Did Obama do the right thing for his party by going to meet with Sharpton?

Question

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama went to the National Action Network to make a speech. This organization was founded by Al Sharpton, who has made racist, or bigoted remarks in the past and has incited violence. Did Obama do the right thing for his party by going to meet with Sharpton?

Answer 1

I don't think so because Sharpton is a wacko However, since I don't like Obama, he can do whatever he wants.

Answer 2

We went to a party last night and this exact question came up. The consensus was that it could hurt him very badly, especially where the black vote is concerned. We have a lot of friends from different walks of life, and many of different races. When we have a party it looks like the frigging United Nations decided to meet up and throw down a few beers. I tell you this because two different, and here's the key - YOUNG black couples we know very well are disturbed by his affiliation with Sharpton. What they basically had to say was that Sharpton and Jackson are stuck in the 60's and they don't really find them to be the leaders their parents did. They have some problems with their approach to the race question in this country and they weren't very happy with Obama for aligning himself with Sharpton. We all thought it could be his first really bad mistake in his campaign. I asked them directly if they thought it would affect the black vote and they said it would, absolutely and in the negative in their opinion. They thought that many who supported Hillary and then switched to the fresh platform of Obama would end up going back over to Hillary's side. I know that two couples aren't representative of the black vote but it was interesting to hear their take on it.

From the other side, some of us thought it would also negatively affect the white vote for Obama. So many white people are able to look at him as essentially "raceless" and are drawn to his general ideology. But once aligned with Sharpton, he takes on a whole 'nother aspect for some people. Sharpton is very divisive and took a lot of criticism lately for hypocrisy over this Imus thing. It may not be fair, but it's reality.

Answer 3

The conference attendance was a good thing for only this reason.
Obama is showing that the old guard is on the way out. His speech did not kiss up to Sharpton, heck he even renamed Sharpton's group a few times in the speech, ( subtle jab, I don't think it was in error) and he told them that he did not think just because he was black he should automatically get their vote. Hypocrite Sharpton who acts as if his blood is 100% black has been constantly referring to Obama as not being "black" enough.
Obama's work has proven him wrong and his giving the speech which highlights those facts also put egg on Sharpton's face even more in front of his own "peeps"
He and Sharpton have been jabbing at each other for quite some time now. You should always enter the lions den.

Answer 4

I don't think that it will help Obama being associated with Sharpton after the Imus take down and the Duke case.

That photo of the two will hurt Obama.

Answer 5

I think it will ultimately end up hurting him. Sharpton presents a less than attractive image with a lot of blacks. What kind of stink do you think Sharpton will stir up if Obama does not win the democratic nomination?
.

Answer 6

Anyone who meets with Sharpton is doing the wrong thing.

Answer 7

Like it or not, Reverend Al Sharpton is a respected member of the political community. If you want to be taken seriously as a candidate, you must go to where your message can be heard, and you must communicate with your constituents. We are all flawed, we are all blind feeling the elephant, and I don't know about you, but I can honestly say that I am grateful to have avoided the scrutiny that comes with public life. Mr. Obama seems to be on a much more enlightened track than say, a President who avoids meeting with the NAACP for several years!

Answer 8

Yes, Obama is a communicator and skilled at the art of diplomacy (skills we have not seen in the wight house in a long time) and Sharpton is a figure head for the black community tin the US. It is good that Obama is willing to talk to him.

Answer 9

Of course he should have. Hillary had already met with them. He's runnning for President and needs to get his idealogy out to everyone he can. They vote.