Will Al Sharpton help or harm Obama in 2012?
In the first push of his re-election campaign, the president shares the stage with the ever-controversial Sharpton. Smart move?
President Obama delivered a speech Wednesday at the annual convention of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, in an apparent attempt to shore up African-American support for his just-launched re-election campaign. Sharpton is a notoriously polarizing figure, and Obama mostly kept the civil rights leader at arm's length during the run-up to the 2008 election. Does Obama need Sharpton this time around, or will courting him backfire?
This photo opp will come back to haunt Obama: Sharpton's group has plastered its website with pictures of its leader being chummy with Obama, says Jonathan Turley at his blog. You can bet Republicans will be "featuring the same photographs" to link the president to "Sharpton's history of race-baiting and demagoguery." Sharpton may have the ear of some black voters, but a much larger crowd sees Sharpton and thinks about "alleged corrupt practices."
"Obama embraces Al Sharpton with major appearance"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It is risky, but Sharpton's support will pay off: Love him or hate him, "Sharpton is emerging as 'the president' of black America," says Dominic Carter at Politico. Obama, the nation's first black president, "has largely finessed the topic of race," but that has opened him up to "growing criticism from some African-American leaders that he lacks a 'black agenda.'" Sharpton's enthusiastic backing will cool the "smoldering" complaints, and get black voters to show up at the polls and vote Obama.
"Al Sharpton plays politics for President Obama"
Sharpton is not as toxic as he once was: Sharpton isn't as much of a provocateur as he used to be, says Ron Scherer at The Christian Science Monitor. These days, he's more keen on conferring with cabinet officials or lobbying Wall Streeters for donations than hurling rhetorical firebombs into the national race debate. "The economic recovery has left many blacks and other minority workers behind" — showing Sharpton some respect sends the message that Obama cares.
"Obama's nod to Al Sharpton: asset or liability for 2012 reelection bid?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published