Sharpton Calls Nader’s Comments “Most Troubling”
(CBS)
(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."
Nader''s is a useful voice, but sometimes he becomes tangled in his own rhetoric.
For example, he will admit economic issues are neither black nor white. Poverty, as John Edwards made clear, affects all Americans. So, why is Nader trying to persuade Obama to "talk black"?
Nader, of course, would insist he is not, but merely trying to direct election-year discourse to an area which needs attention.
But if Nader''s message is still useful, his expression is abortive-- it confounds the very effect he desires, to get prompt attention to economic injustice.
To adopt a racial usage in what might be a "post-partisan" and "post-racial" campaign royally confuses the issue, and is counterproductive to even Nader''s ambitions.
Obama, himself, defies glib description, but symbolizes a process of national unification and focus on the real issues of America-- in which there a future of hope for all Americans.
Especially given that Senator Clinton will be actively campaigning for him.
But don''t worry, regardless of your doubts, he will prove to be an effective leader, and you''ll probably benefit as a result.
Nader is right
Obama desperately needs the white vote. He is going out of his way to appeal to the white voter.
He does not have to appeal to the black voter at all, he united the in solidarity. He told them all he is giving them as he campaigned in church after church though out the country.That is a given with out a doubt and sworn to.
Obama divide the rest of the nation, he even divided the Democratic party, the broke it down some more by moving half to Chicago.
His mind conditioning works better on smaller groups than on vast masses. But it has been working. So he is taking his campaign into high gear to run with it strong between now and nov. that is why he need the money and opted out of the funding.
His mind conditioning is like what they do in the quit smoking & lose weight seminars The speech effect hypnosis and mind conditioning.
with his gift for speeches and able to be insured that they will play over and over again on the media and utube, with the reinforcement items in the ads and everywhere else. It will cost a lot of money, and be extremely time consuming. Money can buy him what he wants.
You would think Americans would be outraged, sad thing is they do not even know what is going on with it all.
Jim Jones did hundreds, Hitler did thousands, Obama does millions%u2026%u2026.
Eh, he needs your votes. will he get Americans to do more than that?
The odds are yes, if he needs to.
Obama plays to right of center on critical issues and no one blinks because of his color. Either Obama has no backbone and posturing for votes or he''s actually less progressive than the Democrats.
Maybe so, but its still early, we haven''t heard nothing yet!
Hating someone this much just shows your lack of intelligence and education.
Obama has Elite, Rich, Young, Women, Educated Middle Class and Minority supporters that have donated $260 mil to his campaign.
You haters haven''t donated squat to McCain, hmmm why is that?
You are just as Flawed and out of touch with a Progressive America as Republicans are.
EVOLVE PEOPLE, IT DOES THE MIND GOOD...
We in America are having to take a good look at our roles in politics and in the leaders that we are going to elect and those leaders that we have elected.
If you are going to criticize a individual use his/her proper name. It is an indication of the type of individual you are and please use a dictionary. Also, if you are going to denigrate an individual''s character, use proper english.
It''s not the Queen''s English.
Didn''t July 4th have something to do with not taking anything from England?
It''s America''s quote, unquote English. With America being the biggest Melting pot of Languages.
English to conversate and English to write are totally two different languages.
It''s silly to say, you talk proper, when English is a *** language from it''s roots.
It forms new words every year to be included into our dictionaries.
So if Nader wants to really say something silly and meaningless to appeal to whomever, at least say something worth while and intelligent.
If not, then Hush.. It''s a word..
Conservatives don''t know what to make of Obama since they know they cannnot control his voting accord of cleaning up politics from the inside out. His Transparency Act was an out right move against Republicans and some Democrats to move away from Lobbysist and Special interest getting their teeth and hands into the pockets of Politicians.
His Proliferation Act was to stop us selling our Arms Surplus to Foreign Countries..
Since 1996 he has been active in cleaning up our Countries stalemate bills that needed ovehauling like Nafta and Lead paint.
If he was in office at the time he would have voted against the War in Iraq like (R)Sen Hagel and (D)Sen Webb.
If want to paint him as a Doer far left then do and he will win with it.
But to say he will raise our Taxes is a OUT RIGHT lie.
Yes he will raise taxes on those whom benefited and didn''t need or ask for it, the wealthy.
250k households pay less taxes than middle,lower and poor people..
If you think that is right, than you must be misinformed of who you really are, a HATER of American values and it''s system of the People first...
It''s only a selected few States that have more ancestral racism and antipathy for those that are not like them, does he not get their votes.
If you look at the history of those voters, Bill Clinton, Gore and Kerry didn''t get their votes either..
Anybody Candidate that garnered more Minority support, didn''t get the Bubba vote if you would call it. That group mostly votes in the general election than the Primaries anyway.
Obama can win with out those states that have more Bubba votes because of the electoral college map.
It''s bad when those same folks are some of the biggest complainers of the economy with their sons and daughter over in Iraq wanting to come home and not die on Foreign soil for no reason than a Oil which is the only real reason why we are there now..
I don''t understand why anyone in this down market would keep supporting the Republicans.
They are killing our way of life, economy and children right before our eyes..
Democrats are awake and need to put a stop to this carefree attitude of another Republican will help get us out of this mess they got us into. when that actual Republican helped us get into this mess in the first place...
Posted by bswalker12
I%u2019ve always thought of Republican President George W. Bush as television%u2019s %u201CTed Baxter%u201D (from the Mary Tyler Moore Show). Bush seems to never know what he%u2019s talking about and it%u2019s been obvious that his handlers have to brief him on the issues.
John McCain will do likewise serving as the front man for the Right Wing Neo-Conservative Republican Fascists Regime (AKA Exxon/Mobil).
The most affluent Republicans and Conservatives are not supporting McCain''s campaign and the Republican base knows this.
Conservatives know they have a flawed Candidate in McCain and vowed to stay home.
McCain has become the sacrficial lamb for the Republicans.
Why don''t you take a closer look at why not one well experienced Republican has thrown his name in the hat to become the VP?
They know that they have their own house to clean and their own States seats to win over in the next eletction.
Republicans are losing their seats at alarming rate.
Why do you think that is..
America has seen thru all the rhetoric and fear mongering coming from the right wing Media and it''s conservative base.
The America people have awaken to the REAL politics and won''t get duped again.
Independents are moving left center and don''t want another Republican in the Oval office no matter what it takes.
You can''t win an election with out the Independents support.
McCain only has a 58% Conservative approval rating.
The more you and others like you continue to bash Obama, you are actually giving him more support in view of Conservatives and Independents that are tired of this administrations missue of our Taxes and Values..
By the way, I am Native American and we only support a high intelligent Candidate that has shown time and time again, he or she is for the PEOPLE of America and not just for his own Resume'' into retirement..
bswalker12 you know what I am saying is true.. You just want your guy to win at all cost, even though you hate what the Republicans have done to our economy and this illegal War..
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Obama did this to make a point, which of course all neocons will take out of context.
"The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we''re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security."
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).
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
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
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
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.
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
Line 65 - Payroll taxes and related interest and penalties $ 1,879,278. Cash Overdraft 74,922
www.webofdeception.com
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by jennrich2
June 26, 2008 11:50 PM PDT
- 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.
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