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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.
This is just what Obama’s campaign needed. Not all ‘attacks’ will have negative results. The black community will rally to Obama, and the white community will do the same cause he’ll seem less biased to blacks. If I bought into conspiracy theories I’d say the whole thing was planned! All in all, a good show by Jessie Sr. and Jr. Afterall, this is getting more media than the “Obama forgot Hillary’s envelope” story!.
This is quite normal, whenever I visit the US, I usually get more static from black immigration and customs officers.
what ever happened to black folks supporting eachother?
Jesse should be happy that black people are improving, he shouldnt be hating on Sen. Obama when he has clearly worked his ass off to get to where hes at right now. Jesse Should be supporting a Barack and know that this will be a very historical moment in history.
The great divide continues. For a person who is always talking about Keep Hope Alive, it seems like he has lost it. When Black America finally has a chance to keep there head up and move forward the Rev gets jealous. Oh yes that is the only evil that shows its head so proud to be so wrong. He has ran for president how many times? Then finally when another man of color has the people behind him and is way further then he had seen any Black man come, he starts hating. Hating the fact that someone else from a younger generation can come up so fast and get the notoriaty that he has been aiming for for so long. The comment that he made was very unReverend like and he needs to get on his knees and ask for forgiveness from someone higher then us. It just lets us as voters know that we made the right choice in the past to not vote for him and to keep hope alive that a person will come along to truely be able to lead us. Sen. Obama is that person, that true Leader, the Democratic Contender.
Barack Obama has soared to theheights that Jackson aspired to and he is envious and jealous. When he ran for president alot of Black people didn’t even vote for him and now his nose is all out of joint. Furthermore Jackson is not really one to be talking about morality and family responsibility, now is he?
a friend asked that on tall dating site ____Tallmingle.com____,which is a dating site for all tall friends and tall singles,especially models and basketball players.
In with the New, out with the Old.
Lynn – That’s the sentiment that won’t get Obama elected. The old is why got you the new. We stood, we fought, we bled. Don’t dismiss us now, because we vote too. Understand us, we have scars that will not heal, don’t throw salt into them, it may come back and sting your eyes.
Vickie, my sister. Those words are worth repeating. Especially the part about Prayer and No Weapons formed against them shall prosper.
Our people are so sick, and we need a healing.
We have been beat down, and we continue to beat down. We are a chosen, GODLY people.
take a look at the effort we put forth voicing our opinions, then we can come out in the same numbers 10 times over and vote for change.
Put your vote where your mouth is….
Listen, and Listen well ,until we as a people of color start to stick together, other remarks will keep coming out, because we have been taught as slaves to turn against our own race. Keeping us separated even from our own children. That remark from Jesse Jackson was that of a field hand worker,made against a in house butler. Please stop haten on your own people.
I wonder if Don Imus had said that he wanted to “cut off Obama’s nuts,” would Jesse Jackson have launched a protest? Here we have hypocrisy (and probably also jealousy) in action. Now the real Jesse Jackson has finally come forward.
I seen the clip and now I think that it was a good plan , by the Obama camp to get Mr Jacksons voice heard. With out getting white people offended, this gave Mr Jackson the spot light to bring up issues that other wise would not be brought to the light. If this was a plan it was a good one. Mr jackso interview today was wonderfull , he praised Mr Obama and is now a public defender for him after the atempt to divide the two leaders.
Mr. Jackson, please sit down and shut up!
Now this is what i expected from Jesse jackson. Luckily, we the american people who listen to him knows that he would do everything to get into the mainstream media. Your time is over! That remark sounds like you are a jealous republican. You need your democratic voter’s card revoked, if you have not already exchanged it for the republican party. We do not need no more squabbling within the democratic party.
Well, Jesse…silence is golden!!!
I was hoping that he (Jesse Jackson) will not show his true color of envy but I was wrong. He did not even come close when he attempted to run for President. As a matter of fact, the rest of the country, like myself thought he was a joke! I see things has not changed concerning him. It was his mouth and lack of thoughts that resulted in him not even making it on the ballot. Now that the country has someone of color (Mr Obama), who is the front runner for President of United States, he (Jesse Jackson)just had to remind us just how stupid and envious he really is. Jesse, you should have cut off your own balls when you decided to have a child out of wedlock. You should have cut off your own balls when you opened your stupid mouth about the Jewish people when you attempted to run for the Democratic seat decades ago. Jesse, you should have just cut off your balls.
Yes, Jesse is a very ignorant person and why he thinks he has something to say that has weighted value for just not the people of color in this country, but for all of us in this country, is a mystery to me.
I have agreed with some of the comments and disagreed also.
Rev. JJ’s comment was a little puzzling to me, but he has exercised his first amendment right and we must MOVE on!!
GO BARACK!!
Great job Jesse! Some of still love you!
All,
Try not being so hard on Jesse. I usually catch his show on Saturday mornings (Rainbow Push) and he is always praising Barack, and citing how he will be the next President. He even sent Michelle Obama a card and flowers for Mothers Day-stating she would be the next AFAM- first lady. This is clearly a mistake. Just because he is AFAM and supports Obama, doesn’t mean he can’t have any disagreements with a few of Barack policies. We have to remain open that and continue to fight for issues with a Black President or not. Peace-Love- Change ‘08
Hey this is a simple case of Black on black hating…for some odd reason brothers are hating on one another more than ever…shame on Jesse Jackson…its envy and jealousy because Obama is suceeding where he couldn’t….
I can’t believe some of you are blaming this on FOX!
The man spoke the words, it doesn’t matter where or what, he got caught. Don’t speak for me Jesse, Don’t you DARE speak for ME because I don’t agree!
Jesse the tyrant… Go sit yo mush mouffed a__ __ down somewhere. I tired want to be rapper.