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Jesse Jackson's Racial Loyalty, Healthcare
Posted on: 2009-11-19 19:04:45 The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill. “We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill from Alabama,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.” The remark stirred a murmur at the reception, held by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation as part of a series of events revolving around the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s run for president. Several CBC members were in attendance, including Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who’d introduced Jackson. Davis, who is running for governor, is the only black member of Congress from Alabama. Davis referred to Jackson’s 1988 run for president in a statement,
issued through his office, that said he would not engage Jackson on his
criticism. “One of the reasons that I like and admire Rev.
Jesse Jackson is that 21 years ago he inspired the idea that a black
politician would not be judged simply as a black leader,” Davis’s
statement said. “The best way to honor Rev. Jackson’s legacy is to
decline to engage in an argument with him that begins and ends with
race.” Continue... |