Sharpton Denies Questioning Romney's Faith

Romney Campaign Denounces "Bigotry" After Rev. Al Sharpton's Remarks

(AP)  The Rev. Al Sharpton, who recently urged that radio host Don Imus be fired for making a racially insensitive remark, said in a debate that "those of us who believe in God" will defeat Republican Mitt Romney for the White House. But Sharpton denied he was questioning the Mormon's own belief in God.

Rather, Sharpton said he was contrasting himself with Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation," Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library's beaux-arts headquarters.

The comment was first reported Tuesday in a blog on The New York Times' Web site.

The Romney campaign, which has been wary of campaign trail criticism of Romney's faith, jumped on the Sharpton comment. If elected, Romney would be the first Mormon to serve as president.

"It is terribly disheartening and disappointing to hear Rev. Sharpton offer such appalling comments about a fellow American's faith," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden. "America is a nation of many faiths and common values, and bigotry toward anyone because of their beliefs is unacceptable."

Romney himself said Monday during an appearance on Fox News program "Hannity and Colmes": "I think there are differences between different faiths in this country. And there will be battles between different religions. ... That's a great thing about this country. We don't decide who's going to be in office based on what church they go to."

In a tape of the debate, Sharpton can be heard defending the role of religion in the civil rights movement and shunning any suggestion that there wasn't a religious underpinning to the efforts of its leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Then Sharpton spoke of Romney, although a tape reviewed by The Associated Press does not reveal why.

In a later interview with the AP, Sharpton denied questioning Romney's belief in God and suggested the Romney camp was trying to stir up a controversy because of their political differences.

"What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican," Sharpton said. "A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God."

He said he was contrasting himself and other believers with Hitchens, who is the author of a new book, "God Is Not Great."

Sharpton led the calls for Imus' ouster last month after the talk show host referred to members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

[stimpmark]

As a Latter-day Saint, I am not particularly bothered that it appears Rev. Sharpton thinks Gov. Romney (or I) don't "really" believe in God. His opinion about my belief doesn't shape what I believe. What appalls me is that a national leader such as the Rev. Sharpton would 1) *without prompting* bring up another candidate's faith and then suggest that "those of us" who believe differently will defeat him because of it; and 2) that he would then try to avoid the main issue in explaining his comment. The point is not whether Rev. Sharpton thinks that Gov. Romney "really" believes in God-- the point is that Rev. Sharpton blatantly divides people by religion. And to say that he was talking about the atheist author when he specifically brought up Gov. Romney's faith is so disingenuous as to be laughable. The Rev. Sharpton defends himself like a child who tells his Mom he didn't break the window with a rock but rather used a baseball.

[terrapin78]

I question EVERYONE's faith. It's BS! Faith just makes a bunch of hypocrites!

[cgene1]

The MOST rev (self proclamed) al sharpton should take a good look at himself in the mirror. He will see a CLOWN who should be ashamed to even go out in public because when he do'es he picks the pockets of those who will listen. Without shame he Rattels on and on about other people when he is the biggest shame of all his people. Trying to start fires without any matches..Say it again he's a CLOWN and I'm not the only one who thinks so.

[djconklin]

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation," Sharpton said

And he then has the gall to claim that he wasn't talking about Romney? How dumb does he think we are?

[cgene1]

The MOST rev (self proclamed) al sharpton should take a good look at himself in the mirror. He will see a CLOWN who should be ashamed to even go out in public because when he do'es he picks the pockets of those who will listen. Without shame he Rattels on and on about other people when he is the biggest shame of all his people. Trying to start fires without any matches..Say it again he's a CLOWN and I'm not the only one who thinks so. He's never apologized for anything in his life.

[sattriplets]

Al Sharpton denying what he said? It's clear as water! He's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He's nothing but an opportunist, and he is not a man of God.

[advanceus]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black (no pun intented). I don't think Sharpton's religous beliefs are as stong as the bull he shouts all the time. Just like Jackson they are only seen on their soap boxes crying prejudice!

[vastr-wcon]

"Tawana Brawley" Sharpton. like "Hymietown" Jackson, is a low-life hypocrite, racist hate-monger. He has no other role in society.

The real tragedy here is that the media continues to pay any attention whatsoever to this slimebag.

Of course, he is a censor for CBS, so I guess the spineless, gutless CBS execs will continue to kiss his a**. When you reach the level of supporting and defending the journalistic incompetence of Couric, you'd support just about anything.

[rkirk0077]

"What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican," Sharpton said

He's trying to use the "Jedi Mind Trick" on us. Hold his feet to the fire and make him accountable for his words and actions. He himself said that punishment must be a part of an apology. And we all know that Sharpton has never apologized for any of his high strung and bigoted rhetoric.

[antoniof123]

I have no use for Mitt Romney but who does All represent please tell me. I can't find anyone who likes this clown.

VastR-WCon

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I hate the insinuation that he is the leader of black people. It sickens me and I deny it every Chance I get. All he likes to do is keep race circling as an issue for everything. I see he has yet to deal with rappers and the way they talk to black women.

I hate his ways and wish he would be a noble leader.

[infidel_us]

I heard the comment. For 'the Rev' to deny going after Romney would be like him denying he was black. Sharpton and Jackson are race baiting a*s*sclowns.

[tuckerndfw]

One of the worst things about being a black person would be suffering the indignity of the media portraying people like the "reverends" (race baiting hate mongers) Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as your "leaders" or "spokesmen."

If that's the best black folks can do for "spokesmen," or "leaders", they should not question the wisdom of those who consider them, as a group, to be "inferior."

The (race baiting hate mongering) "reverend" Al Sharpton would be ten times the person he currently is if he was half the person Mitt Romney is. And, it has nothing to do with skin color, it is related to (race baiting hate mongering) "reverend" Al Sharpton's self-serving use of religion and skin color to line his own pockets.

[bill1fj]

Rev Al should be ashamed of him self.
And this isn't the first time.
See the Duke Lacrosse players, the cops in NY, and in other instances.
A racist is a racist, no matter what race they are.
The same companies and people that blasted Imus should be after Sharpton now.
But will they.
I think not.

[generey]

Al Sharpton is such a goofy little piece of human waste. He is a disgrace to humans in general.

[zorlacskates]

who cares? the religous right makes huge, condemning judgments all the time based on faith. having somebody believe you're going to hell for not agreeing with them is about as horrible a thing one person can believe of somebody else, and that's standard fare among the far right. it isn't racist, sexist, ageist, or discriminatory based on the law.

[xzavierbrown]

Shaprton can thank his lucky starts that he is black...or else every bleeding heart liberal would ripp him a new one for what he just said.

[j-whitman]

America's Radical Christians --- Murdered & dismembered Morman's & ran them out of Missouri then out of Illinois to Utah & many still say they are the Anti-Christ..

YOU FOLKS ARE NOW YELLING AT SHARPTON ??? -- LOL,,, HE WAS TALKING TO AN ATHIEST, NOT ROMNEY

[j-whitman]

America's Radical Christians --- Murdered & dismembered Morman's & ran them out of Missouri then out of Illinois to Utah & many still say they are the Anti-Christ,,, not Christians.

YOU FOLKS ARE NOW YELLING AT SHARPTON ??? -- LOL,,, HE WAS TALKING TO AN ATHIEST, NOT ROMNEY

[j-whitman]

superchez1,,, You folks sure jumped all over Hate the Lib & Hate the Black guy ----- Sharpton wasn't even talking to or about Romney...

He was talking to & about ----
Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.

[mikealford3]

Finally Al has been caught with the words spewing from his mouth. I however will not be holding my breath, waiting for the Rev. to get the same treatment he has given to others.

[jegibbons]

What's this the Reverent Al puts his foot in his mouth again?

Sharpton said. "A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God."

Al, I'm gonna help you out here because clearly you're way TOO DUMB to figure this out by all by yourself.

It's not WHAT you believe that counts it's HOW you believe. How you live your life? Things like telling lies, abusing people, scamming for public attention; stuff like that.

By the way Al you aren't worthy to carry Mitt Romney's Book of Mormon Prayer; YOU TOTAL FRAUD!

You are an embarassment to every BLACK MAN IN AMERICA who worships anywhere regularly.

Ask God to forgive you that latest scam you pulled on Don Imus!

[anywhereman]

Though it shouldn't, at some point this issue will be leveraged offensively...

http://www.buzzdash.com/?page=buzzbite&BB_id=1326

...This was an underhanded way to bring it back into the spotlight.

[j-whitman]

superchez1,,, You folks sure jumped all over Hate the Lib & Hate the Black guy ----- Sharpton wasn't even talking to or about Romney...

He was talking to & about ----
Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time

Enlighten yourself -- Read the article & get off the GOP Hate rhetoric.

[j-whitman]

superchez -- This is what you should be ********* about.-- BUSH FAILING OUR TROOPS & OUR COUNTRY

11 More republicans told Bush to his face of thier direct opposition to him on Iraq & his management of the War.

Republican congressmen went on to say, "The word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President. There's no longer any credibility. It has to come from General Petraeus.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2wh
.htm

[j-whitman]

superchez -- This is what you should be ********* about.-- BUSH FAILING OUR TROOPS & OUR COUNTRY

11 More republicans told Bush to his face of thier direct opposition to him on Iraq & his management of the War.

Republican congressmen went on to say, "The word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President. There's no longer any credibility. It has to come from General Petraeus.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2wh
.htm

[petesis]

Yeah but I guess it would be OK if he was just talking about the godless atheist. No one would squawk about that would they? That is because all christians think it is OK to slander an atheist, in between protesting about how they can shove their religion down our throats.

[petesis]

Yeah but it would have been OK if he was more clearly talking about the atheist. They are the most discriminated against of all although christian aholes would never notice or care.

[jegibbons]

NO MR. WHITMAN IT IS YOU WHO NEEDS TO READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN WHO IN HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT IF NOT ROMNEY? READ THIS QUOTE

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation," Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library's beaux-arts headquarters."

----- Sharpton wasn't even talking to or about Romney...
Posted by j-whitman at 09:53 PM : May 09, 2007

NO MR. WHITMAN IT IS YOU WHO NEEDS TO READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN WHO IN HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT IF NOT ROMNEY?

I realize you loonies on the left are so anxious to bleed and defend every criminal, pedophile, pervert, wacko deviate, terrorist, gun slinging crazy; or poor, jobless iniebriated devil who arrives here illegally, that reading anything resembling the facts is a difficult task for YOU! THE REVERENT AL is a good role model for you. A COMPLETE MORON.

[naber1961]

SHARPTON IS A BIGOT AND GUESS WHAT.... HE IS BLACK!!! PREDJUDICE DOESN'T JUST COME IN THE SHADE OF WHITE....

[keith698]

sharpton is wind bag. just once can't he keep his big mouth shut. i am to lef of 99% of the population on most issues.. but sharpton and jackson are 2 major losers.. both need to go.. .. the 2 are big mouth trouble makers.. sharpton has so many apologies to make it isn;t funny.. and so does that loser jackson.. neither for the black community..

[jasonmcj]

I am no fan of Shapton, he is a huge troublewmaker, but his statement is true.

This is Romney's "blatant effort to fabricate a controversy to help their lagging campaign"

Simple as that.....bigotry my arse

[jer2007-2009]

WHOA...settle down people! Whether or not Sharpton was talking about Romney, specifically or not is not the issue. He attacked Romney's faith, that's the problem. He says a Mormon cannot be president. Now, I don't believe that Mormonism is a part of Christianity, either, but that is no qualification for the office of the President. Jefferson wasn't Christian, yet he is considered to be one of the greatest presidents ever. Furthermore, the Constitution doesn't allow the church and state to be mixed....wait, even without our beloved constitution church and state shall not be mixed. The Bible (which everyone including Sharpton) needs to read tells us in Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:11-17 that God gave us governments so that the world may live in relative peace in our world of evil. Basically, good works will get you ahead in this world, and evil works could end your life. The government decides this based on human reasoning, rather than God's Law. The church is to spread the gospel, not be a vehicle for the state to impose punishment on lawbreakers. Some churches do this and have been doing this for a long time unfortunately.

[klingon69]

VastR-WCon

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I hate the insinuation that he is the leader of black people. It sickens me and I deny it every Chance I get. All he likes to do is keep race circling as an issue for everything. I see he has yet to deal with rappers and the way they talk to black women.

I hate his ways and wish he would be a noble leader.
Posted by amerigirl28 at 02:57 PM : May 09, 2007

I watched on the news a few days ago where Sharpton was leading a march in front of the record label offices (3 I believe) that produce the rap songs/videos. Seems to me he must have his own posse. Everytime I see him, he seems to have the same people protesting/marching with him.
Does he have these people on payroll?

Sorry Amerigrl, Al Sharpton nor Jesse jackson will ever be a good leader for anybody, but themselves.

[klingon69]

Sharpton said. "A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God."

Has Sharpton ever been in a Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? (Morman)?
How do they not believe in God the way he does?
Oh, they believe in god and he doesn't?
The morman religion teaches the crucifixion, sacrifice and resurrection of a living Christ. They teach to important things are family, country and others. Their missionaries(the young people on bicycles) leqave their family, home and friends for 2 years to selflessly bring the message to those who can greatly benefit from it.
That these same missionaries do not know where they are being stationed and are moved around the country do different areas during their mission.
No, I don't think they believe in God the same as Sharpton. His is all based on money, his god is the almighty $$$!!!

[gunnerv1]

How can "The Right Reverend Al" deny this when he was quoted and video taped saying these things? Be sure to watch Glenn Beck tonight, the Rev. is going to be in the hot seat tonight.

[dconrad08]

This is what every religious sect believes: that all other religious sects have it wrong. That's the whole point of different sects and denominations. The Episcopalians don't think the Baptists are real Christians and the Baptists don't think the Catholics are real Christians and the Catholics don't think the Mormons are real Christians, and everybody hates the Jehovah's Witnesses. So what?

[gunnerv1]

Religion- The Opiate of the masses

[gunnerv1]

The Rev. Al will do some back peddeling and subjecting changing on tonights Glenn Beck Show.

[sickovit]

I want to christen myself a reverend. I want to get under people's (white) skin. I want propagate hatred for the price of a jar of Dixie Peach pomade. Yeah. That's right, I wanna' be just like the shadow bigot, Al "Ol' Stankie" Sharptongue. Look out Stankie, all that conk might not be good.

[sickovit]

I want to christen myself a reverend. I want to get under people's (white) skin. I want propagate hatred for the price of a jar of Dixie Peach pomade. Yeah. That's right, I wanna' be just like the shadow bigot, Al "Ol' Stankie" Sharptongue. Look out Stankie, all that conk might not be good.

[mikealford3]

gunnerv1, you were correct. I don't watch Glenn Beck very offend but I did tonight. Al Sharpton blamed everybody but himself. He did everything he could to get the spotlight off his racist, bigotted head. Glenn Beck said to his face he was offended, did Al apologize, NO!

Al Sharpton was the first to jump all over Michael Richards for calling somebody a ni&&er, he was the first to scream racism in the Duke LaCrosse rap case, Al was at the front of the line screaming for Don Imus to be fired. Yet, when the table turns Al Sharpton does not even give an apology to a man standing in his face saying "I was Offended by your comment".

It is amazing that Al Sharpton seems to lead the band wagon dictate who is allowed to be offended.

[mrjuly4th]

Funny how CBS made a big deal of Imus but barely highlighted Sharpton's remarks. Imus made a one huge mistake that Sharpton did not make .. he was white.

[mrjuly4th]

It only shows how bad our media is .. shame on you ABC News, CBS news, NBS News, MSNBC, SF Chronical, New York Times, CNN, LA Times, ETC ETC. The hypocrisy is blatant and exposes each of these corporations bullshXX they pass on to the American People.


"What gets me about this whole thing is that when Sharpton criticized Imus it was ALL OVER the news ALL the time, why isn't Sharpton getting the same thing he dished out?
Imus lost his job for offending a minority group, and Sharpton is getting .......?"

quote - bbspangler

[jestith]

Sharpton is generally wrong and biased, but he has one point right. Any religion that discriminates based on aspects of one's birth certainly doesn't follow the example of Jesus Christ. The very notion that Blacks or women or *** are second-class citizens and unable to participate fully or to hold church offices is markedly un-Christian.

[jestith]

Since when is -- gee a why es -- a word that gets automatically bleeped by CBS?

[rational_1]

It's too bad Imus doesn't have a radio show on at the moment. It would have been oh so appropriate for Rev. Al to go on Imus' show to apologize, grovel and whimper and generally behave like a dog who peed the rug. But knowing Al's pattern of racist behaviour it's quite likely that Imus will have another radio show the next time Al opens his big mouth. I look forward to seeing him on it. Maybe he and Jesse the adulterer can both go on together to point out everyone else's sins.

[mikealford3]

Regardless of whether you agree with the Mormon faith or not, Al Sharpton insulted the entire faith of people, and yet he justifies it. Since when does he get to decide who is offended? Since when are blacks and other minorities the only people who are allowed to be offended? Regardless of Sharpton's intent, he insulted an entire faith of people, why shouldn't he be held accountable for that? Michael Richards called 1 man in a "private" club a ni&&er and was forced to apologize to the entire race of people. Al Sharpton insulted an entire faith of people, yet when confronted by Glenn Beck he did not even over the 1 apology.

THE B.S. OF AL SHARPTON CONTINUES.

[rushman71]

"He who has not sinned may cast the first stone." Hey, Al and Jesse, who said that? Oh, I'm sure you know the answer. Come on, now. Who is it? If y'all preach the bible so many times toward desegregation, I know you can figure out that one.

[rushman71]

"He who has not sinned may cast the first stone." Hey, Al and Jesse, who said that? Oh, I'm sure you know the answer. Come on, now. Who is it? If y'all preach the bible so many times toward desegregation, I know you can figure out that one.