How desperate is McCain: Tried to use Sharpton statement

[ProSense]

August 01, 2008

McCain circulates Sharpton statement

Interesting timing for McCain's campaign to e-mail around a positive statement from the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Under the heading, "In case you missed it, " the campaign sent out Sharpton's and New York Schools chief Joel Klein's acknowledgement of McCain's praise for a New York program.

McCain is walking a delicate line here: If he's seen — as he's trying to cast himself — as the victim of a false charge of racism, he can do real damage to Obama; but if he's seen as playing the race card himself, there's lots of room for his decision to raise the temperature on race to backfire with black and white voters. The apparent embrace of Sharpton — who is loathed by many Republicans — seems meant as a moderating gesture.

Sharpton, meanwhile, has a second statement out distancing himself from McCain:

While I am gratified that Sen. McCain has joined us in endorsing the principles of the Education Equality Project, I do not want to see this endorsement used as a political weapon nor as an opportunity for Sen. McCain to use this as an attack on Sen. Obama," he says."I disagree with Sen. McCain using the fight for education equality in a political way and I disagree with Sen. McCain's statement that Sen. Obama used the race card."

[redstate_democrat]

1. This is nothing but a way for the McCain camp to drag Sharpton into the debate

and further keep people's brains on RACE RACE RACE. Why the fuck do they care about what Al Sharpton has to say? Really? Think about it.

They aren't fooling anyone.

[ProSense]

2. Yeah, McCain's embrace of Sharpton is going to go over

big with the wingnuts. McPoodle is trying to leverage that moderate, maverick image again.

He's all over the place pissing off and alienating people. How many people did he piss off today?

[redstate_democrat]

6. I don't think he is trying to leverage anything by using Sharpton.

The people who will vote for him really dislike Sharpton. And he knows he hasn't a chance with black folks. So what's the deal? He's trying to drag Sharpton into the ruckus and get a public conversation going between Sharpton, Obama, and himself. I really wish Sharpton would have ignored McCain's statement. Now Sharpton is injected into the race. Reporters will ask McCain how he feels about Sharpton asking McCain not to use him for political reasons and McCain gets to act SHOCKED! SHOCKED!

[ProSense]

7. McCain spoke before the Urban League today.

The Sharpton comment had nothing to do with the race issue.

[nsd]

3. Exactly.

Smith is wrong. This was not a "moderating gesture" -- it was an attempt to inject race further into the debate. The McCain campaign is showing its true colors.

[ErinBerin84]

4. let's go over things

from the cheese aisle to Fudge Hause to Paris Hilton to Moses. Yes, the desperation is in the air


Heh, did anyone see on Race to the White House when "Rev" (snerk) Joe Watkins kept trying to slip in that Obama was "race baiting" and "trying to start a race war" and Rachel finally said "JOE, WHERE are you getting this from, that he race baited?" and Joe said "I've been dealing with this all of my life, I'M BLACK!"

[redstate_democrat]

5. Right

How convenient was it for him to point out his own race when Rachel began kicking his ass in debate on the topic.

What kind of card was HE pulling? I guess it's not the race card if you're trying to excuse a fellow republican's racist behavior.