Al Sharpton Did Not Say That!!!

Less that 24 hours after the monumental passing of the health care bill*, Al Sharpton's unclear statement about about socialism has become big news across the internet. Earlier today, Sharpton was on Geraldo Rivera's show speaking about President Obama and the health care bill. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the show when it aired and I am so disappointed that all of the internet clips of the show are no more than 30 seconds long. Either way, I listened carefully to what Sharpton said and from what I can tell, he DID NOT say that that we all voted for socialism when voting for Barack Obama. This is how I interpreted it-

Sharpton was speaking. Rivera interrupted with some comment about socialism. It sounded like he said "So what are you to socialism?" Sharpton responded by saying "Well first of all, then we would have to say that the American public overwhelming voted for socialism when they elected President Obama."

Now, had Sharpton's statement been said alone and not as a response to Rivera's comment, I would be in just as much shock as everyone else. But it seems that in this situation Sharpton is basically saying:

 if you or anyone else thinks that President Obama and his ideas are all about socialism, then you are saying that the American public overwhelmingly voted for socialism. Now do you want to say that the American public voted for socialism? Are you saying that America wants to be a socialist country? Is that what you are saying Rivera? Because that's what it sounds like if you are attributing socialism to President Obama.

There is major difference between my interpretation and what is currently circulating around the internet. Maybe if all of these news clips were longer than 30 seconds, we would be able to fully comprehend what Sharpton was saying. For some reason, I think that they have released only 20-30 seconds of the clip on purpose. If we can't hear the whole thing then we can't make an informed opinion.

By the way, FOXNEWS is loving this. A chance to make Obama and Sharpton look like fools? Even if the true meaning of what was said is completely twisted and wrong? Yes!!! One point for team FOXNEWS.*

*At some point I plan to actually write about the health care bill...

**I am really hating FOXNEWS right now. Do not be surprised if I find a way to discredit their ridiculous news reporting on every blog that I write from now on. They make me sick...