Shakedown: Exposing The Real Jesse Jackson [Hardcover]

Ken Timmerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 4, 2002

Jesse Jackson is a modern day highway robber, says veteran investigative reporter Kenneth R. Timmerman, who uses cries of racism to steal from individuals, corporations, and government, to give to himself. Until now, however, no one has been brave enough to say it and diligent enough to prove it. But Ken Timmerman has cracked Jackson's machine, found Jackson cronies willing to break ranks, and uncovered a sordid tale of greed, ambition, and corruption from a self-proclaimed minister who has no qualms about poisoning American race relations for personal gain.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kenneth R. Timmerman, a reporter with more than two decades of experience, has written for many magazines and newspapers including Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, and The American Spectator, and has appeared on Nightline, Sixty Minutes, and many other television programs. He lives in Kensington, Maryland, with his wife and five children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing, Inc. (March 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895261650
• ISBN-13: 978-0895261656
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jackson, Jesse

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

141 of 149 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Documenting a sad waste of promise and talent., March 13, 2002

By 

David J. Gannon (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shakedown: Exposing The Real Jesse Jackson (Hardcover)

Growing up in Chicago, Jesse Jackson's home base, one always heard the whispers and innuendo about Jesse Jackson--and not just from his enemies and detractors "on the right". This is a man who has always walked a fine line.

Jesse has been controversial within the civil rights community, where many believe Jackson had greatly exaggerated and manipulated the truth about the scope and nature of his relationship with Martin Luther King, Jr., pushed other spokespersons aside to assure the spotlight stayed firmly on Jesse himself, talked one game while playing another with his various operations-particularly Operation Push and his relationships with various corporations, and so on. There were always rumors about his personal life. And, most interestingly, rumors within the religious community, where many wondered how anyone could take "Reverend" Jackson seriously given he had no actual, visible religious life to speak of.

Of course, the "powers that be" in Chicago didn't always-heck, lets be honest, virtually never-dealt with Jackson and his fellow travelers with much integrity, honesty or respect. That rumors and innuendo surrounded Jesse was no real surprise-they surrounded the perceived enemies of the Chicago power structure in all cases regardless of race, creed or nationality. So, one heard all this but remained skeptical-it was what you expected. Nonetheless, one always had a bit of a queasy feeling about Jesse-something just didn't jive there.

Apparently there was a reason for that. Kenneth R. Timmerman's book raises question by the boatload. Well, actually, it makes allegations and accuses Jesse of great improprieties by the boatload. Does Timmerman have an obvious agenda? You bet he does-this is no fan by any stretch of the imagination. Should we therefore dismiss what he says here?

No objective observer can do that. I was pretty ambivalent about the man generally but this book is, if nothing else, a "smoking gun" with a vengeance. Given many of the recent revelations that even Jackson himself has had to make in recent months and years, the case Timmerman makes is both thorough and impressive. Is all of it true? Who knows? That's not the main point. If even a substantial portion of it is true, the best you can say is that sleaze seems to be a core component of Jackson's personality and worldview.

There will be those who have a knee jerk reaction to defend Jackson and attack Timmerman. Of course, there are still people who say Nixon was railroaded. The hardcore Jackson supporter/hater will be swayed by nothing written here. The objective observer will have grave doubts about this man---and his legitimacy as a spokesperson for racial, social and economic justice.

The real shame is it's guy's like Jesse who crowd out those who have a genuine desire to do social good. The real crime of his life isn't the corporations and organizations he's shaken down, it's that in that process he represses by his actions those who would genuinely help their people. That's the truly unforgivable part of this sad, sorry story.

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, someone has the guts to tell the truth about Jesse!, March 21, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Shakedown: Exposing The Real Jesse Jackson (Hardcover)

In this book, Timmerman meticulously documents Jackson's rise to become the de facto power broker for his race. It starts with his involvement with Chicago gangs, then went on to the way he forced his way into Martin Luther King's organization (King did not trust Jesse and for good reason!). It goes on to document how the press gave Jesse his title of "Reverend" when he was not ordained by any church (he never corrected them) and of the sleazy shortcuts he used to finally get the title years later.

It details the start of his PUSH organization and how he used his political connections to avoid the required audits which would have exposed the organization for what it really is. It tells how he learned to use corporations and U.S. & state & city governments to bankroll his high living style and that of his family and cronies. It tells how he routinely refuses to help any downtrodden blacks unless they put up the cash first. Probably the most shameful (and least known) thing he did was connect himself with the dictators in Africa, cashing in on millions from them, at the expense of the race he pretends to protect. The way he wasted millions of dollars as President Clinton's "special envoy" will make you physically ill. It is high time that the facts about "Reverend" Jesse Jackson become known.

The only complaint might be that it makes for rather dry reading in some places, because Timmerman so carefully documents every detail. Also, he barely touched on Jesse's many extramarital affairs (but that would probably fill another entire book)! I thought I knew of most of Jesse's scandals, but I was wrong--I was astounded at the shear volume of criminal things this guy has been able to get by with! Thank you Kenneth Timmerman

205 of 220 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesse Jackson's reputation destroyed by the honest truth!, March 9, 2002

By 

"jamaal_michaels" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shakedown: Exposing The Real Jesse Jackson (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book, one which should be on the shelf of every American home and which should be taught in every school. It sheds light on how an immoral, hate-filled man can manipulate the U.S. political system for his own gain. Once released, Timmerman's book "Shakedown" instantly shot to the top of the Amazon.com sales list, and rightfully so. Many Americans have long suspected that Jesse Jackson was not just the glib, rotund, 'rhyming 'n' rapping' religious figure and civil rights activist he tries to portray himself as. Timmerman shows that Jackson has long used the mantle of civil rights to camouflage his own fraudulent schemes and to distract public attention from his scandals. In the process, Timmerman also shows how the Democratic Party enabled and cheered Jackson on, using him as a racial attack dog for their own corrupt ends. This is a truly fascinating book, and is well worth both the price and the time required to read it.

As A Black man, I've always been disgusted by the hypocritical, racist antics of Jesse Jackson Sr. Unmistakably, this vicious scam artist has done more to set back race relations in the United States than the KKK ever dreamed of. Kenneth Timmerman finally shines the light of truth and clarity on this scheming, conniving con man, and meticulously details his numerous, unbelievable crimes and outrages. Timmerman has extensively footnoted and verified his research, so there will be no way Jesse Jackson or the usual Democratic Party character assassins can deny this, although they'll try. The most pressing question I had after reading Timmerman's factual reporting was, "Why on Earth isn't Jesse Jackson now serving a 'natural-life' sentence in prison somewhere, for multiple convictions on extortion, racketeering, fraud and tax evasion charges?" Hopefully, the U.S. Justice Department will read this book as well and feel compelled to finally indict Jackson. As Timmerman clearly shows in Chapters 2 through 8, there's plenty there for the Feds to go after.

Timmerman gets it all absolutely correct. Jackson has supported the insane idea of reparations for Blacks, has been a cheerleader for Black crime, has thrown tantrums whenever a Black person was mistreated, but completely ignored numerous events where Blacks injured or killed Whites. He has extorted various US businesses, incited riots, and has done everything except backflips to get his face on television at every conceivable opportunity. He "counseled" Bill Clinton on adultery while his pregnant mistress sat outside the Oval Office.

I hope Timmerman is prepared for the attempts the extremist Left will make to ruin his career and destroy him personally. They simply can't stand up to the stark reality which Timmerman lays out in his book. Kenneth Timmerman has done us all a valuable service by showing us the truth. I predict that this book will be a profitable best-seller for Amazon.com, as well as a text that will be cited and quoted for years to come. There's not much new in this book, as Rush Limbaugh, black columnist Walter Williams, and black radio host Larry Elder have been commenting on Jesse Jackson's misdeeds and lies for years. However, nobody else has come close to presenting the truth about Jackson so clearly, convincingly, and succinctly as Timmerman. It's a definite "gotta have" - buy it today at Amazon.com. You won't be able to put it down. Highly recommended!