Al Sharpton stops Meet The Press panel from revising the torrid American apartheid stance

[kpete]

NBC’s Meet the Press was very adoring to Nelson Mandela today. In their adoration they were attempting to discount the fact that America was complicit in apartheid survival as long as it did.

Conservatives are attempting to rewrite history. Al Sharpton ensured that all around that table were forced to accept that fact. He ensured that all of those listening were well aware that Conservative stalwarts like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher did not embrace freedom. They uttered the words but it was just for a select few.

“I think it is a betrayal of history to act as though as Nelson Mandela evolved the world embraced it. There was a real battle in this country,” Al Sharpton said. “So when Randall Robinson and Maxine Waters and Reverend Jackson led that fight … there was major contention. They were attacked for supporting communists. Let’s remember the ANC that he refers to, they were pursuing freedom. Many of the communist nations embraced them. This country did not. So it is not like they were born Marxist. They were born people seeking to be free. Some of the Marxist nations, either genuinely or in a self-interest way, tried to embrace that. This country did not, and fought that, and denounced them, and denigrated them. And I think that for us now to sugarcoat that is a betrayal of history. We chose sides. We chose the wrong side

Later when the Conservative panelist tried to sugarcoat Ronald Reagan’s role in the eventual liberation of South Africa, Al Sharpton would have none of it.

“Let’s be clear. Reagan vetoed, supported vetoing bills. Reagan denounced Mandela, called him names. He evolved after a protest movement here turned the tone and public opinion,” said Al Sharpton. “But let’s not act like Reagan was a major supporter of Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. It’s just not true.”

MORE, plus video:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/08/1261194/-Al-Sharpton-stops-Meet-The-Press-panel-from-revising-the-torrid-American-apartheid-stance

[JEB]

1. Give 'em hell, Al.

Don't let the bigots sweep their own behavior under the rug.

[zbdent]

2. This is why they hate Sharpton, and ALWAYS bring up his failings

while minimizing the planks in their eyes ...

Because he holds up the mirror in front of them, and they don't like to see what's in the mirror ...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Right. Shoot the messenger if you don't like the message or can't refute the facts. nt

[chillfactor]

3. good for Al...

do not let the rebags try to sugarcoat their way out of their part in history...true history...not their made-up re-write....

[kpete]

5. From Think Progress:

a handy timeline showing how conservatives consistently tried to thwart Mandela.
http://thinkprogress.org/home/2013/12/06/3029871/w...

Examples:

1960s:
National Review predicts end of white rule would result in “the collapse of civilization.”

1980s:
Reagan described apartheid South Africa as a “good country.”
Jerry Falwell urges supporters to oppose sanctions.
180 House members opposed free Mandela resolution.
Jack Abramoff leads think tank dedicated to tearing down Mandela.
U.S. Senator testified in support of the apartheid government.

1990s:
Heritage Foundation says Mandela is no “freedom fighter.”
Conservative think tank links Mandela to communists.

2000s:
National Review labels Mandela a “communist” for opposing the Iraq war.
(I got a good chuckle over this one)

http://thinkprogress.org/home/2013/12/06/3029871/wing-timeline-mandela/

[ReRe]

11. Also...

... he was on the terrorist watch list in the USA until 2008! (heard on DemocracyNow on Fri.)

[mstinamotorcity2]

4. Saw it!!!!

You go Rev.

[Hekate]

6. Good for the Rev. That said, I can't stand MTP. Saw some other great discussions, tho...

... in the first night or two after Mandela passed on.

One of the best was Tavis Smiley's -- I almost cruised past him when I saw who was on and stayed. Harry Belafonte was such a smooth crooner in days gone by that I don't think his many white fans really knew how involved he was in the Civil Rights movement, and how much he supported it financially. His voice is gravelly now, and he's bald -- he looks as smooth and hard as polished oak -- and all his strength and fire shine through. Maxine Waters told how she came to politics against the advice of some of her cohorts, who didn't believe it was worth the effort to "work within the system." She wrote the bill for the anti-apartheid sanctions that finally passed through Congress. When Mandela was freed and apartheid fell, she didn't jump to have the bill repealed -- and one fine day Nelson Mandela telephoned her out of the blue and told her that its continued existence was harming his country and it was time to end it. She said she stammered and stuttered at the encounter, but sure did as he requested. Even bristly Tavis had a story about being a 25 y.o. political aide and having an opportunity to meet Mandela because he was asked to escort Belafonte and Sydney Poitier in to his presence.

Rachel Maddow's bit of history about why Mandela came to Oakland California to talk to a huge crowd was an eyeopener: It wasn't just UC Berkeley students who raised a ruckus against apartheid, it was longshore union workers who raised their voices. Oakland made a real difference.

[WowSeriously]

7. Republican Borg. They are relentless in their deceit.

They play the long game like no other.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. And they all have a one-note monotone:

He's a communist!

Obama's a communist!

Environmentalists are communists!

Jesus is a communist! Oops, can't go there.

[WowSeriously]

18. In some ways it's a beauty to behold.

Mindless obedience and parroting.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. The latest RW Facebbok meme....

has a pic of Mendela and calls him a terrorist and a communist, next to that sniper who recently died calling him a hero, then asks "Guess who Obama ordered flags at half staff for?", or some such drivel. It was one RW too far- I had to boot my cousin.

[zeemike]

16. Now that is the truth.

It won't be long before they will claim him as a free market person...
And welcome to DU...

[WowSeriously]

20. It's only a matter of time.

And thanks! It's good to be here.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Sharpton on Civil Rights:

[WowSeriously]

19. But not as many as rights corporations.

[ReRe]

12. Thank God Al was there to set them straight! n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

25. Too bad it is like...

shovelling sand against a fast moving tide. The propaganda machine is in full swing.

[TheKentuckian]

13. Good stuff, Rev! Don't let them edit/delete reality.

[G_j]

14. You better believe it!!

thank you Al!!

[hibbing]

15. Shove it right back in their face Rev. Al! n/t

[Kurovski]

17. K&R. (nt)

[Marr]

21. I'm amazed they had him on the panel.

Liberals and civil rights activists have been conspicuously absent from most of these little Reagan Rehab episodes.

[Enthusiast]

22. Exactly.

They see anyone that can think for themselves as a threat to the well ordered official narrative.

It is shocking that they even allowed Rev to participate.

[harun]

27. +1

[underpants]

23. Awesome

[benld74]

26. Meet the Press has its nose so far up the GOP backside

it cannot distinguish real odor from pretend GOP induced odor.

[RayStar]

28. Brokaw's acting up!

All tommie brokaw was missing was his theatrical sister peggy noonan.
Thanks to Rev. Al!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

29. The Reverend is goddamned right. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. That was cool. Here's the link to the podcast of the episode...

http://msnbcpod.vo.llnwd.net/l1/video/podcast/pdv_mtp_netcast_m4v-12-08-2013-104359.m4v

It starts at 26:00 in.