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Al Sharpton: Rick Perry Would Energize Democratic Base And Give Liberal Media A LOT To Talk About

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The gang at Morning Joe took some time this morning to discuss GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry, using Harold Meyerson‘s Washington Post op-ed piece on the Texas governor as their jumping-off point. In his article, wherein he refers to Perry as “Texas’ Manchurian candidate,” Meyerson writes that Perry, who has made wariness of the government a cornerstone of his campaign and his political persona, neglects to acknowledge the positive role the federal government has played in his state:

What Perry either ignores or doesn’t know is how greatly Texas has benefited from the investments and regulations of the federal government he despises. He grew up, he tells all who will listen, on a small, hardscrabble Texas farm. But it was Franklin Roosevelt’s Rural Electrification Administration that brought electricity to those farms, which, left to the mercies of the market, would have remained dark for decades. The New Deal threw money at Texas, bringing it dams, highways and schoolhouses. The cumulative effect of policies such as the federal minimum wage has been to diminish the disparity that long existed between the industrialized North and the more poverty-stricken South.

The panel pointed out that Perry inspires liberals to respond with an “incredible passion and anger” — a fact that can justify the frustration felt by Perry’s base and, thus, actually help him out. Al Sharpton weighed in on this phenomenon and what it might mean for Democrats and Independents:

He would energize the Democratic base — and a lot of Independents — like no other candidate because you’re talking about a guy that openly supported, at one point, talking about seceding from the Union, he goes around preaching states’ rights — which not only bothers those of us in civil rights, but those that believe immigration rights and gay rights and others should not be decided in a state-by-state. Education, health care. I mean, you couldn’t have had a better candidate to energize, if the President needs that, than Rick Perry. If he does win the primary, then I hope he is there as the candidate

Plus, an added benefit: Liberal news and opinion media outlets would never be at loss for things to talk about with Rick Perry as the Republican candidate. In fact, Sharpton said, talk show and radio hosts would have to be very sure to have enough peppermint on hand to “keep our throats well-oiled.”

Fellow panelist Pat Buchanan, meanwhile, felt Meyerson’s op-ed piece wouldn’t hurt Perry’s campaign too much and, as he sees it, Perry offers a contrast and an alternative to “the way things are done here” versus in Texas.

Have a look at the discussion, via MSNBC:

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  • Anonymous

    So Al Sharpton is now the resident expert on politics and economics at MSNBC?  Hahahahahahahahaha!

  • Anonymous

    In a just world , Al would be behind bars , not bellowing his nonsense on an obscure cable channel .

  • Anonymous

    Al reminds me of a big black cloud that Resist We Much!

  • Anonymous

    true, he is the perfect candidate for Obama

  • James R

    Sharpton is a buffoon!
    He struggles to read the damn telepromptor!
    Watch!
    It looks like a  “See Dick and, Jane and Spot”  during a second
    grade reading session!

  • Anonymous

    So Al Sharpton is now the resident expert on politics and economics at MSNBC?

    It was only a matter of time after Olby didn’t work out. Hey, what’s he doing these days?

  • SNAPTIE

    The Reverend Al is finally telling the truth about the Liberal Media. “Hack and Attack” Edit clips and play the race card. He’s no different than the other buffoons on BSDNC.

  • dflojak

    Please, Rev Al tells the “troof”. Now that’s gramatically correct.

  • i420

    So now Eric5150 is the resident expert on weighing and evaluating on air pundits on cable news?

    Hahahahahahahahahaa!

    Fair warning, when you pull your head out of your butt, the light of day is going to make your eyes ache. Not to worry though, they’ll soon adjust.

  • Anonymous

    Yes. I’m confident in my ability weigh Al not so Sharpton’s ‘opinions’. Now put down the bong.  And when you’re done, go ahead and list Al’s economic and political chops.  I will grant you this, when you’ve got P Krugman as the economic alternative, maybe Al looks a little saner.

  • Anonymous

    An 85 IQ and a race hustle. America really is a great place, anyone can succeed(lie).

  • Anonymous

    In other words, your candidate sucks and you are looking for another verbose candidate that sucks even worse.

    Beautiful.

  • i420

    No bong, no cannabis…its just a moniker.

    And while I don’t watch msnbc, nor tune into whenever it is Sharpton is on…through his highly detailed and easily validated life’s work, he could walk through the doors of any major university in this US, apply for and receive, a degree is political science.

    You seem to have a knack of jumping about to conclusions with no facts in mind. That’d be another thing you might want to rectify before spending anymore energy…being wrong.

  • Anonymous

    MSNBC is a joke, and Al Sharpton in the punch line!

  • Anonymous

    You sure are a snarky little pothead aren’t you?  You seem to leap to quite a lot of conclusions yourself while attempting to call others out for… wait for it… jumping to conclusions.  If you’ll notice, genius, my original post had nothing but questions in it.  Not statements of fact, not opinions, just questions.  YOU on the other hand seem to be a know-it-all with some very declarative statements of “truth”.

    I asked you to list Al’s economic and political chops.  You responded with some inanity about him walking into a university and being awarded a poli sci degree. Do you mean an honorary degree?  Or would it be one of those Sharpton golden oldies of “requesting one, ‘or I’ll go public with your racial discrimination’ “  schemes?  Good one.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SERU4M24YG2D5STAUDGIUNQY7I civet

    I hate to get off-topic here and I don’t want to demean the debate, but it’s about Sharpton’s political opinion so pretty much started on a steep downhill slope at ramming speed anyway so, here goes:
    Does that screenshot of him just below header remind anyone else of a Dr. Seuss character? Is it the shape of  his head or something? Maybe his expression? I don’t remember the resemblance when that hustler was heavier and partial to velour track suits. Why would someone give him a platform to speak to an audience of perhaps dozens, if not hundreds?
    It’s just bugging me. Anyway…  sorry for the interruption.

    Carry on.

  • http://twitter.com/Good_Lt Good Lt.

    How come Obamacrats, with Obama’s truly stellar and unimpeachable record on every issue ever, don’t have a lot to talk about when it comes to their President who we assume will be running on his record in 2012?

  • Anonymous

    He’s telling bad jokes at the Comedy Club called CurrentTV.

  • Anonymous

    He’s telling bad jokes at the Comedy Club called CurrentTV.

  • Anonymous

    There is no one past or present, living or having lived that could run for the GOP nomination and not give Liberal media a LOT to talk about.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NK5INRFELITZ3TS337HINC3VMM Adam

    “The panel pointed out that Perry inspires liberals to respond with an ‘incredible passion and anger’”

    That must mean he’s doing something right. And BTW, Rev. Al, Perry did not advocate seceding. Here’s his exact quote in response to someone at a rally shouting “SECEDE!”:

    “We’ve got a great union. There is absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that? Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.”

    You got that, Al? “THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO DISSOLVE IT.” At worst, he was giving a warning to DC. Based on the entire quote and the context of the exchange, he was likely just giving a hypothetical to an excitable person in the crowd while clearly stating there was no reason for any state including Texas to secede.

  • TruDat

    Wasn’t Rev Hotcomb once running for president in the Democrat Party?  He’s right up their alley.

  • TruDat

    Wasn’t Rev Hotcomb once running for president in the Democrat Party?  He’s right up their alley.

  • Anonymous

    ‘If there isn’t anything to talk about, don’t worry, we’ll take some tape out of context and go with that for a day.’

    That he inspires such vitriol from the left makes me worry Republicans will rally to his flag without vetting him vigorously.

  • http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

    Welp, who would of thought I agree with Al .. I feel Rick Perry announced his run in South Carolina in support for Boeing.. Lifting his nose to Unions and basicly a Union Buster supporter. I accept right to work states, I don’t agree with Union Busting companies such as Boeing. I actually have a hard time accepting unions in government, but they can co-exist and it’s the right of the people to organize if they so choose, granted strikes within government could prove ineffective. Seeing the people and government saves money while they are on strike.

    Perry to “me” is to much Washinton as usual and would be as bad a judgement call as Bush Jr. was. His 10 gallon hat on a 20 gallon head would work with democratic entitlements to continue the spending on war machines for the neocons… both not needed in our present state. Washington as usual.

  • Yukon Jack

    Anyone who “earned” a degree in theology (or in anything, for that matter)at nine years of age is nothing but a political Mozart-wanna-be and not be trusted. Amply proven by his position in the Tawna Browley affair.

    This poverty pimp would be out of a job if the poverty and injustice that he pretends to fight against ever ended.

    His ugly mug is – or should be – the visual illustration of affirmative action and political correctness, to MSNBC’s everlasting shame.

  • MPartusch

    very fun observations – THX – enjoyed reading!
    In truth:
    Strident Right = Limbaugh, HannityStrident Left = Olberman, MaddowRight = O’ReillyLeft = MatthewsCenter Right = ScarboroughCenter Left = (doesn’t exist)

    Beck is a NUT. Someone that previously only filled the same meaningless slot as “Ed” but now, on the radar, is exposed for the nut job he is.

    Sharpton’s lack of substance  might actually succeed in making Beck and ‘Ed’ somewhat relevant!

  • caconservative

    States Rights bother Sharpton? As usual, Sharpton uses a statement about seceding from the Union, taking it out of context and uses it as a Liberal talking point.
    What’s really laughable here is the fact that MSNBC actualy pays this moron to make those statements.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWUMDXSUYVXFOVKEDR7OG3SD7A John Doe

    I’m really enjoying this Rick Perry bashing by the left-wig media over job creation, it truly shows the lunacy of the left and highlights the fact that liberalism is a mental disorder.

    For more than two years Obama has been in office, whenever the job numbers were good the president has been the first to address the media and tout the creation of new jobs as a success of his administration, but in fact about half of all those jobs created for the past two years have been from Texas alone, and in some instances a single firm like McDonald’s has been responsible for a significant number of those jobs created, which the president proudly announces to the media as a sign of the economy getting better.

    So we have the president always taking credit for jobs created in the “country” when job numbers were good, yet the left-wing media now somehow suggests that even the Governor whose single state created half of those jobs for the past 2 years should not take credit for them, but the president can?? The idiocy of the left is overwhelming, but it will backfire between now and Nov 2012 as job numbers keep coming out. The left has made it difficult for Obama to take credit if job numbers improve going forward, because records will still show that Texas created more of those jobs, and it will be very shameful now if Obama portrays it as a success of his administration. Logically Obama and his left-wing media cronies cannot claim credit for “jobs created in the country” without indirectly highlighting the success of the state of Texas in creating half of those jobs compared to the other 49 states…LOL The same way Obama cannot take personal credit for killing Osama Bin Laden and at the same time undermine the success of the Navy Seals and the CIA, by suggesting that the operation was successful because of advantages unique to the CIA and Seal Team 6.

    Everything with obama is always somebody’s or something’s fault, even Texas’s success is the fault of the “unique advantages” Texas has, it is never because Obama’s failed policies or the good policies of Rick Perry’s administration in Texas.

    The new theory by the left(including left-wing media) is that Texas success is due to advantages that are unique to Texas….LOL There are no “unique advantages” in Texas that other states do not have if they want to; it is the Government’s policies that creates opportunities for prosperity and not mother nature….godammit!

    Facts are never convenient for the left, I have said this before. Maybe the left-wing media should highlight these reasons for Texas’s success, rather than trying to fool the public:

    Texas Levies No Personal Income Taxes
    Texas Collects No Corporate Income Taxes
    Texas is one of the 13 states that collect no state-level property taxes
    Texas’ State and Local Tax Burden Among Nation’s Lowest(currently estimated at 7.9% of income)below the national average of 9.8%
    Currently Texas taxpayers pay only $3,197 per capita in state and local taxes.(NY is double this amount).

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWUMDXSUYVXFOVKEDR7OG3SD7A John Doe

    And we will much, because we much

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