Kesher Talk

Big Al seeks Jewish money... and may get it: Al Sharpton, who can't stand Israel and may or may not loathe Jews, has no qualms about going after Jewish funding for his political campaigns.

Former Bronx Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez told the Forward that Sharpton's "progressive, populist and clear message" would attract Jewish campaign dollars despite his often dicey relations with the community. The civil rights firebrand is anathema to many New York Jews because of conduct many Jews viewed as inflammatory during two local racial incidents: the 1991 Crown Heights riots and the demonstrations that preceded the 1995 torching of a Jewish-owned clothing store in Harlem. Eight people died in those incidents.

Nevertheless, Ramirez said Sharpton's platform of "not going to war unless it's a last resort, on challenging government to be responsive to poor people and to women and to people who cannot speak for themselves" would gain him money in the "progressive and... also Jewish community."

"I would hope and argue that in there lies a wealth of support," Ramirez said in an interview in his New York office Monday.

posted by William @ 1/20/2003 11:03:05 AM