Jackson, Sharpton need to step aside

WILLIAM T. HOSTON, Wichita Eagle

- With all due respect, the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton need to step aside and allow a new generation of black politicians and activists to emerge. The self-described “civil rights” politician-activists are making a mockery of themselves and the entire black community. Their respect in the black community has diminished (if not vanished), and it is safe to assume their respect is obsolete within the white political culture.

Recent comments by Jackson may even illustrate that he is not in support of the historical achievement of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the first African-American Democratic presidential nominee.

The vulgar comments made by Jackson — that he wanted to castrate Obama — show that there may be a certain amount of generational jealousy. We all know that Jackson’s landmark presidential run in 1984 helped pave the way for the Democratic nomination of Obama. However, Jackson’s recent tirade has led many to question whether he is jealous of Obama’s progress toward becoming the first African-American president. Even Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., expressed his disgust with his father’s comments, stating they “contradict his inspiring and courageous career.”

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