Van Jones: Charles Barkley’s Comments Were ‘Inflammatory,’ ‘Irresponsible’ and ‘Dangerous’

[decocker 7,198]

Are we not supposed to talk about Al and Jesse if we aren't black? Why is it a big deal that white folks talk about hi profile black folks that are in the news?

i think probably just don't talk about something you can't grasp. ya'll keep bringing the two of them up and no one cares about them. i know that's not how certain media outlets portray things, life is hard huh.

[Karee 4,191]

I'll bite:

Jesse Jackson:

Jackson has been known for commanding public attention since he first started working for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.^[11] In 1965, Jackson participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches organized by James Bevel, King and other civil rights leaders in Alabama.^[2] Impressed by Jackson's drive and organizational abilities, King soon began giving Jackson a role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), though he was concerned about Jackson's apparent ambition and attention-seeking.^[2][12] When Jackson returned from Selma, he was charged with establishing a frontline office for the SCLC in Chicago.^[12]

In 1966, King and Bevel selected Jackson to head the Chicago branch of the SCLC's economic arm, Operation Breadbasket^[12][13] and he was promoted to national director in 1967.^[5] Operation Breadbasket had been started by the Atlanta leadership of the SCLC as a job placement agency for blacks.^[14] Under Jackson's leadership, a key goal was to encourage massive boycotts by black consumers as a means to pressure white-owned businesses to hire blacks and to purchase goods and services from black-owned firms.^[12][14] Dr. T.R.M. Howard, a 1950s proponent of the consumer boycott tactic, soon became a major supporter of Jackson's efforts – donating and raising funds, and introducing Jackson to prominent members of the black business community in Chicago.^[12] Under Jackson's direction, Operation Breadbasket held popular weekly workshops on Chicago's south side featuring white and black political and economic leaders,^[13] and religious services complete with a jazz band and choir.^[14]

People United to Save Humanity (Operation PUSH) officially began operations on December 25, 1971;^[20] Jackson later changed the name to People United to Serve Humanity.^[21] T.R.M. Howard was installed as a member of the board of directors and chair of the finance committee.^[12] At its inception, Jackson planned to orient Operation PUSH toward politics and to pressure politicians to work to improve economic opportunities for blacks and poor people of all races.^[20] SCLC officials reportedly felt the new organization would help black businesses more than it would help the poor.^[20]

In 1978 Jackson called for a closer relationship between blacks and the Republican Party, telling the Party's National Committee that "Black people need the Republican Party to compete for us so we can have real alternatives ... The Republican Party needs black people if it is ever to compete for national office."^[22]

Al Sharpton:

In 1969, Sharpton was appointed by Jesse Jackson to serve as youth director of the New York City branch of Operation Breadbasket,^[24] a group that focused on the promotion of new and better jobs for African Americans.^[25]

In 1971 Sharpton founded the National Youth Movement to raise resources for impoverished youth.^[26]

Bernhard Goetz

Main article: Bernhard Goetz

Bernhard Goetz shot four African-American men on a New York City Subway 2 train in Manhattan on December 22, 1984, when they approached him and allegedly tried to rob him. At his trial Goetz was cleared of all charges except for carrying an unlicensed firearm. Sharpton led several marches protesting what he saw as the weak prosecution of the case.^[27]

Sharpton and other civil rights leaders said Goetz's actions were racist and requested a federal civil rights investigation.^[28] A federal investigation concluded the shooting was due to an attempted robbery and not race.^[29]

Howard Beach

Main article: Howard Beach racial incident

On December 20, 1986, three African-American men were assaulted in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens by a mob of white men. The three men were chased by their attackers onto the Belt Parkway, where one of them, Michael Griffith, was struck and killed by a passing motorist.^[30]

A week later, on December 27, Sharpton led 1,200 demonstrators on a march through the streets of Howard Beach. Residents of the neighborhood, who were overwhelmingly white, screamed racial epithets at the protesters, who were largely black.^[31] A special prosecutor was appointed by New York Governor Mario Cuomo after the two surviving victims refused to co-operate with the Queens district attorney. Sharpton's role in the case helped propel him to national prominence.

He's done a lot of marching and protesting, too many to list here. He's done hunger strikes as well. You might not like either one of them, but they've walked the walk way before Sir Charles even picked up a basketball. And that's all he's done.

Charles Barkley has never dealt with any civil rights issues. He has gone on record saying he isn't a role model. Not to mention he's had quite a few run ins with the law himself. Here's a guy who was caught speeding DUI so he could get home and have oral sex with a woman in the car with him, and threw a dude through a plate glass window. If he wasn't famous, that last episode would have gotten him killed by the police.

I guess my thing is if you want to talk about Ferguson or Eric Garner, talk to folks living there, going through this mess. Dealing with these issues daily. Not some dude so far removed from the situation he can't even remember the last time he's been profiled. Same thing goes with talking about race. Talk to the average black man or woman. Because when you seek out rich athletes and make them the voice of black people, there's a problem.

Nice resumes. Unfortunately, the first ends in 1978 and the second in 1986. Lets see what our heros have been up to since 1978 and 1986 respectively:

Jesse Jackson:

Several years ago, when Jesse Jackson was toying with the idea of running for mayor of Washington, the incumbent, the indefatigable Marion Barry, dismissed such talk with a tart declaration: "Jesse's never run anything except his mouth."

I have to say that Mayor Barry was only half-right. What he meant, of course, is that the Rev. Jackson is too accustomed to his status as a civil-rights celebrity to risk his reputation by holding public office. It is one thing to march on picket lines or hold news conferences; it is quite another to assume a civic responsibility, and be accountable for failures and answerable to voters.

It is not correct, however, to say that the Rev. Jackson has never run anything. In fact, over the decades, he has become quite adept at running the Chicago-based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, his home base, which has yielded a number of allied organizations, and earned a lot of cash for his efforts: $17 million last year alone.

One of my favorite pastimes is seeking to determine exactly what certain organizations do with their money. Now, at long last, my quest to understand what, if anything, Rainbow/PUSH does has gotten a major boost. The Washington Post, no enemy of Jesse Jackson, has begun examining the reverend's ledger and daily schedule, and the picture it has drawn thus far is troubling, to use a polite term. "Jackson's fundraising methods spur questions" was the headline of a front-page story this week in the Post.

The spectacle of Jesse Jackson has tended to hypnotize journalistic institutions such as the Post, which knows he is a "civil-rights leader" and dutifully covers his well-publicized adventures.

But when the National Enquirer recently revealed that the Rev. Jackson had fathered an illegitimate child by a young staffer, and then used cash from his tax-exempt Citizenship Education Fund to move his mistress to Los Angeles and set her up in style, even the Post had to take notice.

The first move, of course, was made by Jesse Jackson's detractors. Two right-wing organizations have filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service, accusing him of using charitable funds for personal purposes (paying off his mistress) and betraying the Citizenship Education Fund's tax-exempt status by (quoting the Post here) "extracting money from corporations and, in effect, providing them with a business service for a fee."

This is a polite way of saying, in the words of Gerald Reynolds, a black lawyer in Kansas City associated with the Center for New Black Leadership, a Washington-based conservative think tank, that the Rev. Jackson is a "hustler" and "charlatan . . . who plays on white executives' fear of racial controversy," as the Post describes it.

The Rev. Jackson's method is supremely clever: When corporations are most vulnerable -- seeking federal approval for mergers, or battling charges of racial discrimination -- he will insert himself in the picture, threatening boycotts and making public accusations of racism unless the companies send substantial contributions to the Citizenship Education Fund, or award lucrative contracts to Jackson friends and associates.

By such means, Jesse Jackson has not only extracted tens of millions of dollars in donations from such corporate behemoths as CBS, Viacom, Ameritech and Citicorp. He has also made certain that his boycott threats are answered by the award of contracts and partnerships to Rainbow/PUSH associates or business friends who serve on his various boards. Once the targeted companies endow Rainbow/PUSH, the Rev. Jackson customarily loses interest in the issue at hand, and moves on to the next customer.

Two questions arise. First, what happens to the cash that such tough-as-nails executives as Sanford Weill or Philip Condit contribute to the Citizenship Education Fund? There is little evidence that it is used for much more than maintaining Rainbow/PUSH, or worse, keeping the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his family in comfort.

And second, what is the difference between the Rev. Jackson's fund-raising technique on behalf of the Citizenship Education Fund, and what the law calls extortion?

Source: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-03-31/news/0103300813_1_citizenship-education-fund-jesse-jackson-rev-jackson

What about ol' Al?

The Tawana Brawley case that captivated New York in the late eighties is a shocking reminder of the toxic mix racial exploitation and personal ambition can produce. The New York Times and Retroreport.org have just released a new 15-minute documentary on the despicable hoax, which should be required viewing for the NBC News executives who are heavily invested in rehabilitating a key culprit of this loathsome episode: the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Brawley was 15 years old in 1987, when she was found in her hometown of Wappingers Falls, New York, with “,” “KKK,” and “***” written on her stomach, her jeans burnt in the crotch, feces in her hair, and her tennis shoes sliced open. She said that she had been abducted and raped by a group of white men.

A trio of increasingly prominent, and radical, New York City black activists represented her and her family: attorneys Alton Maddox and C. Vernon Mason and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Brawley told them said that a cop had been one of her attackers, and Sharpton named that officer as Harry Crist Jr., a police officer from a nearby town who had committed suicide shortly after Brawley was found. Sharpton also named a local prosecutor, Steven Pagones, as one of the attackers. He offered no proof.

Gov. Mario Cuomo dispatched a veteran prosecutor, Jack Ryan, to handle the case. Brawley and her advisers refused to cooperate in any way with Ryan and his team. “That was the decision of the lawyers,” Sharpton says defensively in the Times interview. When asked why Brawley’s team would not meet with New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, Sharpton said it would be “like asking someone who watched someone killed in the gas chamber to sit down with Mr. Hitler.” Sharpton later accused Ryan of kicking a blind man in a scuffle with demonstrators. Ryan was nowhere near the scene.

After a six-month investigation a grand jury found that the entire episode had been a hoax, with Brawley having defaced herself to avoid the wrath of her stepfather after staying out late to visit a boyfriend.

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/03/al-sharpton-s-long-bill-of-goods-from-tawana-brawley-to-primetime.html

And this:

Lessons From Rev. Al Sharpton's $4.5 Million Tax Bill

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Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton is in the headlines again, but not for Ferguson or civil rights issues this time. A New York Times report says that the now svelte Reverend and his for-profit businesses owe a chubby $4.5 million in state and federal taxes. It isn’t only the taxman that is not being paid, according to reports. Even worthy causes like hotels, landlords, and travel agencies are getting the cold shoulder from Mr. Sharpton or from his advocacy organization, the National Action Network.

Rev. Sharpton is the president of this civil rights organization, which has chapters and affiliates across America. He is the author of books including ‘Al On America’ and the host of a nationally syndicated radio program, the Al Sharpton Show. He also has two for-profit business, Revals Communications and Raw Talent. Some of his financial woes appear to stem from poor divisions between business and personal, a common tax problem among entrepreneurs.

Rev. Sharpton acknowledges that he’s not the best administrator. Presumably that applies to others in his organizations too. President Obama and Mr. Sharpton may both have a kind of Teflon coating, but even so, the President may want to distance himself from the President’s past

In 1990, Mr. Sharpton successfully defended claims that he misappropriated $250,000 from a youth group. He has had tax filing issues too. In 1993, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failure to file a state tax return. Thereafter, his Raw Talent company used for speaking engagements has reportedly also had tax problems.

The New York Times paints a picture of poor planning, with virtually everything paid for and owned by the entities, not by Mr. Sharpton. That may even extend to the clothes on his back, with the entities paying for such personal items as his daughters’ private school tuition. If that is true, Rev. Sharpton is blurring one of the most important lines in the tax law. Many tax disputes come down to the fundamental divide between business and personal. Trying to morph personal into business is asking for trouble, including:

• Deducting the cost of a divorce because your business is at risk;
• Deducting a miserable vacation with a best client; or
• Claiming a hobby was really for profit.

You may do things with a dual motive, like having a pleasant lunch with a business colleague, going on vacation with your best client, or buying a vacation home you also intend as an investment. But your tax life will be easier if you try to avoid dual-purpose goals. One other big lesson from Mr. Sharpton? Records.

Keeping good records can help you in a tax controversy. In fact, good records can help keep you out of tax trouble in the first place. Does the IRS care about record keeping? Yes. Most audits are correspondence audits. You may be told your deductions will be disallowed unless you mail back records substantiating them. Tax liens can be based on your own returns or on additional taxes that are assessed.

In Mr. Sharpton’s case, reports say there are more than $4.5 million in state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses. He is not alone in such problems. In fact, celebs can often be in this position. Despite high earnings, their tax bills may slip through the cracks. Notices start the process. In fact, the IRS can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien only after:

• IRS assesses the liability;
• IRS sends a Notice and Demand for Payment saying how much you owe; and
• You fail to fully pay within 10 days.

The IRS automatically has a lien and files notice so creditors know. IRS tax liens cover all your property even that acquired after the lien filing. The courts use it to establish priority in bankruptcy proceedings and real estate sales.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/11/19/lessons-from-rev-al-sharptons-4-5-million-tax-bill/

So you have an extortionist and a liar tax cheat that ruined some police officer's careers. And you want to fault Charles Barkley for a DWI and throwing someone through a window? Charles Barkley is small potatoes when it comes to big time criminals like Al and Jesse.

[Teddy B 17,252]

i think probably just don't talk about something you can't grasp. ya'll keep bringing the two of them up and no one cares about them. i know that's not how certain media outlets portray things, life is hard huh.

I know you get your kicks out of playing a black girl from the hood on the internet, but my question was directly aimed at Marvin, thank you.

[decocker 7,198]

I know you get your kicks out of playing a black girl from the hood on the internet, but my question was directly aimed at Marvin, thank you.

that's hilarious. you must feel a bit confined to a corner. show me where i've ever claimed to be black or from the hood. i'll wait.

[Teddy B 17,252]

that's hilarious. you must feel a bit confined to a corner. show me where i've ever claimed to be black or from the hood. i'll wait.

I said "playing a black girl" not "claiming to be a black girl".

[decocker 7,198]

it's okay teddy, it's not the first time white boys have been butt hurt over me not falling in line.

I said "playing a black girl" not "claiming to be a black girl".

and i would ask how one 'plays' a black girl, maybe you could show me some evidence of that instead?

[Teddy B 17,252]

it's okay teddy, it's not the first time white boys have been butt hurt over me not falling in line.

and i would ask how one 'plays' a black girl, maybe you could show me some evidence of that instead?

It keeps me up nights.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

it's okay teddy, it's not the first time white boys have been butt hurt over me not falling in line.

and i would ask how one 'plays' a black girl, maybe you could show me some evidence of that instead?

[decocker 7,198]

It keeps me up nights.

bothered you enough to say it here.

just ties in with what i brought up last night

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Are we not supposed to talk about Al and Jesse if we aren't black? Why is it a big deal that white folks talk about hi profile black folks that are in the news?

Of course not. It's the flow of the conversation that bothers me. Some people here think Al and Jesse are the sole reason racism exist. When something happens and some minority is mistreated or killed, no one is bothered about it. Al and Jesse show up? Tempers flare. You'd think one of them shot and killed someone the way they're talked about here.

I wish we didn't have them. Why? Because it's a reminder we still have a ways to go.

[Teddy B 17,252]

bothered you enough to say it here.

just ties in with what i brought up last night

Not bothered at all, i find it funny. Where else am I to say it and why does my saying it indicate any bother on my part? Sounds like you're the one with her panties in a bunch.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Nice resumes. Unfortunately, the first ends in 1978 and the second in 1986. Lets see what our heros have been up to since 1978 and 1986 respectively:

Jesse Jackson:

What about ol' Al?

And this:

So you have an extortionist and a liar tax cheat that ruined some police officer's careers. And you want to fault Charles Barkley for a DWI and throwing someone through a window? Charles Barkley is small potatoes when it comes to big time criminals like Al and Jesse.

Al and Jesse did things for the civil rights movement. What did Charles Barkley do? I don't condone the criminal stuff. You asked what made them more qualified than Barkley. I showed you. Now show me where Sir Charles pounded the pavement without a ball in his hand.

[decocker 7,198]

Not bothered at all, i find it funny. Where else am I to say it and why does my saying it indicate any bother on my part? Sounds like you're the one with her panties in a bunch.

you're not the only one teddy, you're just the only one to say it here.

like i said, i'm cool with it. i'm not brand new, i've dealt with this before.

Edited December 5, 2014 by val erie

[Teddy B 17,252]

you're not the only one teddy, you're just the only one to say it here.

like i said, i'm cool with it. i'm not brand new, i've dealt with this before.

So other people have picked up on it as well?

[Karee 4,191]

Al and Jesse did things for the civil rights movement. What did Charles Barkley do? I don't condone the criminal stuff. You asked what made them more qualified than Barkley. I showed you. Now show me where Sir Charles pounded the pavement without a ball in his hand.

So you want to point to some stuff Al and Jesse did back in the 70s when Barkley was a little kid? Since then, they've both been little more than agitators, extortionists, and criminals. That pretty much cancels out anything they did back then IMO. If anything it makes it worse. They took that credibility and trust and used it for their own personal gain. That's pretty disgusting if you ask me.

Barkley is just giving an opinion. Just like you or me. I happen to agree with is opinion. I guess if you disagree with his opinion, it's ok to just call him a Basketball player who's opinions shouldn't count. When Charles starts shaking down people or destroying the careers of white cops for his own personal gain, get back to me.