Nov 16, 2008 11:43 pm US/Eastern
Jesse Jackson Discusses Obama's Historic Win
BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) ―
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Cameras captured the Reverend Jesse Jackson crying as Senator Barack Obama was declared winner of the 2008 presidential election.
Jeff Haynes/Getty Images
Cameras captured the Reverend Jesse Jackson crying as Senator Barack Obama was declared winner of the 2008 presidential election.
Jessica Kartalija was there Sunday as Jackson made his first public appearance since America's first African-American president was elected.
Nov. 4 was the last time we saw the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Senator Barack Obama was elected the 44th American president and the first African-American president to lead the nation. Jackson sobbed as a crowd of thousands cheered.
Now Jackson made his first public appearance since the election at Bethel AME Church in Baltimore City. He talked extensively about what he calls "sober celebration."
"We saw in this election a great rejoice among people from all directions and that was the faith that got us there and the hope that comes from the victory. Now comes the substance," he said.
Jackson endorsed Obama back in March, but several months later was overheard on a hot microphone criticizing the senator prior to a TV interview. He later apologized.
"I voted for the president six times: two times a state senator, two times as U.S. senator and two times as the president. I feel good about each vote," he said.
In addition to speaking about Obama, Jackson stated Sunday that he is concerned about the impact President Bush could have on the incoming administration in his last few months in office.
Jackson said the nation's economic crisis is being compounded by the ideology of the Bush administration.
He pointed to executive orders being issued by the lame-duck president.
The civil rights leader refused to comment on whether his son, an Illinois congressman, would be chosen to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Jackson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984 and again in 1988, a move that many say paved the way for Obama being elected.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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