Today's Robert D. Novak column - Democrats recognizing Sharpton as their worst nightmare:
Ever since Democrats gathered in Washington Jan. 21 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of legalized abortion, the party’s deep thinkers have been brooding. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who preached before he could read or write, made five white opponents for the Presidential nomination look prosaic. In the three weeks since, more prominent Democrats have come to regard the 48-year-old Pentecostal minister from Harlem as their worst nightmare.As ye sow, so shall ye reap. The Rev was just a local thug until they promoted him.
How could the world’s oldest political party be threatened by a professional troublemaker accused of not paying his taxes and found guilty of defaming innocent public officials? The answer is found in two independent polls. Zogby shows Sharpton with 20 percent of the African-American vote for President, and InsiderAdvantage gives him 28 percent. These startling numbers come in advance of Sharpton’s campaign to extend his presence beyond the boundaries of New York City.
This is a problem waiting to happen for the Democratic Party thanks to reliance on black voters, particularly in the South. Democrats dodged the bullet when the Rev. Jesse Jackson ran for President (and succeeded in ruining young Al Gore’s 1988 bid aimed at sweeping Southern primaries). This reliance is much stronger 15 years later, and a black candidate promises to distort an already confused contest for the nomination.
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While big-gun Democrats stay silent, the party’s advocates mount a barrage against Sharpton. The February cover story of the left-wing American Prospect magazine, "Al ‘The Rev.’ Sharpton vs. The Democrats," excoriates his public record. The same accusations were made to Sharpton’s face on CNN’s "Crossfire" by former Clinton Presidential aide Paul Begala. Normally, the American Prospect and Begala reserve their attacks for George W. Bush and members of his administration.
However, Sharpton is tougher than usual Republican targets. Whenever Begala interrupted him, Sharpton interrupted back. When Begala demanded a "yes or no" answer to whether he would support any Democratic Presidential nominee, Sharpton responded: "I’m going to answer it my way. You know, you all have to get used to (it). You all can’t give orders no more, Paul. There are grown up folk in this party now, and we’re going to answer the questions the way we believe."
