Al Sharpton Criticizes White Media

Associated Press ^ | August 6, 2003 | Mike Glover

[schaketo]

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Veteran black activist Al Sharpton contended Wednesday that the news media are dismissive of his presidential campaign because newsrooms are overwhelmingly white.

"I think when you look at the lack of diversity in the newsrooms, when you look at the lack of diversity from the editors and those in power, then you see them as automatically dismissive of anything that is not like them, which is white males," said Sharpton.

"I think we've seen some very blatant racial insensitivity in the coverage of this race so far," said Sharpton, in an interview with The Associated Press.

Sharpton complained that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has been virtually anointed the hot candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 — a case, he said, of a white-dominated media focusing on a middle-age white man.

He noted that many commentators have compared Dean to former presidents Carter and Clinton, both governors of relatively small states, without mentioning that both Georgia and Arkansas have sizable minority populations, while Vermont is nearly all white.

"No one has even asked about the fact that this surge of support has been really one-dimensional," said Sharpton.

In addition, Sharpton said he is often asked about how he can hope to lure white voters in key early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, while Dean is never pressed on how he will appeal to minorities.

"When I come to Iowa, they ask how can Sharpton get the white vote," said Sharpton. "I've run in New York and gotten more white votes in my races than he's gotten black votes in Vermont? Why aren't we talking about that?"

Sharpton said former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, another Democratic presidential who is black, also isn't getting serious news coverage.

"That kind of racial insensitivity has permeated this race," he said. "I think we've seen some very blatant racial insensitivity in the coverage of this race so far."

Sharpton was in Sioux City to join Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record) in a series of forums Harkin is sponsoring giving the nine Democratic candidates a chance to make their case with activists pledged to attend next January's precinct caucuses. The caucuses will launch the presidential nominating season.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

[At _War_With_Liberals]

[demkicker]

ROTFLMAO! Please tell, is that pic a spoof or real? Looks real to me!

[breakem]

GO Rev! He's our official democrat candidate.

[breakem]

I think Illinois, where she fooled enough voters to get in

[From The Deer Stand]

Gosh darn, those white guys sure goof up a lot of things. Maybe Sharpton should appeal to the NBA or NFL - not too many "whities" there.

[Tall_Texan]

SLAP DA (white) DONKEY bump!

[King Prout]

BC ping.

[evolved_rage]

There are too many white males....LIBERAL white males.

LIBERAL white GAY males. I thought the editorial staff of the NY Times was 50% gay (and 50% might-as-well-be-gay)

[mhking]

No, we dismiss Al because he's out of his bloody mind!

Black conservative ping

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

[cyborg]

Al Sharpton, ja nee? nee. He's a bigot,and hates more than just white people but blacks who disagree with him. I actually feel sorry more for black conservatives. There isn't a black conservative he doesn't hate. I remember watching Morton Downey Jr. when Roy Innis punched his face for calling him a coconut and an oreo(a perjorative towards black West Indians by black Americans).

[NYC Republican]

ROTFLMAO! Please tell, is that pic a spoof or real? Looks real to me!

Take it from a New Yorker, who's followed this buffoon's plight from day one. Those pics are VERY real.

[King Prout]

*I'm* not dissin' Al - Hell, I fully intend to vote for him in round1

[King Prout]

oh, MAN, that takes me back...
"pabulum puking liberals!"

[At _War_With_Liberals]

These pictures of al are real!

the media and his PR people have tried to make him appear and act somewhat respectable.

here in ny/nj, we know he is a complete idiot and fraud. he has never held any political office and he cannot name a job he ever had.

Enjoy.

[jimfree]

Well, that's who I always listen to about the "white" media. I can expect nothing less than an objective, non-partisan, issue-free appraisal.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Morton Downey Jr. when Roy Innis punched his face for calling him a coconut and an oreo...

God, I saw that show in College. Being from new jersey and knowing Sharpton made that show an all time classic. Imagine showing the tape now?

[vaudine]

Puhleese! She's Chicago,Ill. Texas has its own Ms.Braun--Sheila Jackson Lee. Wish she would volunteer for space travel. SJL is Miz Racist herself.
vaudine

[Only1choice____Freedom]

So tell me what is the percentage of the Black population in Iowa?

[1Old Pro]

Sharpton is getting 100 times more press than he deserves. He's a corrupt racebaiter and he's lucky the media treats him with kid gloves.

If I were in charge of a media outlet I wouldn't even bother to cover this loser has he has ZERO news value.