Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
The Reverend Al Sharpton Primary
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 20, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 20, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A who's who of the Democratic party has been at the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference in Midtown this past week. Opening day saw hopeful John Edwards and Democratic party chair Howard Dean, yesterday included former president Bill Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Christopher Dodd, and Governor Bill Richardson, today has Senator Hillary Clinton and tomorrow Senator Barack Obama and Representative Dennis Kucinich are appearing - which is why it's called the "Sharpton primary" by many. With his profile very high after the Don Imus-Rutgers women's basketball incident, the Sun notes that Sharpton is a political force.
Former president Clintontold attendees:
"You can help on health care by fighting diabetes and making our children healthier. You can help on the economy by making sure low income people are part of a normal banking system, not part of a system that's going to keep them bankrupt and in debt for the rest of their lives. And you can help by helping to create new jobs in a clean energy economy by fixing every building in the city where you live no matter where that is. If we do that you're going to see rising incomes, fewer people unemployed and healthier children."
Bubba didn't mention his wife's presidential campaign, though. The Politicker reminds us that the last time Hillary Clinton spoke at a Sharpton event, she called the 2006 GOP-run House of Representatives a "plantation."
Other attendees made a stir, too. Former mayor Ed Koch told Shaprton, "If you would have apologized for the Tawana Brawley hoax, you'd be a crossover leader." And controversial political activist Lenora Fulani said to NY1's Dominic Carter, "What you and your network do now, and have done to me as a black woman, is to relate to me as a nappy-headed ho."
Photograph of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards with the Reverend Al Sharpton by Frank Franklin II/AP
Tagged
al sharpton
barack obama
basketball
bill clinton
Bill Richardson
children
clinton
Dennis Kucinich
Dominic Carter
don imus
economy
ed koch
Frank Franklin
Frank Franklin II
governor
health
health care
hillary clinton
house
Howard Dean
jobs
joe biden
john edwards
midtown
national action network
News: NYC
ny1
obama
people
Politics
presidential campaign
Reverend Al
reverend al sharpton
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Hillary Clinton
Tawana Brawley
the city
The Politicker
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws
A Brooklyn judge ruled the federal government lacked standing to challenge city policies limiting cooperation with immigration authorities.
By
Phil Corso
Published Oct 15, 2026 at 9:13 p.m. ET
2 men charged in fatal fentanyl poisoning of NYC college student, alleged rape
Federal prosecutors say one man gave two women fentanyl disguised as cocaine in a Manhattan dorm, then raped one of them while she was unconscious. She later died.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
2 men charged in fatal fentanyl poisoning of NYC college student, alleged rape
Federal prosecutors say one man gave two women fentanyl disguised as cocaine in a Manhattan dorm, then raped one of them while she was unconscious. She later died.
By
Giulia Heyward
NYC spending on homelessness has soared. So has the number of people on the street.
By
Karen Yi
MTA’s Lieber reiterates opposition to ‘fast and free’ buses after violent incident
By
Carol Chen
Avila Chevalier insists her beef is with NYPD Commissioner Tisch, not Mamdani
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .