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From: mjk@tty3b.UUCP (Mike Kelly)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Jackson and the Democrats
Message-ID: <280@tty3b.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 6-Jan-84 16:17:09 EST
Article-I.D.: tty3b.280
Posted: Fri Jan  6 16:17:09 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Jan-84 11:18:58 EST
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Organization: Teletype Corp., Skokie, Ill
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Scott Prector asks,

  "what if Syria decided to put the crewman in worse conditions as a slap in
  the face to the US in response to Jackson's overtures?  It would have 
  been a good way for them to show how little they care for Reagan's 
  thunderings and for the American people"

and then states,

  "A point that I'd like to make is that I don't think it is a good idea
  for people not in the US government and designated by the President or
  Congress to step in and usurp the roles of US negotiators." 

Jackson, as a private citizen with connections to Syria, went to appeal 
for the release of an American citizen.  He did not pretend to represent the U.S.
government, and that was made very clear by Reagan's refusal to talk to him
before he left.  

Hypothetical questions are sometimes useful: in this case, the question borders
on the absurd.  The Syrians are not fanatical crazies.  They are, believe it or
not, rationally pursuing their own interests in the Mideast.  Why they would
deliberately slap the U.S. in the face is something Mr. Prector does not explain.
Indeed, all signs are that Syria wants better relations with the U.S., hoping that
is the path to a removal of U.S. troops.

I also think that much of the uproar has very much to do with Jackson himself.
After all, when Henry Kissinger runs around the globe talking to foreign 
governments, no one gets all upset over whether he's been "designated by the
President or Congress."  But let a black man do it, and all of a sudden it
doesn't seem like such a good idea to many.

On a different track, I'd like to respond to Tom O'Connor.  He writes,
"He [Jackson] saw Harold Washington pull off an upset over Jane Byrne (He
can thank Rich Daley for that) and figured 'Hey, if a black man can be
mayor, how about President?!'"  Besides plainly lacking an understanding
of the last Chicago election (seeing as how he probably lives in the western 
suburbs, that's not surprising),  Mr. O'Connor also does
not understand Jackson's Presidential bid.  Jackson is running as a pressure
candidate.  He wants to bring up issues which Mondale, Glenn, et al would
like to ignore.  So far, he has done a very good job of that, as I noted in
a previous article.  The racism barely concealed in Mr. O'Connor's statement
speaks for itself.

Mike Kelly
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