The Political Wire: Sharpton Blasts ‘John’ Huckabee Over Confederate Flag Remarks
(4:55 p.m. ET)
The Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement Friday chastising one “John Huckabee” for saying South Carolina should be able to decide whether it wants to fly the Confederate flag.
Of course he meant Mike Huckabee — the GOP candidate who on the campaign trail Thursday said outsiders should not tell South Carolina what to do when it comes to that flag.
Either way, as the controversy of race settles on the Democratic side, Sharpton said Republican Huckabee is now offending the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
“In the midst of a national celebration of the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. around his birthday, and right before the South Carolina primary John Huckabee has sought to divide this country between Blacks and whites, and north and south by implicitly supporting South Carolina’s right to fly the Confederate flag over its state capitol,” he said. “Mr. Huckabee’s position is a direct slap at Dr. King and all that he fought for. To many Americans, especially those whose ancestors were enslaved here in America, the Confederate flag is a symbol of repression, violence, slavery and attempted secession from these United States. By its very definition, the flag represents division.”
The Reviews Are in — Candidates React to Bush Speech on Party Lines
(1:40 p.m. ET)
Democrats on Capitol Hill responded favorably to President Bush’s economic stimulus proposal Friday, but on the campaign trail the message from Democratic candidates was a bit different: too little too late.
They also used Bush’s speech, where he called for immediate income tax relief and business incentives, as a moment to highlight their own economic plans in the runup to the Nevada caucuses Saturday.
“After months and months of watching families struggle to get by in this economy, George Bush finally offered a plan that would leave out tens of millions of working Americans and seniors who need help most and are most likely to spend and boost our economy. That’s why when I announced my economic stimulus package last week, I called for immediate tax relief for working families and seniors who shouldn’t have to wait for help any longer,” Barack Obama said in a statement.
“Based on press reports I don’t think it does enough. It talks about giving direct payments to people which is good. I’m for that,” Hillary Clinton said at a union printing shop in Las Vegas. “But at least based on what we’ve been told, it leaves out 50 million people, some low income and some on fixed incomes who are seniors. I think we can do better than that.”
John Edwards also released a statement, saying: “American families cannot wait any longer for swift and decisive action. After years of stagnant wages, the economy may be slipping into a recession and if we don’t act now we may make our problems worse. The economic damage done by Bush and Cheney is deep and long-lasting, and the temporary tax cuts he proposes will not solve it alone. Making matters worse, his plan provides little or no help to some 50 million low-income and middle class families.”
GOP candidates were more receptive.
Rudy Giuliani said in a statement it was “positive step toward re-energizing the American economy.”
Mike Huckabee said it was a good plan, but that Washington still needs to pass a Fair Tax, the national sales tax he supports.
Clinton, Obama Each Snag Nevada Paper Endorsement
(10:16 a.m. ET)
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each took home an endorsement from a Nevada newspaper Friday, one day before the state’s competitive Democratic caucuses.
The endorsements seemed to sum up the tone of the race between the two candidates, underscoring the credentials of one and the vision of the other.
The Las Vegas Sun highlighted Clinton’s experience and record of leadership in its endorsement of the New York senator.
“Clinton has a long and substantial record of leadership fighting on behalf of working Americans and children, and it is this experience and her passion for creating a better country that would serve this nation so well,” the Sun wrote.
The Reno Gazette-Journal highlighted Obama’s instincts, vision and personal characteristics in its endorsement of the Illinois senator.
“Obama embodies the political and ideological perspectives that the party projects,” the paper wrote. “He represents the platform of political unity and workable populist economics that he and party members believe will reinvigorate the economy and solve many of the other problems the nation is facing…”
Has anyone ever ask Obama why he would’nt put his hand over his heart during the star spangle banner, or with him being of muslim descent how tough he would be on the radical muslims, or if hillary or him or any other democrat would even know what to do if or when we get attacked again, say what you want about BUSH AND THE WAR BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ATTACKED SINCE 911 AND THAT WAS CAUSED BY A WEAK ON DEFENSE TO BUSY WITH A INTERN BILL CLINTON, DO ANY OF YOU WANT THAT AGAIN I’D RATHER FIGHT THEM IN IRAQ AND AFGANISTAN THAN ON OUR OWN SOIL AND I THINK THATS WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH HILLARY, AND OBAMA MIGHT JUST LET THEM IN.
Obama’s oldest brother lives in Kenya, there is a bloody conflict going on there which has already claimed some 700 lives. Obama seems to have sided with opposition leader Raila Odinga, head of the same Luo tribe to which Obama’s late muslin father belonged. Obama’s brother Abongo “Roy” Obama is a Luo activist and a militant Muslin who argues that the black man must “liberate himself from the poisoning influences of European culture”. He urges his younger brother to embrace his Africian heritage.
Odinga is a Marxist who reportedly has made a pact with a hard-line Islamic group in Kenya to establish Shariah courts throughout the country. He has also vowed to ban booze and pork and impose Muslim dress codes on women—moves favored by Obama’s brother.
Obama interupted his New Hampshire campaigning to speak by phone with Odinga, who claims to be his cousin. Obama was raised by two Muslim fathers and attended Islamic classes in Indonesia. Obama denies being Muslim, says he is christian, however, if Obama was ever muslim as a youth, he would now be viewed as an apostate, which in radical Islam is punishable by death. A president Obama could be the target of a fatwah.
His Muslim heritage is not the signal issue before the electorate, it’s his Afrocentric church, which preaches black socialism and black nativism, and his family ties to an African tribe thats’ fanning the flames of Marxism and militant Islam in a country once considered strongly demoratic and a friend of the U.S.
“I believe in the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change,” Obama has asserted. He also says his faith has led him to question “the idolarty of the free market”. If a President Obama’s foreign and domestic policies are anything like the Afrocentric doctrine he’s pledged to uphold, Americans will pay a hefty price, including those among the growing black middle class.
Liz
I forsee a Hillary for president and Obama for vice president signs in the making. Place your bets now!
I could care less that Hillary is a democrat (I generally vote republican), and I could care less that she’s a woman (I’m not). My problem with Hillary Clinton is that she is one of the most partisan candidates in either party. What this country needs is someone who will honestly try to bridge the gap and build consensus for change. Hillary cares about one thing…Hillary Clinton…no matter what she says in the standard stump speeches.
Left/right partisan posturing has paralyzed the federal government. Nothing is ever accomplished because everyone is worried about who’ll get the credit for it. “Oh, we can’t pass this legislation or so-and-so will get to take credit in the next election.” They’d rather play gridlock for four years and then chew each other up for stalling reforms. Both sides are equally at fault.
Vote for change and send the political insiders like Clinton, McCain, Edwards, and Guiliani packing their bags. Hillary’s “experience” that she likes to talk about just means that she’s set in her ways…the same old Washington ways. Fresh ideas are what’s needed in this government. Whether you’re republican or democrat, vote for someone who’ll bring a new perspective.
Go Mitt! BOO on Huckabee and that flag comment.
Here’s a toast to the very few American Hero’s running in this race for the Presidency…the very few who BELIEVE in America…who inspire, who are positive, and give us hope for a bright future.. .. as opposed to all the vile, dispicable, underhanded partisanship and backstabbing propaganda torrents spewed from the left and the right’s “establishment”, “insider” candidates..
Here’s to those very few candidates who, LIKE RONALD REAGAN… can UNITE the UNITED STATES of AMERICA again!!!! Who can put the broken pieces back together and heal us as a nation…ROMNEY and OBAMA!!!
I SO desperately hope that America gets one or the other of these two fine candidates as our next President. We desperately need them right now.
The entrenched bitterness, and devisiveness of the Clinton/McCain old stuffy wealthy privileged elitist Washington insiders who care more for their own bank accounts and sense of entitlement to eternal power and control over US, the PEOPLE (and our money/lives) needs to be stopped DEAD…and NOW!!!
OBAMA/ROMNEY in 2008!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!
Lincoln was Republican. Romney Sr. marched with and supported Martin Luther King Jr…..and Mitt Romney along with Obama are UNITERS and not DIVIDERS….think about a healed, unified America…how STRONG we would be as a nation..and without all the division like we have at present just how SERIOUSLY our enemies would HAVE to take us!!! THINK ABOUT IT FOLKS!!!! ROMNEY or OBAMA in 2008!!!
Cheers….
three things scare me :- Osama, Obama, & your mama(hillary)
Huck is practicing divisive politics? This coming from the biggest racist in the nation, Fat Albert Sharpton.
Sharpton Should learn more about Huckabee before blasting him. Huckabee did alot to help african americans when he was Gov. It is a shame that a leader like sharpton cannot take the time to find out what a person stands for.
Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson both are the Martin l. King wannabes . Its ashame they can run their mouths radicaly. if its not what they want to hear or if it not their way it should be no way. thats crap .. sharpton and jackson both say they are preachers, if so how can they be democrats ? democrats are for gays,abortions,etc, inwhich is abomanation against God. These are facts in the Holy Bible that is of Gods teachings. if they were indeed preachers called by God to spread his word then they should spread his truth not theirs or radical socialist democrats ,libral democrats or just plain democrats that want to turn our country into just what they want it to be ……THEY ARE SOMEONE HIGHER WATCHING ALL OF YOU . I would hate to be in your shoes…