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I met the Rev Peterson at the FreeRepublic's March for Justice in DC Oct. 31, 1998 and was quite impressed. I still am; but am I the only one who bridled a bit at the issue that the Reverend raised, that is: "How come we black conservatives can't get a piece of the shakedown action?"

Tell me where I'm wrong here folks...

I am not sure that was the intent of Rev. Paterson's question. He mentioned earlier in the piece that the membership fee to Jackson was not widely known. I think he was trying to bring this fact into the light of day. It was more him saying that if you were black, but didn't walk lockstep with Jackson, there is pretty much no way you will be seeing any of this dirty money. Paterson knows very well that as soon as you mention conservative beliefs at functions such as this, you might as well be wearing a Klan hood.

"...but am I the only one who bridled a bit at the issue that the Reverend raised, that is: "How come we black conservatives can't get a piece of the shakedown action?""

I won't attempt to put words into Rev. Peterson's mouth, but I don't believe for a second that that's what he meant. I've read many of his writings, etc., and I know what he stands for; corporate shakedowns aren't on his list (it's one of the things that irks him the most about Jackson, as you can tell from this piece). He was making a point; in fact, fairly "baiting" Jackson into a confrontation.........one that needed to happen.

He also made the point loud and clear that, in order for the other men in the room to feed at Toyota's trough, they had to kow-tow, step 'n' fetch, and kiss the ring (and ass) of Jesse Jackson. He got run out of the room, but I'll just bet that he made more than a few of those men think long and hard afterward.