Jesse Jackson on Obama: Careless Whispers
So Reverend Jesse Jackson shoots his mouth off while waiting to be interviewed at Fox news. In a careless whisper, Jackson complains that 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.”
That is some rough talk.
Two questions come to mind. One, how in the world does an experienced television guest like Jackson get so worked up to forget that while he’s sitting in the chair, on set, that the mic on his lapel is always recording sound? 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 Barack 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.
Posted by: Carmen D. in 
I think that this is a staged event. Down here in TN, I hear many people talking about how Obama is going to get elected and team up with Jesse and Al and turn the country over to black America.
Well, those people are now convinced that Obama is on his own. He has no support from Jesse. This is a victory for the Obama campaign.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:42 am -You know Carm, as I mentioned in my post about this I can’t entirely blame Jesse for his diatribe.
When Sen. Obama did his dog and pony show during that now infamous father’s day speech, I think Jesse (and the black folks who were offended) had reason enough to be upset. I personally had no problem with Obama’s message, but many folks saw it as his opportunity to appeal to white voters more than serving the interests of blacks. I disagree with that notion, but I respect other people for feeling that way. Included in that group is the man of the hour; one Jesse Jackson.
Still, what makes him the collosal bonehead of the century is going on Fox News (strike one), disrepecting the presumptive Democratic nominee in a “hot mic” (strike two), and essentially dissing any strides made by Civil Rights movement by wanting to castrate a person who would’ve just as soon been defended during his run for POTUS.
If I wasn’t done with this clown before, I am now.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:03 am -jessie gonna go old school and learn that young buck right..
July 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am -set to him with a straight razor chicago style… yes’ sir!
you go on with yourself jessie, thats’ right… you the man, and you don’t be lettin’ no young fool come round and do you like that… no sir!
Standard civil rights era hateration. That generation sometimes feels entitled to a mantle they probably should have ceded years ago. I think its probably not as bad as isht he’s said in private.
That said, he’s not entirely wrong that Obama’s Father’s Day speech was not necessarily the best move. I think there is much to be said about personal responsibility, but in the absence of speeches and references to the other side of the coin (a system that disadvantages us, specific black issues like criminal justice and discrimination), one could make the argument that he’s playin politics with black folks to ensure the white vote. A cynic would say that since the Clinton campaign has done a masterful job of “blackening” him up in the primary, he’s gotta go out and prove he’s not “captured by the darkies.” I think this is only partly true. Obama has always been a complex man, with liberal views and some conservative ones. But he is not necessarily speaking to our needs as much as he could or should. I don’t think he has to speak to those needs in the narrow way that the civil rights generation might, but there are black folks who are questioning what, besides a black face in the Oval Office, does a black president really even mean, concretely. He has yet to really address that sufficiently.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:35 am -where is the outrage?
July 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm -Hello, Eric welcome to the conversation. You are joking here, right? First of all there is plenty of outrage. But I noticed on another comment thread you asked ‘what if Imus had said the same about Obama?’
If Imus had said it, I would want his head.
Whatever Jesse Jackson has become, as a young student he stood bravely in the face of hatred and violence in service to making America better. He stood in service to making America live up to her expressed ideals of civil rights for all human beings. He was the real deal.
Please read some history books about the Civil Rights era…Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch is an easily digestible one to start with. Peace.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:11 pm -Tyler, as usual I agree with much of what you say and your comment is thought provoking. But I do not see the conversation about institutional discrimination as always needing to be coupled with discussions of personal responsibility.
I recognize that I am a moderate on this issue, but I believe the case against institutional discrimination would be made much more powerful if personal responsibility, accountability and familial allegiance was paramount for all people who are most injured by that discrimination.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm -fcg#p, I would be mad at you …but in this case Jesse started it.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm -oh, please he knew damn well the mic was hot…
July 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm -he wants a seat at the table…
Oh I agree with that. I’m just saying when you aren’t speaking truth to power on race (which Obama can’t), then you should expect that when you start talking to black folks about what they should be doing folks might bristle.
I do think there isn’t enough discussion about how Obama’s political courage simply does not extend to race. It can’t. He would never have won the nomination had that been the case. As is stands, even with that pandering Philly speech and leaving his church, he saw waning support in some of those later primaries. Not a coincidence.
As such, as black folks the questions becomes: Other than having a black face in the White House, what does an Obama candidacy really mean (measurably) for blacks and other minorities? I submit that, while I like him and think he’d be a good president, in terms of black folks he’s no different than any other politician. But I’m prepared and hopeful that I’m wrong come Day 101 of his presidency.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm -Tyler, as I see it, unless and until poor people (of all colors) come out and vote in DROVES, they will never, ever have a true friend in the White House. Never.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:22 pm -I agree he knew the mic was hot. And for crying out loud, he was on the set of FOX NEWS!!! I can’t believe he would be that stupid. By the way, is anyone offended (like me) that the REVEREND Jesse Jackson is caught speaking like that?
July 11th, 2008 at 6:24 am -Dawncita, the “Reverend” had a child out of wedlock (while married) that he refused to acknowledge for many years. His potty mouth is the least of his hypocrisies.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:15 am -I absolutely agree that he knew the mic was on, he isn’t nearly that inexperienced. I think he’s jealous, sad and a hypocrite, nuf said.
As I stated in a similar post, I am extremely disappointed when people focus more on how the message was delivered and by who, where, etc. The message that Obama delivered was something that needed to be said.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:28 am -Jesse Who?
I thought Jesse Helms died a few days ago! Is he talking from the grave, because it sure sounds like something he’d like to do – cut Obama’s nuts off, that is
)
All kidding aside, I think it’s much ado about nothing really – whether it was staged or just a careless slip of the tongue on JJ’s part. He’s Mr Irrelevant and his opinions simply won’t matter to many in this election. His own son gave him a very public and embarrassing tongue-lashing, as have several other notable figures like Spike lee. It’s as if he’s a child being scolded!
I think Fox News probably thought they had a stink bomb that they could use to foil Obama’s campaign somehow, but instead it’s having the opposite effect.
And to address Tyler’s question above – Obama is indeed a politician. And just like every other politician, he has to play the game if he wants to win. He (or we) may not like the rules, but he has to use them as a guide as he determines what actions to take or words to speak. Is he “the spook who sat by the door?” Likely not, nor do I expect him to be. Will he just be the Will Smith of government? I certainly hope not and don’t think so either.
If he becomes the next president, time will tell whether he lets the system surrounding him control him, or whether he dictates how the system operates. I think any speculation on how he’ll perform as president is just that – speculation. All we can really expect from his presidency (at least all I would expect) is that he’ll do what’s best for all of America.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am -HAVE YOU ALL GONE NUTS??
July 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm -SOMETHING IS WRONG!
NO ONE EVER AGREES WITH ME ON THIS SITE!
“A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over”
A friend told me about this site, I will be back. Conversation with thinking adults will be nice.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:03 am -Hey Celestine, welcome to the conversation. I am glad you’re here. As you see, we don’t always agree and really dust it up a bit sometimes, but to the best of my knowledge, we are all adults. (It’s funny tho’, who knows? We could have some precocious ‘tweens’ contributing, too.)
It’s been a little slow because I just completed a move and started a daily column over at AOL Black Voices/Black Spin blog.
The pace and intensity of my posting here will accelerate again in early August.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:01 am -