Football Legend Accuses Jesse Jackson of Wasting NASCAR's Money
By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
July 16, 2003

(Editor's Note: Includes reaction from Charles Farrell, director of the Rainbow Sports division of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition)

(CNSNews.com) - Reggie White, one of the National Football League's greatest defensive players of all time, has accused Jesse Jackson of taking "a quarter of million dollars from NASCAR and not do[ing] anything with it.

"It's really disappointing to me that Jesse and his organization would take a quarter of a million dollars from NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and not do anything with it to try to get black drivers into the sport," White said in an interview on FOX News Channel's Fox & Friends Wednesday morning.

Charles Farrell, director of the Rainbow Sports division of Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, responded Thursday, following initial publication of this story, calling White's comments, "simply inaccurate."

NASCAR has reportedly given at least $250,000 to Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition as part of an effort to increase the number of minority racers in the sport.

Asked by co-host Brian Kilmeade if the money NASCAR gave Jackson amounted to a "payoff," White agreed.

"Well, pretty much...that's what is really disappointing, and that's happened a few times with Jesse. That's really disappointing," White responded.

"[It] seems as though [Jackson] is using his status and his organization to raise money for his organization without helping to benefit the people who are trying to move into those professions," White, who is African American, added.

White, an ordained minister who retired from the NFL following the 2000 season after playing with several teams including the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, currently is promoting his new book "Broken Promises, Blinded Dreams: Taking Charge of Your Destiny."

The book is described on Amazon.com as offering "a fresh perspective on the politically explosive issues of education, the void in American black leadership, business, politics and other culturally relevant issues."

White's criticism of Jackson comes amid his own minority outreach efforts with NASCAR.

"I have been working with Joe Gibbs...over the last year, to try to work to get minority drivers or black drivers into NASCAR and we have been working with NASCAR," White explained. Gibbs, the former head coach of the Washington Redskins, is the owner of the Joe Gibbs Racing team that competes in NASCAR.

When Fox and Friends co-host Steve Doocy asked White if Jackson "has let a lot of people down," White responded, "Well, I feel like he has."

White said he has met Jackson but never had a chance to discuss his concerns about how Jackson spent the money he raised from American corporations and organizations

"I really never had a chance to talk to Jesse. I talked to him a few years ago...but I really never had a chance to sit down and talk to him about it," White explained.

But Farrell of Jackson's Rainbow Sports division said White's comments were disappointing, "because they are inaccurate and they do not reflect what Rainbow Sports' motor sports initiative has been doing for more than ten years now."

"If Mr. White had simply picked up the phone and given me a call or given Rev. Jackson a call, we would have educated him about what we are doing to bring more black drivers into the sport," Farrell explained.

Farrell said Jackson is currently "working with a black motorcycle team" and attempting to secure sponsorships for minority drivers in motor sports.

'Stop bankrolling Jesse Jackson'

Peter Flaherty, president of the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a Jackson critic leading the effort to end NASCAR's financial support of Rainbow/PUSH, said White's comments about Jackson would not be ignored.

"Unlike Jesse Jackson, Reggie White is actually doing something to broaden the base of stock car racing. Because of that and because of his relationship with Joe Gibbs, the racing community will readily accept the truth in these statements," Flaherty told CNSNews.com.

The NLPC is the Washington, D.C.-based legal watchdog group that filed a formal complaint regarding Jackson's finances with the Internal Revenue Service in 2001.

Flaherty said White's opinions confirm the sentiments of thousands of NASCAR fans.

"[White's] comments will certainly increase the pressure on NASCAR to stop bankrolling Jesse Jackson," Flaherty said.

See Related Stories:
NASCAR Conceded 'Redneck Cracker' Image, Jesse Jackson Aide Alleges (July 7, 2003)
NASCAR Called 'Bastion of White Supremacy' June 25, 2003)
NASCAR Urged to Stop Financial Support of Jesse Jackson
(April 3, 2003)

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