Jesse Jackson Jumps The Shark

If Jesse Jacksons' stemwinding speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention was the high spot of the civil rights leader's career, then his remark this week about cutting off Barack Obama's family jewels is surely the low.

I spent some time at Jackson's side during his presidential run that year and can say without equivocation that he is -- or perhaps was -- the most charismatic public figure whom I have ever been around.

But how the mighty have fallen, because the reverend today is just another so-called African-American leader adept at guilt tripping whitey who is jealous of the man poised to become the first black president.

Photograph by Charles Rex Arbogas/The Associated Press