It's been a banner day for Jesse Jackson. He gets re-skewered in the Post and NASCAR was shaken down by him.

First the Post:

As President Clinton's special envoy for Democracy and Human rights in Africa, starting in October 1997, Jackson became the administration's point man for Africa.

It was Jackson who legitimized both Liberian strongman Charles Taylor and his protégé, the machete-wielding militia leader in neighboring Sierra Leone, Cpl. Foday Sankoh. The two hacked to death several hundred thousand citizens of their respective countries.

Jackson's involvement in the diamond wars of Liberia and Sierra Leone arguably caused tens of thousands of African children to be murdered, because his political support for ruthless killers masquerading as political leaders encouraged them to continue their mayhem.

Nice. I seem to recall that he was also Clinton's "spiritual advisor" after the Lewinski mess came out.

Now the NASCAR story:

Conservatives are calling for NASCAR to end its relationship with its most unlikely of partners: the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. It's a difficult spot for NASCAR, which is trying to diversify its fan base but also doesn't want to alienate its traditional fans, who also tend to be politically conservative.

Headed by the France family that's been a big Republican supporter, NASCAR also has given $250,000 to the Citizenship Education Fund, an arm of Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. The group says it has used the money to boost minority participation within motor sports.

But critics - including a network of black conservatives - accuse Jackson of intimidating NASCAR into giving him money to keep him from making a public fuss about the lack of minorities in motor sports

Jackson shakes down whoever he can. The businesses that he attempts to extort must take a stand and call him on it.

Which brings me to another topic. I heard Malik Zulu Shabazz on the radio. This guy is a virulent anti-semite and a racist. He is a leader of the New Black Panthers who make the old Black Panthers look like a church glee club. This guy freely says that he hates whites and backed Amiri Baraka's discredited theory about Israel and 9/11.

Why do Blacks in America follow leaders such as this? Of the African-Americans I've discussed this topic with, I can't seem to get an answer. Mention Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, or Condi Rice and the response is usually that they are a sell-out or an Uncle Tom.

Why?

Is it selling out your race to go to college and earn advanced degrees, or to become the top of your chosen field? The Jackson, Farrakhan, and Shabazz type leaders are doing more to segregate the races than anything seen in 25 years.