Breaking: Rev Jesse Jackson says "Feel the Bern"

[BigBearJohn]

Source: Daily Kos

ivil Rights icon Rev Jesse Jackson has long held off making a formal endorsement in the Democratic primary, but he’s gone out of his way in the past to praise the tone of the Sanders campaign compared to Clinton’s efforts, as well as defending Sanders from dishonest attacks by Clinton surrogates looking to tarnish his record of civil rights activism.

He is meeting with both the Sanders campaign and the Clinton campaign before the voting kicks off in Illinois. I had expected this to be a non-partisan affair, with Jackson trying to push both candidates to support policies which could help the African American community and help boost voter registration and turnout.

Instead, when Jesse Jackson introduced Sanders, he praised his campaign’s civility and focus on “the issues that matter.” He told his audience to “choose hope, not fear,” mentioned a few of the issues highlighted by the Sanders campaign, and then, concluding his remarks, Jackson told his audience “say feel the Bern.” Both Sanders and Jackson’s faces light up with big smiles.

The tone of the statement and the audience reaction made it clear that this was an endorsement — or at in the very least, an endorsement in all but name.

I’m not surprised that Jackson is backing Sanders. Bernie has spent his entire life standing up for civil rights for oppressed people. As his most recent ad concludes, now its time for us to stand with him.


Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/03/12/1500338/-Breaking-Rev-Jesse-Jackson-says-Feel-the-Bern

[CountAllVotes]

2. Thanks Rev. Jackson & The Rainbow Coalition!

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!!!

Sanders 2016!!!

[Bassomar]

3. I don't think it is

His son as this point had more courage to come out and endorse him. Considering how much Bernie put at stake to endorse him in '88. Jessee should have done the same, especially since his son came out for him.

[tk2kewl]

8. Rev. Jackson says "Feel the Bern!"

Video for Rainbow PUSH Saturday Morning Forum 3/12 is at http://rainbowpush.org/pages/saturday_morning_forum

Jesse Jackson Jr. introduction of Bernie begins at 0:36:30

Bernie and Rev. Jackson come out at 0:46:15

At 1:39:00 following their discussion Rev. Jackson stands with Bernie and asks the crowd to repeat after him, and they do...

"Say jobs"
"Education"
"Healthcare"
"Justice"
"Character"
"We all matter"
"Everybody"
"Is somebody"
"Stop the violence"
"Choose hope"
"Not fear"
"Life"
"Not death"
"Futures"
"Not funerals"
"Graduation"
"Not incarceration"
"We're all God's children"
"Everybody matters"
"One big tent"
"One big tent"

"Say Feel The Bern!"

"Let me hear you scream! (Joyful laughter)"

[JimDandy]

16. Rev Jackson says:

Why are we the first to be targeted for voter registration, targeted for voter turnout, but last to receive benefits?

[tk2kewl]

20. Good convo w Bernie... Well worth watching

[JimDandy]

21. Yes, indeed.

[davidpdx]

4. I don't think there is a bus big enough to throw Jessie Jackson under

but my advice to Jessie would be watch your back man. I saw him speak at my university around 20+ years ago and my only regret is I couldn't stay to hear the whole speech as I either had to be at work.

[greymouse]

5. not sure what you're trying to say, davidpdx.

Who are you thinking is tossing Jesse under the bus?

[davidpdx]

6. I was pondering whether Clinton and her supporters would

[Laughing Mirror]

7. Good timing

Had been wondering when this would happen. Sanders endorsed Jackson in 1988, so it seems only natural that the favor would come back to him one day.

[tk2kewl]

10. I don't think it is an official endorsement, but it is very good

See #8 in this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1377227

Rev. Jackson will speak with Clinton on Monday

[JimDandy]

17. Agree. n/t

[Bradical79]

9. Cool

My mom voted for Jesse Jackson back in the day. For some reason I'd thought he had already allied with Clinton :-P

[dpatbrown]

11. Contrary to Lewis,

who stabbed Sanders in the back, Jackson knows without a shadow of a doubt, that it is Sanders who has been fighting for equal rights for decades.

[KeepItReal]

12. Nice.

[Utopian Leftist]

13. I volunteered for Reverend Jackson's Historic, 1988 Campaign in LA.

This is a very short, true story of why Jesse will always be my political hero, despite the mistakes he has made along the way.

In 1988 I attended a gay rights march in Sacramento, California. Friends were dying left and right from AIDS and the government under Reagan did NOTHING to help us.

Bush, the presumptive Republican Nominee at the time, did not send any representative to our March.

Dukakis, Democratic fore-runner (and eventual Nominee) sent his son to address the marchers.

Jesse? In 1988, at the height of AIDS hysteria and misinformation, Jesse alone made a point of showing up in person and shaking the hand of every person in the audience who was living with HIV. He then gave a speech that made most of us openly weep.

He stood for healthcare and education instead of poverty and prison. Jesse was on our side then and I am so glad to know that he is still there for us now! Like Bernie!

[forest444]

14. Kudos to you, Rev. Jackson. One good turn deserves another.

[Optimism]

15. Two Great Men

Who have each done so much for this country. For all of us.

My heroes.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, BigBearJohn.

[Zira]

19. Thank you Mr. Jackson!

And, with the black vote going mostly for Hillary Clinton.

He's a civil rights leader, he knows.

[riversedge]

22. I chose not to endorse a candidate but to focus on #GOTV which is dangerously low

Rev Jesse Jackson Sr Verified account
?@RevJJackson

I chose not to endorse a candidate but to focus on #GOTV which is dangerously low & on reconstruction which is dangerously needed.
#Voting

[Dont call me Shirley]

23. Yes, Jesse!