News that Jesse Jackson fathered a child out of wedlock has produced fairly predictable responses, both censorious and supportive. In this particular case, however, the lesson to be learned involves questions of political significance more than morality. PNS commentator Earl Ofari Hutchinson is the president of the National Alliance for Positive Action (www.natalliance.org) and is and the author of "The Disappearance of Black Leadership." His e-mail address is ehutchi344@aol.com.

The moment the news broke that Jesse Jackson had fathered a child out of wedlock, a parade of black elected officials, civil rights leaders, community activists, and people on the street began to plead for prayer, understanding, and forgiveness. Some even praised Jackson for publicly admitting his dalliance.

This is not surprising. Blacks have been more than willing to circle the wagons and forgive, if not outright defend, their leaders' sexual misconduct. Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington D.C. mayor Marion Barry, and even black Baptist leader Henry Lyons, quickly come to mind.

Their behavior is chalked up to the pressures of racism. Commentators cite the need for racial unity, and hint at conspiracies and plots to nail black leaders.

But what is troubling about Jackson is not his moral lapse but his political leadership. Jackson has been black America's longest-standing voice of protest. He could be counted on to pop up at a rally or lead a demonstration championing improved health care, better education, worker's rights, criminal justice system reform, affirmative action, and black political gains.

But relying too heavily on Jackson to rev up the crowds and carry the torch carries a steep price. This was immediately apparent after his affair was disclosed. Many blacks expected him to keep the media and the public locked on the battle to torpedo the confirmation of John Ashcroft as Attorney General and the continuing protests over alleged voter fraud in Florida.

Instead, he abruptly announced he will temporarily withdraw from public life -- which effectively took the edge off the protests and caused many black activists to scramble to regroup.

The love-hate affair between Jackson and the media and the public didn't happen by chance. From the moment Playboy Magazine anointed him Martin Luther King, Jr.'s heir-apparent, following King's assassination in 1968, editors and reporters dutifully fell in line --not because they were enthralled by his captivating personality, recognized his considerable talents, or genuinely believed that he was the next King, but because they felt compelled to pick a black leader they feel comfortable with, whose views are not considered too extreme.

This crass and cynical tactic has been adopted by many public officials as well. They can get away with it because many whites regard blacks as so far outside the political and social pale that they see blacks solely through the prism of a racial monolith.

They are profoundly conditioned to believe that all blacks think and act alike. They freely use the words and deeds of the chosen black leader as the standard for African-American behavior.

When the chosen one makes a real or contrived misstep, he becomes the whipping boy. Blacks are blamed for being rash, foolhardy, irresponsible, and prone to play the race card on every social ill that befalls them.

The furor over voting irregularities in Florida was a near textbook example of the danger of over-dependence on one man's leadership.

Gore backers were scared stiff that Republicans would play hard on Jackson's status as the media-anointed leader of black America to fuel white backlash and divert public attention from the legitimate issue of voter fraud.

The Republicans did not play the race card with Jackson -- but many in the media did. CNN frothed that Jackson created a "mini-riot" and "fomented turbulence." The Washington Post railed that Jackson was "exciting racial passions."

Bill O'Reilley accused Jackson of inciting racial and "class warfare." MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, the Boston Globe, the Dallas Morning News, Newsday, and the Detroit News, gleefully took up the "Jackson-is-a-race-baiter" cry.

Many blacks rapturously embrace prominent figures such as Jackson as leaders simply because they are desperate to find someone, anyone, who appears to speak boldly on their behalf.

This willingness to embrace a populist-sounding leader has led to profound pessimism about what and who a leader is and should be. It has caused many blacks to throw up their hands in disgust and brand black leaders, in some cases all black leaders, as corrupt, selfish, and weak.