Word. I am with Prof. Loury on this one. Give Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Benjamin Crump their due. For long they (especially Sharpton) have exploited the optics of tragic encounters between White cops and Black civilian suspects to claim systemic racism in policing, which the data does not support. This time their support of the White victim's family is commendable, and points to the truth that all groups are affected by these tragedies. In fact they should do this more often. Let them be visible every time a White perp gets taken out, and they will get tired quickly as there are more White victims of police action than Black.
The motives of all people, including Al Sharpton, are complicated and layered. Some are more so than others, but not one of us is all good or all bad. Not one. We are all motivated by self-interest and altruistic concerns at the same time, marbled together, though the percentages may vary considerably person to person. Instinctively, I have never trusted Al Sharpton, though as a lapsed progressive I have certainly seen him spout his words many times. I am well aware that he is a powerful and important leader. But I disagree with the idea that Glenn should not give “credit where it is due.” Glenn is not empowering Al Sharpton by giving this credit. Glenn and John’s chat makes pretty much zero difference to Al Sharpton’s power or influence, especially given that Glenn has made his critiques mightily clear in the past. Glenn is acknowledging that this was a good step to have been taken, a step that a moral person with great influence who wishes to heal our racial divides would take. None of us know the heart of another. Sharpton may have been moved by cynical and strategic reasons to attend that funeral and speak. OK, yes, almost certainly that is the case. That is the way of most people in positions of power. But he could also have been moved as a human being, to care about this kid who was killed and help his grieving family. Unless he is a psychopath, which seems pretty unlikely, this could be the case. Glenn’s praise did not raise Al Sharpton in my eyes. It raised Glenn further in my eyes because it was honest. And that is the kind of discourse I wish to see.
I will admit to not having the highest opinion of Al Sharpton, but when someone does the right thing I am more inclined than not to praise his decision, if not him!
Let me be clear, Al Sharpton is, has always been and will always be a mean spirited power hungry race bating antisemite of the lowest order. You made these points in your NYTimes piece.
Reverend Al does nothing that doesn't serve his racist anti liberal agenda. He had no compassion for the folks he visited in Arkansas, rather he went there to generate media coverage in support of his anti law enforcement putsch. He deserves no praise for this. In my opinion (for what it's worth) you're on the wrong side of this one and Mr. Roscoe's critique is on the mark. Sometimes it's better to admit a mistake and move on.
I've noticed that at times in your podcasts you feel the need to play the "devil's advocate" or "the honest broker". In my opinion (again, for what it's worth) I would be a bit more thoughtful in how I go about it. Just sayin', the folks that consider you a sellout conservative Uncle Tom ain't gonna start liking you even if you through them the occasional bone. Frankly, I would have thought that you had figured this out by now.
There is a massive lie circulating in our society: that police kill civilians with impunity. The data do not support that assertion, and the number of unjustified police killings are extremely low. Practically every BLM martyr is dubious at best. George Floyd was stuffed to the gills with drugs and it may well be what killed him; Michael Brown tried to kill the policeman before he was shot; Breonna Taylor's death, while unfortunate, was prompted because the police were being shot at and they returned fire; Trayvon Martin was slamming George Zimmerman's head into the pavement before he died; Jakob Blake attacked the police with a knife before he was shot.
Crump and Sharpton trying to expand their coalition by pretending that police brutality affects whites as well is a trap. The data say that the police are in fact using restraint. The war on cops needs to be rebutted in its entirety.
Although I suspect Sharpton's motives re Hunter Brittain, when he does something good (even for a bad reason), he should be given credit for it. We need to recognize nuance where it exists. Sharpton is not 100% cardboard villain. I believe he's corrupt and hypocritical. But even if he's 99.9% corrupt & hypocritical, we need to keep our integrity by crediting him the .1% of the time he does well. Otherwise, the far left wokies will rightly claim that no matter what Sharpton does, we'll cry foul.
Interesting, “where credit it due”, style and grace to be expected per Glenn. But the Trayvon Hoax - Al Sharpton + cronies Trayvon Martin investigation. Rather stunning true story. Unmasking the witness fraud that divided America. Order the book, turn the page’s, follow it closely and then with style and grace “give credit where credit is due”.
Word. I am with Prof. Loury on this one. Give Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Benjamin Crump their due. For long they (especially Sharpton) have exploited the optics of tragic encounters between White cops and Black civilian suspects to claim systemic racism in policing, which the data does not support. This time their support of the White victim's family is commendable, and points to the truth that all groups are affected by these tragedies. In fact they should do this more often. Let them be visible every time a White perp gets taken out, and they will get tired quickly as there are more White victims of police action than Black.
The motives of all people, including Al Sharpton, are complicated and layered. Some are more so than others, but not one of us is all good or all bad. Not one. We are all motivated by self-interest and altruistic concerns at the same time, marbled together, though the percentages may vary considerably person to person. Instinctively, I have never trusted Al Sharpton, though as a lapsed progressive I have certainly seen him spout his words many times. I am well aware that he is a powerful and important leader. But I disagree with the idea that Glenn should not give “credit where it is due.” Glenn is not empowering Al Sharpton by giving this credit. Glenn and John’s chat makes pretty much zero difference to Al Sharpton’s power or influence, especially given that Glenn has made his critiques mightily clear in the past. Glenn is acknowledging that this was a good step to have been taken, a step that a moral person with great influence who wishes to heal our racial divides would take. None of us know the heart of another. Sharpton may have been moved by cynical and strategic reasons to attend that funeral and speak. OK, yes, almost certainly that is the case. That is the way of most people in positions of power. But he could also have been moved as a human being, to care about this kid who was killed and help his grieving family. Unless he is a psychopath, which seems pretty unlikely, this could be the case. Glenn’s praise did not raise Al Sharpton in my eyes. It raised Glenn further in my eyes because it was honest. And that is the kind of discourse I wish to see.
I will admit to not having the highest opinion of Al Sharpton, but when someone does the right thing I am more inclined than not to praise his decision, if not him!
Let me be clear, Al Sharpton is, has always been and will always be a mean spirited power hungry race bating antisemite of the lowest order. You made these points in your NYTimes piece.
Reverend Al does nothing that doesn't serve his racist anti liberal agenda. He had no compassion for the folks he visited in Arkansas, rather he went there to generate media coverage in support of his anti law enforcement putsch. He deserves no praise for this. In my opinion (for what it's worth) you're on the wrong side of this one and Mr. Roscoe's critique is on the mark. Sometimes it's better to admit a mistake and move on.
I've noticed that at times in your podcasts you feel the need to play the "devil's advocate" or "the honest broker". In my opinion (again, for what it's worth) I would be a bit more thoughtful in how I go about it. Just sayin', the folks that consider you a sellout conservative Uncle Tom ain't gonna start liking you even if you through them the occasional bone. Frankly, I would have thought that you had figured this out by now.
Maybe Sharpton's really changed his tune. Maybe he's abandoned demagoguery. Maybe I'm dreaming . . .
There is a massive lie circulating in our society: that police kill civilians with impunity. The data do not support that assertion, and the number of unjustified police killings are extremely low. Practically every BLM martyr is dubious at best. George Floyd was stuffed to the gills with drugs and it may well be what killed him; Michael Brown tried to kill the policeman before he was shot; Breonna Taylor's death, while unfortunate, was prompted because the police were being shot at and they returned fire; Trayvon Martin was slamming George Zimmerman's head into the pavement before he died; Jakob Blake attacked the police with a knife before he was shot.
Crump and Sharpton trying to expand their coalition by pretending that police brutality affects whites as well is a trap. The data say that the police are in fact using restraint. The war on cops needs to be rebutted in its entirety.
Although I suspect Sharpton's motives re Hunter Brittain, when he does something good (even for a bad reason), he should be given credit for it. We need to recognize nuance where it exists. Sharpton is not 100% cardboard villain. I believe he's corrupt and hypocritical. But even if he's 99.9% corrupt & hypocritical, we need to keep our integrity by crediting him the .1% of the time he does well. Otherwise, the far left wokies will rightly claim that no matter what Sharpton does, we'll cry foul.
Thanks Glenn for all your work.
Interesting, “where credit it due”, style and grace to be expected per Glenn. But the Trayvon Hoax - Al Sharpton + cronies Trayvon Martin investigation. Rather stunning true story. Unmasking the witness fraud that divided America. Order the book, turn the page’s, follow it closely and then with style and grace “give credit where credit is due”.