Jesse Jackson Concerned about George Bush's Last Days in Office

"Bush is signing away consumer and environmental laws. I mean they're running amok, you know," Jackson said.

Some Democrats in Congress have criticized several federal regulations enacted in the waning months of the Bush administration and are discussing whether some should be repealed when President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.

The civil rights leader and former presidential hopeful also criticized the federal bailout of the financial industry and called for the outgoing president to help the ailing automotive industry.

"It's a huge economic crisis being compounded by this sense of ideology," Jackson said after delivering a sermon at Bethel AME church in Baltimore.

Jackson, who won several state primaries as a Democrat in the 1984 and 1988 presidential races, said his relationship with Obama is a "great one."

Jackson apologized to Obama earlier this year for a crude comment in which he said the Illinois senator appeared to be talking down to black Americans. Jackson said the comments were private and he didn't know they were being recorded. Jackson's son later said he was disappointed by his father's "reckless statements."

In addition to criticizing the bailout, which Jackson said was helping banks but not homeowners facing foreclosure, he said the Bush administration was increasing the cost of the Iraq war by awarding contracts "so even if you pulled every soldier out you would still be paying billions a month more for some time to come."

Asked how Bush could help the incoming administration, Jackson replied, "A: Stop these damaging executive orders that satisfy ideology but not people," and commit to helping the auto industry.

Jackson said unemployment is continuing to climb and the auto industry contributes millions of jobs to the economy.

"All of that talk of bipartisanship begins now," Jackson said. "And the new president deserves his vision to be implemented immediately."

Aides to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have said she will consult congressional leaders and the incoming Obama administration on the best approach toward Bush's regulations.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto has said the president is protecting the interests of the nation, but Democrats in Congress and officials with the incoming administration have indicated they will seek to reverse some of the decisions.

Jackson refused to comment on whether his son, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, would be chosen to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat.

"That (decision) is not mine to make and I do not feel it's appropriate to comment on that," Jackson said during a press conference after the service, which was attended by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Source: USA Today