Rev. Al for President in 2004

[sbp]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7905-2003Jan3.html

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 -- Al Sharpton announced today that he will form a presidential exploratory committee, saying he is probably more qualified than any other Democrat seeking the White House.

"I am running for president to finally put the issues concerning most Americans on to the front burner," the civil rights activist said in a statement.

Sharpton expects to file papers with the Federal Elections Commission on Jan. 21, spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger said.

"I'm qualified, probably more qualified than any other person who is expected to be on the Democratic ticket for 2004, because I actually have a following and I speak for the people," said Sharpton, 48, who has never held public office.

Preparing for the campaign, Sharpton crisscrossed the country last year giving speeches and wrote a book titled "Al on America" that was released in October. In the book, the black leader said presidential politics has become "an exclusive club for white males, of a certain income, of a certain age."

Sharpton unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the Senate in 1994 and the party's mayoral nomination in 1997.

As head of the civil rights group National Action Network, Sharpton has been considered a polarizing figure by many. But he has moderated his positions in recent years, aligning himself more closely with the party establishment.

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Hope he wins. *chuckle*

[The Baron]

Meh. Still hoping Dubya will somehow not pick Jeb for Veep in 2004.

AND, that Condoleezza Rice or John McCain is president in 2008.

Yet I'm definitely more of a Democrat than a Republican... how odd. heh.

[stncttr908]

His campaign will be a joke. :rolleyes:

If America elects an African-American president it will be Colin Powell, not Al Sharpton.

[LORD-eX-Bu]

Good god not Colin Powell. Like I've been telling Psycho, Al Sharpton in '04 all the way!!!:D :D :D now, on a more serious note, I would prefer someone who actually has a military background and knows what he is talking about in this day and age of military action and unrest in various regions around the world. Who better than someone who was held as a POW for an extended period of time and was tortured at the hands of one of these regimes that is causing unrest, Elect John Mcain for President in '04!!!:D

EDIT: He might not be openly running for president yet, but when you are a senator, you are always a presidential candidate unless you are being investigated or are in prison.;) :p

[UDawg]

Go! Al GO! LMAO this is great he will help to split the convention
just the kind of distration we Republicans need.

Go! Al Go!:afro:

[chaos14]

if he runs it just might be funny enough to make SNL good again
:thumbsup:

[Kruno]

Colin Powell = common sense :)
Every other man = Monica Blowinski? ;) :condom:

[UDawg]

Originally posted by chaos14
if he runs it just might be funny enough to make SNL good again
:thumbsup:


Good call!!!:D

[sbp]

Sharpton has been weighing in on issues over the past few months and surprisingly has done better than expected.

Sharpton knows he is not going to win. He wants to influence the positions and policies of the Democratic Party like Jesse Jackson did in 84 & 88. Remember blacks make up a disproportionate percentage of the Democratic party. So if Rev Al can get good chunk of that vote, he can actually do well. Just imagine it now: Rev Al speaking at the Democratic National Convention in primetime. Not too good for a party trying to appeal to the mushy middle. http://sbp777.homestead.com/files/icon10happy.gif

http://www.lemonizer.com/uploads/reval2.jpg

[PsychoSy]

It would pain me greatly to do so, but I'd vote for Sharpton in a heartbeat if it meant the demise of Tweedle Dee Dubya Bush. But if McCain tosses his hat in the ring again...I don't know. It would be a hard decision. The biggest problem for me is that there's a handfull of entrenched liberal Democrats in the race that I gotta somehow sort out and keep track of.

Bottom line - thy witchhunt for Bush hath begun!! :p :D :cool:

[jimmt]

Al wont get the Democratic nomination. He should run on a Third Party ticket. Yes, he will most likely not win if he does, but I feel it will be the only way he can express his ideals and truley run on a ticket that will aid him in promoting his ideas. Personally, I would not vote for him, but if he is serious about running then he needs to find a party that will back him 100%, not pretend.

Jim

[jnd3]

Let's hear it for open primaries in the great state of Georgia, baby. The ony question is, will I be able to look at myself in the mirror after casting a vote for Al Sharpton? Of course, it could backfire on me like it did with my father-in-law in '92... he cast a primary vote for Klinton 'cause Slick Willie was the biggest loser of the bunch. Doh! I still get mileage from that one...

Cheers,
JND