Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson defended Monday controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, saying that it was a “source of pain” to see him criticized in the media.
“I know it’s a source of pain for me to see him used as an object of degradation and manipulated the way he’s been used the media as if he’s some sort of enemy of the state. It’s not fair and it’s not true,” said Jackson on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown.” “It pains me to see him used as an object of degradation.”
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Jackson said that Wright had developed an influential ministry, one that was being overlooked because of some of his controversial comments.
“I remember when parents were kicking their youth out of houses, called AIDS a kind of leprosy, he had a ministry. I remember when gays were being in isolation and committing suicide, he had a gay ministry,” said Jackson.
“His ministry has been a most profound one. That’s why people like a young Barack Obama and Michelle would go to that church, because it was such a well ministered church,” he added.
Wright has most recently been in the media because of a Republican admaker’s proposal to develop an advertising campaign attacking the president on his ties with Wright.
The plan was named the “Ricketts Plan,” for the TD Ameritrade Billionaire whose super PAC it was delivered to, Joe Ricketts.
But Ricketts and his super PAC quickly disavowed the plan once it became public, claiming that it was never approved in concept and that no money was ever dedicated to the project.
“It reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take,” said Brian Baker, who heads up the Ending Spending super PAC.