JESSE’S FIB

My friend Chris Matthews, among others, thinks Jesse Jackson should be given a pass for his little daughter because he has been honest about it and taken responsibility. I’m not sure Chris is aware of the following press release issued on March 19, 1999, pointed out to me by the New York Post columnist, Rod Dreher. The release has been buried on the Operation-PUSH site and is extremely hard to find. But here’s the relevant passage: “Dr. Karin L. Stanford, director, Washington Bureau/vice president, programs Citizenship Education Fund (CEF), heads the public policy division of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and CEF. A former assistant professor of political science and African American studies at the University of Georgia, Stanford has received numerous accolades. Her greatest reward yet, remarks the director, will be the birth of her first child with Atty. James Simmons in May. Stanford, who is also a breast cancer survivor, takes maternity and family leave April 1.” So PUSH didn’t only deny Jackson’s paternity – but fingered someone else! To be fair, maybe Jackson wasn’t sure. But that doesn’t justify asserting it was someone else’s daughter. Again: I have no desire to judge Jackson for his affair. We’re all human. But honesty is important – especially in a public figure lecturing others about family values and counseling a president for hiding a sexual liaison.