On Friday, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) addressed the United States's current unemployment crisis and claimed the iPad was "probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs."
Jackson, himself an iPad owner, expanded on his statement by pointing to the recent bankruptcy of Borders Books.
"Why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes and Noble? Just buy an iPad and download your book, download your newspaper, download your magazine," the Congressman said.
He also cited Chicago State University's initiative to replace textbooks with iPads for freshman students. Jackson stated that the goal of the University was to create a "textbookless campus within four years."
"What becomes of publishing companies and publishing company jobs?" Jackson asked the House. "What becomes of bookstores and librarians and all of the jobs associated with paper? Well, in the not-too-distant future, such jobs simply won't exist."
He also took issue with the device's production overseas: "The iPad is produced in China. It's not produced here in the United States. [...] There is no protection for jobs here in America to ensure that the American people are being put to work."
According to Neowin:
It seems that Jackson has changed his views significantly since last month when he said that the iPad was "revolutionizing" the country" and that it would "fundamentally alter how we will educate our children" followed by making a suggestion that there should be an "iPad for every student in the nation".
Business Insider reponds, "Obviously he ignores all the wealth the iPad has created in America, and the fact that there are all kinds of other jobs that have been created around the iPad [...]"
WATCH: [via Real Clear Politics]