Politics

Jesse Jackson, Jr. blames the iPad for ‘eliminating thousands of American jobs’

Daniel Keylin Contributor
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On Friday, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) took the House floor and lambasted Apple’s iPad, saying the tablet was “probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs.”

Jackson expressed general outrage over the potential of a paperless society that the iPad threatens to create. “What becomes of publishing companies and publishing company jobs? What becomes of bookstores and libraries, and all of the jobs associated with paper? Well, in the not-too-distant future, such jobs simply won’t exist,” he said.

The congressman, who earlier in the speech admitted to being an iPad owner, criticized Apple CEO Steve Jobs for producing the tablets in China, which he believes is contributing to the nation’s unemployment problem and preventing the nation from achieving “sustained full production.”

However, Jackson’s recent rant on the iPad seems to contradict statements he made just last month.

“How many people would be put to work building roofs and designing classrooms and providing every student with an iPod and a laptop?” Jackson said during a March 2nd House floor speech.

Clips comparing Jackson’s sudden change of heart on Apple products are below.

Then:

Now: