06/25/2008
Al Sharpton Defends Anderson Cooper's Right to Sin
In a discussion about the James Dobson attacks on Obama I posted about yesterday, Anderson Cooper hosted Al Sharpton, author Roland Martin and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. As the three debated Evangelicals and the issues of homosexuality, HIV and AIDS, abortion, and religious tolerance, the conversation took a turn when Sharpton pointed out that Anderson may land in Hell for his behavior, whatever that might be...
Says Sharpton: "I may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel you have the right to live your life differently. I may think that what you do Anderson is gonna put you in Hell, but I'm gonna defend your right to get there."
Answered Anderson: "I appreciate all your concerns about my afterlife. I'm personally not all that concerned, but that's a whole other discussion."
I've clipped the segment, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 8:23 AM EST by Andy Towle in Al Sharpton, Anderson Cooper, JAmes Dobson, News, Religion | Permalink
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Is Sharpton speaking to Anderson directly or referring to him in the hypothetical "you"??? At first I thought it was the former, but after watching it, I think that it is in the latter. I also think that Sharpton is "teasing" Anderson to come out of the closet, and in the process, boost both their ratings.
Posted by: Jim | Jun 25, 2008 11:24:27 AM
*If* Sharpton was hinting something about Anderson's "sinful" sexuality, AC didn't seem the least bit concerned about being tossed into the flames of hell because of it.
Posted by: Red | Jun 25, 2008 11:45:15 AM
Give me a break. Like him or not Sharpton has been a VERY strong and constant supporter of gay rights. He was not speaking of his own homophobia and he was not "outing" Cooper.
After listening to the interview I believe it should be clear that Sharpton was not only speaking about a hypothetical "you" but was also speaking about a hypothetical "I" and I think his point was absolutely spot on.
His point was that a person can believe whatever they want to believe about another person. They are entitled to dislike or even hate anyone for any reason even when the reason is based in bigotry and misinformation and EVEN when the opinion is based in RELIGION but what they are NOT entitled to is to deny a person their rights based on their opinion:
"'I' may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel "you" have the right to live "your life differently. "I" may think that what "you" do Anderson is gonna put "you" in Hell, but "I'm" gonna defend "your" right to get there."
Translation: I have every right to have conservative views and even feel that a person is going to hell but I don't have the right to impose my beliefs on him or the right or obligation to try to LEGISLATE him into heaven by making laws against what I think will send him to hell.
People may despise Sharpton and they may take issue with the way he made his point but it's hard to take issue with the point he made. I personally think he made his point in a very thought provoking and powerful way. Too bad it was so open to misinterpretation.
Posted by: Zeke | Jun 25, 2008 11:51:24 AM
I just don't buy this "fair and balanced" argument to have nutjobs like Perkins or Dobkin anywhere. Would we have had to have Hitler on for a "fair and balanced" viewpoint? As some point, you just have to recognize that these people are nut cases and not give them a bully pulpit. We certainly wouldn't give a bully pulpit to a racist for a "fair and balanced" discussion. We shouldn't do it for a homophobe.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 25, 2008 12:15:41 PM
For the record, Sharpton supported same-sex marriage in his presidential campaign, and has been a supporter of gays and lesbians.
When asked about the issue said: "It's like asking do I support black marriage or white marriage... The inference of the question is that gays are not like other human beings."
He also leads a campaign to eliminate homophobia in the church.
Posted by: Aman Chaudhary | Jun 25, 2008 12:41:34 PM
Al is pro-gay. Whatever he is talking about does not have to do with gay people, he was being hypothetical - DUH!!!
Posted by: DUH | Jun 25, 2008 1:34:25 PM
Two words: Tawana Brawley. Rot in hell, Al
Posted by: Ben | Jun 25, 2008 2:13:59 PM
Sharpton was making a play on the quote "I may disagree with what you have to say, sir, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it"-adage. I think about half-way through the sentence, he realized that what he was saying, in the context of AC360, might have been misguided.
What I far prefer, though, is Mr. Perkins' 'I'm trying to save [your soul]," comment. Let's construe this as an offer to send Anderson to Love in Action.
Posted by: cameron | Jun 25, 2008 2:38:22 PM
Sharpton was making a play on the quote "I may disagree with what you have to say, sir, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it"-adage. I think about half-way through the sentence, he realized that what he was saying, in the context of AC360, might have been misguided.
What I far prefer, though, is Mr. Perkins' 'I'm trying to save [your soul]," comment. Let's construe this as an offer to send Anderson to Love in Action.
Posted by: cameron | Jun 25, 2008 2:40:47 PM
Well, AS is currently under investigation by the IRS, so perhaps he is hinting that he'll play hardball over bad press. He's been everywhere on TV the last couple of days since the investigation news broke. This is damage control. If you assume that the IRS is doing some sort of political payback investigation of Sharpton, he might also be hinting that he can play conservative too. Meanwhile, he prays that Obama becomes president.
Posted by: anon | Jun 25, 2008 2:50:12 PM
This towlerroad is an idiot.
He was using Anderson's name as an example to prove a point.
he was not "outing" him.
Stop reaching, you idiot.
Posted by: arasto | Jun 25, 2008 3:20:37 PM
I just watched the clip. It had nothing to do with being gay. Rev. Sharpton was speaking in hypotheticals. "If I was on the extreme right, I cannot legislate your way into heavan." We all have a right to beleive what we must, but we must compromise on public policy. I didn't get anything deragatory about this clip or his statements. We have been so abused that we are becoming hypersensitive even to our allies.
Posted by: Maxwell | Jun 25, 2008 5:17:11 PM
DAMN people are insane, it is obvious what Sharpton was trying to say. The way towleroad reported it i thought Sharpton was carrying a "god hates fags" poster.
Posted by: johnosahon | Jun 25, 2008 6:31:56 PM
Al Sharpton shouldn't be passing judgement on anybody. He's got his own splaining to do.
Posted by: john | Jun 25, 2008 9:37:01 PM
I think most people here are jumping to conclusions. I don't think he alluded to Anderson being gay, he was just making a general point. You all are reading way too much into this. Geez!
Posted by: kelso75 | Jun 26, 2008 10:10:58 AM
Hey Al,
homosexuality isn't mentioned in the 10 commandments....but you know what IS??? "Do not falsely witness against your neighbor" You lied in the Tawana Brawley case, so if anybody is going to hell it's you.
Posted by: Cambel | Jun 26, 2008 10:18:19 AM
Sharpton didn't lie, Tawana lied. You've never believed someone who lied to you, CAMBEL?
There parts of the Bible that lie to people, but they still believe it.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 26, 2008 10:26:50 AM
How dare Al pick on my Anderson? A.C. is the cutest! Leave him alone, Al, you dirtbag.
Posted by: jen hutchin | Jun 26, 2008 12:39:44 PM
Oh come on, Sharpton is totally great on gay rights issues leave him alone.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 26, 2008 1:33:46 PM
Al Sharpton is going to hell for being a discriminitory racist homophobic hypocrite. Only people that are filled with hate and have narrow minds condemn others to an eternity with which they have no right to comment on. The fact that AS can call himself a "Reverend" is a joke, he's as bad as those crazy Baptists in Arkanas or wherever than protest solders' funerals.
Posted by: Necia | Jun 27, 2008 5:55:46 PM
Sharpton is a wack nutjob pure and simple and in no position to be judging ANYBODY!
Judge not lest yea be judged asshole.
Posted by: Tex... | Jun 28, 2008 3:29:40 PM
Zeke is right. Many people completely misunderstood Sharpton here. Sharpton is extremely pro-gay. More so than any other religious leader alive today aside from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Posted by: Hephaestion | Jun 29, 2008 11:06:27 AM
...sending out some love to the Sharpton.
Can I get an Amen?
Posted by: Nonplussed | Jun 30, 2008 8:31:03 AM
Jeez, it's amazing that people keep pouring out hate for Sharpton without bothering to read the facts:
Sharpton is pro-gay rights! He organized anti-homophobia programs.
The knee-jerk reactions here are a testament to how much the Republicans have succeeded in brainwashing people to speak without thinking that Sharpton is the scary boogeyman.
The stereotype that Sharpton is black and must be homophobic seems deeply entrenched in some people's minds.
Do some of you people not know that one of the architects and chief advisers to Martin Luther King was an openly gay man, Bayard Rustin? Because someone is a black minister that does not mean that he is homophobic.
Jeremiah Wright may be a lot of things, stupid comes to mind, but he is pro-gay marriage and performed civil unions in his church.
Jesse Jackson joined Al Sharpton in creating and holding programs to educated against homophobia.
Posted by: noah | Jun 30, 2008 9:33:52 AM