For at least the 62nd time since 2009, the Rev. Al Sharpton has  crossed the threshold of the White House to meet with President  Barack Obama.  
    On Thursday, Sharpton was a guest of honor, along with 17 other    civil rights leaders, for Obama "to provide an update on the    administrations priorities as described in the State of the    Union," the White House stated,     the Weekly Standard reported.  
    "The meeting was also an opportunity to have a dialogue with    the leaders about the issues facing their communities,    including criminal justice, education, health care and economic    development," the Standard said.  
    Sharpton was welcomed, despite owing an estimated $4.5 million    in state and federal taxes, according to the     National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC).  
    "Because he is a friend of many powerful people, including    President Obama, the IRS and the State of New York have seemed    willing to give him a free pass, especially given the high    propensity of his admirers to riot," the NLPC said of Sharpton.  
    The White House invitation also came despite a lawsuit filed by    the National Association of African-American Owned Media, which    alleges that Comcast paid off Sharpton and his organization,    the National Action Network (NAN), with $3.8 million in    "donations" to keep quiet about its planned merger with Time    Warner Cable. The planned merger, the group claims, shuts out    black-owned media organizations,     Fox News reports.  
    Sharpton, a commentator with MSNBC, recently was criticized by    Erica Snipes, the adult daughter of Eric Garner, who Sharpton    adopted as a cause after Garner died in a confrontation with    New York police during an arrest. Asked by Project Veritas if    she thought Sharpton was a crook, Snipes rubbed her fingers    together, and said, "He's (Sharpton) all about this," the NLPC    reported. A hidden video captured the interview.  
    The     Daily Mail reports that Sharpton is losing    his nightly spot as host of "Politics Nation."  
    Sharpton was joined at the White House meeting by Cornell    Brooks of the National Association for the Advancement of    Colored People; Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense and    Educational Fund; Marc Morial of the National Urban League;    Spencer Overton of the Joint Center for Political and Economic    Studies; Catherine Pugh of the National Black State    Legislators; John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers    Association; Ron Busby of the U.S. Black Chambers; Edwin Bass    of COGIC Urban Initiatives; Bishop George Battle Jr., African    Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; Rev. Traci Blackmon of the    Christ The King United Church of Christ; Rev. Kip Banks Sr. of    the Progressive National Baptist Church; Rev. Jesse Bottoms Jr.    of the National Baptist Convention, USA; Bishop Charles Ellis    of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World; Michael McBride of    PICOs Lifelines to Healing Campaign; Rev. Samuel Tolbert Jr.    of the National Baptist Convention of America; Rev. Dr. Raphael    Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church; and Dr. Barbara    Williams-Skinner of the Skinner Leadership Institute, the    Weekly Standard reported.  
    In a recent interview with     Politico, asked if Obama was too close to    Sharpton, Attorney General Eric Holder said, "I dont think so.    I think that, you know, the president has a number of people    who he listens to, who he interacts with.  
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Sharpton Back at WH for 62nd Meeting With Obama