As a person, I think Jesse Jackson is probably a pretty good guy. I have a friend who is in management at a large hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has been helping a new church get started in his city. Jesse Jackson stayed at his hotel, and he happened to be in the elevator with him. He introduced himself, and Jesse had a 15 minute conversation with him about his new church. He said he was genuinely interested and engaging.
I think the problem with Jackson is that he is a celebrity with a political agenda. He has to maintain an image, and that image is one of influence with the people of his race. He has to maintain the appearance of influence, or he loses his power. Since Obama has been elected, IMO he has lost some of the power he once had. So he comes out, says something controversial, and does his cable news circuit for a week or so. He'll get some tv time, and keep himself in the nations eye.
The problem, IMO, is that he is making it harder for the democrats in the health debate. Calling another democrat a "lesser" black individual does nothing to entice that person to change their opinion. Not only did he call out that individual as being less black, but is basically calling out any black individual that votes against the health care reform bill. It puts a racist spin on the health debate, that probably doesn't need to be there. Just my two cents. I can't imagine Obama and other dems are not frustrated with Jackson right about now.
|