Hot Stuff: Sharpton vs. West

[Smiley and West]

		West goes behind the scenes of his heated debate with Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC this week. West: Al Sharpton doesn’t have the kind of influence Tim Geithner has, who comes right out of the Wall St. oligarchic world. Brother Al & I go back 30 years so he knows it’s not a personal thing. He’s in a tough space and I’m deeply concerned about him.

[Alexander Padilla]

Al is very defensive regarding protecting President Obama. It appears Sharpton provides an objective critique of President Obama and his adminstration, it is an affront to the Black community. It needs to be understood that any President, regardless of race, color, gender, region, etc., is a protector of the financial interests that keep this nation where it is. I applaud Dr. West for trying to bring an objective analysis of the Obama administration, however painful it may be.

[Joseph Shelton Hall]

Thanks Dr. West for that thoughtful analysis of the discussion that you had with Rev Sharpton. I love and repsect you my Brother and I simply say keep up the good fight.

[lex esto]

mela yela

[lex esto]

mela yela

damn social work degree -street smart too and can't get a job in the racist state of missouri was fired from my last job for comparing myself to dred scott...cryptofascist humor really hurt sometimes

heiwa-peace

[Author Andrea Clinton]

Plain and simple, the reality of the situation is:

PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY WITH THEIR FINANCIAL CONDITION!!! I think the issue we all have is that we all know Obama knows our condition and the proper things that need to be done aren't being done. We all know we are supporting several wars and war-like campaigns presently and we know our tax dollars are going to support those efforts. The problem is we do not choose to trade food, clothing, shelter, etc. for war. The average American would rather put those efforts into running this country so that we can all finally "HAVE" and be financially stable; self-sufficient & independent. We thought we'd get that with Obama, and we realize there are underlining factors making it difficult for him to do, or at least that's what we tell ourselves. Nontheless, we still stand here in need and looking to this man, Pres. Obama, to do right by us all. I believe there's much we don't know. I believe Al-Sharpton has the best of intentions re: Obama. But Rev., it is what it is, we are in need; you know this.

I believe that Brother West as well as Tavis just don't want to put on blinders and act like everything is ok because Obama is black/African American, etc. The issues MUST be dealt with. We need to get our affairs in order, especially with the World Bank saying millions will be in poverty. What is to become of the minority?

Author Andrea Clinton

Twitter: Teaclinton13

 

 

 

[Rosie]

I agree with all of the commenters above.  As one who watched the MSNBC program in question, I was appalled that Dr. West was removed from that program so quickly for not agreeing with the traditional pap, though not completely surprised.  Don't forget that MSNBC is now owned by the right wing Comcast, and no one there has the right to free speech any more.  Case in point is the censoring of Keith Olbermann, who was fired, (or quit) because of it, and Ed Shultz, who told us he was forced to stop his "psycho talk" segment.  Hopefully, the whole truth will be able to come out on a whole host of issues in May on Current TV, Al Gore's network, when Keith Olbermann returns to TV there and becomes director of their news department.

[Elizabeth Kendall]

When Al Sharpton uses the word " US " ~ is he talking about " Blacks " or " everyone " ( Blacks/ Whites / Asians etc) ?  Does someone believe now that we have a African American President ~ blacks should have a upper hand ?

[Penguin Board of Directors]

The Blacks of MLK Jr.'s conviction do not want an UPPER hand, they just want an EVEN hand; a level-playing field. Otherwise, we are simply replacing one class of oppressors with another class of oppressors. A level-playing field was all MLK Jr. sought in his message and mission. He was not looking for Blacks to dominate Whites or Greens or Yellows. He wanted children from all backgrounds to be judged, not by the color of their skins, but the content of their character.

[Ray Otero]

American-Massive incarceration of colored people, this is proff of a plan to destroy the people of color!!

[Author Andrea Clinton]

Keep us informed Ray.

Rosie said:

I agree with all of the commenters above.  As one who watched the MSNBC program in question, I was appalled that Dr. West was removed from that program so quickly for not agreeing with the traditional pap, though not completely surprised.  Don't forget that MSNBC is now owned by the right wing Comcast, and no one there has the right to free speech any more.  Case in point is the censoring of Keith Olbermann, who was fired, (or quit) because of it, and Ed Shultz, who told us he was forced to stop his "psycho talk" segment.  Hopefully, the whole truth will be able to come out on a whole host of issues in May on Current TV, Al Gore's network, when Keith Olbermann returns to TV there and becomes director of their news department.

[Author Andrea Clinton]

No but they do believe that Obama should put his focus on black people's uplifting. However, as I keep posting all over the place, he is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, not THE PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. He has to make decisions about the entire country, and that means black and white, etc., rich and poor and those way below poor, below the poverty level.

Elizabeth Kendall said:

When Al Sharpton uses the word " US " ~ is he talking about " Blacks " or " everyone " ( Blacks/ Whites / Asians etc) ?  Does someone believe now that we have a African American President ~ blacks should have a upper hand ?

[Cheryl Lynn Owens]

Preach Dr. West, you're saying what I've been thinking for quite some time and I applaud you because you had the courage to speak out.  I don't understand why it is just because the hue and shade of skin tends to be in the same color range as the President, that we can't be constructively critical of his job performance when it comes to people that look like us.  Tip O'Neill a former speaker of the House of Representatives, said "all politics is local", and as Black people that means that we're looking for OUR politics, we're looking for what's in it for US.  We stood in long lines, for minutes, and hours to vote for this president and to have our needs not addressed in a specific sense but in a sense that when he does for ALL of AMERICA he does for us, is disingenuous to those that wanted to be apart of history and the change that we thought that we could BELIEVE in.  Blacks have been on the back burner of this presidency we're almost not even a thought for him, and I'm sorry as a Black woman, I don't want my VOTE taken for granted, because I can just as easily stay at home if we can expect more of the same.