By FITSNews || It’s apparently “race card” week in America …
First we have the NAACP’s decision to play the card against the Tea Party movement, which we’ve addressed here. Not to be outdone, though, we have longtime poverty pimp and race card player Jesse Jackson slapping one down against Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.
Why? Well, Gilbert vented his spleen last week in an open letter to Cleveland fans after James left the team to sign as a free agent with the Miami Heat. Specifically, Gilbert called James’ decision a “selfish”, “heartless”, “callous”, and “cowardly betrayal.”
“His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality,” Jackson said in response. “He sees LeBron as a runaway slave.”
Ummm … for those of you unfamiliar with the history of the Cavaliers relationship with James, the team paid him tens of millions of dollars over the last seven years. On top of that, James (and his family, friends and entourage) received crazy perks from the franchise – jobs, free travel, etc.
The Cavs also reportedly offered James over $100 million to stay in Cleveland.
Now, there’s no doubt that Gilbert was out-of-line when he ripped James in an open letter to fans. And while we understand his frustration, his move showed absolutely no class. Gilbert’s best revenge will be winning games, not running his mouth about James.
Still, Jackson’s ill-advised decision to wade into this particular drama strikes us as the worse of two evils.
While Gilbert’s frustration is understandable, Jackson’s comment is patently ludicrous.
Let’s hope that it’s also remembered whenever he reaches for the race card in the future.
By jimbo July 13, 2010 at 11:00 am
Race is just a convenient cover. It’s really the “it’s been too long since Jesse’s been in the headlines and now I’m going to do something about it” card.
Also, “He sees LeBron as a runaway slave.”
Somewhere, six feet underground, Dred Scott is spinning like a turbine.
By lon July 13, 2010 at 11:07 am
Sadly, human rights groups tell us that human slavery is at an all time high in Africa.
What is Jessie Jackson and the NAACP doing to stop African slavery?
Nothing.
Why?
Because they can’t make any money off the slaves (many of whom are Christians placed in chains by their Muslim slave owners)…
By Ohmaar July 13, 2010 at 11:27 am
A message to all my black friends out there. White America sees stuff like this and we just shake our heads in disbelief. We constantly ask ourselves, “Does this joker REALLY speak for the black community?” We strain to listen for the voices of blacks condemning Jackson/Sharpton/Farakhan et al — and we hear? Nothing.
So we’re left to just assume that 1) blacks really do think this way and let Jackson speak for them, 2) blacks DON’T think this way, but don’t care enough to raise their voices in opposition, or 3) blacks are afraid to speak out in opposition.
Black readers: can you shed some light here? (ARE there any black readers here?)
By ArtVandelay July 13, 2010 at 11:40 am
Completely agree about Jesse…but…
“Ummm … for those of you unfamiliar with the history of the Cavaliers relationship with James, the team paid him tens of millions of dollars over the last seven years. On top of that, James (and his family, friends and entourage) received crazy perks from the franchise – jobs, free travel, etc.”
ummmm All the while James made the owner hundreds of millions in a filled arena, tv rights, merchandise sales, concession sales…
By edwardo July 13, 2010 at 11:51 am
When Jessie Jackson dies…racism might die with him. he is the one that keeps bringing it up-its the only way he can be in the spotlight! Next topic Jessie…Find something more fulfilling to talk about and worthwhile instead
By Walt July 13, 2010 at 12:16 pm
For Jackson to compare LeBron James to a “slave” is absurd.
Jackson obviously doesn’t understand slavery.
This ass should have been repudiated as a spokesman for anything or anyone — black, brown or blue — years ago — based upon his own lies and disgraceful personal conduct.
I can not figure out the sports media’s obsession with Lebron James and Cleveland.
Perhaps today’s death of “the Boss” George Steinbrenner will push this baloney off the sports pages.
By CNSYD July 13, 2010 at 12:44 pm
The race card puts money in Jesse’s pocket so expect it to continue. Perhaps Jesse needs the money to pay child support for his “love child”. What a fine example the “Reverend” sets for young blacks to emulate.
By Todd July 13, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Jessie was educated in the Greenville SC public school system.
By EB July 13, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I thought we were suppose to be in this great era of “post-racial” goodness and enlightenment delivered to us by Obama from the trunk of his political pimpmobile.
People like Jesse Jackson and the members of the NAACP won’t dare witness the crumbling of their racial industry simply because we have a black president.
In days past, the black race hustlers would highlight individual criminal acts of whites against blacks and try to paint the entire white race with the brush of racial hate and bigotry.
Now, they have decided it is time to simply proclaim millions of white people(Tea Party) “racist” because they have differing political views. Yep, comes complete with an official proclamation to be voted on in the current NAACP Convention.
This will be made into a yearly award to be presented to the White race annually during their convention. The NAACP has found a corporate sponsor for the annual award… Colt 45 Malt Liquor…
Racist…Racist…as so often within the black community, if you say it the loudest, say it the most, and say it last, you have won the argument.
By Mike at the beach July 13, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Art- what you describe is called the free market; James won, the owners won, the fans won. James certainly couldn’t have done it by himself and the franchise owners needed him to fill seats, thereby creating a fiduciary relationship in direct correlation with supply and demand…
As for JJ, he’s become an irrelevant parody of himself. Maybe he’ll go cut somebody’s balls off. His corporate shakedown act is on the wane (like his stock price), so cut him some slack- he’s gotta do whatever he can to get ink…
By PoliticiansFML July 13, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Jessie called Barak Obama a “no good half breed N.” Why would anyone ever see him as a civil rights icon after that?
If anything the black community should take Obama as an example, don’t complain, work hard, and you can be the most powerful person in the world, regardless of color.
By Tom July 13, 2010 at 5:29 pm
If Rev. Jackson is so concerend about modern slavery then he should go after the sports appareal and shoe makers that make their wares in overseas factories where workers are treated like slaves, and then pitched to American consumers by people like James.
By June July 13, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Good Ole South Carolina. smh
By Sistah July 13, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Jessie Jackson he’s a joke he never spoke 4 me.
By Edward Koziol July 13, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Of all the people to talk Jesse The racist Jackson her is aman with no shame.He’s suppose to be a reverend who knocks up a girl and pays her hush money,He has a son Junior who is invloved with Blaggo plus the man is the biggest shakedown artist going.If this boy was running the Klan instead of Dukes they’d be going strong.The only thing good he ever said was calling a half breed N—er.
By snodgrass July 13, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Jesse is still pissed because Alvin Greene wont endorse his new line of talking “Rhyming Reverend” action figures.
By countryboy July 13, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Here’s a worthless POS who, to my knowledge never worked a day in his life commenting on a millionaire black athlete who does have a job. Ridiculous. I wish LeBron would tell Jackson to STFU and mind his own business. The only reason Jackson is ever listened to is important blacks don’t speak out against his lifelong playing of the race card, for his own benefit.
By Joe July 14, 2010 at 1:25 am
The “Rev.” Jessa Jackson spoke out because he sees money in this deal. Just you wait…there’s a multi-million dollar lawsuit (shakedown) in the works.
That’s how he and the “Rev.” Al (Tawana Brawley) Sharpton operate.
By Toyota Kawaski July 14, 2010 at 9:13 am
Hey Tea Baggers do something nice and vote “the REV” out the country!
By danielle July 14, 2010 at 10:28 am
@ Ohmaar
Black reader here.
For the record:
1) I do not prescribe to most of the NAACP’s/Jackson’s/Sharpton’s/etc take on the issues most affecting black people. They talk all day but where is the real action to resolve these issues? I want more proactive measures and less allegory. We don’t need “black leaders” per se…we need a collective mindset among blacks for positive change. Whining about what people do who will never be in your best interest isn’t going to solve the problem. Stay away from them and their “divide and conquer” MO and concentrate on doing what’s best for us. I could elaborate but this is a discussion for another forum.
2) On this particular issue, he’s not too far off base with his premise…it is just misplaced.
Look at the role of blacks in sports they dominate but hardly control. The big-money sports such as basketball and football are owned and controlled almost exclusively by white men. Each has a disproportionately large percentage of black athletes. They are well paid, but they have no direct power over the current and future direction of these sports. More than that, they lack any real control over their roles within these sports. They are sold and traded between teams. I understand the analogy Jackson is using here from that respect. I like to look at the whole of a situation rather than just the part I may or may not like or completely agree with. From the viewpoint of sports as a whole, he has a point. From the viewpoint of this particular situation…the point is misplaced.
By Mrs. Ethel Krabitz July 14, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Unnecessary for “Rev.” Jackson to jump in with his 2-cents worth. who cares what he thinks! he just saw an opportunity to keep his own face in the news. btw, exactly WTF is that around his neck? garlic to ward off evil white vampires?
By No Way! July 14, 2010 at 3:16 pm
He is just not worth the comment! Looks like a friggin sandcrab in that photo. I remember a funny scene from a few years ago when the rev was reading to elementary school children. He was reading “Green Eggs and Ham” and when the cameras came on, you should have heard the change in tone and inflection. Sounded like Dr. Suess had written a civil rights children’s book!
I kinda like Jessie. His ignorance keeps him funny!
By John July 14, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Jessie Jackson is the worst hate mongral we will ever see. His only Goal is to watch another race suffer.If MLK was still here he would have turned his back on Jessie long ago.
Anyone who can make a hatefully hurtful statement as Jessie did should be dismissed from any creditable Inc. He is purely a raceist hate leader. Bo better then a grand wizard.
By JIM July 14, 2010 at 5:18 pm
When will everyone understand that the Jacksons, Sharptons,Malcoms, etc. don’t really serve any purpose in life, their only contribution is hate. Thats how they make their living, followers who share their hate and discontent for others success and prosperity, feed off of their retoric and support them financially. Otherwise, any of them would have been street people begging for handouts. thats basically what they are doing now, only on a grander scale. As for Labron James, I’m ashamed that the american public has completely lost all since of priority. So many in the black community have so little, yet these guys are revered for playing a childs game and we reward them with millions of dollars and they contribute nothing to mankind or society, and still, most behave like animals, thugs and derelicts. None of the people I have spoken of, don’t deserve our thoughts, much less a comment. they are a burden to a thriving society. Thank You
By Sandi Kinley July 14, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Dan Gilbert needs Jessie Jackson, Stern is holding down Dan Gilbert like he owns him or something, he cannot comment on what has happen over the past seven year. This is all crazy that we are all so upset over this self proclaimed “King”. I hope your elbow is feeling better “King”, did you have a miricle over the past couple of month? What goes around comes around:)
By mitch July 15, 2010 at 12:35 am
Wow, it’s not about race, and for Labron it’s really not about money, he is already rich, reality check, Labron should have a ring by now. The Cavs took the situation for granted too long, not investing as they should have towards winning a championship, by not giving him some help on the court. LaBron is one of the greatest players ever of the game and his decision was going to be an upset anyway, regardless of how and when. The Heat is now the team to beat. The Cavs and Cleveland see struggle in their future and just need someone to blame,the city of Cleveland should not be angry at LaBron for wanting a championship,all anger should be directed to the Cavs management whom had 7 years to get a championship and missed out.