Politics & Power Quote by Al Sharpton

Sharpton’s line lands because it turns party identity into a costume drama: the donkey isn’t just compromised, it’s being worn. In one stroke, he frames ideological drift as deception rather than evolution. “Moved far to the right” is a familiar critique on the left, but the follow-up metaphor sharpens it into an accusation of bad faith - not merely that Democrats have adopted conservative policy instincts, but that they’re smuggling them in under a brand that still markets itself as the home of labor, civil rights, and the safety net.

The “elephants” aren’t Republicans as such; they’re behaviors and priorities: deference to Wall Street, triangulation on crime and welfare, a reflex to bargain away social programs to prove “seriousness,” the constant chase for a center that keeps moving. By saying these elephants are “running around,” Sharpton implies chaos and lack of control - a party that’s not consciously steering, but being stampeded by donor logic, consultant culture, and a fear of being called “too liberal.”

Context matters. Sharpton comes from movement politics where symbolism is a tool and betrayal is the cardinal sin. His audience isn’t just general-election voters; it’s the Democratic base, especially Black voters and progressives, who are often asked to show up on Election Day and stay quiet the rest of the time. The intent is disciplinary: name the drift, shame it, and force the party to choose whether it wants to be a coalition with a spine or a label that can be worn by anyone with the right campaign logo.