The so-called “Reverend” Al Sharpton, defender of all things racial has turned religious bigot. In a debate with Christopher Hitchens, Mr. Sharpton implied that Mormons don’t really believe in God. Quipped Sharpton:
“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation.”
The story has been picked up by the AP and is now appearing in newspapers all over the country, including this version form the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who recently urged that radio host Don Imus be fired for making a racially insensitive remark, said in a debate that “those of us who believe in God” will defeat Republican Mitt Romney for the White House. But Sharpton denied he was questioning the Mormon’s own belief in God.
Rather, the New York Democrat said he was contrasting himself with Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author he was debating at the time.
“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation,” Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library’s Beaux-Arts headquarters.
The comment was first reported Tuesday in a blog on The New York Times’s Web site.
Fresh off his high moral crusade to make the world safe from the likes of Don Imus, it appears Mr. Sharpton’s halo has fallen just a bit. Hugh Hewitt has two good posts, I recommend here and here. J. Daniel Crawford also has an excellent post on Sharpton over here at BCC.
My sincere hope is that the media plays out this Sharpton debacle as forcefully and as loud did Sharpton on the Imus comments. Mr. Sharpton, religious bigotry has no place in the public discourse. Your jocular repartee with Mr. Hitchens belittles 12 million Mormons world wide. We are just as deserving of respect and dignity for our religious beliefs as was the Rutger’s women’s basket ball team for their racial heritage. At least Don Imus had the decency to apologize for his remarks. We’re still waiting for yours.
Update 5/8/07 9:35 p.m. Watch Brother Al on You Tube here.
May 8, 2007 at 8:02 pm
It seems that we may be reading Sharpton’s comments out of context. He was talking about Hitchens and not Romney when he mention those who do not believe in god. He was talking about the Dems beating the Republican, not the “real” Christians beating the Mormons. I think that we need to relax. The PBS documentary has us on edge.
May 8, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Chris H . . I don’t know. The NY Times blogger as well as Hewitt, and many others I have come across read it this way. Most of these folks, probably all, are not Mormon. I actually like the PBS documentary; but, you’re right–many did not and there could be some edge–but not here. I actually think Sharpton meant it as a jab at Mitt and the Mormons.
May 8, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I do not think that he really cares enough about Mitt or Mormon’s to make such a jab. Most people do not, particularly political big mouths from NYC. His point was that the Dems will win. Of course, Mitt is not going to get the nomination, so “those of us who believe in God” will likely have to defeat another Republican. I hope so. This is not about theology, it is overblown political rhetoric.
May 9, 2007 at 1:13 am
“And as for the one Mormon running for office, those the really believe in God will defeat him anyways. So dont worry about that. That’s a temporary,. . that’s a temporary, . . a, . . situation (Laugh).”
Sounds like a jab at Mitt and Mormons to me.
May 9, 2007 at 8:23 am
I think it’s rather humorous that LDS are up in arms over this statement. Read on its face, it’s not a jab at Mormons. It’s a jab at Mitt Romney. If you reject all of Sharpton’s later explanations, you’re left with him making a public suggestion that Mitt Romney isn’t really a believer in deity.
So far, it appears that Romney believes in two things: money and power. His belief in principles, let alone deity, seems to be rather chameleon-like, depending on which electorate he’s trying to grab.
May 9, 2007 at 9:48 am
http://www.wonkette.com/politics/dept%27-of-people-who-say-obnoxious-stuff-for-a-living/todays-bigot-al-sharpton-258998.php
Eh, its Al Sharpton. I personally think its kind of funny that the LDS bloggernacle is getting offended by this.
May 9, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Nick & Sherpa:
Yeah, I know Al Sharpton is not a serious person. But, the fact a moron makes disparaging remarks about religion doesn’t excuse it.
Would it be appropriate for him to have said:
Of course not. The ADL would have been all over him, and rightly so. The continual reference to Mitt Romney as the “Mormon” candidate for president is inappropriate on its face. No one refers to McCain as the Episcopalian candidate, or Rudy Giuliani as the Roman Catholic candidate. Why? Again it is inappropriate to do so.
The fact these comments were made by possibly the most opportunistic hypocrite on the planet only compounds the problem. I am pleased to see him take the heat in the media. He deserves everything he gets.
I don’t think it matters what one thinks of Romney. Personally I doubt I will support his presidential bid–but the time has long past that people think it is ok or funny to make fun of the Mormon in the crowd.
May 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Sherpa,
BTW, thanks for the Wonkette link. I thought it was funny.
May 10, 2007 at 6:41 am
fwiw, in terms of media play, it’s Christmas at the Romneys and Sharpton is Santa Claus
May 11, 2007 at 8:52 am
[...] First there was the bigoted comment from Al Sharpton. [...]
May 13, 2007 at 8:56 am
If Sharpton had made a bigoted statement about a Catholic it would be no big deal; it’s polictically correct because EVERY Catholic is pro-life. But Sharpton stuck his foot in his big mouth. It won’t make the headlines that Imus did because people are afraid of him.
April 27, 2008 at 5:57 pm
[...] Hat tip photo: Messenger and Advocate. [...]
April 26, 2010 at 5:37 pm
I beleive Al Sharpton to be a big pain, and a trouble maker. he’s nothing but an ambulance chaser.
August 16, 2010 at 3:04 pm
[...] First there was the bigoted comment from Al Sharpton. [...]