When Fox Attacks: Jesse Jackson


January 27, 2001

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Jesse's girl has filled the void in Rupert Murdock's life now that Bill Clinton has moved to the burbs. But now after spending time in Jesse's nursery The New York Post has moved on to his office. Jackson's stock dropping on Wall Street like a failed dot.com, one of Rod Drayer's [?] columns claimed. The Fox News Business Show--that's Murdock's network--has demanded that Jesse's lawyers account for his spending, quote, "down to the penny." In a case of synergy, the network's Bill O'Reilly played host to he The Post's Drayer.

ROD DRAYER: The allegations had been made that Jackson in turn receives favors by these people they're his friends.

BILL O'REILLY: Donations to his tax-free concerns?

ROD DRAYER: It's unclear as yet, Mr. O'Reilly--

BILL O'REILLY: [LAUGHS]

ROD DRAYER: But--I think it won't be unclear in another--

BILL O'REILLY: But--

ROD DRAYER: --week or so.

BILL O'REILLY: Yeah.

BOB GARFIELD: Sounds nefarious but what really got said?

BILL O'REILLY: We can't find the books. They won't give us the books. We don't where it goes. Did you get any more luck than we have?

ROD DRAYER: No luck today at all. And that's one reason why a lot of what I know and what you know, what a lot of journalists know has to be under the table right now, until we get a look at those books.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: So bottom line is you don't know anything yet. How about getting back to us when you have--I don't know--evidence?

ROD DRAYER: They know that they had better do business with Jackson and his cronies, those people he names as part of his list.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Cronies, his list. Here's a phrase: off-the-record sources. That describes all but one of the people Drayer quoted in his three columns this week.

If Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition is guilty of malfeasance, it deserves to be noted. Absolutely, the questions should be asked.

But these ominous buzz words, this accusatory tone will only cast doubt on any evidence The Post or Fox News may or may not turn up.

ROD DRAYER: Where is the white liberal establishment media? They don't want to touch this story.

BILL O'REILLY: You bet.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: I guess he means people like us. On the Media will be watching this story, also the story behind the story.