Sharpton: Dems Too Right Wing, Bush May Face 'Nuremberg Trial'

NewsMax.com ^ | 8/25/02 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Democratic presidential hopeful Rev. Al Sharpton said Sunday that the Democratic Party had swerved too far to the right in recent years, before defending recent comments by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan suggesting that President Bush should be put on trial for war crimes.

"In the last decade, basically led by the Democratic Leadership Council, the party has moved, in my judgment, too far away from the basic principles that a lot of its constituency had historically depended on it for," Sharpton told NBC's "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert.

When asked whether he hoped to move the Democratic Party away from the centrist politics of the DLC, Sharpton told Russert, "No, you said center. I said right, nor did I say that I'm trying to move it to the left. I would argue that I would try to move it to the center. I think that where I am many Americans are; and I would argue most Democrats are."

But despite his claim to centrism, Sharpton struggled when confronted with a recent statement by Louis Farrakhan, where the NOL leader suggested that Saddam Hussein was no worse than President Bush, his father and ex-President Clinton.

"All of them do things in the name of their government that if the truth were made known, there would be a Nuremberg trial for American presidents," the NOL leader told a California gathering in February.

After first suggesting Farrakhan's comments may have been taken out of context, Sharpton told Russert, "I think that there ought to be an accountability for all American presidents. And whether that is in the form of a Nuremberg trial is certainly a more technical legal issue. I think we must be accountable; we must be accountable to the American public."

Sharpton did say, however, that he disagreed with Farrakhan that the three most recent presidents were as bad as Hussein, telling Russert that he personally "would not make that judgment."

Russert decided to invite the firebrand White House hopeful for his first ever appearance on "Meet the Press" after a Zogby poll last week showed Sharpton beating or tying most other Democrats in the race.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Bush Administration
DNC

[3k9pm]

Demonrats to the right???

Al baby, put down the crack pipe, you've had enough!

[Jorge]

I really hope Sharpton runs for President.
The only party he will suck votes away from will be the Demonrats.

[Bogey78O]

Sharpton is such a fat windbag that he's center of everything.

[Paleo Conservative]

Bump!

[Jean S]

Today's Meet the Press transcript is posted here if anyone is interested in reading the entire interview.

[mamelukesabre]

hehe.

Sharpton isn't human, he's a cartoon carricature drawn by the same artist that draws that funny boxing manager with the funny hair that manages mike tyson.

[stop_fascism]

Gotta agree with the cowboy on that one. I wish the dems would run on their National Socialist agenda. After all, that led to the triumphs of McGovern, Dukakis and Mondale.

When dems pretend to be moderates, they're dangerous.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Fara-con should be jailed for sedition.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I really hope Sharpton runs for President. The only party he will suck votes away from will be the Demonrats

I hope he runs too. It would be quite funny to see the Democrats not get a majority of black votes.

[cubreporter]

Not interested in Tim Russert much less Sharpton but thanks anyway. :)

[buffyt]

I saw that whole interview this morning. We were in Austin, after delivering our #2 child to UT for another year of college at UT. Just happened to turn on TV and catch that interview while we ate breakfast in our room. Can't help thinking Al Sharpton is SLICKER Than Slick Willy, GREASY and slick! He should have gone to jail for the drug deal he tried to make, why didn't he go to the cops, if he thought that was a real drug dealer trying to pressure him to deal??????

[Consort]

What do Conservative Liberal Progressives have to say about this?

[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.

[irish_lad]

Sharpton is as relevant in the national debate as a drop of water in the ocean. Why does the American press even allow this dumb son-of-bitch a forum to show is absolute stupidity?

[ladyinred]

Al baby, put down the crack pipe, you've had enough!

LOL! He is "cracked" alright! To suggest RATS are too far right for his tastes is frightening! That means he is even more leftist than they are!

Hey Al, EXIT, STAGE LEFT!

[pgkdan]

Oh please, Rev....please, please, please, please, pulleeeze, run for the demoncratic nomination for president. It will be a hoot watching the rest of the nominees tap dance around this ridiculous jackass...bending over backwards so as not to offend what they deem to be his constituencey. Hilarious!

[EternalVigilance]

Russert decided to invite the firebrand White House hopeful for his first ever appearance on "Meet the Press" after a Zogby poll last week showed Sharpton beating or tying most other Democrats in the race.

Wow. Have I fallen asleep and am I dreaming?--Al Sharpton and Louie Farahkan as the face of the Democrat Party? This is at the minimum a dream come true!

I think we should raise Al a million or so to keep his dream alive.

EV

[onedoug]

"...had historically depended on it for...."

Voluminous enough. The rest, just plain vomitous.

[COL. FLAGG]

Hey Al, you have arrived!! I am pleased the Russert thinks you deserve the same platform that he gives other top tier DemocRats. I can only hope and pray that you will maintain your present level of popularity until 04 so that you will be invited to participate in Democratic Presidential debates.

Gore vs. Kerry vs. Edwards vs. Sharpton.... LOL, LOL!!!

Yeah, I would pay to watch that.