Jesse Jackson is far too savvy to say nasty things while miked. He’s done that too many times before and had similar actions sink his attempt to be a powerful presidential candidate.
Last week, Jackson took umbrage at Barack Obama’s stance against disappearing fathers, despite the fact several other prominent black men have done the same in the past, including comedian Bill Cosby, who shares similar parenting difficulties with Jackson.
Despite that, Jackson should have known Fox News, where the incident occurred, and other news channels would use his impolite and disparaging words against him as they should have.
But far better than the news channels giving Jackson his comeuppance were the cutting words that flowed quite easily from the mouth of his namesake, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Illinois.
The younger Jackson, on hearing his father’s unedited words said, “I am deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson’s reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama.”
The younger Jackson, co-chairman of the Obama campaign, continued, saying, “Rev. Jackson is my dad and I will always love him… So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric.”
Jackson, Jr., also said, “Rev. Jackson’s divisive and demeaning comments… contradict his inspiring and courageous career.”
I have to agree with Junior.
I have no problem with Jackson disagreeing with Obama. There are no politicians I agree with totally, regardless of their color or culture. To his credit, though, Jackson took a lot of lumps and bruises in the past which have enabled Obama to have a viable campaign for the presidency today.
But to voice disagreement in the crude manner Jackson Sr., did is uncalled for and beneath him.
I thought he would find a rocking chair after news surfaced he had fathered a child with another woman outside his marriage.
Maybe it would be a good idea for his son to take him shopping for that rocker now.
July 11, 2008...7:00 pm
Jesse Jackson needs to find a nice porch
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I am a native Kentuckian, and I have worked at the Lexington Herald-Leader for nearly a quarter of a century. I've been a columnist for almost 20 of those years, dispensing my opinions about anything and everything. Born in Owensboro, Ky., I'm old enough to have lived through racial segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, protests against the Vietnam War, and the break-up of the Beatles. That means I am "old school," and my thoughts emanate from that perspective.
8 Comments
July 11, 2008 at 7:54 pm
What was so inspiring and courageous about his career? He’s nothing more than a glorified extortionist, a racial divider and a phony in regards to his religious authority. Sen. Obama is exactly the type of uniter that this country has needed for some time and I think it is his unifying style that has made him so attractive to whites, blacks and any other color that is supporting him in droves. Jackson, on the other hand, is a much reviled figure among what I would argue is close to a majority of the population. You would probably blame that on his race, but in truth it is because he is the real definition of a racist and a man who is full of hatred…and someone that makes his living on keeping black families down so he can be a part of “the struggle”.
July 11, 2008 at 8:15 pm
The Rev. is just MAD (as in ANGRY) that Obama, and not him, is the object of media attention, and Obama is not kissing his ring!
July 11, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Merlene, I agree 100 percent that it’s time for Rev. Jackson to disappear out of the spotlight and enjoy his twilight years without embarrassing his family, friends, and the African-American community with his continuous rants which do not fit in the context of what most Americans (black and white) believe anymore. He is of a generation where every single thing coming and going was an attempt to subdue and make the black community submit to the white man’s power…however he apparently hasn’t paid attention in the past 20-30 years to what has been going on in the world, because we have our FIRST ever black Presidential candidate, a very decent man and a wise man who says the same thing that everyone else says…which is you should take care of your kids if you’re a father (white or black) and be a contributing (and good) part of their lives, and Rev. Jackson thinks that’s “talking down to black people”? I don’t think it’s talking down to anyone, just speaking the truth to ALL fathers, if they don’t want to take care of children and raise them to be good citizens, then they shouldn’t be having sex and creating those children. I don’t see how anyone can take that as being talked down to, rather they should be looking at it as good advice and start heeding the words he spoke before the next generation of leaders (our young people) are so messed up that they end up destroying our nation.
July 11, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I found it interesting that he was upset with B.O. for talking about fathers taking responsibility. How could you disagree with that “Reverend?”
July 12, 2008 at 1:42 am
Merlene,
I usually don’t agree with you on most things you write about, but I believe I sure like what you said this time. Touche’!
July 12, 2008 at 3:29 am
Well said! I’m really disappointed to hear this kind of crude comment from the Right Rev. Jackson. One might start to wonder if the green-eyed monster has bitten him in the rear.
July 12, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Beneath him? I would say it is par for the course. Jackson is a thug and extortionist. Probably saw that he isn’t going to wind up with a place in an Obama administration. I’ll go in half for that rocking chair.
July 18, 2008 at 12:30 pm
What would Jesse say if it was a white person who’d used the N-word? Maybe we finally won’t have to hear from him anymore. Hopefully….