PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Chris Freind
There he goes again! Jesse Jackson has once more shown his true talent as a comedian. By providing us with priceless material, via an open microphone, his recent words about Barack Obama were above and beyond anything Hollywood could have scripted. However, Jackson shouldn't give up his day job just yet, since we're laughing at him, not with him.
Come to think of it, what is Jesse's day job? Has he ever had one, other than promoting Jesse Jackson?
Despite all the Democratic rhetoric that race should not be an issue in this presidential campaign, Jackson proved otherwise with his comments. Painfully obvious is the fact that far too many of that party's leaders believe Obama's candidacy should be all about race, and Jackson is leading the charge.
While waiting for a television interview to begin, Jackson was captured on tape viciously berating Obama for "talking down to black people", and stated his preference for ripping off one of Obama's body appendages, a particularly sensitive one. But he took his tirade considerably further, calling certain groups of black people a horrendous racial slur---THE "N" word. Fear not, though, for Jackson issued yet another non-apology, just as in the past, so all will be well again.
And unfortunately, it will be. Jackson will not be held accountable for his words and beliefs, and will, once again, be let off the hook.
Jackson is the worst kind of hypocrite. He appeals to people's emotions by preaching unity, healing and equality, but his actions and comments are invariably divisive and racially-charged. From calling New York "Hymietown" to using the N-word, Jackson has time and again expressed his true feelings on race relations---he wants to keep segregation alive and well in America. He doesn't want unity, has no desire to bridge racial divides, and doesn't care about solving the plight of millions of Americans, both black and white. Jackson only cares about one thing: Jesse Jackson. As long as he keeps his name in the headlines, he will continue marching to the bank, cashing in on the backs of those too gullible to see the truth.
While Obama was gracious in his acceptance of Jackson's non-apology, he would be wise to immediately sever all ties with Jackson. That would go a long way to proving his as-yet untested rhetoric about wanting a unified America. For someone so interested in "change", it would be a breath of fresh air to see Obama repudiate Jackson once and for all. But since Bill Cosby got slandered as an "Uncle Tom" for not towing the standard black victimhood line, and Obama is nothing if not an Establishment player who wants to avoid controversy, don't hold your breath.
The other major hypocrite is the media. How many pundits, commentators and editorial boards will call Jackson out on his failure to truly apologize? How many will clamor for Obama to end all relations with Jackson? Who will demand Jackson attend racial sensitivity training? What station will have the guts to follow Jackson around, interviewing the next CEO who hires him for a big-money speech? But instead of being aggressively questioned as to why he shouldn't be labeled a racist, bigot and anti-Semite, he will be permitted to wiggle off the hook again.
Since we're talking about the American media, it's fair to say that none of these things will happen. And Jesse has yet to return any of my calls. Go figure.
We should recall the words of CBS Corporation Director and former head of the NAACP, Bruce Gordon, who last year called for the firing of radio shock jock Don Imus over an ill-advised racial joke. He so eloquently pointed out that "We should have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to what I see as irresponsible, racist behavior."
Agreed. Let's start by giving the boot to Jesse Jackson, one of America's biggest racists.
Chris Freind can be reached at CF@TheBulletin.us
