Sharpton Under Fire for Bigoted Remark About Mormon Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

(Quotes and information from Carol Costello, CNN)

Al Sharpton's never-ending role as the victim may have finally caught up with him following a debate on religion and politics with atheist author Christopher Hitchings. The same "Reverend" who in his career has yet to turn the other cheek or offer forgiveness over a bad joke involving a women's basketball team, was referring to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Mormon faith when he said, "As for the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don't worry about that. That's a temporary situation." Sharpton proved his case by pointing out the success that God has given black rap artists.

After the debate, Romney's campaign jumped on the opportunity to provide Sharpton with a taste of his own medicine, calling the comment "terribly misguided." Said Romney, "it shows that bigotry still exists in some corners. I thought it was a most unfortunate comment to make." The NAACP has reportedly spoken to Sharpton about revoking his license to play the race card until the heat dies down.

Upon being asked whether or not he thought Sharpton was a bigot, Romney replied, "I don't know Reverend Sharpton. I doubt he is personally such a thing. But the comment was a comment which could be described as a bigoted comment. Perhaps he didn't mean it that way, but the way it came out was inappropriate and wrong."

Sharpton claims that his remarks were taken out of context, and that he was merely responding to an attack from Hitchens, who Sharpton alleges had accused the Mormon church of supporting segregation up until the 1960s. Clearly offended by that comment on the grounds that he believes the Mormon Church still supports segregation along with every other white man in America, it is obvious that Sharpton needed to retaliate by offending a Republican presidential candidate.