I could go way back in history and point out all of the black men and women who have run for president, but O'Reilly's ignorance ignores even the last 30 years. Jesse Jackson running in 1984 and 1988 is so obvious it makes O'Reilly look appear ignorant on a scape to epic to believe.Krauthammer: It's not a strong field. Not being known now is not dispositive -- nobody had ever heard of Barack Obama at this time in the cycle.
O'Reilly; That's what they always said, but let me challenge you. Barack Obama, a black man. OK, I mean he's half black and half white, but his appearance is black. The first black to ever run, OK? Huge, huge advantage in a campaign. Enormous. The press loved him. LOVED HIM, alright? Promoted him, actively promoted him. NBC News actively promoted his candidacy and so did their parent company General Electric. HUGE advantages Nobody on that list has anything.
Krauthammer: All of that is true, although Jesse Jackson actually was the first who ran.
O'Reilly's comment was absolutely pathetic.In 1888 Frederick Douglass was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention. Afterward during the roll call vote, he received one vote, so was nominally a candidate for the presidency. In those years, the candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency were chosen by state representatives voting at the nominating convention. Many decisions were made by negotiations of state and party leaders "behind closed doors." Douglass was not a serious candidate in contemporary terms.
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American major party candidate for president. She was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination and participated in the Democratic primaries in numerous states.[1] She campaigned in 12 states and won 28 delegates.[2] In 1984 and 1988, Jesse Jackson was the first major party black candidate to run nationwide primary campaigns. He also ran as a Democratic Party candidate.[3]
In 1992 Alan Keyes was the first African-American candidate to run in the Republican presidential primaries.[citation needed] Keyes ran again, unsuccessfully, in 1996, 2000, and 2008. In 2004, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton ran as unsuccessful candidates in the Democratic primaries.
Gilbert Arenas, a standout shooting guard for the Washington Wizards (a franchise that used to be the Bullets before the late former owner Abe Pollin changed the nickname to do away with the violent imagery) of the National Basketball Association is … trippin’ … as they say in the ‘hood. OK, now first things first, let’s get some of the particulars involving Arenas in an ugly case that features guns in an NBA locker room. It seems Gilbert, according to some published reports, drew a gun on a teammate in an incident that has drawn all kinds of national attention and inflicted yet another bruise on NBA Commissioner David Stern’s prized product. Arenas, has contended that he and the gun were all part of a “misguided effort to play a joke.” Commissioner Stern has, in turn, suspended Arenas indefinitely.
On the ESPN program Pardon the Interruption (PTI), hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discussed the topic and showed a photo of Arenas at an NBA game pretend shooting with his fingers. If nothing else, the image of Arenas making that kind of gesture proves (almost definitively) that he simply doesn’t understand the serious nature of his actions.
Commissioner Stern, however, does understand the seriousness. And, that seriousness is reflected in a statement he released:
The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation involving the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, and the consideration of this matter by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia. For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action.
Wizards personnel continue to be interviewed by law enforcement authorities, some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident.
Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.
This is one time I totally agree with commissioner and do not think he is being overly harsh.
It seems Gilbert Arenas doesn’t get it if that photo is any indication. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!
It’s not about Rev. Al Sharpton, it’s not about David Stern and it’s not about the fans. It’s about Gilbert Arenas taking things more seriously. Not everything is a joke … even when you’re rich and famous. It can all disappear and it can disappear fast.
From a legal standpoint, Arenas has some serious charges in front of them that honestly are no joking matter.
Gilbert needs understand the influence he has on people (especially young people). He needs to follow the words in the title of Jermaine Jackson’s hit song, “Lets Get Serious!”
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/gilbert-arenas-suspended_n_413659.html
I am always amazed how conservative white guys jump up and declare Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton spokesmen for the so-called black community. It is so ignorant to suggest that black people need one or two spokespeople to speak on their behalf as if they’re too stupid to speak on their own. Where are the leaders for the white community, the Latino community, the Asian American community or the Native American community? And, if they are out there, why are they not being set up to be attacked as Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are being put into position to be attacked?
This is from a Midland, Mich. writer named Chris Stevens, who states in a blog titled “Anything goes: Instead of Limbaugh, let’s say ‘no’ to Jackson and Sharpton”:
So Rush Limbaugh’s bid to be one of the buyers of the St. Louis Rams is being opposed by, among others, the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Sharpton and Jackson have as much politically in common with Limbaugh as the Detroit Lions have with Super Bowl championships.
Zilch.
That’s not the whole story, of course. If Sharpton and Jackson are involved in something nationally, typically race is involved.
That’s their shtick. They are, and have been, the designated spokespeople for the black race. And that’s quite puzzling.
He stats that if Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are involved then race is probably an issue. But, who is asking the questions? Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton don’t run CNN and MSNBC and they sure as hell don’t run the far-right Fox News. They don’t run NBC, CBS, ABC, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, etc.
So, a conservative white guy declares that Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are spokesmen for the so-called black community. Now, this is done because conservatives in the media have worked for decades to demonize Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton as a means of knocking down and keeping down what they call “the black community.” They declare Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton the so-called leaders of “the black community” or the so-called spokesmen for “the black community” and then turn around and attack the two. Is this a disguised attack on blacks as a people?
Is Rush Limbaugh the spokesman for the white community? He is for a large number of far-right conservatives.
So, this writer ends by stating:
Sharpton and Jackson have had their time in the limelight.
It’s time for them to go away.
He seems to have left Limbaugh’s name out of that statement. Should be surprised? Of course we should not be surprised.
Don’t for one minute believe conservatives like Chris Stevens want men like Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton to go away. I agree that the media should allow other strong and young black voices (alternative voices) a platform in the media, but that is not the interest of conservatives like Chris Stevens.
It’s a disguised and passive-aggressive way of attacking black people.
When conservatives become angry about racial politics, and feel things are not going their way, it’s generally not long before too familiar names come up … ahem … Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.
As Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page said in an interview, some of the hatred being directed at President Obama is paybacks for the anger that a good number of conservative (by far predominantly old and white) feel toward Jackson and Sharpton. President Obama is an easy and high-profile target for these conservatives to step up and unleash their venom disguised by code words or terms like socialist, communist, fascist, anti-American, Marxist and more.
This is from a CNN special:
ELAINE QUIJANO: Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page sees the Obama presidency as a chance for some to lash out.
CLARENCE PAGE, DC-BASED CHICAGO TRIBUNE COLUMNIST: People are not just mad at Obama. They’re mad at Jesse Jackson, they’re mad at Reverend Wright, they’re made at Al Sharpton, they’re mad at people who have nothing to do with Obama except they all happen to be black.
QUIJANO: Page says the vehement racial resistance that’s emerged is another sign any notion of a post-racial society after Barack Obama’s election was wishful thinking.PAGE: It’s only the beginning of the process that we are able to live with leadership that may not look like us, may not come from the same background as us but is still part of this very diverse society.
This all brings me to a commentary published on the Fox News Web site by conservative talker Brit Hume, who sort of proves what Page was talking about with respect to Jackson and Sharpton.
Fox News article by Hume (speaking for racism/racial politics deniers aided by the more subtle form of racism that exists today):
FOX News’ Brit Hume with ‘Special Report’ host Bret Baier
One of the great achievements of the American civil rights movement is a broad and deep consensus that racism — which has a long history in this country — is unacceptable, indeed even intolerable. Civil rights activists, led by Dr. King, appealed to the conscience and good will of the nation on the issue and won the nation over.
See, a lot of these conservatives will say something like “yeah, we know racism is still out there” but every time an instance of racism is pointed out they (generally speaking) vehemently deny it’s racism and then turn around and go on the offense by accusing you of playing the mythical so-called “race card.”
In America, one of the worst things that can be said of anyone is that he or she is racist. The charge is so potent that some — Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton come to mind — have hurled it about with abandon, knowing how far people will go to avoid the label.
To say Jackson and Sharpton have “hurled it (the racism charge) about with abandon” is a tricky statement – even by Hume’s (Fox News) standards. Whenever a race issue comes up, reporters from Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and others jump up and stick a microphone in the faces of Jackson and Sharpton. Then, the two reverends are accused of playing the race card when a lot of times they are the ones who are sought out by the media. Now, there are times when a lot of us wish people (including Jackson and Sharpton) would sometimes say “no comment” as those two in particular inexplicably seem to represent the so-called black community to a lot of white people (in a negative way).
If there is a black community then does that mean there is a white community? There’s food for thought.
Enablers of racism blame the victim instead of standing up against these more disguised forms of racism. Now, people need to be careful hurling the charge because, as Hume says, it is a powerful charge. But, those who engage in these kinds of activities or use inflammatory language must be called out by people like Brit Hume (don’t hold your breath waiting on that to happen) who seem to have no problem calling out Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, but are silent on certain other people.
When old and conservative white guys feel uncomfortable with any claim of racism, the response is familiar: attack the Rev. Jesse Jackson and attack the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Attacking Rev. Incorporated is the way that many conservatives combat any charges of racism (whether the charges are legitimate or not)
Consider this piece written by Andrew Breitbart in the Washington Times and regurgitated on his Web site Big Hollywood:
The most unsettling news story of the last week came out of Philadelphia, where a group of black and Hispanic children of elementary-school age paid for the right to swim at a private suburban club and were denied the experience without cause and publicly humiliated in the process.
While the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton cry racism too often and make a mockery of their cause by exploiting events for their personal gain, sometimes old-fashioned bigotry does rear its ugly head in America.
In this instance, the Valley Club’s president confirmed our worst fears when he offered something far from an exculpatory explanation. “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club,” John Duesler said in his initial statement.
Some campers claim to have overheard at least one parent fretting about the sudden influx of 65 minority children at the mostly white club.
True or not, these children were clearly wronged and it’s hard to believe that race didn’t play a significant part in their being tossed from the suburban club on their very first field trip.
Bigotry is not a partisan issue, and to be sickened by this story is the proper human response. America’s original sin of slavery and the stain of Jim Crow make a bad situation almost viscerally unbearable – and warrant a conclusive remedy. This, unfortunately, is our country’s long-term burden.
Many members of the private swim club, removed from its director’s idiotic move, now find themselves in the unenviable position of working round-the-clock to defend themselves and their previously unblemished club. Even neighbors of the institution have taken to the media to distance themselves from the awful act.
“I think they’re knuckleheads up there,” said John Fenton, a local. “I don’t know how you can do that to little kids.”
Whenever legitimate acts of bigotry occur, they should be exposed to the light of day. The media and the legal system – fueled by public outrage – can do the rest. In this case, substantial national and even international news coverage of the Valley Club incident is beginning the process of making the campers whole.
Again, this is the method for minimizing any claims of racism (citing Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton’s involvement and insisting that they are exploiting race for personal gain).
Clearly, Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton covet the spotlight, but that should not take away from the stinging impact of racism (in spite of what some conservatives want).
Bill O’Reilly committed another attack on Michael Jackson as he whined about the media coverage of the superstar entertainer. O’Reilly then attacked Michael Jackson for spending his own money and accused the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton of making it a racial deal (though he never really offered any evidence of how they made it racial). Actually, O’Reilly has hosted multiple segments bringing race into the Michael Jackson discussion (while slamming Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton for supposedly bringing race into it). The clip he showed to slam Sharpton was not compelling evidence of anything wrong other than the man was signing the entertainer’s praises. This was an O’Reilly cheap shot. O’Reilly’s conclusion that if you criticize Jackson you hate black people is stupid on too many levels to count (as he based it on the comments of two people). I don’t think Rep. Peter King is a racist, but I do think he’s a jackass. O’Reilly has accused others of playing the phantom “race card” when he himself has brought race into the discussion on his own Fox News television show.
Here is some of what O’Reilly said as he trashed Michael Jackson on the day of his funeral (after lying at the beginning of the segment and saying he didn’t want to do that):
O’REILLY: (Jackson’s) incredible selfishness – spending hundreds of millions of dollars on himself while singing “We are the World should make any clear thinking American nauseous.”
First, he can spend his money whatever way he wants to spend it.
Bill O’Reilly’s baseless anger clouds his objectivity (if he has any objectivity).
Here is some documentation of Jackson’s charitable works:
Lets examine the “selfishness” of Michael Jackson that Bill O’Reilly referenced.
Source: IReport
January 10, 1984: Michael visits the unit for burn victims at Brotman-Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles.
April 9, 1984: David Smithee, a 14-year-old boy who suffers from cystic fibrosis is invited to Michael’s home. It was David’s last wish to meet Michael. He dies 7 weeks later.
April 14, 1984: Michael equips a 19-bed-unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center. This center is part of the T.J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research.
July 5, 1984: During the Jackson’s press conference at Tavern On The Green, Michael announces that his part of the earnings from the Victory Tour will be donated to three charitable organizations: The United Negro College Fund, Camp Good Times, and the T.J. Martell-Foundation.
July 14, 1984: After the first concert of the Victory Tour, Michael meets 8 terminally ill children backstage.
December 13, 1984: Michael visits the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he had been treated when he was burned very badly during the producing of a Pepsi commercial. He donates all the money he receives from Pepsi, $1.5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children.
January 28, 1985: Michael and 44 other artists meet to record “We Are The World”, written by Michael and Lionel Ritchie. The proceeds of this record are donated to the starving people in Africa.
1986: Michael set up the “Michael Jackson UNCF Endowed Scholarship Fund”. This $1.5 million fund is aimed towards students majoring in performance art andcommunications, with money given each year to students attending a UNCF member college or university.
February 28, 1986: After having had a heart-transplant, 14-year-old Donna Ashlock from California gets a call from Michael Jackson. He had heard that she is a big fan of his. Michael invites her to his home as soon as she is feeling better. This visit takes place on March 8th. Donna stays for dinner andwatches a movie together with Michael.
September 13, 1987: Michael supports a campaign against racism. He supports efforts of the NAACP, to fight prejudices against black artists.
October 1987: At the end of his Bad Tour, Michael donates some personal items to the UNESCO for a charitable auction. The proceeds will be for the education of children in developing countries.
February 1, 1988: The Song “Man In the Mirror” enters the charts. The proceeds from the sales of this record goes to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.
March 1, 1988: At a press conference held by his sponsor Pepsi, Michael presents a $600,000 check to the United Negro College Fund.
April 1988: Free tickets are given away for three concerts in Atlanta, Georgia to the Make A Wish Foundation.
May 22, 1988: Michael visits children who suffer from cancer in the Bambini-Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome. He signs autographs and gives away sweets and records to the little patients. He promises a check of 100,000 pounds to the hospital.
July 16, 1988: Before a concert at Wembley Stadium Michael meets the Prince of Wales and his wife Diana. He hands over a check of 150,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust, and a check of 100,000 pounds for the children’s hospital at Great Ormond Street.
July 20, 1988: Michael visits terminally ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. At a unit for less critical patients he stays a little bit longer and tells a story.
August 29, 1988: At his 30th birthday Michael performs a concert in Leeds, England for the English charity-organization “Give For Life”. The goal of this organization is the immunization of children. Michael presents a check for 65,000 pounds.
December 1988: Michael visits 12-year-old David Rothenburg. His father had 5 years earlier burned him very badly in an act of revenge against his former wife.
January 1989: The proceeds of one of Michael’s shows in Los Angeles are donated to Childhelp USA, the biggest charity-organization against child-abuse. In appreciation of the contributions of Michael, Childhelp of Southern California is founding the “Michael Jackson International Institute for Research On Child Abuse”.
January 10, 1989: The Bad Tour comes to an end. Under-privileged children are donated tickets for each concert and Michael donates money to hospitals, orphanages and charity-organizations.
February 7, 1989: Michael visits the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California. Some weeks earlier a 25-year-old man had fired at the school’s playground. 5 children had been killed and 39 had been wounded.
March 5, 1989: Michael invites 200 deprived children of the St. Vincent Institute for handicapped children and of the organization Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the Circus Vargas in Santa Barbara. After this event he invites them to his ranch to introduce his private zoo at his Neverland Ranch to them.
November 13, 1989: The organization “Wishes Granted” helps 4-year-old Darian Pagan, who suffers from leukemia to meet Michael. Michael invites the little boy to a performance of Canadian acrobats.
December 28, 1989: Young Ryan White, who suffers from hemophilia, spends his holidays on Michael’s ranch. Ryan had been infected with AIDS by contaminated blood transfusions in 1984. After he was excluded from his school in Kokomo, Ryan fought against the discrimination of AIDS victims.
January 6, 1990: Michael invites 82 abused and neglected children through Childhelp to his Neverland Ranch. There are games, a Barbeque and a movie show provided for them.
July 1990: 45 children from the Project Dream Street, Los Angeles, for children with life-threatening illness are invited to Neverland Valley.
August 18, 1990: Michael invites 130 children of the YMCA summer program of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to his Neverland Ranch.
May 6, 1991: Michael is invited to the Jane Goodall Charity event. Michael supports her, an advocate of behavioral research concerning chimpanzees in Gombe, Nigeria for more than 30 years.
July 26, 1991: Michael pays a visit to the Youth Sports & Art Foundation in Los Angeles. This Foundation supports families of gang members, andhelps dealing with drug-abuse. Michael talks to the kids andpresents them witha wide-screen TV set and a financial gift.
December 1991: Michael’s office MJJ Productions treats needy families in Los Angeles with more than 200 turkey dinners.
February 1992: Within 11 days Michael covers 30,000 miles in Africa, to visit hospitals, orphanages, schools, churches, and institutions for mentally handicapped children.
February 3, 1992: At a press conference at the New York Radio City Music Hall, Michael announces that he is planning a new world tour, to raise funds for his new “Heal The World” Foundation. This Foundation will support the fight against AIDS, Juvenile Diabetes and will support the Camp Ronald McDonald and the Make A Wish Foundation.
May 6, 1992: Michael defrays the funeral-expenses for Ramon Sanchez, who was killed during the Los Angeles riots.
June 23, 1992: At a press conference in London, Michael makes an announcement about his Heal The World Foundation.
June 26, 1992: Michael presents the Mayor of Munich, Mr. Kronawitter, with a 40,000 DM-check for the needy people of the city.
June 29, 1992: Michael visits the Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam and presents a check for 100,000 pounds.
July 1992: Michael donated L. 821,477,296 to La Partita del Cuore (The Heart Match) in Rome and donated 120,000 DM to children’s charities in Estonia and Latvia.
July 25, 1992: On the occasion of a concert in Dublin, Ireland, Michael announces that he will give 400,000 pounds of the tour earnings to various charities.
July 29, 1992: Michael visits the Queen Elizabeth Children’s Hospital in London. To the surprise the children, he brings Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Euro-Disney to the hospital.
July 31, 1992: On the Eve of his second concert at Wembley Stadium, Michael presents Prince Charles with a check of 200,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust.
August 16, 1992: 6 year old Nicholas Killen, who lost his eyesight caused by a life aiding cancer surgery, meets Michael backstage in Leeds, England.
September 1992: Michael donated 1 million pesetas to charity headed by the Queen of Spain.
September 30, 1992: President Iliescuof Romania inaugurates a playground for 500 orphans which Michael has financed. Michael discusses his Heal The World Foundation.
October 1, 1992: Michael chooses a concert in Bucharest, Romania for worldwide television broadcast. Bucharest is a logical choice due to the numerous orphanages the country is known for.
November 24, 1992: At Kennedy Airport in New York, Michael supervises the loading of 43 tons of medication, blankets, andwinter clothes destined for Sarajevo. The Heal The World Foundation collaborates with AmeriCares to bring resources totaling $2.1 million to Sarajevo. They will be allocated under the supervision of the United Nations.
December 10, 1992: During a press conference at the American Ambassy in Tokyo Michael is presented with a check for $100,000 for the Heal The World Foundation by Tour Sponsor Pepsi.
December 26, 1992: During a broadcast request for donations to the United Negro College Fund, Michael declares: “Black Colleges and Universities are breeding some of the leading personalities of our time. They are on top in business, justice, science and technologies, politics and religion. I am proud, that the Michael Jackson Scholarship Program enabled more than 200 young men and women to get a qualified education.”
January 19, 1993: Michael is one of the stars to perform at the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton. Before he sings “Gone Too Soon” he draws the attention to the plights of the victims of AIDS and mentions his friend Ryan White.
January 26, 1993: At a press conference held at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Michael is presented with a $200,000 donation from the National Football League and the Sponsors of the Super Bowl. He gets another $500,000 from the BEST Foundation for his Heal The World Foundation. At this occasion the foundation of “Heal L.A.” is officially announced.
February 1993: In association with Sega, launched an initiative to distribute more than $108,000 of computer games and equipment to children’s hospitals, children’s homes, and children’s charities throughout the U.K.
March 1993: The foundation of an independent film company is announced. They will produce family-oriented movies. A part of the earnings will go to the Heal The World Foundation.
March 27, 1993: At a meeting at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, Michael gives a 5-minute speech to 1200 teachers and politicians.
April 26, 1993: Within his “Heal LA” tour, Michael visits the Watta Health Foundation, and two schools in Los Angeles South Central.
May 5, 1993: Former President Jimmy Carter and Michael, who are chairmen of the “Heal Our Children/Heal The World” initiative, are in Atlanta to promote their “Atlanta Project Immunization Drive”.
June 1993: Michael has announced that he will donate $1.25 million for children who have suffered from the riots in Los Angeles.
June 1993: 100 children from the Challengers Boys and Girls Club visit Neverland.
June 10, 1993: Michael promotes the new DARE-program. The purpose of the program is to inform children about the dangers of drug abuse.
June 18, 1993: Michael pays a visit to a hospital in Washington. He spends several hours with the young patients and plays chess with some of them.
August 1993: WithPepsi-Cola Thailand, donated $40,000 to Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s charity, the Rural School Children and Youth Development Fund, in support of school lunch programs in rural villages in Thailand.
August 1993: In conjunction with Pepsi-Cola International, donated new ambulances to the Contacts One Independent Living Center for Children in Moscow, Russia and the Hospital de Ninos Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
October 1993: Donated $100,000 to the Children’s Defense Fund, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Atlanta Project, and the Boys and Girl Clubs of Newark, New Jersey.
October 22, 1993: Michael visits a hospital in Santiago.
October 28, 1993: Michael makes it possible for 5000 underprivileged children to visit the Reino Aventura Park, where the whale Keiko (”Free Willy”) is living.
November 5, 1993: Michael is guest at a children’s party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Mexico City.
December 1993: With the Gorbachev Foundation, airlifted 60,000 doses of children’s vaccines to Tblisi, Georgia.
December 16, 1993: The Heal The World Foundation UK supports “Operation Christmas Child” delivering toys, sweets, gifts and food to children in former Yugoslavia.
1994: Michael donates $500,000 to Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation.
January 7, 1994: On the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Michael gives a party for more than 100 underprivileged children at his Neverland Ranch.
February 22, 1994: “The Jackson Family Honors” is televised. The earnings of the show are given to their own newly formed charity, “Family Caring for Families”.
August 6, 1994: Michael and his wife Lisa Marie are visiting two children’s hospitals in Budapest. They distribute toys to the ill children.
1995: Michael wants to free dolphins who have been locked up for years. He believes there should be legal guidelines about the way dolphins have to live in zoos and parks.
March 1995: Little Bela Farkas received a new liver. Michael and Lisa Marie met this 4-year-old boy during their trip to Hungary in 1994. Michael did everything to help Bela, whose only chance to live was getting a new liver. The Heal The World Foundation covered the surgery and the cost for caring.
June 21, 1996: Michael donated a four-times platinum disc of “HIStory” in aid of the Dunblane appeal at the Royal Oak Hotel, Sevenoaks in England.
July 18, 1996: In Soweto, South Africa Michael is laying down a wreath of flowers for youngsters who have been killed during the fights involving Apartheid.
September 1996: The first Sports Festival “Hope” was held for orphans and disadvantaged children. 3000 children and 600 volunteers took part in the Sports Festival and Michael Jackson was a special guest.
September 6, 1996: Michael visits the children’s unit of a hospital in Prague.
October 1996: Michael visited a hospital for mentally challenged children in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and offered 2,000 free tickets to the sold out performance in Kaoshiung.
October 1, 1996: Michael donated the proceeds of his Tunisia concert to “The National Solidarity Fund”, a charity dedicated to fighting poverty.
October 3, 1996: Michael visits a children’s hospital and brings small gifts for the patients during a HIStorytour visit in Amsterdam. A room in the hospital (for parents who want to be with their children) is named after Michael.
November 1, 1996: Michael donates most of the earnings from a HIStory concert in Bombay, India to the poor people of the country.
November 7, 1996: Before his first concert in Auckland, New Zealand, Michael fulfills the wish of little Emely Smith, who is suffering from cancer, who wants to meet Michael.
November 25, 1996: Michael visited the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, delivering toys, signing autographs, and visiting with children.
December 9, 1996: During a HIStory tour visit in Manila, Michael visits a children’s hospital. He announces that a part of his concert earnings will be donated to the renovation of the hospital.
January 25, 1997: Michael waved his personal fee for his Bombay appearance and donated $1.1 million to a local charity helping to educate children living in slums.
April 4, 1997: British magazine “OK!” is publishing exclusive photos of Michael’s son Prince. The magazine pays about 1 million pounds for the photos. Michael donates the money to charity.
June 18, 1997: Michael signed the “Children in Need” book auctioned by the charity UNESCO.
September 1998: Michael meets 5 year old Aza Woods, who suffers from cancer, at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael introduces Aza to the attraction “Star Trek: The Experience” andspends the rest of the afternoon with the little boy. Finally Michael invites Azato spend some time with him at his Neverland Ranch.
November 16, 1998: Michael arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is a member of the American Delegation invited by the Minister of Defense. The delegation thanks the government of Zimbabwe for helping to keep the peace in this area.
September 4, 1999: Michael presented Nelson Mandela with a check for 1,000,000 South African rand for the “Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.”
January 22, 2000: During Christmas last year a violent storm ravaged the park of the Chateau de Versailles and destroyed 10,000 trees in the park. The estimated cost for rebuilding the park is around $20 million. Some celebrities are supporting the restoration of the park. French officials are reporting that Michael Jackson is one of them. He was one of the first people to donate money to this cause.
October 28, 2000:Michael painted a plate to be auctioned for the “Carousel of Hope Ball” benefiting childhood diabetes research.
March 6, 2001: Michael donated a black hat, a birthday phone-call and a jacket worn at the Monaco Music Awards in 2000 to the Movie Action for Children auction, an event being given by UNICEF with all proceeds will going to UNICEF’s efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa.
March 26, 2001: Michael handed out books to young people at a Newark, NJ theater. The event, which helped to launch the Michael Jackson International Book Club, part of his new Heal the Kids charity, aims to promote childhood reading and encourage parents to return to reading bedtime stories.
September 15, 2002: Michael donated 16 exclusively autographed items consisting of CD’s, videos and 2 cotton napkins to aid in the support of the victims of a severe flood in Germany. These items were auctioned off for charity and managed to raise 3935 Euro (US$ 3,814).
October 12, 2002: Michael Jackson invited more than 200 Team Vandenberg members, who recently returned from overseas deployments, and their families to his Neverland Ranch. This was to show his appreciation for the sacrifices the military in his community make.
November 19-29, 2002: Michael donated an autographed teddy bear dressed in his likeness to Siegfried & Roy’s celebrity teddy bear auction. This auction benefits Opportunity Village which is a non-profit organization based in LasVegas (USA) that enhances the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Michael’s autographed teddy bear raised $5,000 for the charity.
November 21, 2002: Michael donated a jacket to the The Bambi Charity Event in Berlin which raised $16,000.
April 25, 2002: Michael Jackson performed at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at the Apollo Theater in Harlem helping to raise nearly $3 million dollars towards voter registration.
June 2003: The Wolf family, who experienced serious damages to their belongings during the flood in Saxony, Germany last August, was invited to Berlin by Michael Jackson when he was at the Bambi Awards. On that occasion Michael invited them to Neverland. In June, they spent three days at Neverland, meeting Michael and his children.
Charity Awards
May 14, 1984: At a ceremony in the White House President Reagan presents Michael an award for special efforts; he is honored for his participation in a national ad campaign against drunk driving.
January 1989: The “Say Yes To A Youngsters Future” program honors Michael in recognition of his efforts to encourage children to natural sciences and award him with the “National Urban Coalition Artist/Humanitarian Of The Year Award”.
March 1989: At the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, Michael receives the Black Radio Special Award for his humanitarian efforts.
September 22, 1989: The Capital Children’s Museum awards Michael with the Best Of Washington 1989 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts to raise money for the museum, and for his never-ending support of children.
February 3, 1990: From Japan Michael receives a Role Model Award.
April 5, 1990: During a ceremony, where Michael is awarded as “Entertainer Of The Decade”, Michael meets President George Bush, who honors him with the “Point Of Light” award. Michael receives this award for his philanthropic activities. President Bush explains Michael’s humanitarian commitments to the press.
September 14, 1990: The Council of the American Scouts honors Michael with the first “Good Scout Humanitarian Award”. Michael receives this award for his humanitarian activities by supporting the Make A Wish Foundation, the Prince’s Trust, the United Negro College Fund and Childhelp USA.
October 23, 1990: Michael Jackson and Elton John will be the first recipients of the award in memory of Ryan White, which will be handed over in 1991.
May 1, 1992: President George Bush presents Michael with the “Point of Light” award for his continuing support of deprived children. During his stay, Michael visits little Raynal Pope, who had been injured very badly by dogs.
June 3, 1992: The organization “One To One”, who is caring for better living conditions of young people, honors Michael with an award for his commitment to deprived youngsters.
July 1993: The American Friends of Hebrew University honors Michael with the Scopus Award 1993.
August 1993: The Jack The Rapper Awards are presented and Michael is honored with the “Our Children, Our Hope Of Tomorrow” award.
November 17, 1993: Michael rejects the Scopus Award. He was nominated for this award, which was planned to be given him on January 29th, 1994.
April 12, 1994: On occasion of the 2nd Children’s Choice Award ceremony at Cit Center in New York, Michael is presented with the “Caring For Kids” award. This award is to honor celebrities, who take time for young people. 100,000 children and young people from 8 to 18 years old gave Michael their vote of confidence. The Children’s Choice Awards are sponsored by Body Sculpt, a charity organization, that offers drug-prevention programs for young people.
November 2, 1995: Michael receives the award “Diamond of Africa”.
March, 30, 1996: The Ark Trust-Foundation, who wants to draw the attention of the public eye on animal’s problems, presents the 10th Genesis Award. Michael is presented with the 1995 Doris Day Award. He gets this award for the “Earth Song” video, which draws attention to the plight of the animals.
May 1, 1999: At the Bollywoodawards in New York, Michael is presented with an award for his humanitarian activities. The award is signed: “Though he comes from the young American tradition, Michael is the embodiment of an old indian soul. His actions are an expression of the philosophy of Weda, which asked to work for the people – not for one’s own interests.”
Organizations
The Millennium-Issue of the “Guinness Book Of Records” names Michael as the Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations. The following projects are supported by Michael Jackson:
AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children’s Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Heal The World Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Love Match
Make A Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund Ladder’s of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA – 28th Street/Crenshaw
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of AmericaThis is the oldest mentoring organization serving youth in the USA.
BBBSA has provided one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and children at risk since 1904. BBBSA currently serves over 100,000 children and youth in more than 500 agencies throughout all of the United States.BMI Foundation
From jazz to musical theater, from music education for gifted youngsters to support for the work of accomplished concert music composers, the BMI Foundation seeks out the best and most promising of today’s and tomorrow’s musical creators and offers a platform of support that fosters their growth and ensures the continuation of the heritage of American musical ingenuity for generations to come.
Childhelp USA
Childhelp USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children focusing efforts and resources upon treatment, prevention.
Children’s Institute International
This is a private, non-profit organization specializing in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Over the past 90 years, CII has evolved from a shelter for single mothers and their babies to an internationally recognized model of comprehensive care and assistance for at-risk children and their families. CII assistance includes child and family assessment supported by 24-hour emergency residential shelter care, family treatment services, therapeutic day care, child health clinic, long-term foster family care, and substance abuse treatment and prevention services.
Make A Wish Foundation fulfills the favorite wish of any child between the age of 2 ½ and 18 who has a diagnosed life-threatening illness.
Camp Ronald McDonald
Camp for children with cancer.With 750+ Million Records Sold
Michael Jackson Has Given More Than
$300+ Million to Charities!
Michael Jackson’s outstanding charitable works have gone mostly under reported by media who have celebrated him as an entertainer or attacked him based on allegations.
This is from Steve at oreilly-sucks.com:
Neither Peter King, Bernie Goldberg, or Bill O’Reilly ever mentioned all the money Michael Jackson donated to charity, or all the humanitarian work he did. O’Reilly hammers him for spending possibly $500 million dollars in his life, which is his right in a free country, and you dont see O’Reilly hammer rich white Republicans for spending billions in their life, while ignoring the fact that it has been reported Jackson gave $300 million dollars to charity, and possibly raised another $500 million for other charities. O’Reilly ignores all that, and never says a word about it.
Michael Jackson is a true humanitarian. He devoted a lot of time andmoney to a wide range of charities. He loves children and took time out when touring to secretly vist sick children. He also had special rooms at his home for sick and terminally ill children to stay over. And he was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guiness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star”.
And yet dumbass O’Reilly ignored it all, and stated that Michael Jackson was just a guy who could sing and dance well. Then he was outraged that African Americans would claim him as one of their own, and make him and African American Icon. The outrage here is how stupid and biased Bill O’Reilly is, for trashing the man before he is even in the grave. While ignoring all the money he gave to charity, and all the good things he did for America, the kids, and the world, that’s the outrage.
The outrage is when racist a-holes like King, Goldberg, and O’Reilly, all white Republican men btw, trash an American Icon and the king of pop. Then he has the nerve to tell black people who they can make an African American Icon, who the hell does he think he is, God?
And the worst part is that O’Reilly’sracism is so normal to him he does not even understand he is a racist, and denies it. Because if Michael Jackson was white he would not be saying or doing any of this garbage. If Jackson was white, O’Reilly would be defending him, and attacking the people who are saying the bad things about him before he is even in the grave. Just as he did after Jerry Falwell died, instead he has become one of the attackers of Michael Jackson.
…
O’Reilly claims to report the facts, all the facts, then he totally ignores the fact that Michael Jackson donated hundreds of million of dollars to charity. And he trashes the guy before he is even in the grave, and before the family has had time to get over his death. Which makes O’Reilly a lowlife right-wing racist a-hole in my book.
Whether you agree with Steve or not, O’Reilly’s attack on Jackson certainly makes it reasonable to question the conservative talk show host’s motivation.
Conservatives Bill O’Reilly and Bernard Goldberg were on Fox News jumping all over the black people while slamming Michael Jackson (after his death) … it was kind of an all-you-can-eat buffet of hate for the two men. News Hounds has documented so much of the angry comments from Goldberg (nothing like a clearly-biased media critic) including defending Rep. Peter King’s reprehensible comments, bringing up the unproven child molestation charges against Michael Jackson to invoking the name O.J. Simpson to smear black people, in general, and Michael Jackson, specifically.
Here is one excerpt from the News Hounds blog:
Then Goldberg added, “What makes this thing with Michael Jackson so sad… is that it’s not enough for the elites to simply… honor him as a great American entertainer. They have to make him a black hero.”
So what, exactly is wrong with that? And what gives Goldberg the right to decide who should be a hero for anyone else? Sure, there are very troubling aspects of Michael Jackson’s life, especially in his later years, but over his 40+ year career, there was lots to admire. It wasn’t just African Americans who thought so. Who could listen to Brooke Shields’ heartfelt eulogy and not feel that there was plenty to love in Jackson’s character?
On the other hand, Goldberg, who, unlike Shields, did not seem to know Jackson, sneered, “A black hero of a man who bleached his skin to the point that at the end he was as white as you and me? It’s one thing to honor him as an entertainer. But as a civil rights hero? That just strikes me as ridiculous.” The truth is, Jackson wassomething of a civil rights here. As Rev. Al Sharpton explained, Jackson fans “grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America.” Also, Jackson broke an extremely important color barrier when his videos were played on MTV.
But “fair and balanced” O’Reilly did not point out those positive aspects of Jackson’s career. Instead, he allowed Goldberg to further and gratuitously malign the black community as he said, “Then again, to many black people, if you remember the reaction after he was acquitted, O.J. Simpson was a hero.”
“Here’s the sad part, Bill. Race in this country is the wound that never seems to heal,” Goldberg added. Yeah, and we can guess at whose feet Goldberg lays most of the blame.
The anger coming from Goldberg is the elephant in the room.
Here are a few takes I will leave you with:
I doubt many people are thinking of Rep. King as racist. He may or may not be racist, but he clearly is a crass jackass with little class.
Lastly, I will leave you with this from the same News Hounds blog:
Palin was, in fact, up next in the discussion. But unlike Jackson, Palin’s bizarre behavior was not to be mentioned, much less criticized. O’Reilly complained about “the glee” that CNN’s Rick Sanchez, whom he referred to as “that clown,” supposedly exhibited by asking reporter Candy Crowley whether Palin might have resigned from the governorship because she’s pregnant again. Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see any glee from Sanchez. But whatever it was, it paled in comparison to the kinds of attacks on Jackson made by Goldberg and O’Reilly right on that very show.
“You don’t have to express every thought that pops into your head and certainly not on national television,” Goldberg said, by way of “friendly advice” to Sanchez. Goldberg then ran through his list of “legitimate” kinds of speculation over Palin’s resignation: whether she quit to run for president or to make money in the private sector. “But it is not legitimate speculation to wonder out loud… if she’s pregnant.”
The reason I am citing this is because it is classic O’Reilly. Notice he singled out Rick Sanchez of CNN? In classic O’Reilly fashion, if you call him out he will use his platform to get you back at some point (if not repeatedly). If you recall, Sanchez lit into O’Reilly for lying about CNN’s coverage of the death of Pvt. William Long. Even when O’Reilly apologized for his falsehood he attacked Sanchez and is back on the attack again.
This was another case of paybacks from O’Reilly, who again abuses his Fox News platform to wage his personal battles against many who dare criticize him.
Michelle Malkin is one of the biggest player haters out there in politics. But, her hate-producing skills are not limited to politics.
Check this garbage out as the wicked Malkin smears Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for no good reason on a day when most people (even those with differing views) recognize the time to pay respect to Michael Jackson:
Oh, no, she didn’t.
Oh, yes, she did.
Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee just pimped the stupidest House resolution ever on stage at the Jacko memorial at Staples Center. She held up a big, framed copy of it as the crowd cheered. That was after she extolled “The King,” painted him as the world’s greatest humanitarian, and demagogued the child molestation cases by proclaiming that members of Congress “understand the Constitution” and “we understand laws” and we know that “people are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE!”
Yes, she did. Right there in front of Jacko’s three children.
I thought Al Sharpton’s memorial rant (“There was nothing strange about your daddy!”) was the low point for American culture.
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, you win.
This is the kind of heartless attitude that is far to prevalent on the far-right of the political spectrum and why conservatives are so out of touch and moving toward extinction in a world that is becoming increasingly multicultural and diverse. The close-minded society that is the Republican Party continues to show the kind of mean-spirited and hateful attitude that turns so many good Americans off.
This is an excerpt from a story on Fox News (but, it could have been just about any other mainstream media outlet) about the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the so-called black community.
Here it is from Fox News:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton have converged on Michael Jackson’s family since the King of Pop’s sudden death last Thursday, acting as semi-official spokesmen and advisers.
Now the two preachers — who have spent decades jockeying for the unofficial title of America’s leading black activist — appear to be auditioning for a role in Michael Jackson’s final act: his funeral.
It remains unclear just what they are hoping to do for the clan in mourning as they offer their services to Michael Jackson’s family, but both have been vying for a prominent position.
Who exactly is pushing Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton to be “America’s leading black activist” these days? There is little question that both men enjoy the spotlight and media attention. I’ll be the first to concede that. But, what is up with the media outlets that shower Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton with this attention any time there is some big-time news involving a black person?
Why does the media look for these two guys all the time in stories involving black people?
Who are the spokesmen for the white community?
Who are she spokesmen for the Latino community?
Where are the spokesmen for the gay community, for Asians, for Native Americans, for handicaps?
Why do these leaders have to always be men? Can they be women?
Who are the leaders for the women’s community?
Maybe Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are not vying to be THE black leader. The media always run to the two men whenever something big breaks out involving black people or a prominent black person. Of course, the two men could say “no comment” to the media, but that’s not often going to happen.
I think the media controls their status as “leaders” of the so-called black community more than the Rev. Jesse Jackson or the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Look, I’ll cut Joe Jackson a little slack as he is mourning the somewhat mysterious and sudden death of his son, legendary entertainer Michael Jackson (the greatest entertainer of my lifetime and arguably the best ever). But, I found it more than a little uncomfortable listening to him at the BET Awards and during a news conference today (flanked by the Rev. Al Sharpton) promoting his record label.
Sorry, but it just didn’t feel right.
Here is how one blogger saw it:
This is just awful. Earlier tonight CNN’s Don Lemon interviewed Joe Jackson on the red carpet at the BET awards, where Jackson displayed indifference over the recent death of his son and then plugged some Blu-Ray disc he’s peddling.
The Blu-Ray plugging comes in at about the 3:20 mark, but the whole thing is completely cringe-worthy right from the start and doesn’t stop until the very end. To his credit, Don Lemon maintained his composure throughout the interview and resisted what must have been an overwhelming urge to grab Jackson, slap him across his face a few times and shake him vigorously while screaming, “What the hell is wrong with you old man!”
That was painful to watch and listen to at the BET Awards and to listen to him in a press conference today (June 29).
Again, I will cut him some slack as this might simply be his way of grieving the stunning death of his son.
Remember the movie “The Jacksons: An American Dream” (from the early 1990s) that still plays once in a while on VH1? The portrayal of Joe Jackson in that movie looks too similar to the Joe Jackson we’re seeing today. Joe’s handlers might want to work with him a little more because, right now, Joe is not coming across well.
Frankly, it’s too early to discuss business ventures, protecting Michael’s legacy and promoting record labels.
Hopefully this merely is Joe’s way of grieving.
I know some people will think I am being tough on Joe Jackson. I just hate to see him come across the way he’s coming across (negatively).
I will not even pretend to say I was surprised to see the Rev. Al Sharpton show up on television to be interviewed after the shockingly-sudden death of Michael Jackson, who was one of the great entertainers of all time. In the back of my mind, I was wondering when Rev. Sharpton would make his first appearance on the airwaves to have something to say about the life and death of Michael Jackson. But, then I began to wonder, when would the Rev. Jesse Jackson show up? It was not long before Rev. Jackson had shown up to essentially serve as spokesperson for the family of Michael Jackson. I could see the photograph that accompanied the Associated Press story with Rev. Jackson standing with Joe Jackson, father off Michael Jackson (that’s a lot of Jacksons).
I know a lot of people will come out and criticize Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton (both men certainly have earned their share of legitimate criticism over the years). I was hardly surprised Rev. Sharpton quickly found a television camera. But, perhaps Rev. Jackson might have been sought by the Jackson family or had offered to serve as a spokesperson for the Jackson family. To some extent, how his role came about as a sort of spokesperson for the Jackson family is a bit unclear to me.
While I know Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton both crave the spotlight (we’ve seen evidence of that over and over again), personally, I am going to give Jesse a pass on this one. I think, at least in this case, it appears Rev. Jackson is doing a noble deed for the family of Michael Jackson (even if he does get something out of it for himself: the spotlight he seems to enjoy).
If Jesse is able to bring the family of Michael Jackson a little comfort and support during this tragedy then I have no problem with it.
