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On Wednesday night, political power-dining in New York was a tale of two Als.

The 69th Annual Al Smith Dinner was held in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. Two and a half blocks away, Al Sharpton threwhis 60th birthday party at the Four Seasons restaurant. The events had their differences, yet spoke to each other.

The Alfred E. Smith dinner began with official introductions as the white-tie worthies fill the seats of a four-tier dais. "The honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, 56th governor of the state of New York," intoned an announcer in an upbeat basso profundo. "Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, former secretary of state, United States of America."

Reporters watched from a sequestered spot in the balcony.

At the Four Seasons, Al Sharpton rolled up in a tailored blue suit with girlfriend Aisha McShaw on his arm. The first thing he did was hit the press scrum to take questions, including one about his influence on New York City policy since the election of Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I don't think it's really as strange as a lot of people want to try to make it, he said of his newfound insider status. If you have a constituency and can show and deliver that constituency, people are going to respond." He then ascended stairs to The Pool Room to mingle with well-wishers, eat sushi, and await the arrival of celebrities like Spike Lee and Aretha Franklin.

Back at the Waldorf, this years Al Smith honoree was Home Depot founder Kenneth Langone, a billionaire and major Republican fundraiser, whodelivered the event's traditionally cutting after-dinner speech. "What a crowd tonight, he said near the top. Although I don't see the person in charge of the NYPD up here tonight: Al Sharpton."

Langone delivered the line, which got a big laugh, with de Blasio and police commissioner Bill Bratton sitting nearby. It was a reference to the mayor's consultations with Sharpton after Staten Islander Eric Garner died in a police chokehold in July. And it was proof, in a way, that Sharpton has joined the establishment. No one at the high-powered Al Smith dinner bothers to take shots at you unless you've got some clout.

De Blasio would say later, after leaving the Waldorf and dropping in at the Four Seasons, that, "The more people criticize Al Sharpton, the more I want to hang out with him." He mightve said more nice things but Sharpton cut him off. "I don't usually interrupt the mayor, but the Queen is in the room," Sharpton said, meaning of course the one and only, Aretha Franklin.

More here:
Al Sharpton Vs. Al Smith

The Rev. Al Sharpton turns 60 this week, reaching a milestone in both his professional and personal life. Once known primarily as a polarizing civil rights leader, Sharpton is at the height of his influence, advising some of the most powerful leaders in the nation President Barack Obama and Mayor Bill de Blasio and bolstering his position as thego-to voice for African American community leadership.

Peniel Joseph, professor of History at Tufts University and the author of several books about the civil rights movement, said Sharpton continues to be a catalyst for action.

"Hes transformed the discourse, because 20years ago, we weren't talking about putting cameras on every single cop, where as now we got a mayor and police brass who are willing to talk to somebody like Al Shapton about ways that police-community relations can be better in a matter that they wouldn't have in a previous historical context," Joseph said.

He spoke to WNYC's Amy Eddings about Sharpton's career evolution.

Read this article:
Al Sharpton Turns 60: From Flamethrower to Power Broker

The Rev. Al Sharpton got a phone call from Hillary Clinton and he made sure people knew it.

The activist preacher and MSNBC host, who publicly prodded Clinton to engage during this summers protests in Ferguson, Missouri, but said he didnt hear from her, announced via a news release Wednesday that she had reached out to wish him a happy birthday.

A half-hour before going on his MSNBC show PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton, Rev. Sharpton received a call from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who wished him a happy early birthday (Sharpton will be sixty this Friday), said the statement from Sharpton publicist Jacky Johnson. Tonight there will be a big party for him at the Four Seasons Restaurant; attendees include: Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, Mayor Bill de Blasio, entertainer Aretha Franklin, filmmaker Spike Lee and others.

(Also on POLITICO: Joaquin Castro endorses Clinton)

Mrs. Clinton apologized for not being able to attend but wanted to personally talk to him before the event, the statement said. Rev. Sharpton told Mrs. Clinton, I will make one birthday vow to you. I will stay on the front lines of civil rights and activism until your granddaughter Charlotte gets old enough to vote. At which they both chuckled.

Sharpton, whose relationship with Hillary Clinton and her husband has always been fraught, has risen in prominence in the decade since Bill Clinton left the White House, becoming a key ally of President Barack Obama.

As POLITICOs Glenn Thrush reported, Sharpton was in constant contact with top Obama advisers as he went to the Missouri town to address protesters upset over the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black teen.

While there, Sharpton pushed attention away from Obama and toward the 2016 presidential campaign calling out potential contenders such as Hillary Clinton and New Jerseys Republican Gov. Chris Christie for staying silent.

Read more:
Clinton calls Sharpton for birthday

Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio faced a holy dilemma Wednesday last night over whether to attend the Catholic Churchs Al Smith Dinner or the birthday bash of the man they really worship Al Sharpton.

Cuomo was so eager to honor Sharpton on his 60th birthday that he ducked out in the middle of the Smith dinner at the Waldorf to greet The Rev and lavish praise him at the nearby Four Seasons restaurant.

He has grown immensely over the years, Cuomo told the crowd. And hes no longer just New Yorks Al Sharpton. Hes the nations Rev. Sharpton and the nation is better for it.

De Blasio quickly changed out of his formal duds and dashed over to Sharptons party as soon as the New York Archdioceses Smith dinner ended, hailing Rev. Al as a blessing for this city.

The more people criticize him, the more I want to hang out with him, Hizzoner added.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also rushed to Sharptons event as fast as she could, and couldnt contain her enthusiasm.

God bless Al Sharpton, and many more [birthdays] to come, she gushed.

Sharptons shadow even extended over the Smith dinner, where billionaire Home Depot founder Ken Langone joked about the reverend while accepting an award.

I dont see the person in charge of the NYPD up here Al Sharpton, he said.

Top cop Bill Bratton, seated on the dais, cracked up.

Read the original post:
Cuomo & de Blasio torn between church dinner, Sharptons birthday

The Rev. Al Sharpton Song
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The Rev. Al Sharpton Song - Video