Ignorant Al is just trying to stay relevant. Similiar tatics are used by those on the far right.
hate selld.
Too bad there is no soul.

We in Los Angeles do not need the "Rev" Al Sharpton coming here and spreading hate. No one in the media has denegrated Michael Jackson. Obviously what motivates Sharpton is spreading hate and stiring up controversay, without either, his "job" ceases to exsists.

Katie Couric began the program stating that MJ was the "self proclaimed" king of pop. That is not true. MJ's fans proclaimed him king of pop. Look at whats happening now, not to mention the record sales he broke as well as MTV, which had not even played a black video. Please, let racism go. It's a new day!

Al Sharpton is a trouble maker and he likes to start trouble between blacks and whites. I can't stand Al Sharpton nor Jesse Jackson. I wish they both would disappear like Michael Jackson forever.

WE all know how biased the media is in this country, especially when it comes to minorities, thats a known fact!! the michael jackson coverage is just business as usual, it doesn't matter that the anchor was black, he works for the media!!! the media has to much influence on power in this country and we the citizens have to gain the power back, other than sports and weather, just about every media outlet has a agenda and when it comes to reporting on minorities they all report it the same, sleezy, and biased.. preach on Rev. Sharpton, preac on!!

Al Sharpton is NOT playing the race card or spreading hate. Instead he is giving the facts... America doesn't need Al Sharpton or anyone else to play the race card, because America does it for herself. It's the American way and the fabric of this country. Speak on Al, speak on, because millions agree with you.

Hi, I did not use either of the terms -- or characterize Sharpton's actions as you did in your first sentence. Let's be clear about that: Those are your words, not mine. Thanks for the comment. Z

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson show up wherever the TV cameras are, and the media seem eager to give them air time, even when they apparently don't know anything, e.g., Jesse Jackson's appearance on the Today show this morning.

I saw the interview with Don Lemon and Rev. Sharpton on CNN. I think that Lemon asked good questions and if the interview went in that direction it was because the Rev. took it in that direction. I believe the media has been very fair in its coverage and has not in my opinion made it a race issue. This should have been Rev. Sharptons chance to shine and help us with issues of race and breaking down barriers if he calls himself a "Christian". Look at Rom 9:1-5. "We should be burdened for our families, our cities and others with whom we have ties, including ethnic and racial groups that in all things Christ might be preeminent".

I think that Don Lemon has a great future in media coverage he had a great interview and it could have provided so much insight, too bad it went in the other direction.

Sharptom is nothing more than a creape hanger. He has no skills except for insghiting unrest and turning nothing into somethiing. If he can get his few minutes on television he'll do anything to get there.. Of course, Jesse Jackson isn't much better. At least he has some qualifications, he hung onto Dr. King's coat tails and was part of a movement to help make America better. If any of you have read Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, then you'll know what Al Sharpton is really like and what his motivations are. Oddly enough, Wolfe's "activist reverend" came almost a decade before Sharpton reared his head. I was floored the first time I saw/heard Sharpton. I sat there thinking my God the reverend does exist.

JB

It seems to me that whether it's Al Sharpton or Sarah Palin, our culture is now all about trying to seek status and attention by claiming "victimhood".

Just more blah-blah-blah by Sharpton, who has been saying the same thing--racism, for 30 years now. Who really listens to this maniac anyway?

This is what I wrote to Bill O'Reilly the day AFTER Michael Jackson's death.
Bill,
I watched and listened to your talking points last Friday concerning the South Carolina Govenor and could not believe my ears. You spoke of how the media was feeding on the story compared to Sen Edwards. You glanced over Bill Clinton which many on the right completely overblew including yourself. What particulary bothered me was this talk about media assasination coming on the heels of a blond women hosting during your show who jumped right into Michael Jackson's persanal troubles right on the heels of the anouncements of his death. That was deplorable and in poor taste. Can't you guys even wait until they throw dirt on him before you bury him in dirt? You could just feel the venum coming from them. Aren't they also a part of the media? How do you spell hypocrites? Good for you Al Sharpton for catching that.

The media denigrated Michael Jackson all the time, just like it denigrates all men who have been accused but not convicted of crimes. Our society enables false accusations instead of respecting due process.

Excellent article----Rev Al and Bro. Jesse have turned this into a three ring circus. The LAPD will have a mess on their hands trying to control all of the people who have flown into Los Angeles for the memorial. The Jackson family and the and the concert promoter of Staples should be responsible for paying for all of the manhours and extra security.....

Sharpton's making money. Didn't you see him dancing at the tribute? He looked like he just made a few hundred thousand, and he probably did. He's right there next to Michael's father, Joe Jackson plugging "Feigning Victimhood for Dummies" while Joe plugs his new record company.

People like Joe Jackson and Al Sharpton showed up for Michael's passing to make money.

Alas, half your article is a straw man. You quoted Sharpton directly: "some elements of the media." I'll emphasise the "some."

Clearly, Shartpon wasn't referring to the reports you were regarding degrading commentary on Michael Jackson, but I heard such accounts from US and Canadian sources, not to mention web commentaries.

On disparate coverage of Elvis's death being actually similar, you're correct. But the actual double standards are better summarized by Ishmael Reed in his book of essays *Mixing It Up*--pervasive and disturbing double standards pointing to racial animosity and rage against prominent African-Americans (perhaps in some cases as cover for rage against the rest).

I receive Google news alerts for keywords " Reverend Al Sharpton," alerts which act as a barometer for American media and web group-think on various issues. The amount of hatred that so many Americans have to the Reverend is shocking and revolting. While your article is less inflammatory than some of the comments in reaction to it, I find it deeply troubling just how irrationally angry some (notice the word "some") Americans become at the mere mention of Reverend Sharpton's name.

Hi, Thanks for your comments. If Rev. Sharpton wants to deliver such potentially inflamamtory criticism, then he should be precise in naming the offenders. He tarred all media with the same brush. To me, that is reckless media criticism. Again, thanks. Z

MINISTER FAUST:

Straw men, huh? Well, it sounds like you and Sharpton like to fight them all the time. The genocide in our city isn't caused by racism; it's caused by gangs and the very lucrative drug trade. The majority of the annual 300 murdered black youth in our city are killed by their own race.

I have disdain for you and Reverend Al Sharpton because you and I both know that gangs and drug dealers are killing blacks faster than the KKK could have ever dreamed.

But, you stand idly bye, and continue to blame racism, while gang members and drug dealers hold your community hostage.

Grow a set like MLK or Jim Brown, and stand up to the killers in your community not the "racist" straw men you "Reverends" make a living off chasing.

You got no credibility with me when a five year old is shot on the streets of Baltimore, and you are concerned about "Al Sharpton" google alerts.

To Minister Faust, Would have to agree with Z on the post above. They do this to us where I work, they send out a blanket e-mail to everyone when someone makes a mistake and then the whole group is implicated so the behavior is never corrected. Naming the offenders would be more fair for everyone. Gerneralizations are usually not a good idea.

hey al
Get on the MJ bandwagon,everyone else is.You're so full of ----,it's not funny.Keep on bleeding this MJ ---- and you may have a crowd at your memorial(NOT).So keep your racial comments to yourself.Our chidren are safe now.

REV IS NOT WRONG WITH HIS VIEWS AND COURIC SHOULD NOT REFER TO MICHAEL JACKSON AS SELF ACCLAIMED KING OF POP. HE IS AND NO RIVAL FROM AGES TILL DATE , WE HOPE FIND SOMEONE IN HIS SHOE, THE COLOR DOESN'T MATTER, IT'S A GIFT FROM GOD. SO WHITE /BLACK SHOW RESPECT AND APPRECIATION TO THIS SCARCE ICON

Reverend/preacher/ dung-head Faust, obviously your support of the media-man
Sharpton shows that you are apparently one of the mis - guided fools who will bellieve anything if a charlatan stands up in the name of rightgeousness for a dollar. You must be like a woman I knew years ago, a black woman who had been fed the typical misinformation when she said that black is the color of the spectrum -Hello - black is the absence of all color and maybe if her bro guru had taken a simple lessen in high school he/she would have known that the refraction of light comes from the very opposite.

JB

Rev. AL Sharpton and Jesse Jackson is no different than other hate groupw why do the news outlets give him any air time at all Both of them spread hate its all about race to them it never ends I just wish they would go away and take their hate with them Many of us dont want to hear a word out of their lying mouths anyway I cant stand to even look at his ugly mug on tv God only takes the best at a young age I guess these two AL and Jesse will be around for a long time too bad for us!!!!!!

Can you please explain why print and broadcast media even bother to give any attention to the rantings of Al Sharpton in the first place.

The man lied to the media years ago (the Tawana Brawley fabrication) and thereby should have lost all credibility as a result.

But for an unexplained reason, the camera and notebooks show up on cue when this knucklehead announces a "press conference" to continue his blathering, untruthful ways.

You people allow him a pulpit by even attending his rantings, let alone reporting on them afterwards.

The same situation applies to Jesse Jackson, a so-called man of the cloth who impregnated a younger woman a few years ago and even gave her a cash payoff (to tide her over until she could apply for the plethora of welfare benefits now in existence?) to pitifully small media criticism.

These two fools (Heckle & Jeckle come immediately to mind) squawk before the cameras, microphones and notepads then fly away unchastised for the most part when proven wrong or at least terribly biased.

Any self-respecting religious order should have cast them out for their own instances of egregious malfeasance.

In short: "Suppose they gave a press conference and nobody came?"

We all would be better off as a result, I contend.

I am watching the memorial for MJ, and Sharpton is speaking right now...i have no idea WHY he is bringing in the 'race' issue and the political view issues during a memorial for Michael Jackson....He really took away the tears I was shedding while watching it. He needs to get a grip of things and stop always bringing up the race and political issues..this was not the right place to bring up how white people voted for Obama.....if anyone needs to learn to love everyone it is Sharpton.....he only loves us, black people, but does not like white people!

Everting was great at MJ funeral untill you started to speak. You are the one thats preduice. MJ was the greatest.
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUIN HIS FUNERAL. sHAME ON YOU.

I watched the Michael Jackson memorial & I really commend Al Sharpton for the message he gave. He actually PREACHED Michael's funeral. He made a statement that Michael was "not strange". Nothing made by God is strange. We might not understand why, but how many people even understand themselves. Michael was different, but we must all remember that God made each and every one of us DIFFERENT, WHICH IS WHY HE IS SO AWESOME. I pray for the family.

Al Sharpton, always remember that "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER". A lot of people don't like anyone that knows what he is talking about and can stand behind what he says. Keep up the fight. Be what God has made you to be, "AL SHARPTON"

Al Sharpton is full of hate and is a very racist man. President Obama did not need any help from MJ to become President. He did it on his own and with his own education. At least President Obama is not a Pedophile like MJ. Why should anyone glorify a pedophile? Al Sharpton needs to shut up.

Al Sharpton is not a racist this man is one of the greatest speakers i have ever heard, he speaks the turth about fact not fiction which is what alot of people in todays society can not handle. This man is one of the only people to speak out about what i saw generating from the moment MJ was announced dead. The media have been going on and on about MJ child abuse allegations and debt problems and digging for dirt against him why becos they can not stand the fact that a black man has broke barriers. In addition he has been the most charitable celebrity according to the Guinesse World record something i knew nothing of as this is something the media will not give coverage to. NO NO this is a black man how dare he exceed the level of Elvis or Beatles; everytime its mentioned that he is a legend or icon i can see it on the news reporters face how annoyed they are. Even today of all days they could not show the man respect and let him be buried in peace they had to still go on about how much its costing LA to shut the motorway its not some thrid world poor country if it was Frank Sinatra they would'nt say jack. Michael Jackson never had a child hood and will never see old age its very sad. We the black community salute you for allowing us to have someone great to oneday tell our children about

we must protest FOX News and New York post. They are very racist and had nothing but negative comments all day on the funeral coverage day.

what was Michael Jackson religion at time of death?

You ppl are crazy!! Al Sharpton is a nutball. He is a notorious racist, anti-semite!! Where do you have your heads, in the clouds?!? Just bc a black person is "speaking" doesn't make him the right one to speak on your behalf, duh!! Come on people you should know better, I'm ashamed of you. Martin Luther is prob rolling over in his grave poor thing!!!! That was a great man!! Not this piece of crap poor excuse for a "black rights activist". Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Al Sharpton reminded us of the times that MJ grew up in. Young people and people who did not live during the struggle of blacks, may not want to hear it, but it reminds them that if it were not for the fighters of that era, they would not enjoy the diversity of today, which is by no means perfect. This is why so many people at the memorial stood up and clapped. They UNDERSTOOD, because they are from that era and hoped for better for their children. It is not a reason to be angry, but to try to understand.

MJR, the media didn't raise untoward issues about Michael after his death because they couldn't stand that a black man has broke barriers. Let me tell you something. Michael led an unorthodox lifestyle which garnered publicity, negative publicity. Since his death I've heard both positive and negative - mostly very positive reports. Given the peak of his success was 25 years ago and for 15 years now his morality and character has been seriously called into question, the media has actually been very generous in their reporting. BTW I love Michael but let's be logical.

Michael Jackson taught us that it didn't matter if you are black or white. He had millions of fans of different ethnic backgrounds. I wouldn't aver that he is the reason why President Obama is in such a position right now. The same argument could be made that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. paved the way. He is the president for a myriad of reasons, including the fact that the time had come for serious change in America.

As an African American I understand Rev. Al Sharpton's position on racial issues, though sometimes he's a little overzealous.

I am a Black Man, and I say that Al Sharpton is a JOKE! We don't need people like him. He spreads hate where ever he goes. By the way, where were Mr. Sharpton & Mr. Jesse Jackson when Michael needed to hear about Salvation through Jesus Christ?!?! And why were they singing Christian songs? Michael Jackson was a secular artist and he was not a Christian.

I haven't forgotten about Sharpton and Tawana Brawley. The only time I switched away from Michael's memorial was when Sharpton came on. I have no time for him.

I've been watching all the coverage, and I haven't seen Sharpton speak out of line once. He's been very dignified and accurate on all points. There are some who just don't like Al Sharpton and if he says, "Hello", it's wrong. I'm not buying it. He's on point. He's right.