MSNBC host Al Sharpton said he believes embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel should resign after showing “insensitivity, lack of intelligence or arrogance, or a reasonable combination of all three.”
In the aftermath of last Saturday’s accidental police shooting death of 55-year-old grandmother Bettie Jones, Sharpton criticized Emanuel for vacationing while he is in the middle of a recall vote.
“I cannot for the life of me imagine how he could not know how this further imperils [Emanuel’s ability to be mayor], unless he’s sitting wherever he is writing out his resignation,” Sharpton said Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“They are circulating petitions in Chicago to recall you. The state legislature is going to have to deal with it. And you don’t even come back?” Sharpton fumed. “And the governor doesn’t even doesn’t make a statement? This is a height of either insensitivity, lack of intelligence or arrogance, or a reasonable combination of all three.” (VIDEO: Rahm Emanuel TEARS Into Politico Reporter Who Spilled Vacation Plans)
Guest host John Heilemann followed up and asked if President Obama’s former chief of staff could still be an effective mayor of Chicago.
“I don’t see how he can continue governing now. I think that there was an outside chance before as he did reaching out behind the McDonald tape … but now, I think he’s going beyond the point where he can even govern with the trust of the people.”
“I think the people have to make that decision” for Emanuel to resign Sharpton said, “But certainly from where I sit, he should.”