or at the very least not be in the spotlight when thngs like this arise because most people correctly see him as a hypocritical oppurtunist.

I agree with many points he makes and agreed with much of what he said in regards to the Don Imus scandal but he really doesn't help the situation at all.

But I think certain Democrats feel that being seen with him could help with their popularity among Black voters even though I don't think that's the case. But the guy is really vocal and quick to call many racist for not agreeing with him and I think democratic candidates want to avoid that.

I don't think a whole lot people chose to be represented by him but he's just really quick to come out and make a scene when things like that happen.

...and a shame he has such a big machine behind him, because anyone wanting to be competitive in NYC Democratic politics ends up having to kiss his ring at some point. The pitfalls of dismantling party machines, I suppose, is that someone has to maintain a political mobilization capability--and we have to at least give him credit for having one of the strongest political mobilization outfits in NYC.

Mobilization groups like that are unavoidable in modern urban political organizing. In some places, like Atlanta, we got lucky enough to have those organizations (like SCLC and Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda) run by people like Rev. Joe Lowery (you might remember him from Corretta Scott King's funeral), who might back some questionable people on occassion but who are personally motivated by a desire to enrich their communities. And then you have the hucksters and ambitious in other cities, and while I don't mean to cast aspersions on Rev. Al, I've never seen him take a pass on an opportunity to publicize himself.

“know thy audience” perhaps one of the cardinal laws of leadership. since, im on a roll here; “leadership is situational” al sharpton is a product of years of effective leadership to a historically under represented community—this we can agree?!? racism isn’t what rev. al highlights; he brings attention to the “sub prime,” latent tendencies of institutionalized racism. for a moment lets assume that intellectualism is held with distain and mistrust among a certain community + an ever increasing need to be heard + learned helplessness not due to political shortcoming , but economic deficiencies = a social experiment where despair and depression are real, measurable realities.

to come to the defense of this community could hardly be confused as being a “hypocritical opportunist.”

growing up in working-class detroit, where unemployment, foreclosures, high school dropout rates and recidivisms are skyrocketing, (not to mention the negative effects of globalization) rev. al is a beacon of hope! rev al gets it. the wheel that makes the most noise…