The Media-Al Sharpton Love Affair: What's Up with That?

Please Larry King, retire already and take Al Sharpton with you. Blind leading the blind (that’s a Christian reference, by the way) as King and Sharpton discussed Barack Obama’s religion last night.

Of course, they mentioned that Obama “cleared things up” in his interview with Brian Williams on NBC, but the Cold Hearted Social Engineer in the White House did anything but clear things up. Williams never asked him for answers and Obama never gave them. That interview goes down in history as one of the most vague and innocuous ever. Nothin’ asked, nothin’ said and nothin’ learned. Watch the part about religion and you will know exactly what I mean. It’s about 2:30 in and you will agree. Nothin’ said.

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But, my point here is not about Obama’s religion (he did have a Christian cross covered with a black sheet during a speech at Georgetown University) but about why Al Sharpton is still the source the media goes to when searching for answers about anything.

Anybody remember Tawana Brawley?

November will mark the 23rd anniversary (do you think the media will do an “Anniversary Special” on this story?) since Brawley claimed she was raped and beaten by a group of six white men who also wrote racial epithets on her body. Horrible allegations. Sharpton soon became her advisor and inflamed the public with racial tension. The media moved full speed ahead assuming the story was true (think, Duke Rape Case.) Problem was, there was no truth to the story. Brawley made it up.

Sharpton was later sued and had to pay damages to one of those falsely accused.

So, at what point do you lose credibility as a source for the media? That should’ve been a deal breaker right there. Tawana Brawley should have been enough for everybody in the media to ignore Al Sharpton forever, especially on issues of inflaming racial tension (which was the reason he was on King’s show.)

Still, some producer on Larry King Live thought Sharpton would be best to talk to on this issue. It’s the media that keeps Sharpton and Jesse Jackson out there to inflame the public on racial issues. The media could put an end to this madness, but they choose not to. It’s the media that keeps Sharpton’s dream of more airtime alive. I can’t look at him without thinking “Tawana Brawley.” Credibility lost is credibility lost.

Why not call Michael Steele next time? How about J. C. Watts, or how about this, AlfonZo Rachel? Don’t know AlfonZo Rachel? You do now.

Bless Sharpton for his ability to use the media. He is a master at manipulating those who are ready, willing and able to be manipulated at the drop of a mic flag. Those in the media say they are always looking for something new, something fresh, a new angle on an old story. Long ago Sharpton lost credibility and he is as stale as they come. I can tell you exactly what he’s going to say before he says it. So can you.

Next time, just for fun Larry King Live, give Zo a call. Be prepared with the paddles. Larry will be in for a shock.