Rev. Al Sharpton

 "What  they are saying," Rev. Al Sharpton explained in a telephone interview from Detroit, where he was getting ready for the Michigan primaries, "is that I’m not allowed to speak to certain people. I’ve been talking to Roger Stone for a long time. That doesn’t mean that he’s calling the shots for me. Don’t forget that Bill Clinton was doing more than talking to Dick Morris," a political consultant known for his neo-conservative views.

"Is there one set of rules for Sharpton," he countered, "and another set for others who can talk to whomever they please? I’m sick and tired of these double standards." 

Rev. Sharpton also took exception to the accusation that Mr. Stone, along with Charles Halloran, his current campaign director, was responsible for feeding him information that led to his attack on Howard Dean and the lack of minorities in his gubernatorial cabinet in Vermont.  

"I got that information from the Vermont NAACP," the reverend responded. " I don’t need Stone or Halloran  to think for me."

As for those detractors who feel he’s not a serious candidate and that his showing in South Carolina should be his swan song, Rev. Sharpton compared his results with those obtained by Jesse Jackson during his first presidential bid in 1984. "At this point, I have five delegates, one from Delaware and four superdelegates," he explained. " Jesse had only one delegate at this stage. And for those who roll out the fact that Jesse carried 11 states...that was in 1988, his second run. This is just my first run and I’m running it with little or no money."

"I came in third, defeating Dean and Clark, who have far more money," Rev. Sharpton continued. " Jesse didn’t even do this."

Will Michigan be for him like Wisconsin apparently will be for Dean, do or die? " No way," he snapped. " I’m in for the long run. I’m in this race to keep certain issues burning right down to the convention, and at this rate I hope to be there with at least 50 delegates."

There were rumors of a spate between him and political pundits and activists such as George Artz, Bill Lynch and Ron Daniels. " I think the problem is that when they talk to the press about me they should clarify their statements," Rev. Sharpton said. 

"Look, I’ll be back in New York in the middle of next week, and if you’ve got the time, I’ll give you all the answers you need to deal with all these assertions about my campaign, the Roger Stones, and what have you—and there’s no dirty tricks," Rev. Sharpton promised.

Stay tuned.

(Herb Boyd is the managing editor of The Black World Today.)