'Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama'

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece, provocatively headlined "Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama," argues that Jackson pursued equality through the manipulation of white guilt.

The reason that Obama bothers Jackson so much, contends author Shelby Steele, is that the Illinois senator takes another tack to promoting civil rights.

Steele, of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, portrayed Obama's approach as "give up moral leverage over whites, refuse to shame them with America's racist past, and the gratitude they show you will constitute a new form of black power. They will love you for the faith you show in them."

But Frank James, writing for our colleagues at The Swamp, says that Steele is missing an obvious motive: jealousy.

"Black America has seen this movie before. There was the rivalry between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois at the start of the 20th Century. That contest was based partly on ideology as to the best way for African Americans to advance in a racist nation. But it was also personal," James writes.

--Stuart Silverstein

Comments

[Marks]

>Shelby Steele, of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, portrayed Obama's approach as "give up moral leverage over whites, refuse to shame them with America's racist past...

Steele is full of bunk. I have a worse descriptive what he's full of, not fit for print.

He keeps repeating his failed beliefs Obama more white than black. Obama doesn't represent Civil Rights strife and continued struggles. Steele is jealous of Obama's career because he can't describe it properly. He denigrates Obama repeatedly.

He should keep Obama's name from his books and mouth. No one gave him the authority.

Hear the term everyone has an opinion like an ........

Many of Steele's books can be used under kitty litter or let puppies get trained on.

[Jackson aint no Rezko,Wright or Judas]

The sagacious rev. Jackson knows a fraud when he sees one. Obama's flip-flopping has irked Jackson a few
times too many and his callous treatment of Hillary has
done much to discredit the jr senator in Jackson's and other experienced community leaders. judgement. Dogmatic elitists
with oversized egos will fool only the ultra liberals.

[Kirk]

The article should refer to the newspaper formerly known as the Wall Street Journal. Under Mr. Murdoch, and as a result of the many resignations and other staff changes, the newspaper is rapidly descending into something that is far, far below the Journal.
Mr. Murdoch was quoted this spring as suggesting that his media vehicles would deliver what he thinks people want, and would not seek to deliver Pulitzer Prize winning quality. He and his new paper certainly are acheving the lack of quality. And its humorous, sad, and pathetic to see on the op-ed page various tie ins to and touts for FOX tv materials.
All of that, by the way, is why he gathers columnists who generate blather and purported controiversy instead of writing Pulitzer Prize quality materials. Mr. Steele and other lightweights no doubt will have a long and superficial relationship with Mr. Murdoch.

[lisa garton]

I really have such a different take on Jesse Jackson et al... What is really happening, that no one in power likes, is a passing of power to a new generation... Jesse Jackson has been in a position of power as a spokesperson of the Black Americans for decades... Obama's life generationally does not fit into the same life's circumstances, as a man who stood next to MLK in Memphis in 1968. To Jackson Barack Obama is a whippersnapper... the Old Guard, Black or White is struggling with the fact that the Baby Boomers are now in a position to take that power from them... John McCain is the Old Guard, a seasoned veteran of a war we in the new generation did not serve in but saw our older brothers and neighbors fight... He is from the Cold War era...

It is a simple struggle to move the Older Generation out and replace it with the Younger Generation. And no one likes giving up power. What other explanation do we have for Senator's that serve into their 90's when they should be enjoying a Golden Age with grandchildren and letting a move connected younger person serve?

[Edward Lynch]

Mr. Steele manages to turn an analysis of the obviously stark contrast between the attitudes of Rev. Jackson and Senator Obama into a completely unfair attack on the later. Mr. Steele appears to be completely closed-minded to the possibility that Senator Obama is not primarily motivated by race-based politics.

For example, Mr. Steele states that Senator Obama refuses to "shame" whites in order to win their gratitude and "a new form of black power". There are so many things wrong with this attack -- where to begin? Well, for one thing, Mr. Steele provides no evidence of Senator Obama's supposed motivation. But that misses the more subtle angle of this attack -- the implication that, lacking such motivation, Senator Obama would be shaming whites left and right. It's like saying that a man refuses to kill his wife to avoid going to jail. This skips right over the more likely situation that the man loves his wife and even if he didn't he would never dream of killing her.

Obviously, nobody should feel guilty because of their race. Mr. Steele's analysis is stuck in the old way of thinking about race in America. His opinion piece divisively encourages the reader to focus on things like "black power", and racial inferiority. Luckily, America has grown and is now better than that. Americans now understand that, as Senator Obama put it, "There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America."

America has work to do. We can no longer afford to let race get in the way of solving the problems we face.

[Cedric Credle]

This thing regarding Jackson and Obama,there has been jealousy in the midst of them,including Sharpton. In a way,both Sharpton and Jackson,in their own way,tried to be Messiah. But unfortunately,the light was shown,in that their actions were self-motiveated.Also each,in their positions,they did not homor the one in whom,they said they serve. Now ask this question;in which we all will have to answer one day.To what we beleive about God,his nature his power,would you look into His word and judge oneself,in how do we see ourselves? There is a story in the bible,that came to mind,when,I was reading the article,regarding Moses Joshua. Because of anger,and not honoring the LORD,Moses could not enter into the promise land.The LORD allow,Moses to see it from afar,but could not enter in. But before the children of Israel enter in the promise land,Joshua by the will of God was taught by Moses,what he must remember. He said unto Joshua to remember what the LORD did for Israel,the promises that He made unto Abraham Issac and Jacob,and what he expected them how to live when they got there. In all that I am saying is this,it is better to learn from our past,in that we do not repeat the same wrongs in our present.The younger generation,do not know about the past of this country,only of what certain people wanted us to know. We have made the misstake of doing in this,country,in what the leaders, of Russia has done to their people. For the lust of power,and control,no matter how the method used,is just as evil in this country,as in any other.

[McOld is Well Old]

If there is racial strife there is a reason for Jackson to be relevant. It's pretty simple really. Racial tensions and being under the mans thumb equals job security for the old black leaders. Obama knows everyone has to coexist, we need to support the downtrodded which is primarily black and the whites need to pay for or they need to quit being downtrodden if they have a choice, aka the lectures. Simple simple. Obama's not about how to heal slavery, he's post that, he just happens to be the future president.

[DrHu]

Obama's father looked black.
Obama's mother looked white.
Obama looks black.
The score is 2-to-1, so Obama is black.
This is a very important analysis.

[Connie]

"Obama's father looked black.
Obama's mother looked white.
Obama looks black.
The score is 2-to-1, so Obama is black.
This is a very important analysis."

I am a portrait artist--Obama has WAY more "white" features than "black" ones in my viewpoint. His eyes, brow, forehead, chin and cheekbone structure look very "white." His nose and lips seem a combination of the two. His color is a combination. His hair appears to be "black" from what I can see from photos. Put his portrait next to a full blooded Nigerian portrait and you will see how white he is.

[saint peter ii]

another possibility exists for the disdain jackson holds for obama, that is that jackson sees obama as representing the same old Chicago politics and personalities that stymied dr king and his young associate, jackson when they brought the civil rights campaign to Chicago. certainly obama was eloquent on dr king, but then he's eloquent when he orders breakfast. mr drip & drop of the 6;01 news discussed the relationship between obama and king and it is possible that jackson's take on obama can best be understood using that relationship as a starting point. wwwsaintpeterii.com

[Andrew Austin]

Both are wrong. Jackson's comments have nothing to do with moral leverage over whites or jealousy. They have to do with Jackson's accurate observation concerning Obama taking down to black people. Jackson hit the nail on the head. Stop attacking the messenger.

[Ann Lau]

The real reason for Mr. Steele's article is to promote the premise of his book "A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win". Mr. Steele's article is his attempt to alienate readers about Obama so that Mr. Steele would claim that he was right all along. It is sad that an author must stoop to such a level.

[Parkhillian]

Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama?

Because Obama called upon all men to be father's to their children, to be responsible parents, to be an active presence in the raising of their children.

Can Jesse Jackson state the same? I think Jackson's young daughter can say differently.

Come on Jesse, rise to the challenge and take care of the daughter you fathered out of wedlock.

[Chris]

I am white and American Indian and I am ashamed of NOTHING! it is the black community that should be ashamed of their actions. Both Barak and Cosby are correct, take responsibility for yourself as that is the ONLY person holding you back!

I am sick to death over the "You Owe Me" attitude and I'm NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!

[Stanley]

No one remembers ol' Marcus Garvey.

[Hans]

wow. Blacks will never, ever let go of the past because they need someone,anyone to blame. "my Great,great,great,great grandaddy was a slave" and it is the white mans fault. wrong.
every single slave sold out of Africa - was first sold by an African-
MODERN SLAVERY IS HAPPENING IN AFRICA NOW!
Why is it that i see black grandmothers are raising their grand kids?blame Whitey(because we let them breed)
why is it everyday i get racist comments from young blacks?(because i'm there and i'm white of course)
On the L train Friday I saw a young black mother hit her year old daughter,and scream at the top of her lungs "shut up you dumb little nigger"

i see and hear this crap everyday- and its crap

my father died when i was 4, and my mother raised me in a trailer in wisconsin.i had nothing growing up-exept love and now i live in NYC and make well into six figures.
why? because i never blamed anyone else for my hardships, i overcame them

[Cryos]

Obama was not talking down to black people he was being honest. Yes there is still racism in America today but it is far less of a barrier than blacks put on themselves.

If you drop out of high school and have several kids by age 21 you will be poor; plain and simple. You can whine about racism, bad luck, etc but the truth is you messed up and have to live with the consequences.

High incarceration rates today are not due to racism but due to behavior. In the past this might have been different but not today. For example when driving to and from friends places I have been propositioned a lot of times to buy crack or weed. Every single person has been black. If I was a cop I would have had several easy busts. In general white people sell from behind closed doors to people they know not to random people in cars on the street. I'll be called racist for this but its a fact.