Rev. Jesse Jackson Gives Political Cover To President Hugo Chavez…

Rev. Jesse Jackson and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: Holding a joint news conference on Monday at Chavez’s Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Jackson seized the opportunity to condemn as a “criminal act” Rev. Pat Robertson’s call last week for America to take out Chavez; and, to reject as “politically motivated” President Bush’s claim that Chavez is a threat to stability in the Americas. For his part, Chavez toasted Jackson’s indictment of his own president and fellow preacher with a sip of tea….

I have been an unsparing critic of black American leaders for demonstrating so little solidarity with the political and economic plight of fellow blacks in Africa and the Caribbean. For example, despite their professed power and influence, they have been conspicuous in their lack of support for the starving and oppressed people of Darfur and Niger; and in their failure to help resolve the political crisis in Congo and Haiti. Indeed, it has always struck me as profoundly disappointing that a community of Cubans in Miami seems to exert more influence on American foreign policy than notorious black political activists.

(But it is an indication of their indifference in this regard that none of them seem terribly bothered that white celebrities (like Bono) are more recognized as champions of African causes than they are.)

Nevertheless, I am pleased to commend Rev. Jesse Jackson for his peace initiative to Venezuela. Jackson met with President Hugo Chavez on Monday and prayed for a cessation of the hostile rhetoric on both sides. Never mind that Jackson’s seeking to influence American foreign policy to help Chavez sleep well at night seems rather contrived when juxtaposed to his failure to render support to Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue (if only to get the American government to deliver on its financial pledges and provide more troops for the UN’s mission to restore law and order in Haiti. I said I was unsparing!).

Meanwhile, even though American officials disavowed Robertson’s remarks before Jackson’s visit, Chavez welcomed his intercession as an opportunity to demonstrate true statesmanship: He awarded Jackson an honorary sash for his services and offered to sell heating oil at cut rate prices to poor Americans. Indeed!

Note: For some of his critics, Jackson can do no right. Therefore, instead of acknowledging the goodwill generated by his initiative, they accuse him of grandstanding (although coverage of Hurricane Katrina stole his thunder); and of ignoring protests by opposition supporters outside Miraflores Palace who claim Chavez is amassing dictatorial powers in Venezuela (ironically – a claim very similar to that being made against President Bush by protesters outside his ranch in Crawford, Texas).

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