NASCAR cuts off Rainbow/PUSH funds

July 30, 2003
10:45 AM EDT (1445 GMT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Pressured by a conservative group, NASCAR has cut off contributions to Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, USA Today reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said a person familiar with NASCAR's internal decisions confirmed that the racing organization has not paid Jackson's group any money in 2003 and doesn't plan to.

NASCAR is seeking more subtle ways to back Rainbow/PUSH without appearing as though it directly supports Jackson, the paper said.

NASCAR (http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/wc/07/30/nascar_push.ap/index.html)
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One can only hope that Sharpton is included in this decision.

Good! I don't know why they got involved with them in the first place. Not like there are a lot of African-American NASCAR fans. Rainbow/PUSH is just a shakedown operation anyway.

I'm shocked to learn that Nascar actually made contributions to the Rainbow Coalition. In my eyes, they are almost as bad as the Black Panthers/KKK.

Can anyone explain me what exactly is Rainbow/push ? I looked at their website but it is not very explicit.
Thanks.

It's an organization founded by Jesse Jackson. I forget what the alleged purpose of the group is - I think to increase opportunities for blacks and promote good relations among the many races. Which is a good idea. The unfortunate reality is that Jesse Jackson uses Rainbow/PUSH to collect and distribute money. He goes to a company and accuses them of being racist. Fearing a public relations disaster, the company agrees to work with JJ, who "suggests" that they donate money to Rainbow/PUSH. JJ then uses Rainbow/PUSH money to put his kids through Harvard, buy huge houses, and to campaign for President.