Sounds like a bad vaudeville routine.

Partner 1: Al Sharpton is so corrupt...

Partner 2: How corrupt is he?

With a hidden FBI camera rolling inside a New York hotel suite in 2003, an unsuspecting Rev. Al Sharpton, Democratic candidate for president, spoke candidly.

Sharpton offered to help Philadelphia fund-raiser Ronald A. White win a multimillion-dollar business deal, if White helped him raise $50,000 for politics.

White offered $25,000. "If you bring my guys up on this hedge fund, and I have the right conversation," White said, "I'll give you what you need."

"Cool," Sharpton said.

The Inquirer obtained an account of the May 9, 2003, conversation, which was recorded as part of the Philadelphia City Hall corruption case. The tape helped spark a separate inquiry into Sharpton's 2004 campaign and his civil-rights organization, the National Action Network. The FBI-IRS probe resurfaced publicly Wednesday, when Sharpton aides received subpoenas.

And you have to love Sharpton's response, which amounts to "It ain't illegal 'cuz I'm not a public official."

Well, maybe -- but it certainly reeks of corruption, the very kind a that liberals have complained about for years when it comes to cozy relationships between campaign donors and Republicans (but wait -- isn't it usually Democrats who get caught doing this?).

Posted by: Greg at 04:09 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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