1/26/01 4:35 p.m.
It’s Not Just the Hypocrisy
Stalked in cyberspace.

By Robert A. George, an editorial page writer
for the New York Post------------------------------------RAGGEDmail@aol.com

talked in cyberspace? Yep, that's me. Nicholas Confessore, a staff writer for the American Prospect, takes this columnist to task, not once, but twice in a New Republic website piece.

Confessore has problems with statements I've made about Jesse Jackson — both in this column ("Jesse's Girls") and in a quote in Salon. Gee, it's flattering that Confessore thinks enough of me to follow me from website to website. I've been on at least one C-SPAN appearance with Nick and he's cute and everything, but I think we should leave it at that.

But in all seriousness, Confessore takes me to task for relishing the opportunity to criticize Jackson on his hypocrisy. This is not an exact reading of my views on Jackson. However, I am glad that Confessore has provided me with the opportunity to revisit the issue as the morality of our elected leaders has become a popular topic over the last few years.

In a sense, Confessore has a point: While it's easy to make fun of Jackson on this scandal, there are serious issues involved. In fact, there are three: 1) A public individual — and minister — obviously had an affair; 2) The same public individual — who also arguably happens to be the most well-known black leader in the country — has a child out of wedlock; 3) That individual pays off his mistress and mother of his child, allegedly out of his organization's funds.

Of these three, only the first is really about "hypocrisy" pure and simple. The other two weave in concerns that should be topics of serious public scrutiny.

Issue #1: As a man of the cloth, Jackson should have known better. But with political leaders on all sides of the political spectrum confessing to extramarital affairs, the fact that Jackson would have one is hardly stunning. In fact, there are probably as many rumors about Jackson out there as there were about a once-unknown Arkansas governor in the '70s and '80s.

Issue #2: Jackson's dalliance has produced a child — which seriously impairs his ability to speak to the most important issue facing black America today. It's wonderful that Jackson wants to increase black awareness in the stock market. One can be skeptical about his pressuring of various finance firms to invest in black companies and still admit that increasing black awareness in the stock market is still a good in and of itself. However, the fact remains that the single biggest indicator of black economic and social advancement involves the issue of single motherhood and fatherlessness. Jackson has now managed to isolate himself from that issue in any credible manner.

Jackson has managed to satisfy critics — in the most superficial manner — on both the left and the right by his handling of this issue. Stanford did not have an abortion. "Let's applaud him!" says Michael Novak. He is "doing the right thing" in supporting his "love child," thus satisfying feminists who think that the only problem with single motherhood is deadbeat dads. But as a host of studies have shown fatherlessness has problems associated with it that go far beyond the financial. It exacts an emotional devastation that ripples through society.

Out-of-wedlock births are over 70 percent in the black community, even higher in some inner-city areas. It's no coincidence that many of those same areas have the densest poverty in the nation. There is no surer predictor of child poverty than single motherhood. Obviously, a professional woman like Karin Stanford doesn't have to worry about that. But, what about the thousands of young girls who don't have Ph.D's to support them? What sort of message can Rev. Jesse Jackson no impart to them?

Worse, the fact is that temptations of the flesh aside, there are easy practical steps two consenting adults can take to avoid bringing a life into the world. There's no reason why a 59-year old man should impregnate a 39-year old woman given the birth-control options that exist. If either party is morally opposed to birth control, well, one might think such a person would be morally opposed to having an extramarital affair as well. Thus, the production of a child demonstrates not mere moral weakness but practical stupidity as well.

Issue #3: Finally, as Deep Throat advised Messrs. Woodward and Bernstein a quarter century ago, "Follow the money." Most reports indicate that this story broke because certain individuals within the Rainbow Coalition/PUSH organization were disturbed by what looked like official monies being used to pay off Ms. Stanford and her child. As Rainbow/PUSH is a tax-exempt group, such charges should invite a letter from the IRS. Both my Post colleague Rod Dreher and Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly have raised concerns about other tax-exempt Jackson ventures. To make a long story short, the spotlight on this story may bring out into the open far more sordid — as well as ethically and legally questionable — allegations. In a similar way, Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky represented more in the saga of Bill Clinton than just hyperactive hormones. The Clinton precedent should also cause any politicians or other public figures to hesitate before rushing to Jackson's side. Just ask Al Gore what that can get you down the line.

That is why this should be a major story and why journalists of all stripes should continue to pursue it.

Hypocrisy is only a very small part.