I know this is a subject that people love to jump on Sharpton and women in general for, but it's just a sad case for everyone involved. Sharpton actually believed her because he had no reason not to-- these inhuman rapes happen all the time, unfortunately. He really has nothing to apologize for, he simply was tried helping a young victim of rape and hate crimes, not matter how angry he was. I always thought there was a reason why she made it up, as though she was afraid of something more than 'being out late', but I refuse to defend her because no matter what it was a terrible thing to do, but it's caused all sorts of misogyny and MRA's yelling about false rape accusations.
I would be shocked if anyone really thought a prominent attorney raped a young girl that far outside his social circle and then covered her in excrement. It's not a crime novel out there, it's real life. I bet if you cataloged the rapes in the US (and I'm sure someone does) you'd find that a vanishingly small percentage of them are "odd" like that one was. This smelled from the start. I just think Sharpton didn't care - he knew the lamestream media would give him a bully pulpit and a pass. -XC
Yes I believe you stated this in the other thread about the subject. Despite Sharpton's angry words, however, I find that he has done a fair amount of good, especially in the black community, and at the time was truly dedicated to helping the disenfranchised. I see very little evidence through his career that he took up issues as a way of boosting his own name.
I like Sharpton, he smart, takes brave moral positions, is extremely funny and combines compassion and reason in his analysis of public policy. He pushed this episode way past the point of fiasco. I'd say that it's the great stain on his name. I think he probably went into it believing her and didn't have the courage to lose face and leave the girl to the wolves after he realized the whole thing was made up. Sin of pride perhaps.