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Rev. Jesse Jackson in the Hot Seat
Published by Pamela Gentry on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:15 pm.
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer July 10, 2008 – The Rev. Jesse Jackson is no stranger to controversy, media spotlight or the ground rules when speaking with the press. But if he had forgotten, his latest slip of the tongue will serve as a pungent reminder to remember past lessons.
On Sunday, while in the FOX News studio waiting to be interviewed, Jackson leaned over to another guest, Reed V. Tuckson, the former chief medical officer for the District of Columbia and President of the Charles Drew University in Los Angeles, and whispered, “Barack has been talking down to Black people. …I want to cut his nuts off.” In a rapid response, the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition issued a statement denouncing the “crude” nature of his comments and apologized to the presumptive Democratic nominee.
“I apologize,” Rev. Jackson said Wednesday. “My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment. My appeal was for the moral content of his message, to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of Black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.”
Still, his actions brought swift rejection from the civil rights leader’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), the national co-chairman of Obama’s presidential campaign. In rallying behind his candidate, he proved that political alliances can be stronger than family ties. “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,” Jackson Jr. wrote in a statement.
Jackson said his comments were in reference to visits Obama has made to Black churches during his campaign, at which the 46-year-old senator has said Black folks are responsible for their families and their communities. While Jackson has also been outspoken about Black America’s responsibility to play an active role in improving its plight, he has been careful to highlight the government’s responsibility to provide equal opportunity and racial justice.
But, Jackson knows that everything one says while wearing a microphone in a television studio is on the record. He also knows that a careless remark – even one he thought was off the record – can be costly. After all, it was his clumsy reference to Jews as “Hymies” and New York as “Hymietown” during his 1984 presidential bid that nearly destroyed his lifelong work within the Jewish community. And his gaffe late last year about Obama “acting White” perhaps revealed Jackson’s latent belief that the Illinois senator’s political perspective was out of line with that of the traditional civil rights establishment.
Granted, this was a careless move on Jackson’s part, but I also know it was not intended to do harm to the Obama’s shot at being commander and chief. After hearing his comments had been recorded, Jackson appeared on CNN to publicly apologize, issued a statement to the press and called the senator’s office with his apology.
His immediate actions may slow his roll on political chatter, but what it won’t stop speculation about some underlying dissention among old-school Black leadership regarding Obama’s candidacy. The topic wasn’t on the radar before this and support for Obama appeared unwavering.
Bill Burton, spokesman for the Obama campaign, suggested that the brouhaha was being blown out of proportion. “Of course” the senator accepts the reverends apology, he said. Jackson’s son’s wasn’t so forgiving. “Reverend Jackson is my dad and I’ll always love him,” he said But, “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.”
Whew, I bet the next family dinner will be a bit tense at the Jackson’s house.
I do not understand why Jesse is so embittered by Barack’s message of self responsibility. Must we blame “everything” on white people regardless of accountability? I understand Jesse’s agenda, but there has to be balance. Unfortunatley, Jesse to a degree falls into the category of absentee father concerning his illegitimate daughter. Maybe that is why he is so angry. Perhaps it is simply conviction.
Well here we go. I knew it was gonna happen, I was just waiting 2 c when. Mr. Jackson STOP HATEN!This the problem when a black person is going good it is always somebody black trying to get mad because it is not them. Its bad enough there other races mad or upset because Barak is about to be our next president, and now u have black people always dogging out each other. Jesse Jackson u already had ur time to shine, Its over this is a new era not the 60s 70s 80s or 90s. Get over it already. UR TIME 2 SHINE is Over. I would not put Jesse Jackson on my team.
OBAMA 08!
I’m sorry, but to me Jesse Jackson is a moron. He thinks he’s so important and he really just makes blacks look like buffoons…
How dumb do you have to be to say something like that when you have a microphone on for a tv interview? Jackson means well but he always ends up putting his foot in his mouth. Is he missing something upstairs? Why can’t the man be happy about Obama – jealousy?
It is very interesting to me how a conversation between two people can be recorded for the news media. Was one of them wearing a wire?? It almost seem as if it was planned. Jesse Jackson want some media attention it seems. Is his wife still letting him stay in the same house with her after his cheating behind embarassed her in front of the whole world with his young girlfriend and their baby? He need to shut-up forever.
This moves Mr. Obama closer to the political center (where he needs to be to win the White House), Jesse Jr. to the political center, and keeps the Rev. to the left. If the Rev.’s comments were about the current President or past President (Mr. Clinton), it would not have been a headliner.
Who is Jesse Jackson really? Yes, he TRIED to run for president before but he wasn’t even supported by the democratic party. Regardless of why he said it, it was inappropriate for any grown man to say he wants to cut another grown man’s nuts off! I can understand that Rev. Jesse Jackson wants justice for Black people, which is why HE is in the Rainbow Coalition. Hoewever, Sen. Barack Obama is running for President of the UNTIED STATES, not the NAACP and must look out for the well-being of all races.
Jesse Jackson is an idiot! He needs to keep his mouth shut at all times…he is no longer (if he ever was anyway)credible and this just points further to his lack of credibility. Black folks do need to be responsible for themselves and our communities and depending on government or a political leader or a hasbeen preacher named Jesse Jackson is not progressive. Go sit down!
History is in making and it just seems to me it’s this and it’s that about Barack Obama and about his wife as well. It seems that the media just turns around whatever the Obama’s may say to make them look bad. My question is whatever happened to “freedom of speech”. and in closing this is all uncalled for and it’s definitely time for change. All the best to the Obama’s
I just wonder what Jesse thought of Bill Cosby’s remarks on the same subject. Did he want to cut his off too?
His behavior does not surprise me at all. I also have doubts about Rev Jackson’s involvement with the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King. There is something truly disturbing about the scene on the balcony. He has always managed to be at the right place at the right time. Kinda makes one wonder… He is divisive and has always been. He reminds me of Judah. He intended to make the remark, and if not wired was well aware of the consequences. Jesse has lost credibility within the black community, America and abroad. This was merely a publicity stunt to place himself back into the lime light. I don’t know if anybody else has noticed, but whenever he is in the light, it shines negatively. The truth about him will be revealed and the nation will be shocked. Ah, the true character of man…………
By the way…maybe that’s what his wife should have done… “cut his nuts off” so we wouldn’t have proof that he cheated and had another child!! He is so ignorant and embarrassing…I don’t want him representing anyone, especially not black folks.
Funny how everyone is so “shocked” at Jesse’s comments. Obviously, he is not listening to Obama when he speaks because if he was, and if he was a believer- he would have been careful of his speech. This is a great example of what Obama is trying to change-attitude in black culture. When a black person in authority offers you advice to better yourself- it is not talking down to you- it is to help you. Jesse is only sorry that he was caught being HIMSELF. Will the Real Jesse Jackson please Stand Up???
This is another example of the Willie Lynch Letter. The instituted classism and division among our own is not perpetuated by whites, but by our own. Now the “field negro” (Jackson) is wanting to harm the “house negro” (Obama); when does the mess stop? Arent we passed our 300 hundred years yet? It is definitely healthy that we constructively disagree, but comments like that has earned Jackson his honorary white hood, cross, gallon of fuel, and a match.
As a man of faith, we all expect a higher standard from him. He already knows out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! What’s really happening here and why?
Jesse Jackson is not “Keeping Hope Alive”
by making remarks against his brother.
I believe it was a remark not meant to hurt Obama, it was a jealous statement from a man who is envious of Obama. We all ocassionally voice our anger, envy, jealousy remarks to an associate or friend. We don’t have a mike on us.
Jesse we know its hard bro, not being the chosen one to head up America, it was not your calling.
Yours was to keep hope alive, Obama is to take us to a much needed change.
I would like to know who made Jesse Jackson Black people spokesperson. He can not speak for me. I wish Jesse would just leave it along, people are tired of controversey and he will see that his comment will do nothing but make Obama stronger. I agree with many of you, move on Jesse your time is over.
I sincerely believe Mr. Jackson, Sr. intentionally made those comments to Mr. Tuckson while on Fox News. Recall Fox News continously looks for ways to embarrass Barack Obama, his family and his campaign. What other way to take a another swipe at Mr. Obama, than by using Mr. Jackson,Sr.as their pawn.
Mr. Jackson,Sr. may well be acting as FOX NEWS cronie; and it is very unfortunate that he’s elected to do so. His credibility amongst the black community has been diminishing over the years. Is he now trying to put the last nail in the coffin on his career by making these wayward comments? Kudos to Mr. Jackson, Jr. for his statements against his dad’s crude remarks.
The Elder Jackson is just a wannabee relevant Civil Rights Pawn. If he or AL Sharpton were of any threat to the Establishment they wud ‘ve been knocked off a Longtime ago! His Moral Character is so flustered and injected with deceit ,dishonor ,disgust and disdain. I can’t believe he has the audacity to critique Mr Obama at all. To put it hip-hop Jesse is Wretched den a Mofo !
I hope everyone knows this was an intentional set up. I’ve been behind the scenes and they turn off the microphones once the interview has taken a break. You always will see the interviewer make small comments but the microphone is turned off. See how they still play us against one another.(the other news man siting beside Jackson had a smirk on his face) This is not good. But you are right Rev. Jackson should not have made those kinds of comments he should have kept it to himself. We all have made some kind of comment about any given concern that’s just human nature. It’s not to say this man is jealous he just got caught in the fram game! May God continue to bless them both!