King Day Without Sharpton?

[The Northerner]

Source: New York Daily News

The Rev. Al Sharpton MAY forgo his annual MLK Day celebration to lead a delegation of clergy and community leaders to Haiti to show "solidarity' with the earthquake-torn country, Sharpton spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger confirmed.

"We'll still have the local program, but he won't be there," Noerdlinger said, adding that Haitian-born rap start Wyclef Jean - "a very close friend of ours" - will also be on the trip.

UPDATE: Noerdlinger called back to say that Sharpton might be able to make his event - or part of it - after all. His staff is still working on the logistics of his trip - getting to an earthquake-ravaged country is no easy task. The event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

Sharpton's MLK event has become a must-do in the political world, and anticipation for this year's get-together was particularly high since both Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and her potential primary opponent, former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., were expected to attend.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/01/king-day-without-sharpton.html

[monmouth]

1. Unless you are medical or part of a specific saving service and ready

to roll up your sleeves and get very dirty, tired, etc. I would think you might be in the way. Just my opinion but a photo op Haiti is not.

[Mojorabbit]

3. we posted almost the same thing at the same time. nt

[monmouth]

4. We Florida girls are on it, right?....LOL.

[grantcart]

10. having been in a major disaster I can tell you that all of the visitors

are a major problem.

No non operational people should come for 6 months.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Unless he is planning on

taking a boatload of supplies or people who can get down in the dirt and help, his traveling to Haiti to show solidarity would divert needed hands on the ground. My opinion.

[Meldread]

5. I agree with Monmouth and Majorabbit.

Unless Sharpton plans to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty, he should just stay here in the United States. He can do more useful things than traveling down there for a photo op. Like fund raising to help the relief effort, or visiting American based Haitian communities who are grief stricken about their inability to contact loved ones back in Haiti or have learned that someone they loved is dead. He can show solidarity here at home.

I predict that if he goes down there just for a photo op, that it will backfire, and go over as well as Bush's fly over of New Orleans did. Don't go, Al unless you plan to actually do something useful when you get there.

[Tejas]

9. Haitian: "Al who?"

Agreed. Tons of outsiders flocking to Haiti will only put a heavier burden on the infrastructure there in this time of turmoil.

More people = more food/lodging/etc needed.

No sense in burdening Haiti with any more than emergency personnel for the moment.

[Meldread]

11. Exactly.

If he shows up down there, it's going to smack of exploiting a humanitarian tragedy for personal gain and publicity. Someone close to him needs to tell him just don't go.

[Igel]

6. His staff should find a nice video game to play.

Better to waste time doing nothing than be diligently engaged in doing bad.

He should go to domestic event next Monday, pass the hat around to collect money, and send that to Haiti in lieu of his body.

[rpannier]

7. The money he spends on flying down there to show solidarity

might be better spent on relief supplies and other aid for the country

[name not needed]

8. Will he bring his usual camera crew too?

[goldcanyonaz]

12. MKL wouldn't have had cared less for this POS.

[Dappleganger]

13. Oh please.