Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
Jesse Jackson has a piece out today called the "GOP Runs on the Big Lie." That headline, The Big Lie, might be better suited to Jackson's column than anything the GOP is doing. The column is full of one half-truth after another and yet, its tone would be enough to make any passive voter conclude that Republicans are greedy rascals who eat puppies for breakfast--so, vote Democrat.
Republicans are marching in virtual lockstep with banks and corporations in resisting reform. Republicans pushed to weaken the recovery plan, and now pledge to repeal what is left of it. They opposed extending unemployment insurance. They opposed curbing Wall Street. They opposed health care reforms that would stop insurance companies from cutting off your coverage if you get sick. Now, they are holding the extension of tax cuts to middle class families hostage unless the richest Americans get an additional tax cut, demanding that the government borrow another $700 billion over 10 years to pay for an extra tax cut for the wealthiest Americans....
So what do they run on? They run mostly against -- seeking to harvest votes cast in protest against the lousy economy. But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has a different idea: He wants them to run on the big lie. In a memo to Republicans, he urges them to contrast Republicans as the party of "paychecks" against Democrats as the party of "food stamps." The only problem with this formulation is that it is simply a lie....
Unless Republicans decide that the cost of offering $100,000 annual tax cuts to millionaires is not worth thousands more hungry children, more families will be eligible for food stamps.
Jackson's piece, which ran in the Chicago Sun-Times, comes to us as the race for Obama's old Senate seat is tightening in Illinois. Mark Kirk, the Republican, is barely leading in the polls, so far besting Democrat Alexi Giannoulias by 1.2%. Though the race is a toss up, Kirk's edge surely has Giannoulias hoping that Jackson's column will bring some votes his way.
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Jul '10
Re: Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
Every time I see/hear "recovery plan," I can't help but think,"Yeah, 'recovering' socialism from the ash heap."
Jul '10
Re: Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
Where's the rhyming? That's always been my favorite part of Jesse's rhetoric:
"It's not the veins in your brains. It's the chains on the trains!"
Re: Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
Oh Kenneth, you crack me up : )
I don't think Jackson's feeling as merry and gay this election season as he normally does when he breaks into rhyme.
''If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it then I can achieve it.''
''It's not my aptitude but my altitude that determines my attitude.''
''My mind is a pearl; I can do anything in the world.''
Edited on Oct 12, 2010 at 8:41amMay '10
Re: Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
This is a very deliberate strategy to try to get out the ethnic vote based on the usual class warfare and envy platform; TVG was there just the other day with his arm arpund Alex.
Clearly they have decided that, based on the way other races are going, the very flawed Giannoulis is a "can win, must win" candidate, and even Jesse Jackson is worth a try.
Is Mike Ditka campaigning for Kirk?
Aug '10
Re: Jesse Jackson and his Half-Truths
Who has the key to the whole Rezko can of worms ? That disappeared faster than the deviled eggs at a vegan picnic.