The Sharpton Chronicles (Hillary's Videotape Smear Backfires)

Village Voice ^ | July 26th, 2002 | Coco McPherson

[PJ-Comix]

Mary Wray
Age 23
Resides Westchester
Occupation Temp

What do you think of Al Sharpton? I say he's all about headlines. As I was getting on the train, I saw the paper, and it said "Al Sharpton's Mad Again." It doesn't mean he's not pissed off for a good reason. I don't dismiss him.

Would you vote for him for president? I couldn't see him holding public office. Tawana Brawley can't be forgotten. If he wants to speak up about a social issue, I'm not going to throw Tawana Brawley in his face, but she's still an issue.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape?I believe him if he's saying it was an effort to derail his political future. What's HBO doing with a tape like that? If it's criminal evidence, isn't it the FBI's responsibility to make sure it remains confidential?

---

Crystal Hayes
Age 20
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Student

What do you think of Al Sharpton?I don't really like him. His views are one-sided and he's always in an uproar. He creates such a fuss.

Would you vote for him for president? No, because I don't agree with his views. He's stuck in a racist dynamic. He takes issues that aren't about race, or that don't have racial overtones, and makes them. I don't know who I'd vote for. Unfortunately, Americans still aren't ready for a woman. I like Janet Reno. She has a strong, loud, liberal voice and she can fight without caring what people think of her.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape? Why is it coming out now? The tape is 20 years old. It seems like it could be a setup. To take it out of context and edit it without explaining what it is, or where it was taken from, is bad. Sharpton would have gone to jail years ago if he'd committed a crime. Maybe Don King threw a fight but what else is he guilty of? If he or Sharpton did anything wrong, why didn't the FBI arrest them in 1983? Maybe Sharpton's using this to heighten his image. David fighting Goliath.

---

David Twidle
Age 33
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Artist

What do you think of Al Sharpton? He's a character. I think he wants to work both inside and outside the system. He wants to wear nice clothes. Even though he may have traded his spiritual pursuits for more political ones—and I think there are inherent contradictions in that—I don't think he's totally about himself. He is a little grandiose. He's also very intelligent. You always accomplish more with a little notoriety.

Would you vote for him for president? No. I do listen to Sharp Talk sometimes because I don't think we're completely connected to the African American community the way we should be. Sharpton's whimsical and smart.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape?It could be that they're trying to defame him.

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Wayne Kral
Age 43
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Artist

What do you think of Al Sharpton? He's an activist who champions the rights of African Americans. He often tries to be provocative, and he's a media junkie. All this doesn't dilute his message for the black community, but I think it does for the white community.

Would you vote for him for president? No. I don't think he has the credentials, anymore than George W. Bush does. If Sharpton had held some public office, if he'd been a mayor or a congressman, maybe I'd vote for him. He's a political activist and a minister, and I don't like the mix of politics and religion.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape?I agree with Sharpton. Something about the tape and the timing is fishy. I have no idea who it would benefit to release it. I do know that nobody told him to wear that hat.

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Chris Dukes
Age 21
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Audio-Visual technician

What do you think of Al Sharpton? In general, I have no problem with Al Sharpton.

Would you vote for him for president? It's really the same deal with Jesse Jackson. I'd like to vote for him for president, not because he's the best candidate, but because the election of Jackson or Sharpton would open doors to more and better candidates. God forbid Al Sharpton becomes president with a Republican Congress. I could see him wasting the opportunity and pissing a lot of people off. He's not a comprehensive candidate.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape? His explanation sounds legitimate to me. You walk down the street and a lot of people want to sell you cologne or albums or Ecstasy. You have to be friendly and not engage. Maybe Sharpton was afraid that he was in a dangerous situation. In terms of the tape itself, I'm concerned about the timing. Why did it surface now? Why are they trying to shit on his name? It's shady.

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Corey Grant
Age 22
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Fashion designer

What do you think of Al Sharpton? I don't know enough about him. I've been living in England. There the left is emerging for the first time in years. Three years ago, I'd never have said that. The Metro is about to strike.

Would you vote for him for president? No. He does a lot of good, but he's too identified with the black community to appeal to all Americans.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape? I think his response is right. I'd be pissed off too, if I were him. He's a flamboyant guy who steps on a lot of toes. There have to be people who want to stop him. The tape's 20 years old and it doesn't show anything. It's not like he's the former mayor of D.C., who was caught smoking crack on tape. That's a sad story.

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Princess Angus
Age 18
Resides Brooklyn
Occupation Student

What do you think of Al Sharpton? A lot of the time, I think, "Oh brother, here he goes again." He's a very controversial man who picks issues out of nowhere to fight for. Everything with him is racial. We should be moving forward, trying to get along. He's really too focused on race, even for people of my race. He and Rudy Giuliani kept each other alive battling each other. Without Sharpton, there was no Giuliani, without Giuliani, there was no Sharpton.

Would you vote for him for president? No, because he acts on impulse. He's like George W. Bush in that way. They're impulse people who act first and think later. You want someone who is in control of the United States to think more. Sharpton should not be a politician or a private citizen. He should remain the public's conscience.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape? I agree with him when he says there's something fishy about the tape. Why was it played out of context?

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Deep Bisla
Age 33
Resides Manhattan
Occupation Editor

What do you think of Al Sharpton? He's a grandiose voice who fights for two things: himself and his people. The fact that he gets coverage on TV suggests that he's effective in ways that are important in this country. I don't know if he picks the best issues to fight for; Michael Jackson's contract might not have been the best issue.

Would you vote for him for president? Yes, before I'd vote for George W. Bush. Sharpton wouldn't be the first self-aggrandizing politician to live in the White House.

What's your opinion of the FBI tape? I think it was played out of context and it's wrong. I have no problem with him being mad about it. I've seen a lot of white Americans who are as self-aggrandizing as Al Sharpton is, and they're never demonized in the way that black leaders are. Blacks are held to much higher standards.

[PJ-Comix]

Judging from these Person On The Street interviews, it looks like Hillary's little scheme of smearing Al Sharpton has backfired. Even though there is little/no support for Sharpton as a Presidential candidate, ALL of those interviewed saw the videotape as nothing more than a smear campaign.

Back to Square One, Hillary. And we KNOW you were behind the release of that videotape. You were the only one with both the MOTIVE and the MEANS for smearing Sharpton. Too bad it backfired on you.

[PJ-Comix]

FYI

[zarf]

The answers were resonably intelligent. This must be a setup.....most folks wouldn't have know who Sharpton was, let alone the President.

[Shermy]

January 20, 1988 - AP


Report: Sharpton Worked as Informer for Federal Agencies

A minister who is one of the city's most vocal black activists has secretly supplied federal law enforcement agencies with information over the last five years, New York Newsday reported today.

Information provided by the Rev. Al Sharpton Jr. touched on the activities of boxing promoter Don King, reputed organized crime figures, black leaders and elected officials, according the newspaper, which quoted unidentified sources.

The 33-year-old Brooklyn community leader began cooperating with authorities after he was videotaped discussing a potential cocaine sale in a sting operation, the newspaper said. However, Sharpton, in a radio interview this morning, called Newsday's report "ludicrous." Sharpton said he had stated that he would give federal authorities the addresses of "crack houses," but that that was the extent of his involvement.

Newsday said that in a two-hour, wide-ranging interview Monday, Sharpton admitted he carried concealed microphones in briefcases and accompanied undercover federal agents wearing body recorders to meetings with various subjects of federal investigations. He also allowed the U.S. attorney's office to install a wiretap on a telephone in his home.

But on WCBS Radio this morning, Sharpton denied telling the newspaper that.

"As far as providing information about other people, I know nothing about it, denounce the allegation (and) told the (Newsday) interviewers that that was not the case," Sharpton said.

The Pentecostal minister said the use of unidentified sources to discredit him was an attempt to undermine the campaign against racism in New York City. He said on WCBS he would hold a news conference with attorney Alton Maddox to rebut the Newsday report. He set no specific time on the air, and his telephone repeatedly was busy this morning.

Donald Forst, editor of New York Newsday, said the newspaper stood by its article. "We have him on tape," Forst said today.

He said the article was not intended to undermine the civil rights movement.

"If anything, the story serves to assist the black movement, to alert them to the fact that in their midst is someone who has been informing to federal authorities," he said.

The newspaper quoted sources as saying Sharpton was willing to supply information to federal law enforcement agencies on King and his stepson, Carl; reputed Colombo crime family figures Michael and Sonny Franzese; reputed Genovese crime family members Joey and Danny Pagano; City Councilman Wendell Foster; black activist Sonny Carson; and sports agent Norby Walters.

However, Sharpton denied supplying incriminating evidence on other activists or King. "Not only don't I allow them (federal investigators) to ask race questions, I don't talk about anything except what I brought to them," he said.

Sharpton told Newsday that he has cooperated in investigations of election-related irregularities involving Rep. Major Owens and state Assemblyman Al Vann and in organized crime probes. The telephone, Sharpton said, is only used to record conversations with drug dealers.

Law officials, noting the problem of keeping informants' identities secret, refused to comment, the newspaper said.

[Orblivion]

What about the question:

Did you view the FBI Tape?

prior to the question about what they THINK of the FBI Tape. :)

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I don't know what country this girl is a princess of, or if she is the princess of beef, but that's the first time I ever heard of Al Sharpton being like George W Bush.

[SandfleaCSC]

I'm am so f**king amazed that these idiots in the article live on the same planet as I do, much less my own nation. Someone go dig up Jeff Davis...it's time to for secession again. Artists, fashion designers, journalists, and students....BAH, liberal, clueless crackpots every single one of them.

[L.N. Smithee]

Back to Square One, Hillary. And we KNOW you were behind the release of that videotape. You were the only one with both the MOTIVE and the MEANS for smearing Sharpton. Too bad it backfired on you.

'Scuse me...who is "we?" And what "backfired" on Hillary?

You're entitled to your opinion about whether Hillary was behind this or not (I don't understand how smearing Sharpton elevates her at all), but one thing is certain: this article you have posted neither makes that accusation nor suggests anybody believes she is the source of the alleged smear. Nobody said they would vote for Sharpton as a result of this and no one said they thought more of Sharpton after the video was revealed.

[river rat]

Doesn't it frighten you to know, that each and everyone of those freaks can VOTE!
They actually have a vote equal to your's. The Republic is doomed....
Semper Fi

[fone]

(Wayne Kral): "He's a political activist and a minister, and I don't like the mix of politics and religion."

That's too funny.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Sharpton should not be a politician or a private citizen. He should remain the public's conscience.

What does this mean?? And how does a person who can actually use the word conscience connect it to Al Sharpton? Sometimes I think we are getting through. And then I read a statement like this.

[PJ-Comix]

You're entitled to your opinion about whether Hillary was behind this or not (I don't understand how smearing Sharpton elevates her at all), but one thing is certain: this article you have posted neither makes that accusation nor suggests anybody believes she is the source of the alleged smear.

As per custom here, the part of the title in PARENTHESIS is not part of the original title but commentary by the Freeper posting it. Also there was a thread discussing the Sharpton tape previously and many believed it was Hillary who was behind it. How would Hillary benefit by smearing Sharpton? Because right now he is a big roadblock on her road back to the White House. She would prefer having to avoid publicly kissing his big butt to make that trip.

[PJ-Comix]

Artists, fashion designers, journalists, and students....BAH, liberal, clueless crackpots every single one of them.

Hey, it's NY (Greenwich village area), so what do you expect? Salt of the earth types?

[Samwise]

What does it mean when even idiots realize what Sharpton is?

[PJ-Comix]

What does it mean when even idiots realize what Sharpton is?

It means nothing since Sharpton is guaranteed at least 25% of the vote in the Demmycrat Presidential primaries no matter what. That gives him a lot of leverage when you consider there will be at least half a dozen other candidates (including Hillary) splitting the rest of the vote.

[marvlus]

I'm am so f**king amazed that these idiots in the article live on the same planet as I do, much less my own nation. Someone go dig up Jeff Davis...it's time to for secession again. Artists, fashion designers, journalists, and students....BAH, liberal, clueless crackpots every single one of them.

One thing about New Yorkers is that they think the world revolves around them. They do not have a clue about the real world.

[gunnedah]

Let me inject my thoughts on the FBI. I dont trust them now but hope they can turn it around.From a personal standpoint I have seen two of their X-Agents in action and they did lie and bend hell out of the truth.I know you cant use that to say it about all of them and I dont think many of them really are,or want to be that way but I say a great deal of them can be coerced into bending the facts to suit the case if leadership wants it or pushes it on them.After all what can most enforcers of the law do after they have been branded by the public and you know all police officers carry that mark.Regardless of what they do they will always be a police officer in the site of those they know.And the part about being brow beat by supervisors thats a fact and most police officers dont want to be branded by their fellow officers because then they have nowhere or no way to turn.

[mhking]

Everything with him is racial. We should be moving forward, trying to get along. He's really too focused on race, even for people of my race.

DING-DING-DING-DING! We have a winna!

Out of the mouths of babes comes the glint of a gem of truth... The young lady that said this sounds like she has an open enough mind to consider the conservative message as opposed to walking lock-step...

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[gunnedah]

But it has worked in the Black community and in the New York City area about George W. Bush.If Sharpton was a card carrying Democrat and the Clintons supported him these people would have spoken differently.Dont underestimate the Clintons ties to balck America.And no the FBI didnt put this out to hurt Sharpton,it can only go towards helping him.Think about it,I think its a smart move on his part and wouldnt be surprised if he were instrumental in it himself.Publicity and the public perception for sentiment.