Jesse Jackson's Formula



by Rev. Jesse Jackson

TomPaine.com



June 11, 2004



Rev.
Jackson is a pioneer in uniting people across divisions of race and
class. This summer he's on a Reinvest in America tour to spread his
vision. In this speech to grassroots activists, Jackson lays out the
agenda for bringing voters of every class, race and place over to the
Democratic Party in November. Yes, says Jackson, progressives want John
Kerry to win.  But they also want the Democratic vision of a “One
Big Tent” America to win.



[This speech was delivered at the Take Back America Conference on Friday, June 4, 2004.]



Beware the rich young ruler who becomes an evangelist.  He is now conducting pre-emptive wars for God.



In 2000,
they robbed the bank, and wrecked the truck in the getaway.  Now,
they've compounded the damage with shame, secrecy and scandal.  We
must win on our strength, not on their weaknesses.



George
W. Bush campaigned as a “compassionate conservative,” implying that he
was less dismissive of the labor and civil rights community than Ronald
Reagan was, and more open than his father.  However, he has been a
“closed-door conservative.”  Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.




In his
four years in office, Bush has never met with civil rights
leadership.  Never met with the NAACP, who has met with every
president since Warren Harding.  He has never met with John
Sweeney and the AFL-CIO.  He has never met with NOW or
NARAL.  He has closed the door to the Oval Office along
ideological lines, locking out those who disagree with his politics.



Our votes can open the White House up again.  We deserve access to our White House and the Department of Justice!



As
progressives—civil rights, labor, environmental, peace and gender
equity activists—we want John Kerry to win.  But we also want the
time-honored legacy of the Democratic vision of a one-big-tent America
to win.  We are clear that inclusion and expansion lead to growth,
lifting the boats mired at the bottom.  It is morally right and
value-added for our society.



We want
a new president, and a new direction, and new priorities.  You
really cannot have one without the others.  We want them
all!  We want a no-carb plan: no Cheney, no Ashcroft, no Rumsfeld,
no Bush, and very little Rice.



(more)