The NY Post claims that major companies pay MSNBC host Al Sharpton not to cry racism against the company.

The Post reports that For more than a decade, corporations have shelled out thousands of dollars in donations and consulting fees to Sharpton’s National Action Network. What they get in return is the reverend’s supposed sway in the black community or, more often, his silence.

Sharpton, who owes thousands of dollars in back taxes to the IRS, shakes down these companies to buy his silence according to the Post story. 

“Al Sharpton has enriched himself and NAN for years by threatening companies with bad publicity if they didn’t come to terms with him. Put simply, Sharpton specializes in shakedowns,” said Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal & Policy Center, a Virginia-based watchdog group that has produced a book on Sharpton.

And Sharpton, who now boasts a close relationship with Obama and Mayor de Blasio, is in a stronger negotiating position than ever. 

“Once Sharpton’s on board, he plays the race card all the way through,” said a source who has worked with the Harlem preacher. “He just keeps asking for more and more money.”

Amazingly this guy is still employed by NBC and at least some people inside 30 Rock feel that he has shaken down the Peacock as well.

"They can't fire the guy...if they do, he will come raining down on NBC and the network bosses," said one NBC insider to FTVLive.

It appears that Sharpton has NBC right where he wants them. 

How sad is that?