Statement by Rep. Jesse L. Jackson on Howard Dean's Record(re:Sharpton)

[unfrigginreal]

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson issued a statement today responding to an attack on Howard Dean by Rev. Al Sharpton. The New York Times announced earlier today that Rep. Jackson will support Governor Dean's campaign in the coming weeks.

Congressman Jackson stated:

When it comes to addressing issues that directly affect African Americans, and indirectly affects all Americans, Gov. Dean clearly has good record. Up until this point -- until I indicated my intention to endorse Gov. Dean -- the Democratic campaign has been free of such racial rhetoric. I would recommend that it remain so. Such rhetoric will not contribute to defeating George W. Bush in 2004. Indeed, it will insure his re-election.

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson today said, "Al Sharpton is making a great contribution to the Democratic Party with his performances in the debates, his inspirational speeches on the campaign trail, his raising of the political consciousness of voters on issues that many of the other candidates will not touch, and by bringing new voters into the process.

"But no contribution of the Rev. Al Sharpton has been greater than the role he has played of statesman in the debates - of urging fellow competitors to 'first do not harm' to one another. It was Al Sharpton who said in the first debate in South Carolina, televised by ABC, that the 'Democrats should not have a debate and George Bush turn out to be the winner.' He has constantly reminded his fellow Democratic presidential candidates that the goal is to defeat President Bush in November, 2004. He has also said that while he understands there will be competition between each of them, none of them should do any harm to the other candidates that would prevent them from defeating George Bush.

"Unfortunately, Rev. Sharpton has rejected his own advice. The spirit of Rev. Sharpton's release in that regard is over-the-top and mostly inaccurate. Rev. Sharpton is inaccurate when he says that Howard Dean is 'opposed to affirmative action.' Even the 1995 quote he attributes to Gov. Dean is not a statement 'opposed' to affirmative action, but an argument for a broader criteria. More importantly, during this campaign Governor Dean has clearly stated for the record that he supports affirmative action based on race, gender and class - which is what the law requires.

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[gristy]

1. Thanks for posting this

Is Congressman Jackson Jesse Jackson's son? Props to Jackson for coming to the aid of Dean. This is how the game should be played if you want to play it well - a respected spokesperson coming to your defense. Dean can't and shouldn't attempt to take primary responsibility to deflect an attack such as this. With the help of supporters like Jackson, Dean is letting his record speak for itself.

[unfrigginreal]

2. Yes he's Jesse's son

I was very happy to see this statement from Jesse too. I'm more familiar with his father than I am with him but I've read on several threads here that he is a strong endorsement for Dean to have. I'd say that sure appears to be the case.

[Cha]

4. I've heard Jesse Jackson Jr. speak and he is very

eloquent and knows his business! And I am Thrilled that he is
endorsing Dean!

I remember before the Invasion of Iraq he was speaking out Against it!

[sangha]

3. I don't understand something

"Even the 1995 quote he attributes to Gov. Dean is not a statement 'opposed' to affirmative action, but an argument for a broader criteria. More importantly, during this campaign Governor Dean has clearly stated for the record that he supports affirmative action based on race, gender and class - which is what the law requires."

If the law already requires that AA be based on race, gender and class, then how is supporting AA based on race, gender, and class a "broader" set of criteria?

[unfrigginreal]

5. You understand more than you're letting on

Dean wants to broaden AA to include class(income) as a criteria.

[w4rma]

6. Dean bashers parsing words, picking nits and trying to play gotcha. (n/t)

[unfrigginreal]

7. Exactly

Kerry supporters - enough said.

[sangha]

8. Class is not income

and income is already a criteria, so how is including income a "broadening" of the criteria

You seem to know less about AA than you let on. I happen to be pretty familiar with AA, and so I know what "income, not race" means.

[w4rma]

10. opportunity = class

Income decides class (lower, middle, upper). Income decides opportunity (little, good, great).

They are just different terms for the same concept.

sangha (that's you) says:
AA is already based on opportunity and class is impossible to take into account. How do you measure "class"? By income? (AA already take income into account, so any claim that Dean was referring to income is erroneous)
…

[sangha]

12. Income is ALREADY used by AA

so how does including class (which you say is income, which is already included in AA) "broaden" the criteria?


sangha (that's you) says:
AA is already based on opportunity and class is impossible to take into account. How do you measure "class"? By income? (AA already take income into account, so any claim that Dean was referring to income is erroneous)

But I don't say that "opportunity = class". Plenty of rich black people have been "socially and/or economically disadvantaged" If you know what that phrase means, you'll know that I'm right

[sangh0]

13. w4rma, are you still around?

Can you tell me how including class/income "broadens" the criteria when AA already includes income?

Can you tell me how excluding race "broadens" the criteria?

[Skwmom]

9. Maybe Jackson should counsel his good buddy Dean.

Seems to me like Dean was still trying to harm his fellow Democrats in the last debate.

"DEAN -- "as I've said about eight times today," he says, annoyed -- that Saddam must be disarmed, but with a multilateral force under the auspices of the United Nations. If the U.N. in the end chooses not to enforce its own resolutions, then the U.S. should give Saddam 30 to 60 days to disarm, and if he doesn't, unilateral action is a regrettable, but unavoidable, choice."

http://fordean.org/aa/issues/press_view.asp?ID=398

[Rose Siding]

11. Statement of Congressman Major R. Owens

Statement of Congressman Major R. Owens

"Al Sharpton is working hard and doing a good job of pushing for a Democratic Party agenda with a full inclusion of the issues that matter most to African Americans and working families. If media exposure was his only concern, he would do better by running in the General Election as an Independent. But Sharpton has chosen not to be a spoiler. His bottom line is the same as mine -- retire George W. Bush before he totally wrecks our democracy.

"To achieve our common ground goal of a Democrat in the White House, Howard Dean is the only candidate with a clear enough vision combined with toughness and independence. With respect to African American concerns, Dean starts with an evolving slate. The "doors of his church" are wide open to a broad spectrum of African American leadership. After his election, Howard Dean can be expected to bring into his circle of new national leadership more Black leaders than any of the other candidates. He has this flexibility because he doesn't owe the establishment any dues.

"And no one should go forth with the mistaken assumption that the vital issue of war and peace is not important to the African American constituency. When the Congressional Black Caucus members overwhelmingly voted against the waste of 87 billion dollars in Iraq, they were expressing the will of the people in our neighborhoods who insist that our needs be met here at home first. Our people, our rank and file is already with Howard Dean. Black leaders must run to catch up."

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