Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson

Rating:
Summary: A Race-Card Playing Shakedown Artist Exposed!
Review: I must admit that until the 2000 elections, I was a die-hard Democrat, as most other African-Americans will claim. However, my views have changed over the last few years. One of the issues I had (and still do) with current black "leadership," was its emphasis on black suffering and white guilt - 40 years after the Civil Rights Movement. In particular, it bothered me that Jesse Jackson would go out of his way to squeeze as much guilt as possible out of white America, all in the name of the poor. After reading "Shakedown," it has become painfully clear to me that he cares about as much for the poor as Usama bin Laden does about world peace.

From the opening chapter, Kenneth Timmerman details Jackson's web of lies, half-truths and deception as he has successfully shaken down the federal government and corporate America for millions of dollars to enrich himself and his already-wealthy black business and political cronies. Numerous examples of "the content of Jackson's character" include his bold-faced lie that Martin Luther King "died in my arms" after being shot in April 1968; his cozy relationship with Jeff Fort and Chicago's notorious Black P Stone Nation/El Rukn street gang; his chummy-chummy rapport with murderous African dictator thugs like General Sani Abacha (Nigeria), Charles Taylor (Liberia) and Foday Sankoh (Sierra Leone); how smaller community-based organizations that have asked for Jackson's assistance have been given the cold shoulder because they couldn't "afford" him; and, how Jackson has dealt with black businesses that refuse to play by his rules (i.e. line his pockets).

One of the most egregious examples of Jackson's appetite for fanning the flames of racial division to suit his own ends was during the 2000 presidential election - specifically, the Flordia vote count debacle. As Jackson alleged voter intimidation by Republicans, the author shows the "good Reverend's" complete disregard for the facts. For one thing, the reported "roadblocks" involved incidents that had absolutely nothing to do with the elections. Secondly, an analysis of the spoiled ballots from all the Florida precincts revealed that the group most prone to having their ballots spoiled were African-American REPUBLICANS! According to Yale Scholar John R. Lott, Jr., who did the analysis, black Republicans were over 50 times more likely to have their votes tossed out than black Floridians in general, and that Republican voters overall were 14% more likely to have their votes tossed out in precincts where the county election supervisor was a Democrat, and 31% more likely when the supervisor was a BLACK Democrat. These results were published in an LA Times article dated November 12, 2001, and I haven't heard a peep about it from either the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus, Al Sharpton, or Rainbow/PUSH. Then again, by this time Jackson probably had other things on his mind (e.g. still reeling from getting busted for having fathered an out-of-wedlock child with a former assistant).

This book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesse Jackson is nothing more than a "shakedown artist" and "povery pimp." He wants black and white Americans divided, for such division has made him a very wealthy man. He knows that in this day and age the average white person would rather be called a child molester than a racist, and has milked that fear for all its worth. Bravo to Timmerman for this painstakingly researched and eloquently written book that exposes Jesse Jackson for the charlatan that he is. If the Rev. Jesse Jackson represents today's black "leadership," then we're all in big trouble.

Rating:
Summary: Necessary Examination
Review: "Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson" by Kenneth R. Timmerman will polarize an already polarized public. No one is passive about their assessment of Jesse Jackson.

I don't fully agree with what Timmerman presents, but I do think he has asked that readers think more deeply than Jackson's well-said sound bites about whether or not Jesse Jackson should have the leadership influence he enjoys.

The Pat Buchanan/Rush Limbaugh crowd will love this book, but it'll preach to the chior. The question other readers will be challenged by is how accurate is Timmerman's examination of an already controversial man?

There is a lot going on here, but some things the book caused me to consider:

* Many in the Christian community do not consider him a valid spokesperson of the faith. He seems to speak more about social issues than Jesus Christ from the pulpit, creating concern that his title of 'reverend' is more for political convenience than spiritual authority.

* Many in the African-American community have a love-hate relationship with Jackson, knowing he speaks up for them more effectively than, say, Farrakhan. But they also see Jackson grab hold of issues that seem like self-indulgent, fundraising-fodder grandstanding, like his embarrassing support of the kids who started a brawl in Decatur, IL.

* Likewise complex is what various women's rights group must respond to. As Jackson has, at least since he changed his position in the 1960s, heavily supported abortion rights, he also admitted to cheating on his wife. This mired life makes support for Jackson not as simple as it once was.

Timmerman might seem bitter about what Jackson has represented himself as, and this will push away political and social liberals. In fact, any supporter of Jackson will likely say the book is unfounded, and filled with contrary 'facts'. Just the same, must the baby be thrown out with the bathwater? If Timmerman's findings are true in any regard, what response should Jackson supporters have?

I fully recommend "Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson."

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Star System -- Schmar System
Review: For all you fakers and liars, & race baiters, ... get a life. Like you, I have not read this book so am voting five stars so our votes kind of average out. Until Amazon implements a proof of purchase requirement in order to write a review, I'll vote to offset the dopes and hacks.

Having heard the author interviewed, I AM buying this book and will drop another review in later. My family has been on this continent since 1650, and has given lives, limbs and treasure in order to free black human beings from bondage. We continue to volunteer time and money to help kids in inner city Richmond, we continue to pray and pay by the way, my kids missed out on some great public colleges even though their test scores and grades, and community service were superior to those of their "African American" peers which were accepted to the public college of their choice.

Rating:
Summary: A "HIGH SIDER" brought low...
Review: Kenneth Timmerman does a fine job "signifying" on Jesse-the- Jester.The fact it's 20 years too late(ask former Democratic Presidential Candidate, Michael Dukakis) doesn't detract from its importance as major reckoning with the legend-in-his-own mind, REVEREND. Whether Martin Luther King died in Jackson's arms is not crucial as the way this HIGH SIDER has cynically, and desperately, manipulated friends and foes alike to annoint himself successor to America's greatest Civil Right's leader(and conscience). The fact the Media has been complicit in Jackson's charades of "outraged rectitude" in the name of THE PEOPLE speaks for itself. As do Jackson's self-aggrandizing episodes as "Emissary" to this nation's foreign enemies. As for THE RAINBOW COALITION,interview a member of LULAC(League of United Latin American Citizens):much of what will be said concerning THE REVEREND will not merely be "unflattering";it won't be printable. Is Jesterman anti-Semitic?Would any other candidate(for anything) get-away with his infamous off-the-cuffs(re: Hymies)or embracing similar views espoused by brother-in-arms, Louis Farrakhan?

The problem with the book is Jackson's detractors "knew" this stuff already. And supporters MUST believe their Main Man
hasn't betrayed them so they'll attack the book or, more likely, ignore it altogether. Who might benefit from reading what is effectively a muck-raking expose? Anyone who wants to see a consummate POL in action. Jackson's marital antics put him in the droit-du-seigneur realm somewhere between President Clinton and Congressman Condit. SHAKEDOWN "gets-down";relating exploits of a dedicated hard-charger whose PRIMARY political vision has been the glorification of himself...

Rating:
Summary: A welcome wake-up call.
Review: This is a book that shows us the true Jessie Jackson:

*A man who has used a combination of intimidation and liberal guilt to funnel millions upon millions into the coffers of his various organizations and into the pockets of his rich friends.

*A man who, while posing as the successor to Martin Luther King, does seemly everything he can to foster racial tension, since it supports his lifestyle.

*A man who used his power to destroy almost anyone (especially fellow blacks) who wrote anything negative about him.

*A man who's incompetence and corruptness as a diplomat has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Africans.

*A man who Anheuser-Busch managed to face down simply by threatening to reveal the truth about him.

One minor compliant: It does at times only mention in passing some of more famous incidents in Jackson's life, assuming that we already know about it. But it's only a small thing.

This is a must read for all Americans. Let's take a good hard look at the man who is supposed to be one of this country's biggest minority leaders.

Rating:
Summary: Wake Up America!!!!!!
Review: I have always been a supporter of Jesse Jackson and looked upon him as a true leader..............until I read this book. This book has opened my eyes to just what kind of person Jesse Jackson really is: con-artist, extortionist, race-baiter, etc. The people in Chicago who refer to him as "Justme" Jackson, have really hit the nail on the head. What has the self-appointed leader of the African-American race ever done for poor and truly disinfranchised African-Americans? Not a damn thing!!! The only African-Americans who have ever benefited from his shakedowns and extortion of american corporations are his rich and well-to-do cronies! Why the IRS has never stepped in and audited this scheister and crook is a travesty! Jesse Jackson is only a leader for the well-to-do African-American, the ones who can pay to play. This man is no more interested in closing the racial divide that exists in America today, than the KKK is! He is one of the reasons that the racial divide has gotten wider, not smaller. Anyone who calls this book racist is either blind, deaf, and dumb, or is a racist themselves. This book is well documented and the facts well supported. Through it all, you have to give "Reverend" Justme Jackson credit. He has taken advantage of a society where it is worse to label someone a racist than it is to call someone a rapist or child molester. He has used the word racist as his trump card and thrown it about freely, when he himself is as racist as anybody. I wonder when the next time he is going to call as his friend some 3rd world dictator who has ravaged his homeland and committed innumerable atrocities on his people? And when he is long gone from this world, don't worry America, his sons will pick up the torch and continue this man's great, benevolent works in society. Oh yeah, after reading this book, I have changed my affiliation from Democrat to Republican, as has my African-American wife.

Rating:
Summary: Shakedown documents the obvious exploits of a con man.
Review: One wonders where the main stream media has been throughout Jesse
Jacksons long career of being a racial ambulance chaser. He as been furnished unfettered access to national media and assigned undeserved credibility.

This work, along with the book 'Bias' by Bernard Goldberg is a stunning inditement of media bias (Liberal) in that it exposes how J.Jackson has used the cloak of the phony title of 'minister' to further the concept that black people are victims whose only salvation comes from government welfare. The 'Reverend' Jackson has been given a forum by the media to make his unfounded claims of racism at the drop of a hat. His racist approach to issues of the day has gone a long way towards fanning the flames of racial divide. This is a great book and one which exposes the liberal leaning media as much as it does the person of Jesse Jackson.

Rating:
Summary: Isn't America Great
Review: First of all, let me say that I am a true "conservative" . . . and I think that most Republicans are moderates (Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay, President Bush).

I like this book not because it portrays Jesse Jackson in a negative light. The book is great because it shows that anyone can make it in America . . . with ambition and creativity . . . no matter what color you are . . . you can attain success and Jesse Jackson whether you like it or not . . . is an American success story (He is wealthy, has time to travel around the world, has political power, and has girls on the side besides his wife).

I think Jesse Jackson has inadvertantly proved that anyone can make it in America without government programs . . . even though Jesse advocates big government. I encourage all Jesse Jackson followers to read this book for inspiration . . . .

Rating:
Summary: Star System -- Schmar System
Review: For all you fakers and liars, & race baiters, ... get a life. Like you, I have not read this book so am voting five stars so our votes kind of average out. Until Amazon implements a proof of purchase requirement in order to write a review, I'll vote to offset the dopes and hacks.

Having heard the author interviewed, I AM buying this book and will drop another review in later. My family has been on this continent since 1650, and has given lives, limbs and treasure in order to free black human beings from bondage. We continue to volunteer time and money to help kids in inner city Richmond, we continue to pray and pay by the way, my kids missed out on some great public colleges even though their test scores and grades, and community service were superior to those of their "African American" peers which were accepted to the public college of their choice.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Expose - Can we get rid of this guy?
Review: I think this is one of the best reads I have ever had regarding a public figure. I wonder why we allow people like this to still run around our country and actually have an effect.

Shakedown is the right title as well. He has perfected the shakedown of corporations. I liked where some stood up to his shakedown approach and his attempt to control companies and engratiate his corporations and friends with the loot that comes from shaking down corporate America.

We need to wake up and take notice as a nation and individually. Jackson is portrayed at making a mockery of justice for the underpriveledged. He disenfranchises his own for his own gain and the gain of those who have kept him in the spotlight.

Read this book and tell everyone else about it.