Posted on 06/30/2004 12:20:31 PM PDT by kattracks
Chicago (CNSNews.com) - Jesse Jackson accused the Republican Party, conservatives and the retailer Wal-Mart of attempting to "push the ideology of the Confederacy" in America.
Jackson made the comments in several speeches he delivered during his 33rd annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Conference in Chicago.
"The ideological right in control of our nation knows what it wants," Jackson said. "The right wing fights for a series of constitutional amendments. They intend to have their ideology protected by law. They intend to push the ideology of the Confederacy and continue to challenge the vision of the Union," Jackson told conference delegates on Monday.
"In this competing vision of America, we choose the Union over the Confederacy. We chose a simple but comprehensive plan to make America a more perfect union," Jackson added.
On Tuesday, Jackson applied the Confederate label to the Bush administration's economic policies and to the retail giant Wal-Mart.
Jackson called Wal-Mart the "symbol" of the "whole ideological right-wing Confederate movement" at a conference workshop entitled, "The Wal-Mart Factor: Dumbing Down the American Economy."
Jackson urged President Bush to allow Wal-Mart employees to leave the "Confederate" policies behind. "George, join the union. Allow them (Wal-Mart employees) to organize," Jackson said.
'I didn't hear that'
Jackson made the Confederacy remarks from the podium he shared with U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.)
But when CNSNews.com asked Gephardt if he felt comfortable with Jackson's comparison of Wal-Mart, the GOP and conservatives to the now-defunct Southern Confederacy, Gephardt said he didn't hear Jackson make the statements.
"I didn't hear that. I didn't hear that. I think we were talking about these issues," Gephardt responded.
Gephardt issued a warning about Wal-Mart's impact on the American and global economy.
"The whole idea that low wages and bringing in low-price products from other countries and denying people health care is a good thing -- it's not a good thing," he said. "Low wages lead to not having enough consumers to buy the products at whatever price," Gephardt said of the nonunion company.
Wal-Mart is currently the target of the largest, private civil-rights lawsuit in U.S. history. The class-action suit, which may include up to 1.6 million current and former female employees, accuses the retailer of sex discrimination.
When CNSNews.com asked if Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, could be credited with any positive economic impacts, Gephardt declined to list any.
'Blind obsession'
At the conference, Jackson chided conservatives for supporting gun rights in America.
"They have a blind obsession with the Second Amendment, and the NRA wants to remove the ban on assault weapons/AK 47s and Uzis in September, during a time of national security alert," Jackson said.
Kerry 'making dreams real'
Democrat John F. Kerry, the presidential contender, addressed Jackson's conference on Tuesday, calling the 2004 presidential race "the most important election of our lifetime."
"I am running for president to make America's dreams real again," Kerry told the predominately black audience.
Kerry outlined his plans for education, health care, poverty and trade policy during his nearly hour-long speech to the Rainbow/Push members.
"I have a plan to put and to keep good paying jobs in the heart of our economy," Kerry said.
'More homeless'
Kerry criticized the Bush administration for its economic policies.
"The spread between the haves and have-nots is getting bigger. There are more working poor in shelters today, there are more working poor, there are more homeless," he said.
Kerry outlined his education plan, stating, "We have to move forward toward the day when four years of college is as universal, as affordable as a high school education is today."
He said as president, he would "help keep college costs down by making a new deal for the states." That plan involves paying the states in exchange for tuition caps at state universities.
Kerry received some of his biggest applause for his comments on health care policy.
"We are the only industrial nation in the world that doesn't yet understand health care is not a privilege for the wealthy or the elected or the connected. It is a right for all Americans," he said.
Kerry also said he would simplify the tax policy.
"Our tax code has gone from 14 pages to 17,000 pages. Let me ask you, any of you got your own page? Exxon's got its own page, Enron's got its own page. Halliburton's probably got its own chapter, ladies and gentleman," he said to laughter.
Kerry said America must do better for its returning military veterans.
"We are going to make sure that they come home, men and women, black, white, brown, yellow, all of them. When they come home, they are coming home to America that they can be proud of, with good education, with affordable health care, with the doors of opportunity open to them," he said.
'Grips of special interests'
Kerry shared the stage with union leaders John Wilhelm, the president of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE), and John Coli, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25 of Chicago. A conservative legal policy group criticized Kerry for appearing with what it describes as two "controversial union bosses."
"Kerry is making a mistake in appearing on the same stage with [Wilhelm & Coli]," said Peter Flaherty, president of the National Legal and Policy Center. (NLPC)
'[Wilhelm & Coli] are associated with unions having long histories of corruption," according to NLPC.
Flaherty warned that "Wilhelm and Coli do not represent working people. Most union members are disgusted by all the high living and corruption," he said.
"For Kerry to come to Chicago to pay fealty to corrupt unions and Jesse Jackson at the same time does little to change the image that his campaign is in the grips of special interest groups," he added.
See Related Story:
Protestors Call Jesse Jackson 'Worst Nightmare' for Black Community (6/30/04)
E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.
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And i can't decide if i want to wear the brown shirt or the white sheet today.
or the gray or butternut or the wool or jeanscloth...
"The whole idea that low wages and bringing in low-price products from other countries and denying people health care is a good thing "
You know I worked at Wal-Mart a few years ago and as I recall they did have a health care program. someone correct me if I'm wrong.
States' rights?
The confederates were democrats. Pass it on.
Trotting out THAT old grey mare again. They must really be desperate. Odd how homelessness increases just before an election.
The Race War Lord is at it again. How can anyone take this guy serious is beyond me.
ping
Slip this clown a twenty and tell him to keep quiet.
bump
obviously Jessie Jaaaacksuuuuuun, has not been to atlanta lately.
Translation: Jackson must be running out of groups to financially shakedown for money, diverting business to his bond dealer kickback buddies, or quota queens.
My daughter worked for Wal-Mart a couple years ago while in high school. Last week she received a notice that she was included in the Wal-Mart class action lawsuit.
Interestingly, she had to fill out a form and return it to opt out of the lawsuit.
Dang it, Jackson caught us again! And here I had this great plan to get a former KKK member elected to the Senate. I know it's a long shot, but I really think it could've worked!
How about a Budweiser franchise ?
Entirely different kind of Democrat than what we have today.
uh - hello Jesse, the Republicans were born of the fight against the confederacy
When asked why he remarked, "because I am in it." Reporters stopped kissing his er ... ring just long enough to applaud wildly.
I know Jesse wants other blacks to continue to be a mariginal levels in all aspects, but you'd think he'd at least mention the key issue.
Jesse usually mentions how important it is for a black pastor to be able to walk around the country and have young black girls be eager to be impregnated by him. I know he likes to line stuff up weeks in advance.
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