Jesse Jackson’s convention streak in doubt

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has spoken at every Democratic convention since 1984, but that streak may come to an end this year.

Jackson, a controversial civil rights activist who ran for president in 1984 and 1988, last month had to apologize for saying Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “is talking down to black people.” With a microphone recording what Jackson thought was a private conversation prior to an appearance on Fox News, he went on to make other critical comments about Obama. Jackson used a racially charged remark and also said he would like to remove a part of the male anatomy from Obama.

{mosads}The Illinois senator has accepted Jackson’s apology.

But Jackson’s widely publicized comments have likely eliminated him as a possible speaker at the Democratic convention in Denver, which starts Aug. 25.

Ronald Walters, a former Jackson aide who is the director of the African American Leadership Center at the University of Maryland, said he does not think Jackson will be asked to speak at the convention.

“I think he should speak, but he won’t,” Walters said.

Walters said Jackson holds a lot of sway in the African-American community and that Obama needs to select speakers who can talk directly to those voters.

Walters expects that other black politicians will be asked to address the convention, such as Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.). Clyburn is the highest-ranking African-American in Congress.

However, Walters also doesn’t believe that the Rev. Al Sharpton, another controversial civil rights activist, will address the delegates in Denver.

Sharpton, who ran for president four years ago, addressed the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston in what was regarded as one of the liveliest speeches ever delivered at a convention.

Spokesmen for Jackson and Sharpton did not respond to requests for comment.

The decisions on Jackson and Sharpton are politically loaded for Obama, the first African-American to win his party’s presidential primary.

Jackson has long been a leading voice on civil rights and has many ties to Obama’s home state of Illinois. Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition is headquartered in Chicago and Jackson’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), represents the 2nd district of Illinois.

A spokesman for the Obama campaign did not comment for this article.

Obama is not the only Democratic presidential candidate of whom Jackson has been critical. In 1992, a rift developed between Jackson and then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton after Clinton denounced controversial comments made by rap artist Sister Souljah.

In 1988, tensions flared between then-Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis and Jackson after Dukakis aides reportedly told Jackson not to campaign in certain states.

While polls show that Obama is attracting the support of more than 90 percent of black voters, Jackson has played a leading role in get-out-the-vote initiatives in previous elections.

The turnout of black voters is expected to be a major factor in Obama’s race against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), as well as in down-ballot contests.

However, some independent voters would see a prominent role for Jackson on the Obama campaign as a negative.

In 1984, Jackson called Jews “Hymies” and referred to New York City as “Hymietown.” Jackson subsequently apologized for those remarks.

Four years ago, Jackson worked on Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) presidential campaign as a senior adviser.