-Caveat Lector- NY Daily News Original Publication Date: 6/19/01 Rev. Al Takes Aim at Jesse Revives story of smearing King blood By TIMOTHY J. BURGER Daily News Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Al Sharpton took a swipe at Jesse Jackson yesterday by bringing up an old allegation about Jackson smearing Martin Luther King Jr.'s blood on his clothes to score political points. Sharpton has said he wants to run for President � and many believe he's trying to replace Jackson as America's most influential African-American leader. Asked during a jailhouse TV interview whether his presidential chances would be hurt by his role in pushing Tawana Brawley's discredited rape allegations, the reverend lashed out at several past presidential candidates - including Jackson. "I think the Brawley case pales in comparison," Sharpton told Fox News. "Did I take the blood of the guy I loved and put it on my shirt?" Jackson was with King when the civil rights leader was assassinated by James Earl Ray on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis in 1968. Although Jackson claimed King died in his arms, others say that he exaggerated the story - and smeared King's blood on his clothes. Jackson continued to wear the bloodstained clothes for some time after the assassination - even appearing on national TV the next morning wearing a sweater that he said was stained with King's blood. Sharpton, asked whether he's trying to supplant Jackson as a national leader, replied: "I'm not trying to replace anyone. I think every generation has its activists. He was in his generation. I hope to be in mine." A Jackson spokesman, Lou Colasuonno, said he didn't know about Sharpton's comments but was surprised by them because "he talks about a picture of Jesse and Martin on his desk." Sharpton - who is serving a 90-day sentence in a Brooklyn jail for his role in the demonstrations to stop the Vieques bombing - announced last month that he's considering running for President in 2004. He said at the time that he wasn't trying to challenge Jackson, who ran for President in 1984 and 1988 - but whose stature has been tarnished recently by revelations that he fathered an out-of-wedlock child with a woman on his staff. Asked by Fox whether he thought he could count on Jackson's support, Sharpton replied: "I don't know. It's a good question to ask him." During the TV interview, Sharpton also took a shot at President Bush as he tried to deflect questions about himself and the Brawley case. "For me to believe in a young girl to go to the American public, I'm willing to go and do that - absolutely," Sharpton said. "Compare my belief in a 14-year-old girl with the present President's drunk driving! That he did to himself, not anybody else!" Bush admitted a 1976 DUI arrest in the closing days of the 2000 campaign. Sharpton insisted he'd get "enough [votes] to win" if he ran for President. "Look at the others that are talking about seeking the Democratic nomination! Bob Kerrey, Al Gore. I'm running against people that I think are far more questionable in public service than I am!" he said. http://www.nydailynews.com/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
