Jesse Jackson's actions deplorable

During the last few years, it has been easy for conservatives to tune Jesse Jackson out. It's obvious to many Jackson is the P. T. Barnum of racial politics, thriving because of Barnum's tenet that there is a sucker born every minute. We just accept that.\nNevertheless, many have wondered how Jackson held such power over millions of his supporters. We will have to wonder a lot less as Jackson's influence fades. Just as liberals gnash their teeth while wondering how anyone could support President George W. Bush, conservatives wondered how Jackson ever commanded so much respect and attention in the first place.\nOne reason may be that Jackson has been a relentless civil rights activist -- but only by today's standards. Jackson is no Martin Luther King Jr., as much as he would like to claim succession. He is simply too political, too ambitious and too narcissistic -- and he always has been. Why? Because it pays. Jackson commands large speaking fees and makes a living as civil rights demagogue and moral scold -- all the things the Left hates to see conservatives do. Things that still have liberals ridiculing Christian hypocrites such as the PTL's James Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.\nNow, instead of preaching equality and tolerance, Jackson sees conspiracies everywhere. Last year, Jackson called for an FBI investigation into the suicide of a black teenager who had been dating a white girl. The FBI investigated and ruled it -- surprise -- a suicide. Jackson barely mentioned the finding. He just moved on to his next issue which he used to racially polarize the nation, the Florida recount.\nDespite impressive accomplishments such as his efforts to free an American military prisoner from the clutches of Syria in 1983, Jackson always found ways to squander good will and appear hypocritical.\nMany old-guard King allies were appalled when Jackson declared himself the true heir to King's legacy, but Jackson's tactics paid off. He was considered the "new King." Soon, he became politically active himself. In 1984, in the first of two silly runs for the presidency, Jackson referred to New York City as "Hymietown," a slur upon Jews. Jackson's 1984 effort failed, but soon he was guest-hosting "Saturday Night Live" and coming in second in the 1988 Democratic primary. Jackson enjoyed a comeback afforded to him only because he is a liberal.\nBut now Jackson has a serious scandal upon his hands, and, I hope, the public will never view Jackson with the same, generous amount of credibility he has had in the past. We all know what happened. It sounds familiar. The married chief executive of an organization had an affair and a love child with a former employee. She was given a severance payment with Rainbow Coalition funds when she quit. Jackson continues to support the child -- the only honor he has shown in this matter. \nHe briefly showed extra honor when he announced he was taking time off from his public life, but that did not last. Within days, Jackson, ever the camera addict, announced he would be preaching the liberal gospel again, being rested, ready and morally stunted. In an Associated Press story, Jackson claimed, "The ground is no place for a champion. The ground is no place that I will wallow on." The Champion continued, rather inconsistently: "When I think about the troubles Mr. Bush has had, and all of us have had, as free human beings, all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God."\nJackson has no shame. He is comparing his recent affair with then 30 year-old Bush's 1976 DUI arrest. In fact, Jackson was "counseling" former President Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky crisis, and even brought his mistress to the White House just before impeachment. Of course, Jackson was well into his 50s, letting people think he was a respected civil rights activist and Christian minister.\nOne wonders if the financial dealings of Jackson's nonprofit organizations will now be scrutinized by the Internal Revenue Service. If not, at least Jackson should be.