstood comments.

Ralph, in so many words, said that Obama should be advocating more for cracking down on subprime mortgages scams and fighting for universal healthcare - which he is not.

Should any group act in a particular way? No. Nader''s point was that Obama would be more inclined to support aggressive and progressive policies toward issues that haunt much of the African-American community (since Obama identifies with that community).

www.votenader.org
Reply to this comment
by smoothrn June 26, 2008 4:50 PM EDT
"Most troubling" is that Al Sharpton advocates for poor and mostly urban blacks yet has the tenacity to criticize Mr. Nader over his misunderstood comments.

Ralph, in so many words, said that Obama should be advocating more for cracking down on subprime mortgages scams and fighting for universal healthcare - which he is not.

Should any group act in a particular way? No. Nader''s point was that Obama would be more inclined to support aggressive and progressive policies toward issues that haunt much of the African-American community (since Obama identifies with that community).

www.votenader.org
Reply to this comment
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