Jackson says he'll support Corzine re-election

TRENTON, N.J. -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine forgave a $50,000 loan given to a top black minister who was campaigning to become a bishop, according to a published report.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Wednesday's newspapers that a foundation of Corzine's loaned the money to the Rev. Reginald Jackson's church in spring 2004 to help Jackson's unsuccessful campaign for bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

"He was very concerned for the office that I wanted to have," Jackson said. "He thought, if I was elected, I would do well in that office. In fact, I was going to repay it. He said, 'Don't worry about it.' I really wanted to repay it because you want to be a man of your word. He didn't have to do it. He was very kind."

Jackson said Corzine was the top donor to his $235,000 effort to win election as bishop in July 2004. Corzine was a U.S. senator then.

Jackson preaches at St. Matthew's AME Church in Orange and is executive director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey. Jackson and 15 council members endorsed Corzine's gubernatorial candidacy in September 2005.

Corzine forgave the loan on Jan. 1, 2005. If it had been forgiven any earlier, it would have had to appear on the foundation's 2004 income tax returns that were scrutinized during last year's campaign. The loan is reported on the foundation's 2005 tax return to be filed Thursday.

"It was reported in '05 because the loan was forgiven in '05 -- simple as that," said Tom Shea, Corzine's chief of staff. The original loan, he said, was fully reported in 2004.

"There was no effort to hide this, ever, at any point in time," Shea said.

During last year's gubernatorial campaign, Corzine's $470,000 loan-turned-gift to a state workers' union leader whom he had dated became a focus of Republican criticism. Tom Wilson, the state Republican Party chairman, said Corzine's gift to Jackson raises questions.

"It was given as a loan for a reason -- to help somebody out who he believed in," Wilson said. "I'll accept that. But when the loan gets converted to a gift on the first day after it would have become public during the campaign, it is more than a coincidence."

Corzine donated $3.8 million to charity through his foundation last year.

This is the advantage to having an opportunity for the secret ballot. Each of these ministers will benefit greatly from the financial philanthropy Corzine will be able to accomplish while keeping an independent minded electorate at a dilemma.

It is clueless to understand the attempt to expose the current school system as a corrupt institution while the social justice system is increased with dropouts, that we can believe the current state administration is being adequate about the need for education reform. This is a typical scenario of the pulpit pimp v. christian crusader syndrome. Money talks.

We can be sure that the best education for our children will be bookbag give-aways and free winter coats, church extension and private libraries in exchange for real technology,stable employment, and the re-institution of a civil rights movement.

For the families who are leaving this state in exodus fashion from fear of being enslaved by the influence of religious prosperity that continues to keep them suppressed by governemnt rule, you are in my prayers.

I am deeply concerned to investigate the understanding how religious leaders can compromise their spiritual convictions for their own personal political empowerment.

To God be the Glory. What goes on in the dark will soon be brought to the light.