The shakedown continues

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Boycott targets gave to Jackson By Steve Miller THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Rev. Jesse Jackson's newly released tax forms for 2000 reveal that his top donors that year were a who's who of companies that had been threatened with boycotts or other sanctions by Mr. Jackson.

The forms also show that Mr. Jackson's Citizenship Education Fund, his primary tax-exempt group, accepted a $50,000 donation from Kevin Ingram, a convicted criminal and the former head of the mortgage-backed securities desks at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Ingram — friends with Mr. Jackson for several years — last year pleaded guilty to federal money-laundering charges related to Pakistani arms deals. He is in federal prison. The coffers of the two principal economic engines for Mr. Jackson remained full in 2000, as donations from corporate America flowed freely, the forms show. The Citizenship Education Fund had $9,262,846 in revenue in 2000, according to the tax forms, a $600,000 decline from the previous year. The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, which is tax-exempt in its home state of Illinois but does not have a federal exemption, saw a $300,000 increase in revenue in 2000. Tax forms for fiscal 2001 are due in June. Mr. Jackson's Wall Street Project, aimed at securing employment for minorities, received $4.5 million in 2000 from the education fund. His contributors for 2000 include many firms that have had business dealings with Mr. Jackson in the past. Viacom, Bell Atlantic and GTE all gave to Mr. Jackson in 2000, and all have been threatened with boycotts or other sanctions by him. Blaylock & Partners, which received a $750,000 account from AT&T at Mr. Jackson's behest, donated $30,000 to the education fund in 2000. AT&T contributed $425,000. SBC Communications, which solicited and received the support of Mr. Jackson for its merger with Ameritech, contributed $500,000. The New York Stock Exchange, which Mr. Jackson has accused of "redlining" minorities, donated $194,634. Mr. Jackson's office did not return repeated phone calls. Targets of Jackson boycott threats such as Toyota and SBC Communications have denied any quid pro quo in their subsequent donations. The civil rights activist is 60 years old, and his organizations continue to incur financial setbacks, requiring a change in accounting practices and a stepped-up effort to collect membership dues in his trade groups. Earlier this year, Mr. Jackson laid off up to 50 employees from his top three organizations in Chicago. His chief financial officer, Billy Owens, and Emma Chappell, executive director of Mr. Jackson's Wall Street Project, also have departed. Mr. Jackson is emboldened by a following that accepts his shortcomings, said Mark Thompson, a radio talk-show host on the District's WOL-AM. "Jesse Jackson is still a very articulate spokesman for the African-American community," Mr. Thompson said. "When it comes to the everyday issues that we face, he is the man who has fought for people." Mr. Jackson's critics use the apparent quid pro quo business dealings as "grist for the mill," Mr. Thompson said. "But among his followers, there may be some concerns and some doubts, but people are willing to hold their noses and still be supportive of him and his service to the community." Mr. Jackson, who earns about $500,000 annually, has repeatedly accused his detractors of having political motivations. "Jesse Jackson is still telling people that the Republicans are targeting his supporters," an estranged colleague said this week of Mr. Jackson's financial situation. "He has continued to decline this year, after seeing his revenue fall off last year," he said on the condition of anonymity. "His revenues are down — real big. He has these associates who have gotten into all this trouble. And it is still the Republicans' fault." Mr. Jackson warned a black crowd last year that "we are in danger because of the right wing." "The right wing has seized government. Watch out in coming days of the right-wing media, the FBI, the IRS, targeting our leadership," he told an audience at November's State of the Black World Conference in Atlanta. But many of Mr. Jackson's associates have found trouble on their own. Miss Chappell, who is founder of the United Bank of Philadelphia, was sued by the bank two years ago and accused of misconduct and fraud. In a confidential agreement to settle the suit, Miss Chappell gave up her seat on the bank's board of directors. Mr. Jackson, though, has relentlessly pushed his agenda. In a column last week, he insisted that President Bush is "systematically weakening the laws and regulation on clean air, clean water, toxic wastes, workplace safety, civil rights and equal protection." "If they understood what was coming down, the vast majority of Americans — whether white, black or brown, conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican — would oppose this president's assault on the protections and resources we need to meet the challenges we face," Mr. Jackson wrote in a column published on the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Web site.



-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002

Answers

Thank you for taking the time to post this, Bob in WI. It is very informative.

Playing the race card is becoming sooo boring nowadays. Many of these associations purport to be attempting to "level the playing field". BS. They want to be special cases, people who are just handed over business / favorable treatment because they happen to be minority born. Thank God amoebas can't type; nobody would stand a chance!

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), April 17, 2002.


I'm still trying to figure out how this man lives when the man doesn't do anything. How come I can't find one of them jobs,high pay and no work.

-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), April 17, 2002.

You should try the Oklahoma State Department of Health - they're still hunting for "ghost employees" from the last administration! (he's in jail, by the way!)

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), April 17, 2002.

Tom, I had one of those jobs. I didn't realize it when I signed on, but that's how it turned out. I worked for Siskiyou National Forest. I actually worked, because I'm that kind of a person, but about a third of the "work force" did not do any work.

I got frustrated by this, and quit. I've been lambasted by a lot of people for being stupid. But I have to live with myself.

-- joj (joj@home.org), April 17, 2002.


JOJ,

Being called stupid for doing what is right. Way to go JOJ. If people were only respected for their honesty it would be a much better world to live in. (It doesn't hurt to dream.)

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.



Tom....you need to inrole Shake Down University.

We'll give you all the recommendations you need ...........for a price

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), April 17, 2002.


Thanks for posting this Bob. It's pretty amazing how a lack of honor and integrity, coupled w/ deceit and greed, can be so profitable.

Our country is so wealthy, it's gotta be easy pickins' for these Leeches. It scares me to think what they could stoop to if they put their mind to it!

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.


Thanks Bob. Perhaps karma is functioning, for I ended up being a general contractor, and have had a very satisfying time with it; now semi retired!

-- joj (joj@home.org), April 18, 2002.

Amazing. I wonder how the reparations suit is progressing? What a load of garbage.

I agree, joj. Good job!! Generally you get what you give, and no honest person could stand around doing nothing and keep drawing a paycheck that their neighbors were paying. It would be great if there were more honest people!!!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), April 21, 2002.


Oh, Doreen, I have no problem paying reparations for slavery, but only for those who actually served as a slave.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), April 22, 2002.


Reperations. . . for what? Has the community of black's supporting the reperations bill forgotten to research the history of Africa. Tribal leaders waged war upon one another, the winner taking the loser's men, women and children not only to use as their own slaves, but also to sell as slaves to European, American, and African buyers. I guess the old adage holds true, "The trueth hurts."

-- Scot (seseward@earthlink.net), August 18, 2002.

Whatever does the allegation that previous African cultures may have indulged in slavery have to do with anything? By that logic, does that mean that if my grandpa robbed banks I should be excused if I decide it might be fun to hold up a couple gas stations?

Inquiring minds also would like to know why all the virulence toward Rev Jackson? Hope you folks arent the same ones who like to spout off about your brand of Christianity. Might seem a bit unseemly to be sounding so harsh, hateful, and judgemental. Like some folks like to say, what would jesus do?

Sheesh.....

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), August 18, 2002.


I really do not see the connection about previous African cultures either. Slavery has gone on in most of Africa pretty much through all the time of recorded history. That is not a surprise to anyone who can read.

This post really got changed from the original post about Jesse Jackson. How reparations got into this I really don't know, but I will post my view anyway. Reparations is a bad idea no other way to describe it. How can I be expected to pay for reparations when no one connected with this issue is still alive? It has been over 135 years since slavery was practiced in the US. None of my family was even in the US during the time of slavery, much less benefitted from it, which is the argument I have heard put forward for reparations. If this passes into law I can guarantee you racism, both ways, like you have never seen in your lifetime. The backlash, on both sides, will be extreme. It will be the next civil war.

"Virulence towards Jesse Jackson" I don't know if that is the right word to describe my thoughts on the man. He is not who I would want my kids to look up to as a role model. He takes money by extorting businesses using the race card, and then uses the money for his personal use, such as paying his mistress etc.. I really don't see how he can be defended by anyone with common sense. He claims to be a Christian minister, but his actions prove otherwise. Want more information, read the book Shakedown, Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson by Kenneth Timmerman. It opened my eyes, I trust it would do the same for you.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), August 19, 2002.


I guess I have to be crazy to respond To a posting made 4 monts ago but since people still come to it I figure wht not add my shallow opinion.Fist I'l add .About slavery ,how could men like the founders of the U.S. justify their right to slavery, when they seemed to value freedom so strongly.As far as people saying it was exceptable back then.There were groups like the Quakers that knew it was wrong. and other christian sects . 2,000 years ago it was considered wrong...... Jessy Jackson, this is the Judus of the Martin L.king jr. movement. He went on TV and was interview for 3 days in a row after the assasination of King. He wore the blood soak shirt for 3 days and claimed he wore it cause it was Kings blood on the shirt and he honored King...He wore the blood soak shirt , cause it was Oppitunity Time, to cash $ in on the tragerty and make a name for his self even though his roll with King was probably the guy who runs out to get the coffee or bring back some food to eat for the men who were doing the brain work of their movement.I wouldn't be surprised if he help set up Martin L. King for the returned favor of his position today. It's just a gut feeling I have about this guy. He's the extreme opposite of a Martin L. King jr. Slavery still exist to this day in parts of Africa and this country still deals with countries that have slavery , and those countries with slavery have been allowed to be members of the U.N. even those it is forbbin to allow a county with slavery in the U.N. Why is this stuff being allow to continue ? as George Harrison said: Cause we're living in the material world

-- SM Steve (Unreal@home.com), August 19, 2002.

Forgot to add Jesse had said the blood on his shirt got on there from the spray of blood that left M.L.K. jr. when he was shot.There were the close friends of King who said Jesse took off his shirt and rub it in a puddle of blood on the floor. I wasn't there only those who were ther know.I'm not much of a mechanic , but I know when my truck ain't running right .I'm not much into politicians , but I know when one ain't running right.Sometimes all we have to go by is that gut feeling from within.I know it's too simplistic.

-- SM Steve (Unreal@home.com), August 19, 2002.


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