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So Rev. Jesse Jackson shoots his mouth off while waiting to be interviewed at Fox news. In a careless whisper, Jackson complains that Barack Obama has been "talking down to black people" during recent church appearances. Okay, that's Jackson's opinion. But then the good Reverend lets it rip so to speak.
"I want to cut his nuts off."
Ouch! That is some rough talk. ...
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Jackson apologized Wednesday for comments he made about Barack Obama's speeches in black churches during what he thought was a private.
AP
"It was very private," Jackson said. A spokesman for the Obama campaign said that the Illinois senator accepts Jackson's apology. Jackson's son, however, was less kind. "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements," Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said. Here, Jackson and Obama share a lighter moment in Illinois last month.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Obama Wednesday after comments he made about the presidential candidate were picked up on an open microphone. After a Fox News interview on Sunday, Jackson said, "Barack, he's talking down to black people."
Skip Peterson, AP
In this Feb. 5, 2008 file photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson holds a campaign sign for Obama, D-Ill., in Chicago. Jackson said Wednesday, July 9, 2008 he's "very sorry" for comments he made about Obama during what he thought was a private conversation with a reporter. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Two questions come to mind. One, how in the world does an experienced television guest like Jackson get so worked up "that he forgets" where he is? Did Jackson learn nothing from the 'hymietown' debacle?
The second question is what is it about Obama that's got Jackson so riled up that he couldn't contain himself to wait until he was in a private space to go off about Obama's message?
Jackson gave some clues to his thinking during his "I apologize" press conference. The interesting thing about Jackson's remarks was that he started them off by spending a fair amount of time recounting the legacy and bloodshed of the Civil Rights Movement pioneers. Jackson kept reminding us of what we owe to that legacy and how we cannot forget who brought us to a present day ripe for Obama's candidacy.
It is essential to honor history and recognize the sacrifice of those who have come before. However, it is also time for the legends to accept the dignified mantle of senior statesman and not to tear at Obama while trying to grab the spotlight for themselves.
Even Jesse Jackson Jr., who is a National Chair for Obama's campaign, felt compelled to weigh in:
Rev. Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him," Jackson Jr. said in a statement. "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.
Join the Discussions!
+ JESSE disses SENATOR OBAMA
+ Jesse Apologizes for Crude Obama Remarks
MORE: Exclusive Interview with Jackson from NPR News & Notes
Comments: (235)
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By: Elena on 7/26/2008 2:56PM
United we stand divided we fall....doesn't that cover all races?
So Jesse made a mistake he has made more then one. This is a way to gain sympathy for Obama. Get over it. Base your vote on what is the truth and what is best for our yes "OUR" country.
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By: Lisa on 7/31/2008 12:29AM
I think that people need to remember that Jesse cleared the path for Obama to run. If any of you knew the struggle Jesse has been in to help people keep their homes. All of you that run under Obama will need Jesse to fight for your rights if Obama becomes president. But that will never happen for the first time so many blacks and whites are voting Republican or not voting. He has no intentions of how to run a country and the performance in the middle east was grand. Why would n't this clown know how to act with his own people?
Jesse owes this man nothing. Jesse continue to fight for your people. As you walk out the door let them and Obama kiss your backside.
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By: cass on 8/02/2008 4:16PM
You see, this is the reason why we (blacks,) as a people can't seem to get ahead. If we have one of our most prominent African-American men (Rev. jackson) tearing down another of our most prominent African-American men (Barack Obama), then how are we to expect others not to do the same thing?!? Why would anyone else think twice about putting us down if we can't seem to stop back-biting each other? Rev. Jackson should be ashamed of himself. If he wanted to run then he should have done so. There is no reason for him to get upset because someone else had the same idea as he did, and then acted faster than he did. For Sen. Obama, I give my support, if the voters felt that Obama was talking down to us then he would not have our support.
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By: quitamlj on 8/05/2008 2:40PM
Personally i am tired of the so called REV. He is not a representation of the black community. yeah he marched with Dr. King but so did thousands of other people. shouldn't he be trying to take care of all those illegitimate children that belong to him.
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By: HvyDtyCutie2u on 9/07/2008 7:52PM
Jesse Jackson Sr. is a joke. I do not believe for 1 minute that he did not think that the microphone was not on. He is just playing a game to get attention and try to steal Mr. Obama thunder. And it is sickening to my stomach. Jesse Sr. will do anything, at any cost to steal the spotlight. After all he is still the same Jesse Sr. that appeared hours later after MLK was killed with blood mysteriously smeared across his clothes and "just happened" to show up in front of the cameras in 1968. And still has the nerve to put Rev. in front of his name using that kind of language as well as any where near a camera or microphone. Everytime he opens his mouth he reminds us just how foolish he really is. At this point if you look up "hater" in the dictionary you will likely find Jesse Sr. his picture next to it.
That is a prime example of having a "crabs in the barrel" mantality. He has got to try to pull Obama down. To Jesse Sr. we can be "up with hope and down with dope". As far as I am concerned. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is the dope and let up just hope that he has learned to keep is mouth shut.
Peace
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