A week ago, FOX News' Bill O'Reilly aired part of a videotape of Rev. Jesse Jackson trashing Barack Obama. O'Reilly said the network "held back some of Jackson's comments because they weren't relevant."There was no holding back the "weasel" who O'Reilly said "leaked it out to the Internet":
Barack ... he's talking down to black people ... telling ni****s how to behave.
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)
With rumors swirling, O'Reilly went on "Studio B" to "get it all out so everyone knows."
Jackson has issued another fulsome apology, this time in a statement from Madrid, where he is traveling:
I am deeply saddened and distressed by the pain and sorrow that I have caused as a result of my hurtful words. I apologize again to Senator Barrack Obama, Michelle Obama, their children as well as to the American public. There really is no justification for my comments and I hope that the Obama family and the American public will forgive me. I also pray that we, as a nation, can move on to address the real issues that affect the American people.For a lot of black folks, Jesse's mess is the issue. They want him to move on. He was nuts to think his use of the N-word would not come out sooner or later. Jackson's rank hypocrisy irredeemably damages the dwindling influence he has in the African American community.
Polls show the racial waters are roiling. Any interjection of race into the presidential campaign dampens Obama's appeal to white voters whose support he needs to win in November.
Comments: (20)
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By: S Stewart on 7/17/2008 9:39AM
His use of the N-word doesn't surprise me. This is the same Reverend Jackson who paraded his pregnant mistress in the White House. Didn't the Reverend also assist his son getting a business involving liquor? Why he and OJ Simpson go somewhere and sit down is the real surprise.
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By: Harvey on 7/17/2008 3:57PM
Mr. Jackson has been getting the benefit of the doubt from the African American community for many years. African Americans have accepted his excuses and justifications in regard to his personal life, the finances of operation push, and the charges made against his organization of essentially extorting some big businesses. We viewed these incidents against a historical backdrop of government intimidation of other African American groups and their leaders and chose to continue to support Mr. Jackson. Many of us have also heard the allegation against Mr. Jackson concerning the events immediately after the death of Martin Luther King and still have chosen to support him.
Unfortunately, it would appear that Mr. Jackson's self interests have become more important to him than the majority's. He has come to the point where he views his opinions as more important that the cause he has represented for the past forty years. The oft quoted statement about absolute power absolutely corrupting comes to mind when thinking of Mr. Jackson. He has held the position of authority in the African American community way too long, and his slow demise has been difficult to witness.
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By: E Hill on 7/17/2008 4:46PM
The highest respect goes to Obama for not letting the media draw him to a rebuttal about Jackson's comments. It shows he has integrity and character. Jessie should have known better. What does Fox news want Obama to say at this point? Some of our feelings should be personal.
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By: Jarvis on 7/17/2008 4:53PM
Jesse is desperately trying to stay revelant in the Black community. His failed leadership over the past 40 years has finally come to light.
He and other Blacks from the Civil Rights Era refused to move forward.
Although I disagree with Obama on most issues, he was correct about Black fathers taking responsibility for their children. A 70% illegitimacy rate in the Black community is ridiculous.
The Black community cannot become an "Economic Power" until we solved these basic issues.
My guess is that Jesse knows this and he keeps getting in the way of Blacks progress. This way, he will always have a Job pimping he "Poor".
THINK BLACK AMERICA, RACISM IS NOT OUR PROBLEM.
LISTENING TO SO CALL BLACK LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS PUNDITS, PREACHERS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS IS THE PROBLEMS.
GET EDUCATED ON THE ISSUES AND THINK FOR YOURSELF
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By: LIA on 7/17/2008 6:10PM
I would say I'm shocked by this, but sadly I'm not. Jesse Jackson is a rabble-rousing coward who uses the oh so blind black community to further his own opportunistic agendas.
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By: Earnesto Francis Johnson on 7/17/2008 7:06PM
My heart goes out to Sen. Obama for what he has to put up with. He is an innocent man who have to take these insults.But when you are imprsonating a peron you have to stand up to the challenge Mr. Obama has done that very well.By saying nothing
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By: Amos Andrew on 7/17/2008 7:08PM
I cringe when Jackson speaks on current African America n issues. He has done irreversible damage to the race. The fact that he was an absent father must weigh heavy on him to want to get vengence by castration. Apparently the word "nigger" is only pertinent in his lexicon since he bandies it about while decrying foul on anyone else that uses it. How pathetic his attempts to take from Obama's moment of fame because he has become so irrelevent to the black community. Jessie, hang it up. Your fired. Go collect your checks.
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By: DUANE V. MURFF SR on 7/18/2008 6:57AM
THE N WORD SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT THE OF THE BLACK VOCABULARY. REGARDLESS WHO USE IT, ITS STILL A NEGATIVE. I HAVE ELIMATED IT FROM MY VOCABULARY, AND WISH EVERYONE WOULD DO THE SAME. IN ORDER TO START THE HEALING IN AMERICAN, WE AS BLACK AMERICAN MUST TAKE THE STEPS TO ELIMANTE IT.
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By: Analyst on 7/18/2008 8:31AM
Some blacks still wet behind the ears and who never learned to respect elders as part of their upbringing will continue to disrespect great men like Dr. Wright, Father Pfleger, and Rev. Jackson. Let's see now, Sen. Obama stabbed Dr. Wright in the back after literally showering him with affection three days earlier. He removed his membership from his church to snob the courageous white priest Father Pfleger who has dedicated his life to underprivileged black communities of Chicago. He even adopted a black youth who was later killed in street violence. (I consider Father Pfleger a modern day Rev. John Brown.) Father Pfleger for many years gave his support to another young black man in Chicago. His name is Barack Obama. Trinity Church stood by Obama for some 20 years nurturing him along a political career. Then when the white conservative right began to attack Dr. Wright Sen. Obama for political expediency turned his back on those who had supported him for 20 years, and he did it for no reason. Those reached by the white right wing conservative talk show hosts will never vote for Sen. Obama anyway. Thinking people would not have been swayed by right wing conservatives whom they dispise themselves. Ironically, the New Yorker Magazine brings my point home. I could never support a man who would disrespect a great men like Dr. Wright and Father Pfleger. One of Sen. Obama's biggest character flaws is he underestimates others ability to think. That along with a total disregard for personal dignity to get elected is a reflection of a disgusting void of integrity. The day after winning the nomination Sen. Obama appeared before the AIPAC, a body of wealthy Jewish lobbyists for Israel. Sen. Obama amazed his audience by calling for Jerusalem to be the undivided capital of Israel. If you ever wanted to insight turmoil in the Middle East Sen. Obama has began to do just that like no other US national politician before him. If this is the "Change" Sen. Obama intends to usher in this country will be engulfed in a fireball in the Middle East like never before. Even President Bush has never said anything that inflammatory. It will not surprise me should Sen. Obama pick Sen. Clinton to be his running mate. Sen. Obama has shown he will sell his soul to the devil to president. To some his calling black fathers boys may not be offensive, but I will have Sen. Obama know that I have raised eight (8) black children and all are today productive members of society. One is a doctor in Miami. It was the thoughtlessness and aire of elitism constantly being displayed by Sen. Obama that moved Rev. Jackson. One runs the risk of terrible consequences by disrespecting God's messengers and God's House. All of this Sen. Obama has done. Now he has began to pay the price. Hopefully, the hysteria surrounding the Obama Campaign will wear off in time and black Americans will start thinking and opening their eyes to the overwhelming shortcomings of Sen. Obama and recognize he is unworthy to be President of the United States of America. There are other black Americans who are and their day will come soon.
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By: Linda on 7/18/2008 2:28PM
The biggest biggot of all,except for Sharpton.Both know nothing and are not helping the black people.Why can't they just shut up and quit being into everybodies bussiness.
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