Posted by
Billy on Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:24:46 AM
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,” 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. (JESSE
JACKSON PLAYS RACE CARD AGAINST BLACK CONGRESSMAN ON HEALTH CARE)
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.”
Jackson said later that he "didn't call anybody by name and I
won't."
He added that he wasn't saying that black lawmakers must vote a
certain way. Instead, they should vote the interests of the people in their
districts, and he said the healthcare bill would help Alabama because it's one
of the poorest states in the country.
(So if you are black you must always vote in line with Jesse Jackson. What if you believe this bill is going to hurt the people who elected you by making them pay higher and higher taxes. That doesn't matter to people like Jackson who has gotten away too often with playing the race card. Jackson should no longer be taken as a black leader but as a man who just wants to play the race card with health care and every other issue in the world. )
