With the passing of The Rev. Jesse Jackson comes the media coverage that would be expected for a man of his stature, complete with documentation of his history, analysis of achievements, and tributes from those who knew him. On Tuesday CNN's Inside Politics provided all of the above, but they failed to mention a major controversy from 1984 when Jackson was running for President, and they managed to attack President Trump for good measure.
During his 1984 campaign Jackson, speaking to a reporter, referred to New York as "Hymietown," and to Jews as "hymies." He first denied making the derogatory remarks, but later fessed up at a New York synagogue. At the time this was quite a significant story, but it wasn't mentioned in host Dana Bash's review of Jackson's life and legacy, Nor was it mentioned by Atlanta Journal Constitution writer Tia Mitchell, who alluded to Jackson's runs for President, and how he was hailed by her family.
MITCHELL .. My grandparents had, you know, a poster from Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign hanging on the wall for years afterwards. So I grew up, knowing about Jesse Jackson from that. His stature as a leader in the black community... I think it's important for us to embrace him for all that he was. He did have a complicated life story. He did have some moments that I think even he, in retrospect, said he wasn't proud of or would have done differently...But that creates a whole, complete man, and that is, I think, who we have to acknowledge and celebrate.
A tease but was no specifics. CNN's Jeff Zeleny, got a little more specific, but still no mention..
ZELENY: .. And to your point, he did say in his speech, I'm not a perfect servant, but I'm a public servant. He acknowledged his shortcomings, there were many. ..He was a showman, by some. He was, chased the spotlight. In fact, after the assassination of Dr. King, he was running to basically assume that mantle, and it was not necessarily a smooth transition. But his presidential runs, first in '84 he was a protest candidate. In 1988 a serious candidate.
A perfect opportunity to mention Jackson's anti-Jewish slur, but it wasn't going to happen. It did happen, in a non-specific way, on Fox News's Special Report with Bret Baier, during their report from Mike Emanuel on Tuesday, who said, "..Jackson was also a controversial figure at times for using anti-Semitic slurs about New York Jews in 1984. He eventually apologized."
Better than nothing. Following Zeleny, Bash turned to CNN White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes for a chance to bash President Trump.
BASH: President Trump has weighed in, (on Truth Social) as he is want to do. He said Jesse was a force of nature, like few others before him. He had much to do with the election, without acknowledgement or credit of Barack, you know, Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand.
Bash left out so very much, from Trump's post including, "He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and “street smarts.” He was very gregarious - Someone who truly loved people! Gee, how did she miss that? But she did eventually provide a pathway for a very important point to be made. "It is interesting that then private citizen Donald Trump and Jesse Jackson had a genuine relationship.."
HOLMES, : They had the relationship in a long-term relationship. I mean, they, stayed in touch for quite some time, and publicly, Jesse Jackson, on a number of occasions, praised President Trump.. for his help in giving the office space for the Rainbow Coalition, for his work to take place in, and so it is interesting to see President Trump step out there...
Then came the obligatory attack.
HOLMES: ..And most of what we see nowadays, in terms of President Trump saying anything about anyone who has passed, is generally pretty negative. If they weren't somebody who is an avid supporter of his, but the first part of this clearly shows the relationship that they had back then. I will also just note that President Trump can't stand making anything, not about himself, which is where this went almost immediately afterwards, particularly given the fact that he is still reeling over the fact that he posted this video (with the Obama's). He was called racist clearly it is still living rent free in his mind that people are saying this about him, using this as an opportunity to make it about himself.
And apparently, CNN can't stand making anything, not about Donald Trump.
