Al Sharpton Goes Easy On Glenn Beck Rally In Post-’Restoring Honor’ Interview

video

by Frances Martel | 9:38 am, August 29th, 2010

» 29 comments

Given that they were holding competing events within the confines of the same city and commemorating the same occasion, it seemed fairly probably that Al Sharpton would have very little nice to say about Glenn Beck and his plan to restore honor to America. Speaking to CNN’s Don Lemon after the conclusion of his “Reclaim the Dream” rally, however, Sharpton seemed to take a “less is more” approach in criticizing Beck– though not on his definition of “civil rights.”

Sharpton repeated several times that, while he had not had the chance to watch Beck’s speech or much footage of the event, “it may very well be good.” Shown clips of Beck discussing the power of the individual and the impressive achievements of great Americans, Sharpton did not seem to disagree with any of Beck’s points– and, in fact, they may have to do with the fact that Beck seemed to have taken very deliberate steps to keep his words as nonpartisan as possible. It’s hard to disagree with the general notion that individuals have the power to effect change, which was the crux of his argument.

What he objected to, however, was the claim that “Restoring Honor” had anything to do with civil rights. “What civil rights agenda did [Beck] lay out? What I heard was a motivational speech.” He also noted that, by virtue of it not being Dr. King’s birthday, but his “policy speech day,” something of his actual policy– “very clear social policy calling on a strong federal government,” seemed to have been lost on the Beck crowd.

He also responded to the argument by some Beck supporters that his rally was less diverse demographically than “Restoring Honor.” He refrained from describing the demographics there, however, and only spoke to his own event, where, he noted, various speakers of black, white, Latin America, and LGBT backgrounds participated.

His chat with Don Lemon via CNN below:

Al Sharpton, CNN, Don Lemon, Glenn Beck, Martin Luther King, Reclaim the Dream, Restoring Honor, Washington DC

http://www.facebook.com/people/Andy-Lamb/1085325013 Andy Lamb

Big Al asks “What civil rights agenda did Beck lay out?” This, after carefully laying out his own agenda – “No justice! No peace! No justice! No peace!” There’s a great agenda. Al’s real agenda – Keep blacks poor and pissed off, create racism where none exists, so that I can continue to profit from it. What an asshole.
BatBoy

Al Sharpton is losing his grip….becoming insignificant!

Goodbye Al….it is time for you to go!
ImJustThatDamnGood

My problem with Al is that he is not tough enough on the black community. He tried one time (also Bill Cosby) but it did not work too many weak minded blacks. He is more of a politician now and continues to blame everyone else for black people’s problem. He should be preaching accountability amongst the black community. Preaching accountability is ten times harder than blaming your problems on everyone else in my opinion. We have to take our losses and rebuild our community from the ground up with our youth. Sadly many of our great black leaders are dead and gone leaving the dumb to lead the senseless.
http://www.nukethefridge.com MartiniShark

Just curious if the non-partisan, wholly objective media outlets will give detailed analysis of the racial makeup of the crowds at Sharpton’s event? After all, they have taught us that if the audience is monochromatic then they have to ridicule the masses and denigrate the message
dlauf87

Al was on Geraldo last night going on and on about how Becks rally was alright because it wasn’t political (which is actually how Beck said it would be). So one can conclude that Al Sharpton would be opposed to a rally that WAS political…like his rally.
notsofast

Al is just soooooooo embarrassed by how shrill and strident his rally was compared to the joy, faith and community of Beck’s rally.

The reverend was out reverended by Beck!
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Notice how Meet the Press avoided the Beck event.
On This Week, Donna Brazile made her usual stupid statements.

The left has no idea what is happening in this country. REAL CHANGE is coming Nov. 2nd.
libra blue

It sounded to me like Sharpton was upset because Beck’s rally was not political. In my opinion it should have been more political, I didn’t watch the entire rally so maybe I missed it, but he should not have been afraid to name the Obama administration, the Democrats, or whoever he believes is responsible for our country losing its honor.
JimBob

Al Sharpton GOES EASY on Glenn Beck Rally !!! Do you believe
that SHIT?? Honestly.
Frances, Al Sharpton would have been much better served and would have
reached A hell of a lot larger audience for HIS message if he had begged Beck
to let him speak at Beck’s rally!
No he HADN”T watched Beck’s Rally…. UH UHH
You shitting me???
writer

Kudos to Al. He was able to give a talk this time and no one died as a result of it.
libra blue

Mediaite should post about Reliable Sources today. The jealously is seething over there this morning. “Howie” starts off by saying that the turnout wasn’t as large as expected, but that no one knows how big the turnout was. Talk about trying to have it both ways! Bill Press continued to spit out his BS as well.

It sounds like they were planning to criticize Beck no matter if he had been political or not.
Constantly

al was more believable as a fat man in a track suit
JimBob

No one is talking about the crowd (or lack thereof) at the
Sharpton event! So I will.. IT was very, very, very tiny
by comparison. There, that will do it! Your Welcome!
libra blue

I know Sharpton had his own “gathering” yesterday, but I still don’t understand why supposedly professional news organizations like CNN, MSNBC, and even FOX continue to feature him as a commentator. Are they unaware of his sordid past of race baiting, rioting, and lying, or is it that they just don’t care because he is black? I can’t think of one white criminal who has been so accepted and excused by all of the msm as Sharpton has been. No matter what, I couldn’t care less what Al “Tawana Brawley/Crown Heights/Freddie’s Fashion Mart” Sharpton has to say about anything.

Also, although all the cable news channels asked Sharpton’s “opinion” (snicker, snicker) on Beck’s rally I didn’t see any appearances by Beck on CNN, MSNBC, or even FOX (who seemed to ignore the Beck rally), giving his opinion on Sharpton’s rally. BTW, the msm is also avoiding any discussion of the racial makeup of the Sharpton rally.
Azarkhan

“Al Sharpton Goes Easy On Glenn Beck” Frances Martel

Ahhh, the young and dumb. Frances, since you’re too young to know much about anything, I suggest you educate yourself. Lesson 1: read about Sharpton’s lies regarding Tawana Brawley. Lesson 2: read about Sharpton’s role in the Harlem murders at Freddies Fashion Mart. The bottom feeding represented
in those two events lays the groundwork for the rest of Sharpton’s career.
jk76

Competing? there wasn’t a competition, it was just 2 rallies. Did you see CBS ask 2 black women about why they think there’s so few minorities there? Did you listen to who the speakers were at Sharpton’s event? Did you notice he was saying that basically there’s still no civil rights? Did you notice he chided Beck for basically not becoming MLKJr.? Did you notice all he talked about was Government responsibilities?

Legistlating people’s thoughts and choices only raise resentment. It’s about people deciding for themselves. Disparaging others because they differ from your own view creates fanaticism.

I hate the Left because they are irrational name calling liars….any means necessary. The journey should mean something. This is what those peace marches brought about, they put up with mean people, then others can see it and choose for themselves how awful it was. Today people don’t sacrifice for their causes, they just get loud…isn’t that progress? Where people can speak up and be free of oppresion?

Liberalism/socialism/progressivism is never satisfied, it’s never enough, never runs out of things they think need to be done cause they’re so smart.
tobys mom

Sharpton is a vulture..he only cares about himself. I really do care about civil liberties….not civil entitlelments.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ed-Durffee/1311278663 Ed Durffee

libra blue said:
It sounded to me like Sharpton was upset because Beck’s rally was not political. In my opinion it should have been more political, I didn’t watch the entire rally so maybe I missed it, but he should not have been afraid to name the Obama administration, the Democrats, or whoever he believes is responsible for our country losing its honor.

Im sure Beck could have gone political and thrown some names out there, but it seemed to me he was totally into asking people to look to the future and what they want or need out of it to make America Great again, Rather than gather a bunch of people who would spend the day pointing fingers of blame in every direction of the compass. They could have, at Dems Repubs, Libertarians and those who are only into themselves.

I must say I was encouraged by Sharptons words, and his acceptance of Becks motives as honorable and not to STEAL anything from anyone. Only time will tell if anyone takes this to heart and really begins to change the way we are. If they dont, this country will not survive as a free Democratic country we were founded to be.
Sunnyr

Poor old Commie thug, Al Sharpton, is no longer significant. It must really hurt. I think he watched the Rally, saw the hundreds of thousands of people and decided NOT to make any really big waves. He’s such a liar anyway, no one would believe him. Yo, Al! How’s Tawana Brawley doing these days? Pfft!
maliheh

al sharpton was correct on glenn beck wants to debate on what mlk speech was about – it is what it is glenn,it was States rights prior to the 60s civil rights movement is what Martin Luther King was fighting against,not for,It was state “rights” written in law for 100′s of years that allowed the discrimination against blacks to continue , it was MLK who appealed to Federal government to uphold/change the Constitution , and break down these old state laws. – please conservatives educate yourself
News Hounds Ellen

It’s sad but I can only conclude that Sharpton has somehow been co-opted by Fox News. We have noted a number of occasions where he has pulled his punches on the network. I mean, compare Don Imus to Glenn Beck? I’m no fan of Imus’ but his racial comments look awfully mild next to Beck’s lengthy record of deliberate race baiting. And unlike Imus, Beck has not apologized. Sean Hannity is another Fox News host with an abominable record on race. Yet Sharpton not only overlooks it, he invited Hannity to participate in a MLK commemoration a few years ago (Hannity later canceled). It’s also hard to believe Sharpton has missed Fox News’ “scare the white people” meme that we, along with Rachel Maddow and many others have been talking about all summer.

It’s a shame that the man who is probably this country’s leading civil rights advocate is turning a blind eye and deaf ear to what is almost certainly this country’s worst racial transgressors.

http://www.newshounds.us/2008/03/16/ask_al_sharpton_to_reconsider_sean_hannitys_participation_in_martin_luther_king_commemoration.php

http://www.newshounds.us/2010/07/11/wheres_al_sharpton_during_fox_news_incessant_race_baiting.php
Constantly

News Hounds Ellen said:
It’s sad but I can only conclude that Sharpton has somehow been co-opted by Fox News. We have noted a number of occasions where he has pulled his punches on the network. I mean, compare Don Imus to Glenn Beck? I’m no fan of Imus’ but his racial comments look awfully mild next to Beck’s lengthy record of deliberate race baiting. And unlike Imus, Beck has not apologized. Sean Hannity is another Fox News host with an abominable record on race. Yet Sharpton not only overlooks it, he invited Hannity to participate in a MLK commemoration a few years ago (Hannity later canceled). It’s also hard to believe Sharpton has missed Fox News’ “scare the white people” meme that we, along with Rachel Maddow and many others have been talking about all summer.

It’s a shame that the man who is probably this country’s leading civil rights advocate is turning a blind eye and deaf ear to what is almost certainly this country’s worst racial transgressors.

looks like you negros better hire a new race baiter, i hear van jones isnt doing anything…
BatBoy

News Hounds Ellen said:
It’s a shame that the man who is probably this country’s leading civil rights advocate is turning a blind eye

Ellen….

Te reason Al Sharpton did not speak like the “Al Sharpton” of old was because he watch on TV what was happening at the Glen Becks Rally and he could not find anything to criticize them about.

But you can bet…he was watching or at the very least was briefed about what was happening and what was being said.
juan

The Race-Baiter, Al Sharpton, is bitter, sour, and a total loser!
juan

News Hounds Ellen said:
It’s also hard to believe Sharpton has missed Fox News’ “scare the white people” meme that we, along with Rachel Maddow and many others have been talking about all summer.

First of all, your meme is not true!

And, second, it’s easy to miss because few watch Rachel Maddow and nobody believes that all white channel, A-Mess-NBC!
juan

juan said:
And, second, it’s easy to miss because few watch Rachel Maddow and nobody believes that all white channel, A-Mess-NBC!

Shhould read:

And, second, it’s easy to miss because few watch Rachel Maddow and nobody believes that all white HATE channel, A-Mess-NBC!
http://none pyrope

dlauf87 said:
Al was on Geraldo last night going on and on about how Becks rally was alright because it wasn’t political (which is actually how Beck said it would be). So one can conclude that Al Sharpton would be opposed to a rally that WAS political…like his rally.

Astute observation.
NORBIT

Goes Easy? – You mean the same way the Democratic MEDIA Goes Easy on Tawana Sharpton?

Like never holding him accountable for his namesake, Crown Heights, Freddie’s, and IGNORING the plight in black communities, UNLESS a White Face is somewhere in the mix?
———————————————————————————————-

Glenn Beck EXPOSED Tawana Sharpton for the RACE-HUSTLER he is (Beck’s Rally was multi-racial, Tawana’s followers were virtually all black); and BECK NOW HOLDS THE MANTLE OF AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Denis-Roussel/1513080544 Denis Roussel

“fairly probably”. Will someone suggest to the writer of this article a course in remedial English would be to his benefit, please?