Rev. Jackson Retreats From Spotlight

child may have him doing something out of character â€” retreating from the spotlight. <br><br>But as he and members of his Rainbow-PUSH Coalition plotted their next move, many residents in the city that

Friday, January 19th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

child may have him doing something out of character â€” retreating from the spotlight.

But as he and members of his Rainbow-PUSH Coalition plotted their next move, many residents in the city that is home base for his civil rights work stood behind him.

``It's his business. We're only human,'' said Jamese Duckett, a 26-year-old Chicagoan who is a driver for the county.

``Everybody's allowed to make mistakes,'' she added. ``At least he 'fessed up and took responsibility.''

Others weren't as supportive.

``This is a shock for a reverend to do something like this,'' Latanya Moore, 41, told the Chicago Tribune. ``How could he counsel someone else on their extramarital affair if he's having one himself?''

A steady stream of supporters â€” including Jackson's son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. â€” visited with him at his Chicago home Thursday. The elder Jackson made no appearances and sent word that he was standing by a statement rushed out early that morning to beat reports in tabloid newspapers about the affair.

``I fully accept responsibility and I am truly sorry for my actions,'' he said in the statement. Jackson, 59, said he would temporarily step aside from public life to spend time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Jackie, for 38 years and they have five children.

Earl Stanford of Palmdale, Calif., confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday night that his sister, Karin Stanford, was the mother of Jackson's child but declined to discuss the matter.

Karin Stanford, the 39-year-old former head of Rainbow-PUSH's Washington bureau, taught political science and African-American studies at the University of Georgia and wrote a book about Jackson, ``Beyond the Boundaries: Reverend Jesse Jackson and International Affairs.''

Jackson, a Baptist minister and one-time aide to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said he has provided ``emotional and financial support'' since the baby's birth.

Jackson pays the woman $3,000 a month in child support, according to published reports. She also reportedly received $40,000 to help her move from Washington to Los Angeles.

Cirilo McSween, a Rainbow/PUSH board member who met with Jackson on Thursday, said the board may discuss temporarily replacing Jackson. A meeting was scheduled for Friday.

``Certainly we are discussing it in an organizational matter as to whether anything ought to happen to him in terms of leaving, not leaving, and how to replace him ...,'' McSween told the Tribune. ``Certainly we are rallying to him all the way. The board is totally supportive of him.''

While the news may have a short-term impact on Jackson's influence â€” for example, in protesting alleged voting irregularities in Florida and in Jackson's opposition to attorney general-designate John Ashcroft â€” some said he would have no problem recovering.

``He has come back before from conflicts of one kind or another,'' said Ron Walters, a political science professor at the University of Maryland.

In 1998, Jackson, once a Democratic presidential candidate himself, was a steadfast presence at Bill Clinton's side as the president struggled with the disclosure of his affair with Monica Lewinsky and the impeachment proceedings that followed. Some were struck at how vehemently Jackson defended Clinton.

``The nation must take the test: If there are any among us who have not known the trials and tribulations and temptations, then throw a rock,'' Jackson said in August 1998. ``At some point we have to forgive, redeem and move on.''

The child is now 20 months old, meaning she could have been conceived as early as July 1998 â€” a month before his visit with the president.

``I think God should judge him, not me,'' said Minnie Stroud, 77, of Chicago. She was facing eviction last year from her home of 30 years until Jackson stepped in.

``He helped me and I can only judge him by what he did for me and what I saw him do over the years.''

â€”â€”â€”

On the Net:

Rainbow-PUSH coalition: http://www.rainbowpush.org

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s site: http://www.jessejacksonjr.org