I’m going to tell you the story of a man who was the leader of other men.

In fact, he was the leader of an entire people.  

At one time he wasn’t just the one that people looked to for guidance – he also served as a lamp post for this people’s morals, in a dark and hostile world, where outside forces were constantly trying to conquer, enslave and eliminate them.

But this man, like a lot of men, had a vice. He lusted after a woman he had influence over.  She became pregnant, and he hid the secret.  But this secret, like many secrets, came to light.  

What do you think happened next?

Well, even though this sounds like the plight of Jesse Jackson, I am not talking about him. I am referring to the story of King David, who slept with the wife of one of his generals. David went to great lengths to hide his transgression, even so far as to have the husband of the woman he slept with put in the line of hostile military activity so he would be killed.

But the story goes, according to the Book of Samuel, that when David was
outed by God through his religious ambassador at the time (whose name was
Nathan) the King came clean.

His punishment was severe, but he did not lose his life and he did not lose control of his people.  In fact, according to the story, God allowed him to complete several key military/political moves, almost immediately after his admission.

I believe it is a good thing that Jesse Jackson has decided not to hide after admitting that he fathered a child out of wedlock with a woman who used to work for him.

Clearly he is the face and voice of the modern civil rights movement and the loudest opponent of what are likely to be not very friendly policies by this new administration.  It would not be a good time for him to keep a low profile because of his huge mistake.

But I mentioned that David was punished before he was allowed to lead again.
The child he fathered died.

Now I certainly do not wish Jackson’s little girl, who is about two, any ill will.

Not at all.  

But there does need to be some contrition for a betrayal of the public trust. After first resisting the idea, I now believe there should be an open accounting for the money involved – not only in the settlement and child support arrangement, but also a complete audit of the Rainbow Push Coalition. I don’t believe there were improprieties, but not everyone is sure.

There is a lot of money involved and it was spent at times that coincide with Jackson’s affair. The child is his responsibility, not the movement’s.  

Jackson’s actions have given a whole host of right-wing, knuckleheaded,
pretend journalists a forum to ask legitimate questions about his ethics.

Even though the Chris Matthews, Bill O’Reillys, Bob Grants and Armstrong Williams crews don’t speak for us, they can speak to a large number of people who are needed to continue the process of moving forward in the battle for equality.

Middle-of-the-road white Americans may now question Jesse Jackson’s
credibility.  

Until this country is 51 percent non-white, people of color need support from that base to push our agendas through.  

And even though we are a forgiving people, many of us are scratching our heads about this, too.

We cannot look away from the potential impropriety of wrongdoing.  It makes us amoral.  It cheapens our faith. It weakens our purpose.  

I believe that an audit can straighten out a lot of doubt and take away any talking point the "right" might have.

Where Jesse Jackson has been concerned, I believe we have looked away for a long time now.  His taste for the ladies, as it were, has been no secret.   

From women I know who have been the targets of his charm to people who have known him longer than I’ve been alive, this crisis is only a surprise in that it didn’t happen sooner. But it has been a flaw we have been willing to look
away from because there was no visible evidence and all parties involved were discreet.

Well, those days are over.

I still believe that, while tarnished by his own hand as David was, Jesse
Jackson not only can, but also has to, lead.

But his contrition has to be
complete with the bearing of not only his soul, but also of his organization’s
books.  

He is also obligated, like David, to present his people with an heir to his leadership. That has been missing and has been needed for some time now.  It is a chink in the armor that we felt this past week, when it was believed that Jackson was going to leave public life.  

David gave his people Solomon, who became renowned as a wise leader.

If only we could be as fortunate to just a fraction of that degree.

I believe it is a good thing that Jesse Jackson has decided not to hide after admitting that he fathered a child out of wedlock ... But there does need to be some contrition for a betrayal of the public trust....