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by Rachel Noerdlinger
New York— (2/20/04) Presidential candidate, Rev. Al Sharpton today commended John Edwards and John Kerry for backing away from a proposal for one-on-one debates against each other after Sharpton expressed outrage at opposition to the proposed California Larry King Debate and a plan for one on one debates in Atlanta that was reported on Fox News Channel and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Sharpton thanked the Kerry and Edwards for heeding his call for inclusion in the upcoming debates so that the American communities he represents “can keep a place on the dais so that we may continue to strive for a place at the table.”
“I commend John Edwards and John Kerry for realizing that Presidential debates should not be an exclusive club, but should be open to all major candidates— especially those who have won delegates and clearly represent an important part of the American electorate,” said Sharpton. “Edwards has correctly spoken of the need to bridge the gap between the ‘Two Americas.’ How can we do this if we exclude the voices of urban minority populations from the national debate? I am pleased that both candidates agree with me that the full mosaic of America should have a place in our national debate.”
“Being invited to our currently scheduled Democratic Presidential debates is not enough- that should be a given,” added Sharpton. “It is vital that all Democrats realize that we cannot beat Bush without reaching out to America’s urban communities—therefore I challenge all the remaining Democratic Presidential candidates to debate me anytime, at any location in Harlem.”
In recent weeks Rev. Sharpton’s campaign has made great strides, taking third place in South Carolina, and winning delegates and surpassing Edwards in urban areas with second place finishes in Washington D.C. and Detroit while outperforming better-funded opponents such as Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman and Wes Clark.
“I am only candidate speaking to urban voters everyday and scoring victories in minority communities in each Primary,” said Sharpton. “Now more than ever it is essential that we come together to engage communities of color living in our cities to increase turnout to get rid of George Bush.”
Rev. Sharpton will continue to concentrate his national grassroots effort to mobilize support in urban areas of key states across the nation including Buffalo, Atlanta, Oakland, Los Angeles and New York City to maximize minority turnout for the Super Tuesday Primaries March 2.
Reprinted from www.sharpton2004.org
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SHARPTON HAILS MICHIGAN RESULTS Detroit, MI—The Rev. Al Sharpton won eight delegates in the two Congressional Districts that comprise the city of Detroit in Saturday’s Michigan Caucuses. Sharpton actually took first place in the vote at the actual caucus sites and ran a strong second only after Internet votes were added.
Ironically, in October 2003 Sharpton, joined by Kerry, wrote a letter to DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe opposing the Internet Primary proposal on the grounds that it disenfranchised minorities.
“As we feared, Michigan’s high tech poll tax has diluted the voices of minority voters in Detroit’s urban communities in the Michigan Caucuses,” said Sharpton. “The racial divide in America is also a Digital Divide. America’s urban poor are not online and are more concerned with making ends meet than the latest software.”
According to the Associated Press, the Michigan Democratic Party kept caucuses in Detroit open two hours later than planned after receiving complaints from supporters of Dean and Edwards that voting sites had been closed or moved. Due to these “irregularities” the urban polls remained open up to three hours later- delaying the report of Sharpton’s strong showing in Detroit until after midnight.
“I congratulate Senator Kerry on his victory, but believe Saturday’s results of the Caucuses in Detroit prove my point,” said Sharpton. “We must reach these disaffected urban voters in order to beat George Bush.”
“I believe blocs of urban voters, like those who spoke so loudly for me in Detroit, will continue to support me in every urban community in the nation because they are tired of being cut off from the political process,” added Sharpton.
The Sharpton campaign will now focus on winning delegates in urban centers in Richmond, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Buffalo, Oakland, Los Angeles, Miami, Tampa and other cities.
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SHARPTON CARRIES CITY OF DETROIT AT POLLS
DETROIT AT POLLS------
SWEEPS 8 DELEGATES!
Detroit, MI—The Rev. Al Sharpton won eight delegates and carried the two Congressional Districts that comprise the city of Detroit in the Michigan Caucuses today.
Sharpton prevailed at the actual Caucus sites where he came in first, and Senator Kerry came in second. Only when there were Internet votes added did Senator Kerry receive more votes.
“I congratulate Senator Kerry, but believe today’s results of the Caucuses in Detroit prove my point,” said Sharpton. “America has a digital divide. These are voters we must reach to defeat George Bush.”
“I opposed Internet voting, along with Senator Kerry,” said Sharpton. “The people who voted for me are disenfranchised. The poor people in our urban areas aren’t on the Net, they are more concerned about paying the bills than with the latest computer software,” said Rev. Sharpton. “This is part of the message my delegates will bring to Boston in July. These people are essential for victory in November.”
Rev. Sharpton said he would concentrate his search for delegates in American urban centers, including New York, Los Angeles, Oakland, Atlanta, Buffalo, Miami, Chicago and Washington, DC.
“We believe that we won as many as eight delegates in these two districts,” said Sharpton. “These ranks will grow as my campaign moves to urban America.”
Rev. Sharpton is scheduled to make four appearances Sunday morning in Richmond, VA. |
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SHARPTON SHOWS AT NAACP DEBATE Debates Empty Chairs While Crowd Blasts No Shows
DETROIT – The Reverend Al Sharpton showed up at the NAACP Presidential Debate in Detroit Michigan but his opponents did not.
“I am a candidate that understands the problems of America’s cities, poverty, drugs, crime, schools and guns”, said Sharpton. “We must show the Democratic Party that those in our inner-cities, predominately African Americans and Latinos, must not have their agenda forgotten after the election”.
Sharpton took issue questions for almost two hours which was broadcast on local cable and Detroit television stations. “My campaign for justice and equality will continue and I will not waver until we have a seat at the table of the Democratic Party and our piece of the American dream”.
COCHRAN CALL INTO 85,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SHARPTON PUSH Rachel Noerdlinger published on: February 3, 2004 COCHRAN CALL INTO 85,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SHARPTON PUSH
Columbia, SC— Super Lawyer, Johnnie Cochran will “make the case” to at least 50,000 South Carolina African American Democratic Primary voters for the Reverend Al Sharpton tomorrow.
The Sharpton campaign released a taped message that will be phoned to Primary voters tomorrow beginning at 8:00 am until the polls close. The message will also play on African American, Gospel and Hip Hop radio stations tomorrow.
An audio file is attached to this email – listen to Johnnie Cochran.
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SHARPTON BEATS DEAN, CLARK, LIEBERMAN IN S.C. Campaign moves to Michigan
South Carolina – The Reverend Al Sharpton defeated former front runner Howard Dean, General Wesley Clark and 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman in South Carolina last night, running third behind Senators John Edwards and John Kerry, garnering over 25,000 votes in the process.
“The Sharpton campaign was outspent 40 to 1”, said campaign manger Charles Halloran. “The Reverend’s strong showing over better funded opponents is a testimony to Al Sharpton’s skills in communicating his message”.
Sharpton said he would continue his campaign to ensure that African American and Latino voters are not taken for granted by the Democratic Party and said he planned campaign appearances in the upcoming Primary States of Michigan and Virginia among others.
“Our campaign is not about the horse race”, said Sharpton. “Our campaign is about the make up of the Democratic platform and guaranteeing that our needs are not forgotten after the election”.
“We will continue to run a grass-roots campaign to keep pressure on the Democratic Party to ensure that all Americans have their shot at the American dream”, said Sharpton. SHARPTON PREVAILS IN EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE OATH IN SC DEM PRIMARY Rachel Noerdlinger published on: February 3, 2004 SHARPTON PREVAILS IN EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE OATH IN SC DEM PRIMARY Sharpton Credits Irwin, Gentle Persuasion in Eliminating Controversial Measure
Columbia, SC— Rev. Al Sharpton today thanked South Carolina Democratic Party Chair, Joe Irwin for granting his request to eliminate the requirement that voters sign an oath that “consider themselves to be a Democrat” in tomorrow’s Presidential Primary. Sharpton argued that such an oath would unnecessarily discourage people from voting and worked closely with Democratic officials to remove it.
“The Democratic Party should be coming up with ways to bring more people into the fold and more people to the polls rather than discouraging them from voting,” said Sharpton. “I applaud Joe Irwin and the leadership of the South Carolina Democratic Party for granting our request to remove the oath from the Primary.”
“As a candidate that will be drawing significant support from voters who will be going to the polls for the first time tomorrow, I am very pleased that we were able to work this out by gentle persuasion rather than confrontation,” added Sharpton.
Sharpton has campaigned vigorously in South Carolina, visiting the state more than any other Presidential candidate in 2003 and 2004. A poll of South Carolina Democratic Primary voters released today by CBS News has Sharpton gaining five points running in third place at 13%, in front of Clark who is at 10%, Dean who is at 8% and Lieberman at 6% while running behind John Kerry at 24% and John Edwards at 28%.
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