The person most surprised by Donald Trump’s political success is Donald Trump, Al Sharpton says.
“[He’s a] prisoner of this wave that could go all the way if there is not a counter-wave,” the reverend told an audience at a Center for American Progress Action Fund event on Friday.
Sharpton discussed a variety of issues, including the “super predator” comments made by Hillary Clinton in 1996 when the former First Lady was stumping for her husband’s tough-on-crime bill. Here's the now infamous clip:
Those rather incendiary comments prompted one young lady to interrupt a Clinton event on Wednesday evening in protest. "I think that people have the right to raise that because it’s an issue that’s disturbing," Sharpton told The Huffington Post about the protesters confronting Clinton. "But I think it is something she has to deal with as many times as it’s raised, as we raised it. It’s a legitimate question."
But the highlight came when Sharpton discussed what would happen should America witness a Trump triumph, as it were. "If Donald Trump is the nominee ... I'm also reserving my ticket to get out of here if he wins. Only because he’d probably have me deported anyhow," Sharpton said, in what was apparently meant as a joke.
As for who is best positioned on the Democratic ticket to provide the "counter-wave" Sharpton says America needs to prevent the Teflon Don from steamrolling his way into the White House, Sharpton was non-committal.
“It’s good for them to say ‘yes, the country has an illness.’ Now, how are we going to heal it? Specifically, not slogans," Sharpton said addressing the choice between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. "I don’t need people to tell me ‘yep, you are right, it’s unfair.’ Tell me what you are going to do about it.”
We know what Donald Trump is going to do about it. He's going to "make America great again."
And if a rising tide lifts all boats, that will include African Americans by definition. Maybe "professional con man" Sharpton should just vote Trump...