Cats and dogs living together... Mass Hysteria!

Although Jesse Jackson is known mainly for his works in the civil rights arena, many people have alleged that Jackson uses his influence and reputation primarily to extort businesses for his personal gain. Jackson is seen by his critics as using racial politics to advance himself and his family's financial interests. Some of the allegations are covered in the book Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson by Kenneth R. Timmerman. Due to this he is frequently referred to as "Je$$e Jack$on" on the internet. In a 1969 Life Magazine interview, Jackson said that when he worked as a waiter in a Greenville, South Carolina restaurant, he would spit into the soups and salads of white customers. "[Spitting into the food] gave me a psychological gratification," Jackson said. Jesse Jackson, his mistress and his wifeDuring the contested election of 2000, Jackson quickly became involved in pro-Democrat demonstrations in the state of Florida. Shortly afterward, it was revealed that Jackson (married since 1963) had an affair with a staffer, Karin Stanford, that resulted in the birth of his daughter Ashley. The Rainbow Push Coalition had paid Stanford, $40,000 to relocate her to Southern California, in addition to a continuing $3,000 a month in support, and $365,000 in funds from Rainbow Push were also used to purchase Stanford’s house. Many commentators questioned the legality of these payments and charged that Jackson was paying “hush money” to Stanford. [7] This seriously damaged Jesse Jackson's credibility even among long- time supporters, and for a brief time prompted Jackson to withdraw from activism. During this time, it was suggested by some commentators that Al Sharpton had usurped Jackson's position as the leading figure in the African-American political movement. Jackson appeared at several anti-war rallies in opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, Jesse Jackson has often been the center of controversy. Critics of Jackson (including the African American Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of BOND) claim that he has exploited poverty stricken African Americans in order to make money and gain political power.