At a press conference after the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death on February 17 at the age of 84, his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., warned pols, pundits, posturers and ex-presidents not to “bring your politics” to his memorial. “These ongoing services are welcome to ALL—Democrat, Republican, liberal, and conservative. Right-wing, left-wing,” he said.
Less than a month later, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democrat, seemed to do just that, falsely claiming a previous endorsement from Jesse Jackson Sr. that she never had in a close race for retiring Dick Durban's vacated senate seat.
The Jackson family immediately issued a retraction.
"It is important to note that the Jackson Family does not issue political endorsements, nor do Rainbow PUSH or the Rainbow PUSH Coalition," said son Yusef Jackson in a statement.
With a close election primary to be held on St. Patrick's day, Chicago radio waves seem wall-to-wall Stratton endorsements both from President Obama and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritkzer, who selected her as his 2018 running mate so obviously endorses her. Why the redundancy?
At issue, of course, is Chicago's "Black vote,” thought to make or break an election and to reside in Jackson Sr.'s legacy.
It is no secret that Illinois governor J.B. Pritkzer hopes to run for US President in 2028 and is using his governorship for early campaigning. On March 8, he visited Selma, Alabama to "commemorate" the 61st anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" and, well, campaign a little.
Trying to galvanize the crowd, he termed a Trump plan to “place federal agents at polling places” “Jim Crow all over again.”
The crowd seemed unimpressed. The Hyatt Hotels billionaire comparing himself to Jim Crow victims if his elected is thwarted?
Bloody Sunday activists, had they been present, would have headed for the exits.
How much did the trip to Selma cost Illinois taxpayers? What did they gain from it? Even if the governor uses his own funds for his serial campaign trips, as claimed--12 out-of-state trips in 12 months including to Canada, Mexico, France and Japan—what about his time away from his “desk” and neglect of his duties to Illinois citizens?
The three presidents who spoke at Jackson, Sr.’s Chicago memorial on March 6 were also not above politicking.
Former president Barack Obama credited Jackson with helping to enable his presidency as a Black American. Former president Bill Clinton called the Reverend a “friend.” Former president Joe Biden drew analogies between his and Jackson’s public careers. The problem was none of the presidents knew his father sufficiently to speak about him said son Jackson Jr.to the chagrin of party officials.
The posturing brought to mind Hillary Clinton’s 2008 affectation of a Black accent in Selma, Alabama to win votes when she was running for president.
“I don’t feel no ways tired,” she intoned, citing the song of the same name associated with the late Rev. James Cleveland.
Her delivery was so forced, so self-conscious, so palpably embarrassing, Clinton herself must have cringed. It’s a wonder she wasn’t booed by the overwhelmingly Black crowd. Rev. James Cleveland, considered the Godfather of US Gospel music and a Chicagoan, would himself have headed for the exits.
J.B. Pritkzer reportedly is spending millions to elevate Stratton to senator in pre-arrangement for own presidential ambitions. Jackson Jr. is wise to have his guard up.
video: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQfCMzgxRvfhBFPsMmxJdKGHgC…
