[kcvl]

APPEALING TO NASCAR

What does the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his outspoken stance against the Iraq war have to do with NASCAR?

On the heels of Dale Earnhardt Jr. steering his way to a fourth straight victory at Talladega on Sunday, NASCAR Chief Executive Officer William C. France is being asked that NASCAR "cease and desist from further support for Jesse Jackson and/or his nonprofit organizations" as U.S. troops are engaged in combat in Iraq.

"You have stated that NASCAR fans are 'the kind of people who go to war and win wars' for America," Peter Flaherty, president of the National Legal and Policy Center in Washington, writes to France, reminding him that branches of the armed services and National Guard maintain important NASCAR sponsorships.

"NASCAR's support for our troops is undercut by your support for Jackson, which includes substantial monetary contributions at a time when Jackson is leading anti-war protests, even in foreign countries.

"Disturbingly, Jackson has employed extreme and provocative anti-American rhetoric."

Flaherty says NASCAR, among other contributions to the Jackson empire, was a "Platinum" sponsor last year of the Rainbow/PUSH and Citizenship Education Fund Annual Conference, forking more than $100,000 in car-racing money for the distinction.

[visualops]

I had the pleasure of being involved with producing promotional stuffs (mostly embroidered garments but we did some other stuff too) for Team Marines racing when they got started. They've since changed the logo somewhat, but it sure was cool being part of it.