Mr. Jackson is in the sights of two Washington papers. The Washington Post quotes a Reuters story dated 2/01/01 explaining the funding of Karin Stanford's (the mother of Jackson's illegitimate daughter) purchase of a $350,000 home in Los Angeles plus $35,000 in moving expenses which were approved by a group at the Rainbow/PUSH coalition. They approved the
financial arrangements from a Jackson-affiliated (tax exempt?) charity. Plus a monthly salary (child support) of around $3,000. Money for my Honey? How do you like this bookkeeping?

In a second story in the Washington Times by Jerry Seper and Steve Miller dated 2/20/01, a 90 minute interview was conducted with the Rainbow Reverend, and we are treated to the spectacle of a man who will not allow any questions about his past deeds, particularly regarding his extramarital activities.

He only speaks of his goals, plans, and ambitions for the black community. The reporters describe him as an athletic, energetic man. However, they also describe some resistance in the black community to his escapades. Two independent black newspapers are quoted as being upset and very ashamed of Jackson's antics. The Chicago Independent Bulletin and the African Spectrum are both very disturbed by his selfish affairs.

The fault lies primarily with Jackson, but he is encouraged by the blind faith and worship of the Rainbow/PUSH organization. We cannot help noting the similarity of this misguided fervor to that of the Clinton apologists. They had an excuse or justification for every failure of moral character that Clinton exhibited. Remember the party that was held on the White House lawn after Clinton was impeached but not removed from office? He could do no wrong, and neither can the Rainbow Reverend in the eyes of his followers.

Wouldn't you liked to have heard what went on in those counseling sessions when Jackson was supposed to be showing Clinton how to behave?

Even closer to home (the Midwest) and occurring in the Republican party is the blind following of liberals for George Ryan, the Governor of Illinois. He refuses to talk to reporters about the license-for-bribes scandal that resulted in the fiery deaths of six children on an Interstate near Milwaukee caused by a truck driver who paid a bribe for his license. Ryan was Secretary of State at the time, and part of the bribe money ended up in his campaign coffers. But he doesn't wand to talk about that.

There is a common thread in all of these examples, although today's emphasis is on the Rainbow Reverend. That common thread is liberalism. Graham Greene said it very well in 'The Third Man'. Harry Lime, (the corrupt villain) says in excusing his sins to a friend, "If God did not want them to be shorn, he would not have made them sheep!" We sheep of all races and political parties are to be pitied and, unless we wake up, we will all be shorn.

There is a part of our society that rejoices when somebody "gets away with it". The late night comedians snicker and make light of it and we laugh. Saturday Night Live makes scathing parodies of these escapes from justice for our amusement. But should we be amused or outraged? In order to be outraged, we as a nation must exercise judgment, and we have been told that
we should not be judgmental. But the results of being non-judgmental are seen in the three charlatans mentioned here.

We could start correcting the situation with an audit of the Rainbow Reverend's finances and his travel expenses. The audit should include all of the 'charity' groups from which he is allowed to draw cash. The impetus for this audit must come from within the Rainbow/PUSH coalition. Otherwise, they will make it look as if J.J. is being martyred.

This type of blind stupidity is in all populations. It is all about the "what's in for me" philosophy and a desire to get something for nothing (shear the tax-paying sheep). As long as this hedonistic mentality exists, we will have Rainbow Reverends of all races and political parties in our midst.