HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Part preacher, part politician, part comedian; Civil rights activist and political commentator Al Sharpton was all alarm clock during a visit to Harrisburg Friday as he tried to wake what he called inner-city voters who slept through the 2010 election.
"That's how the tea party took over," Sharpton told voters at a luncheon. "If we go to sleep in 2012, forces that want to take Social Security and Medicare and education funds will take over permanently."
Sharpton was here to educate voters that they don't need photo identification this Election Day and he took a few shots at the controversial law that's currently on hold.
"I put some of the legislators from Pennsylvania on my TV show," he said. "Show me the fraud. Well, no we want to prevent it. So you want to change the law to prevent something that hadn't happened. That's like going to the hospital saying you need surgery to prevent what you think you might get."
Sharpton also criticized African-Americans who have lost enthusiasm for the first black President, saying Obama hasn't done enough for them.
"What are they doing to Obama? Well, is he black enough? He didn't come to my fish fry," he said. "This President has delivered and I think he's delivered against almost impossible odds."
Mayor Linda Thompson said she's excited to host Sharpton. Thompson said she hopes he will help clear up misinformation about the state's new voter ID law.
Earlier this month, a judge postponed enforcement of the law, which requires all voters to show a valid photo identification at the polls, until the next election.
Sharpton will speak at Camp Curtin Elementary School at 7 p.m.
