Racial activist Jesse Jackson is faithfully holding the Democratic party line despite the party failing to offer a single racial minority presidential candidate. As for the diversity of the Republican field, Jackson suggested it’s meaningless because “all of the them are minority candidates” on account of their “minority” political views.
The Democratic presidential field is 100% white, making it the least diverse field in over two decades. Meanwhile, the racist-jingoistic-xenophobic-sexist GOP has somehow ended up with four racial minority candidates (Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio) and one female (Carly Fiorina).
But when Jackson was asked by The Daily Caller if the all-white Democratic field was an issue, the social justice activist said this time around race doesn’t matter. And as for the Republicans, well, there all still conservative extremists.
“The Republicans, all of them are minority candidates. Even the white ones — their positions are minority,” Jackson told TheDC. As for who was to blame for the lack of diversity, Jackson graciously absolved the Democratic Party. “That’s not the party’s fault, that’s a choice that the movement has to make,” said Jackson, adding, “Nobody knocked us off the stage.”
Though Jackson has withheld his official support for any candidate, he seemed to nod toward Clinton, noting that “most people” think Clinton “could be a good president” and didn’t feel challenging her was “worth the fight.”
“The Republicans, all of them are minority candidates. Even the white ones — their positions are minority.”
Jesse Jackson
Jackson’s two failed bids for the Democratic nomination came in 1984 and 1988, the second of which was far more successful but still didn’t gain much traction. Since, Jackson has made a habit of inserting himself into presidential elections. In 2008, he caused a stir when he was caught on a live mic criticizing candidate Barack Obama.
“See, Barack’s been talking down to black people,” Jackson told Dr Reed V. Tuckson, “I want to cut his nuts off.”
The comment earned the rebuke of Jackson’s own son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, who was serving as co-chair of Obama’s campaign (and recently released from federal prison). “I’m deeply outraged and disappointed in Rev. Jackson’s reckless statements about Sen. Barack Obama,” he said. “His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee — and I believe the next president.”
Jackson apologized, but maintained an often-contentious relationship with Obama, particularly in 2014, when Jackson called out the president for prioritizing immigrant children over African Americans.
Jackson’s relationship with the Clintons has been complicated but as of late quite cordial. Recently, Jackson published an op-ed praising Hillary for fighting against those who want to reduce voter fraud via voter ID laws.