Rev. Al Sharpton is "threatening" to run for president again:
"If somebody picks up a strong agenda, I won't. But if not, maybe, and we'll see or we should see by late spring or the summer if someone does," Mr. Sharpton said.
I have a sneaking suspicion that agendas have nothing to do with Al's frustation...
Al tried to warn us a few weeks ago, but apparently he didn't think we were listening to him:
"If we're talking about the urban agenda, can you tell me anybody else in the field who's representing that right now?" Sharpton asked. "We clearly have a reason to run, and whether we do it or not we'll see over the next couple of months."
The problem here is that talking about just the urban agenda doesn't help America as a whole. When you're running for Governor or Mayor or Alderman you can get regional. And Lord knows that the "urban agenda" needs some attention. But to make this your platform automatically cuts out a chunk of the country, namely those living in suburban and rural areas.
And it's in rural areas where Democrats can make the most gains. But for the sake of argument, lets take a brief look at what "urban issues" aren't being addressed.
Let's start with something obvious: Bush's ommission of New Orleans and other areas hit by Hurricane Katrina from his SOTUA. Well, there are hearings going on as we speak, and Barack Obama is visiting the area today.
What else could be important? Crime; try Dennis Kucinich. Health Care? Both Hillary and Obama (there's that name again) have ideas; and cretainly universal health care, if done correctly, can be a big benefit to urban-Americans. How about, I don't know, the damn war?!? I mean, certainly recruiters have been targeting urban areas for more cannon fodder volunteers so ending that would be a good idea, right Al? Well, anyone who watches C-SPAN can see what John Kerry and Ted Kennedy are doing, and those guys aren't even running!
So what, really, is your threat about, Mr. Sharpton?
"Right now we're hearing a lot of media razzle dazzle," Sharpton said. "I'm not hearing a lot of meat, or a lot of content. I think when the meat hits the fire, we'll find out if it's just fat or if there's some real meat there."
Maybe he's just talking about the media, because everyone I've mentioned has been quoted as endorsing/supporting/speaking out on something. Or maybe there's a part of him that can't accept that another black man has become a darling of the party, and he didn't have to rely on single-issues or the Civil Rights Movement to get where he is.
Now's not the time to let your ego get in the way, Al. Don't be the "black Ralph Nader."