Jesse Jackson: Shake Down Artist
- Fred
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Jesse Jackson passed away earlier this week, and I want to be clear, right from the start, no one questions Jackson's contributions to the Civil Right Movement. No one.
But, as happens with many a great American, his legacy gets a bit dicey after his entrance into politics.
What's my specific problem with Jackson? Politics is not the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1984, Jesse Jackson ran for President of the United States for the first time and came in a very respectable 3rd in the Democrat Primaries. But I am telling you, Jackson had no chance to win that year, Reagan beat Mondale in a landslide, and no American Citizen was going to beat Reagan in 1984, no matter who the Democrats chose.
Jackson's run in '84 was setting the table for '88.
In 1988, Jackson came in 2nd to Michael Dukakis in the Democrat Primaries, but Jackson should have been a shoe-in. Dukakis wasn't even the most popular Democrat in Massachusetts, let alone America. There were whispers in the shadows about Jackson's "electability" in the general election.
By 1992, Jackson's personal political window had closed, but his Rainbow Coalition was still a driving force in party politics.
What would happen is that someone from the Rainbow Coalition would come to your multi-national corporation and take a look around. That representative would declare your company racist, unless you cut them a check. If you said yes, you were racist, that check would clear you of your racism. If you said no, you weren't racist, your company would have to cut a bigger check later when your company's name was presented to the press. If you remember, the mob worked in a similar way under the guise of "protection." This was not some sort of wild Beacon of Speech Conspiracy Theory, those on the Right openly called Jesse Jackson a "Race Hustler." South Park mocked the process in one of their episodes.
And later in life, Reverend Jackson was found to have a Love Child outside of his marriage. Scandalous? Yes. Did he step down from his organization or resign from the ministry? No. At some point in his life, Reverend Jackson was beyond any repercussions for his personal behaviors.
You say why step down from his ministry? In most religions, you can't have illegitimate children outside your marriage and continue to be a leader within the faith.
Again, few of us are perfect. When I die, I'm sure there will be some (many) who would disapproved of my life choices.
But when Jackson passed, he was remembered positively, in a nearly uniform manner, across corporate press platforms. Nary a negative word was spoken.
And his funeral was referenced as a "star-studded" event with glowing eulogies from everyone on the Left. But as I watched video highlights of the funeral, it seemingly evolved in a Political Pep Rally, not unlike what unfolded at Senator Paul Wellstone's Funeral a generation ago.
What's my problem exactly?
When someone dies on the Right, they are described as problematic, controversial, or divisive by the mainstream press. When someone dies on the Left, they are described as universally beloved, personal foibles omitted.
Even if they're problematic, controversial, or divisive, which Jesse Jackson clearly was during the Political Phase of his life.
How did Left-leaning pundits and media react to the Death of Charlie Kirk?
Funny story.
An old ex-girlfriend of mine was registered to vote by Jesse Jackson during one of his many voter registration drives. At the time, she was an 18 year old, 5'10" blonde and described Jackson was one of the "nicest and most charismatic" men she had ever met.
I'm sure he was.