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Non-Tech : The Enron Scandal - Unmoderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (1191)	2/3/2002 12:35:15 PM
From: greenspirit	Respond to of 3602

Fascinating piece KLP, thanks for posting it.

To: KLP who wrote (1191)	2/3/2002 1:14:40 PM
From: greenspirit	Respond to of 3602

Jesse Jackson Admits Enron Contributions By Marc Morano CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer January 30, 2002 cnsnews.com\\Politics\\archive\\200201\\POL20020130b.html Jesse Jackson Tuesday admitted that he has been a recipient of Enron Corporation contributions. He did so during an exclusive interview with CNSNews.com and while accompanying a busload of former Enron employees to Washington, D.C. so they could complain to Congress about the loss of their retirement funds. The bus trip was Jackson's idea. His "Journey to Justice" trip began at Enron headquarters in Houston and concluded Tuesday afternoon in the nation's capital. During the interview with CNSNews.com, Jackson said of the Enron contributions to his Rainbow/Push organization, "Whatever is was, it was minuscule." He said any contributions he received should not be returned because the funds are "irrelevant to the magnitude of this issue." Jackson also admitted his finances were faltering and became irritated when asked if it was because he had lost "moral authority" during the past year, as some have charged. Jackson met Monday with former Enron chairman Kenneth L. Lay in Houston and compared him to the biblical figure Job. While criticizing the corporate meltdown that victimized Enron employees, Jackson declined to say anything negative about Lay and even prayed with the former chairman. Not only is Jackson opposed to the idea of returning contributions he received from Enron, he believes groups like the "United Negro College Fund should not give any money back." His admission that he received funds from Enron would not "alter our demand for vigorous oversight, campaign finance reform, election law reform and the need to thoroughly investigate who knew what when," Jackson said. But Jackson's admission of Enron donations was a contrast to his earlier statements. Last week, when asked by an Associated Press reporter about Enron donations, Jackson replied, "To my knowledge, no. I have not and neither have any of our entities." He did hedge his comments, by adding "if records show" he "ever received money from Enron, it would not compromise his desire to help" ex-workers. Despite his refusal to return his own Enron contributions, Jackson pulled no punches when it came to criticizing the Bush administration for its relationship with the now bankrupt company. "The more [Vice President Dick] Cheney denies access to the information, the more suggestive it is of a relationship," Jackson said. "We know Enron basically helped determine our energy policy. Those who had the gold, made the rules for their own interest." Al Sharpton, who has also inserted himself into the Enron debate, told CNSNews.com that he was surprised Jackson received funds from Enron. "I did not know that. I am sure that will put an interesting light on his visit [to Houston.]" Sharpton thinks Jackson should provide full disclosure about the money he received from Enron. "I think he should say what it was and say that particularly if he is coming into this [Enron] situation." O'Reilly Obsessed? During the interview with CNSNews.com, Jackson lashed out at the Fox News Channel by name, stating that "obviously they have a political point of view ... they are driven by an ideology. Their ideology is anti-affirmative action. It's anti-gender equality. It's basically anti-labor union." He complained that Fox's Bill O'Reilly, host of the O'Reilly Factor, had an "obsession" with him. "I do not know what his fascination and obsession is with me. I very seldom watch him and I think I saw 20/20 say he had attacked me 56 days in a row. Now that is either fascination or obsession or both," he explained. Jackson was apparently referring to a Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) study that stated O'Reilly had reported 56 Jackson related segments in a three-year period. According to Jackson, "I am not going to dignify or spend my time ... O'Reilly's opinion of me is irrelevant." Fiscal Woes? Jackson also admitted to financial troubles but blamed the economic downturn. As first reported by CNSNews.com, Jackson had to lay off over half his workforce last year as his fund-raising slumped. "Clearly, it is responsible to make business adjustments according to the climate ... In tough economic times, we become more disciplined and austere with my resources. That is good business practice," Jackson said. One of Jackson's former seminary school friends, David Wallace, has said Jackson's fund-raising woes were a result of his loss of "moral authority." Wallace was referring to Jackson's extramarital affair with a former employee that resulted in the birth of an illegitimate child. When asked about Wallace's comments, Jackson became agitated. "I am trying to think, what is your point? That's an opinion. The workers on this journey have a different opinion," he said. Jackson countered that "the real focus ought to be -- what can America do for its workers who have been victims of policies of greed." Ken Boehm, chairman of the conservative National Legal and Policy Center, said he is suspicious of Jackson's motives in the Enron case, and the gentle way with which he has treated former Enron chairman Lay. "I would not be surprised if this is a payback when you consider how Jackson operates over the years," Boehm told CNSNews.com. Boehm said he finds it ironic that "someone as ethically challenged as Jackson is commenting on someone as ethically challenged as Lay."