The capacity of human beings to make
fools of themselves appears limitless. Just when I didn't think the
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson could act in a more absurd fashion, he goes and
proves me wrong. While for purposes of having a serious discussion
this gentleman is certainly not worth the cyber-ink being expended upon him
here, we all do need a good laugh now and then, so it is with that purpose
in mind that I present the further foibles of the reactionary reverend.
We already know that Rev. Peterson has
called for Jesse
Jackson to give up the title Reverend, and has expressed fear that Jesse
Jackson will have him killed. Apparently not having gotten enough
publicity from these two stunts, Rev. Peterson has undertaken two further
public relations projects.
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson: The
Lawsuit
First, Rev. Peterson this week sued
Jackson and others in Los Angeles Superior Court for assault and battery
allegedly committed when Rev. Peterson attended a press conference being
held by Jackson and Toyota to announce Toyota's multi-billion dollar program
to aid minorities. If you care to, read the complaint,
and laugh at the overblown allegations that will likely get thrown out of
court.
Not surprisingly, the lawsuit was
filed on Peterson's behalf by Judicial Watch, that rabid right-wing lawsuit
factory. Judicial Watch denies being partisan, and claims to be set up to
"root out corruption in our government and to make sure offenders are
brought to justice." One might ask, what does suing Jackson have
to do with that?
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson: His Own
Version of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In any event, the other desperate
attempt by Rev. Peterson to garner publicity takes the form of his "Third
Annual National Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson," to be marked
by a rally in Los Angeles January 21, outside the offices of Jackson's PUSH
offices. Rev. Peterson's website says the event will be held every
year on the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday until Jackson
"repents of his wrongs."
A few choice excerpts from Rev.
Peterson:
Jesse Jackson is desperate and out
of control.
Jackson has recently attempted to
undermine the Bush Administration and the 'War on Terrorism'.
Jackson is currently attempting to
'shakedown' corporations like Toyota Motors to enrich himself and his
cronies.
He doesn't care about poor blacks.
[H]is brand of exploitation has set
race relations back fifty years...
(Talk about bad taste: in connection
with the day commemorating a civil rights leader who was assassinated, Rev.
Peterson posts a photo of Jesse Jackson with a crossed-out red circle over
it.)
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson: On Hannity
& Colmes
I would be remiss in my attempt to
provide you with some laughs were I not to also present some of Rev.
Peterson's lunacy during his appearance this week on the Fox News talk show Hannity
& Colmes:
HANNITY: Joining us now, the founder
of BOND, Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson.
... Jesse, you filed a lawsuit
against the Reverend Jackson today. And you told me earlier today that if
anything happens to you, you want me to take a copy of the tape to the
authorities, because you think, if anything happens to you, you want the
authorities to look at Reverend Jackson.
REV. JESSE LEE PETERSON, BOND:
Absolutely. Sean... Over the last 12 years, Sean, I've been called nigger,
Uncle Tom. I've had guns drawn on me. But my experience with Jesse Jackson
and his friends, his associates on December 10 was something that I will
never forget. And for the first time I had a real threat -- I mean, fear
for my life.
And I want to even make the
statement here, if anything should happen to me -- Sean, you are a friend
of mine -
I urge you to turn this tape over to
the authorities and ask them to look at Jesse Jackson, his friends or
associates, to arrest them before they do anyone else, because I am
concerned for my life.
HANNITY: Jesse, do you really
believe that the Reverend Jackson would have you killed?
PETERSON: Well, you know, Sean,
after what happened on December 10, I would not personally put it past
him. I don't think that he would do it himself.
But I would not put it past him that
he wouldn't encourage someone else to do it.
Give me a break!
Not to give a left-handed compliment
to the Rev. Peterson's potential as a standup comic, but I must admit I
laughed harder when I saw Rev. Peterson on Hannity & Colmes than
I have at any Saturday Night Live skit in a long time.
