An extraordinary development in the increasingly heated U.S. presidential election came this week as news stations broadcast the tape of Rev. Jesse Jackson threatening to emasculate Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama for "talking down to the black man."
Jackson, whose son Jesse Jackson jnr is part of the Obama campaign team, apologised profusely when it became apparent that his ribald comments had been recorded in what the Rev. Jackson thought was a private conversation prior to an interview on Fox News.
Jackson, whose son Jesse Jackson jnr is part of the Obama campaign team, apologised profusely when it became apparent that his ribald comments had been recorded in what the Rev. Jackson thought was a private conversation prior to an interview on Fox News.
The veteran Democratic campaigner apologised in a statement to CNN three days after the incident. In it he apologised for any "harm or hurt" caused by his statement and said he was committed to the Obama campaign.
"For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama's campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment." [source]So exactly what brought on the crazy outburst? Rev. Jackson appears to have reacted to criticisms made by Sen. Obama, most notably in a Father's Day speech in Chicago, when he accused African American men of not living up to their parental responsibilities.
"They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it," Obama said in the speech.However as the Los Angeles Times correctly reminds us, Jesse Jackson has been caught out before in a similar situation. During his candidacy for Democratic nominee in 1984, Jackson referred to Jews as "hymies" and New York as "hymietown". The racist slurs were uttered in an interview with black Washington Post reporter Milton Coleman.
"You and I know how true this is in the African-American community. We know that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled -- doubled -- since we were children. We know the statistics: that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of schools and twenty times more likely to end up in prison," he also said. [source]
Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman. But several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews. [source]Jackson apologised for the comments agreeing he was wrong to say them but added he believed he was talking privately to the reporter. he used a similar argument to explain his latest slip of the tongue.
Jesse Jackson jr released the following statement quoted by ABC News condemning his father's comments.
"I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career.
Instead of tearing others down, Barack Obama wants to build the country up and bring people together so that we can move forward, together -- as one nation. The remarks like those uttered on Fox by Revered Jackson do not advance the campaign's cause of building a more perfect Union."
Concludes Rep. Jackson, Jr.: "Revered Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him. He should know how hard that I've worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself." [source]
For audio of the Reverend Jackson's discussing the incident by phone to CNN see here.
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Jackson is a joke. He talks about Obama when he has used the black community for decades to furthur his agendas. He is nothing but a self appointed big mouth phoney and shakedown artist and has nothing to do with christianity.
Hey Dave,
Thanks for your comments. Do you think though that the JJ rave might be better for Obama in the broader voting community, as the Financial Times is suggesting today?
If this was a white guy saying this there would be outrage by Rev AL and Jackson, Obama also would flip out but since he's black thats ok.
In his apology, Mr Jackson apologized for saying what he said while he was hooked up to an open mic. In my opinion, he should not be apologizing for that , but he should be apologizing for even stating those comments out loud, whether the mic was on or not.
Whatever happened to "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"? It seems to me, this advice would be very appropriate for Mr. Jackson at this time.
Perhaps a few remedial courses at the Seminary would do the Reverend some good.
If Senator Obama is his friend I wonder what the good Reverend says about his foes when the "mic" is not on.
In short Jesse Jackson is jealous that his own presidential aspirations never went as far as Obama. Also, I am sick of Jesse and Al Sharpton always being the "so called" representatives for the black community. All these guys do is show up and fleece some person or company when there is a hot racial issue. Some reverend... at the very least he should be doing everything in his power to support the first viable African American for president...But just like crabs in a barrell blacks have been and remain their own worst enemy! (and I'm black)
Frankly, I'll give old Jesse the opportunist rare props for saying what is probably (or should be)in the back of the minds of a lot of BO's black supporters. Obama has been running as fast as he can away from the black community since he knows that in no way will they vote for McCain. After dissing Rev. Wright for saying, if less eloquently, what MLK Jr. was saying back in 1967 and in the last year before his death, namely, "that America is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world," BO is playing the game of cleaning up America's racist history. Frankly, if old JJ tried to find BO's cojones, he'd have to hire a detective. Right now, Obama's not wearing any.
Very thought-provoking comments, thanks.
I wonder if the Jackson v. Obama (apparent) clash is not more of a sign of the more moderate black leadership leaving the traditional more radical black activists like Jesse Jackson out to dry? Maybe this latest Jackson attack is a manifestation of a behind the scenes struggle for the heart and souls of black leadership within the Democratic party? Any thoughts pro or con folks?
There is no black "leadership" in the Democratic Party in the strict sense of the word. The HNC (House Negro Caucus) takes it's orders from AIPAC and that goes for any black official outside of Congress as well. The Israel Lobby neutered old Jesse two decades ago and maybe that's why he's got "nuts" on his mind when speaking of Obama who is not only lacking them but he is missing a spine as well. Obama affiliated himself with the black community but it seems clear by now that he has only used it like he used his membership in Rev. Wright's church to assist his political career.
Hey Jason, thanks again. Is it true though that Obama can't afford to be seen to be "too close" to the black community for fear of alienating (small but powerful)sections of the white voting bloc?
who rode the coat tails of MLK and prospered from the black community. Step aside Jesse. And take Al with you. We will all be better off with you two hypocrits crying racism all the time.
Thank hevans it was not a white man that uttered that nonsence. It would have been front page news in every city and brodcasted on every network for some time to come. Charges might have been filed for threatening a government official.
Let's face it, Jesse Jackson lost a lot of respect within the US when he first became a "spiritual advisor" to Bill Clinton, then having an affair and then a baby. His accomplishments as a Civil Rights leader are far-reaching and cannot be diminished, but Jesse Jackson needs to understand that his uninformed rants only tend to hurt his legacy. As far as Obama running away from the Black community, I don't see it. I do however, see n erroneous view brewing that pushes forth the idea that Obama should be compelled to do more for Blacks, which would be political suicide if he decided to see it through. I think that promoting self-determination and self-responsibility is , in fact, a more viable position.
Damn a hand-out or a quick fix, we've been down that road before. However, I am a strong supporter of affirmative action, and until the playing field is leveled in that regard, I'll remain just that.
If Obama is not the answer and McCain is not the popular choice, then who, I ask, is the alternative? And please don't say Ralph Nader.
Here's an idea.. What would happen in November is NO ONE voted? You can't have an election without voters. We need to send a message to Washington that we will no longer ACCEPT the choices we are being given. For example: Why does every candidate have to be a member of or deeply affiliated with the Tri-Lateral Commission, The Council On Foriegn Relations, Skull And Bones Society, etc? Why couldn't we demand to vote for candidates who represent US and not a bunch of globalist elite insiders? These people are dangerous, and we are NOT considered their "friends". We are only to be loyal lap dogs, valued only for our votes and tax dollars. They want us all to shut up, accept the lies, sit down, open another six pack and watch WWF or Oprah. this country is in deep trouble in more ways than one.
Thank you
Jesse finaly got caught GOOD FOR HIM.................