This is disturbing. We’ve all heard the myth about blacks and our ‘crabs in a barrel’ mentality. The better parts of me would like to believe its just that –a myth. Years of rap battles and black actors fighting amongst themselves have not jaded me. Yet here we find, the black leadership establishment completely misrepresenting their constituency for political gains.
We knew that when Obama made the transition from political flavor of the week to a legitimate contender for POTUS, there would plenty of attacks from the wingnuts on the right, xenophobes, and the type of people who feel the need to say ‘I love black people, I have lots of black friends’. It was perhaps naïve to assume that the black leadership establishment that includes but is not limited to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would if not support the candidacy of Obama, would certainly refrain from propagating narratives designed to smear Obama created by the wingnuts/‘I love black people’ (read: certain elements of the liberal political establishment)
But alas, we again see our black leaders look like fools. This time not for an extra-marital affair, ambulance chasing, or pre-youtube FBI video footage. Instead Sharpton and Jackson have decided that it makes sense to advance the rightwing/ ‘I love black people’ agenda and spread the “Obama has no substance” narrative.
Sharpton recently visited Washington to talk with Democratic contenders for the presidency. He wanted to see who was in touch with the “civil rights agenda”. Lets compare Sharpton’s reaction to his meeting with Hillary to that of his Obama meeting, courtesy of the above linked NY Times article:
Sharpton on Obama: “I left the meeting a little curious, feeling that he was noticing our civil rights agenda, but I didn’t understand what his civil rights agenda is,”
Sharpton on Clinton:“she has more of a civil rights program laid out. And I always know where I stand with her. She is always accessible and welcoming.”
To make matters worse Sharpton is delusional enough to be considering another run for the White House. So let me get this straight Al, not only will you do the bidding of the ‘I love black people’ liberals by spreading their smear, you also intend on splitting the black electorate in the primary by running another ‘when hell freezes over’ campaign?
Its not that I think Sharpton and Jackson should endorse Obama because hes black. If they don’t like his politics they shouldn’t. But I do think that as people who are sooo concerned with the “civil rights agenda” they should refrain from advancing the talking points of the wingnuts and Obama’s opponents. Shouldn’t real concern for their beloved “civil rights agenda” be supporting a black candidate’s ascension to the White House? Not to mention the fact that said candidate was for years a community organizer (read: civil rights activist)in Chicago?
But I think I get it now. Sharpton and Jackson may be of the persuasion that we’ve already had our first black President in Clinton I and now their working on the second black president– Clinton II. It all makes sense. Keep advancing that “agenda” Al. I’ll have more on the black leadership establishment and their best buds the ‘I love Black people’ crew.
