It's not clear to me why the Rev. Jesse Jackson seems not to have learned from his mistakes.
Although this isn't the first time Jackson has been critical of Obama, it is the first time he has suggested Obama should be taken to task for allegedly "talking down" to black voters.
Call it trash talking. Call it disrespect. Call it wrong. But it was definitely deja vu.
It was what Jackson thought was a private conversation that helped derail his own presidential aspirations in 1984 when he referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter.
The idea that the media-savvy Jackson got so caught up at a taping of a Fox News program -- a network that a lot of blacks complain is racist -- that he forgot he was in a public arena is absurd to me.
Publicly, Jackson has supported Obama, but privately he has been sweltering with resentment over how Obama's campaign has been run in the black community.
"I've always shared my observations with Obama privately," Jackson told me. "My support is long-standing, but I have had concerns about the broadening of the message before these black audiences.
"Whatever he says about social issues in the black community is picked up by the right wing as chastising blacks, not as addressing the issues."
And lately, there has been a lot more grumbling about Obama's failure to speak out nationally about concerns critical to black people, such as the ongoing discrimination in the job and housing markets.
In fact, Obama has had to step so gingerly around racial issues that it was probably easier for black leaders to push their agenda with a white candidate.
Jackson's faux pas turned up the volume on a whispered conversation.
But there's no need to worry.
Black Democrats have supported a long line of presidential contenders who had to walk the same fine line.
They are not about to abandon Obama because he finds more opportunities to talk about black pathology than he does white racism.
Besides, the reverend's comments were so beneath the dignity of the cloth he wears, and the road he has traveled, the Obama campaign won't have to deal with them -- period.
But if Jackson keeps making loud noises, he'll find out how quickly even a civil rights icon like him can get left behind.
Mary Mitchell is a columnist for the
If Jackson keeps making loud noises, he'll find out how quickly even a civil rights icon like him can get left behind.
Posted by Mary Mitchell on July 10, 2008 05:09 PM | Permalink
Jesse Jackson, Sr. is already behind, that is why he keeps making a fool of himself as the other icons have been doing previously.
I have no more harsh words to harp on the brotha except "It is time to go somewhere and sit down. He do not have to worry, the next generation
still have plenty of questions to ask, but he must get up to their 21st century intellectual speed and not hold them back with his previous deeds."
ttyl Ms. Mitchell - fwiw, cwi learn hanging out with Gen-X? and this is old stuff..*grinning*
Jesse “Rhyming” Jackson publicly renounces Obama because he’s not in line with Operation PUSH or anything else the hypocrite has in place in our community. Obama is correct in the speech he made about black men & MEN IN GENERAL, making children & not caring, nurturing them & doing the right thing. Scripturally, it states specifically as to what a man should do for his children as well as what mothers should do. Obama is right in saying what he did. His intent was to awaken those who are sleep-walking thinking what they are doing is ok & acceptable as long as no one is calling them out on it & of course, too many women are letting these men slide (for various reasons such as not wanting to deal with their trifling asses). But Jackson wants to downplay his words….HOW? If he spoke Japanese then translation is up for debate, but this is English & it is what it is. But Jesse should be hung by his nuts for saying what he did, off-line or not. HE IS A REVERAND. A jack-legged preacher at that.…oh & by the way, the 30 yr difference with the baby mama that was exposed in 2002 (Lets not forget that--Reverend wanted some strange booty for a change AWAY from the Wifey-If it were me, I would never allow Jesse to speak in public again on any social issue. He’s a fool. An old fool at that. He needs to be Blacklisted to keep him from ever speaking in public again. Nothing GOOD ever comes out of it!
Farrakhan gets results. Jackson gives rhetoric. He needs to stay on the store front where he started at. And another thing: isn’t it funny that all these people Obama supported & was an advocate to & spoke publicly for are being exposed as Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing??? Their covers have been pulled off. A lot of jealousy is goin on & the “Crabs in a Barrel” is now in effect. God is exposing those who are “working for the Lord” who really are working toward their own agenda. The only thing holy about Jesse Jackson is his holey, skidmark, pissy drawls. Someone needs to throw some holy water on his ass & watch him sizzle. Ain't a damn thing about him religious. He has his own agenda 'in the name of god' & civil rights. PUHLEEZE. Blacklist his ass just like they use to do from 1900-1970's, gag him from speaking out again...ever. Unity my ass-RETORIC from his chops daily. We Shall Over Come is retoric. He's a prime example of what's wrong in our. He's the one that needs his nuts cut off for having children outside of his marriage & he's a 'rev'...how about that one? Wouldn't that be 'Just Due' since he put that out there. why not?!! maybe he'd actually shut the F' up for a change-in the days of Moses, wouldn't he get it cut off if he committed a sexual crime? You steal, your hand gets cut off. You lie, cut out your tongue, lust after another mans wife by lookin--take an eyeball out--fornicate--cut your nuts off--if not your ding-a-ling too-i'm just saying-AND HE'S GUILTY OF ALL THESE THINGS--he'd be a blind, no touchin, no talkin, castrated fool, wouldn't you say?
Mary, everybody needs a history lesson. In the 1920's in the 'Deep South' there were incidents were some African-American men were indeed CASTRATED by Jim Crow for talking to white women. THATS A FACT ! I'm very sure Jesse Jackson knows this. So to threaten a black man with castration is every bit as horrible as putting a 'noose in the tree'...So the PHIL SMITH JR.'s of the world, keep saying its no big deal....It is. Am I right, Mary?
Oh yes, whether you like him or not, Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. And he won the nomination 'fair and square'. So where are the democratic politicians, both white and minority? A man has threatened THERE CANDIDATE with castration. Yet, NOT one condemnation. Why? And Mary, why aren't your fellow columnists asking why? This is an absolute disrespect to Obama from his fellow democrats.
I must admit I find this whole thing hilarious for several reasons..
- that somehow people find Obama's stance on black males "controversial"
- are we up to 3 or 4 reverends that have made controversional statements related to Obama...3 down and a few hundred thousand to do
- that people talk about jessie like he should be knighted.
the author here seems to deify jessie - do you remember:
- he also fathered a child out of wedlock
- his infamous "hymie-town" remakk
- his extortion of Budweiser into a lucrative job for his son
he's done some good things - no doubt. but please don't talk about him like he's the second coming...
Ms. Mitchell-
Thank you for being honest re. the Rev. His comments were horrible. He is jealous. His time has come and gone.
What Was Jesse thinking? Well, who was he talking to?
See
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/no-dead-mics-on-fox/
It is true that Obama speaks down to the African American community and with the whole world listening. There are many examples. Moreover, in doing so Obama perpetuates negative stereotypes against African Americans which further deteriorate race relations. He would not dare pronounce such harsh judgments against other demographics, each with its own set of issues, with all sharing common areas of concern. I have been personally offended by some of Obama's comments and although Jackson did not intend to be heard, he spoke truthfully. I understand all the arguments in support of Obama's brand of "tough love" but I do not buy into them. He takes the African American vote for granted and insults an entire race in order to obtain votes from working class whites and independents. Jackson is being vilified for uttering the truth! I believe that we are at a point where there are very stiff personal penalties imposed for exercising one's 1st Amendment rights.
Geez Mary, you're the problem with your constant racist remarks. Everything has top be racial - biased - white vs black. Case in point, "They are not about to abandon Obama because he finds more opportunities to talk about black pathology than he does white racism." Is there sucha thing a "white pathology" or is that something only for black's? I'm sure you'll have to label "white pathology" as racist.
JHC MARY, Now we really see the double standard. Castration and all you have to say is the remarks are beneath him? No history lesson about how blacks were castrated in the south a s a form of punishment no demand he should serve some sort of penance? Just a bs apology and Jesse walks on your watch.
Wow now we know blacks hear things differently than whites and say their real feelings about Obama behind closed doors or open mics. Jesse and your attempts to keep blacks down by not holding them accountable is really threatened by Obama getting into the white house.
Thanks for the moral stand behind your candidate. Stepping so lightly you would thought jesse's comment was he was nuts about Obama.
Great day you get to feign holding Jesse accountable and don't hold him accountable all in the same column.
Patrick La Salle
First it was the Pastor Whites negative comments{"GOD DAMM AMERICA"} Now the rev. Jessie Jackson"s comments about wanting to cut the balls off a presidential candidate. I thought these men were preachers who preached......................... the love of god,forgiveness,understanding,compassion??? Not to mention Jessie Jackson is a civil rights leader?????? What happened to Obamas freedom of speech????? Obama was addressing a very REAL EPIDEMIC in american society. The black fatherless rate in America is approx. 70 percent. The babys daddys are now where to be found. look at the poor nieghborhoods just in Chicago,most of the black children are raised on welfare,public housing[or section 8, housing] and public aid. Jessie jackson should use his organization to help train his people on parenting,higher education and job training and placement. "ASK NOT WHAT WHAT YOUR GOVERMENT CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR GOVERMENT. Perhaps with the decline of the black communities .....GANGS,DRUGS,MURDER, POVERTY,and FATHERLESS HOMES.. THE ROOSTERS REALLY HAVE COME OUT TO ROOST!!!!!! GOD DAMM AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those comments made by Rev: Jackson that Obama talked down on blacks were unfortunate. This is not to say that black leaders should not criticize Obama. Of course, they have rights to do so. But they should direct their criticisms in more forthright coming way. I also think that this saga between Jackson and Obama is more about generational issue. This means that the old generation should be ready to pass on the torch and wisedom to the new leadership without being jealousy. Again and again, this saga is about generational shift!I think Senator Obama should accept Rev: Jackson's apology with wholeheart.
I thought Jessie's comments were wonderful for Barack - what better why to demonstrate that you represent a truly different way of thinking then being despised by the old regime. White people (including me)love people who talk about empowerment/taking responsibility for your life vs. Jessie's victimization/pity party philosophy. If scolding the irresponsible infuriates Jessie I'm all for it.
After all that marching and preaching Jesse has done over the last 25 years, where has it gotten us? He wants gun control laws that don't work. Jesse and Rev. Meeks wants people to turn in their gun to get them off the street. That dose not work. Thugs are not going to turn in their guns. We have ben talking about jail over populated by N...... Don't forget the dead beat N..... who can't take care of their children. The public schools are a filled with future N..... who don't want to learn anything. The laws need to be tougher and schools need to be strict. School uniforms should be black pants, white dress shirt, a tie and black dress shoes. Teach these kids some self respect. Young parents need to grew up and stop making excuses. I strongly believe there are N..... and there are blacks. Hard working blacks don't want anything to do with N.....; Mary Mitchell show know growning up in the Deaborns like myself, and living in Maywood. All I am saying is Jesse needs to get mad and talk more like Bill Cosby. Jesse should be mad as hell, all of that marching he and King did in the 60's. He be very disappointed by what he see, instead of making excuses for these N....., he needs to talk down on them, maybe some of them will grew up.
Jesse Jackson should be ashamed of himself for the comment that he made. Although, I am still on the fence about Obama and whether he would make a good president, I am not on the fence about Jesse Jackson. Someone called him an icon of the civil rights movement. I beg to differ. Jackson is an icon of "what will benefit me" and the civil rights movement and everyone else comes in second. Obama is right to address the African-American community about the absent fathers. Oh by the way Mr. Jackson have you seen your love child lately. For him to sit on the fence and complain about what Obama is saying, to me, is condoning the situation. He should be agreeing with Obama and trying to do something about it. I am and always have been leery of Jackson and his motives in the community. He has made his money off the backs of Black people and should be doing more to help them. I am feed up with the way that has been leeching off our community. As for me he does not speak for me, he does can not tell me how to behave as a Black woman. Nor does he have any influence on how being a Black person should conduct themselves. What I am saying is that it is time for him to take his misguided views and poems and go retire.
If the Christina leader tries to put on an outward show with no inward fortification of honesty and truthfulness, one day a test will reveal his or her true nature and character. Mr. Jackson, your true nature and character has been revealed.
Mary and everybody else:
The 'Daily Kos' blog is reporting that James Mtume on WRKS, KISS-FM radio in New York City is saying that witnesses told him that Jackson's other comments about Obama (remember OReilly said he wouldn't say inorder not to ruin Jesse) were he was calling Obama a "fu-kin half-breed n----r".....If so, Jackson needs to apologize and then just go away. Mary, as a journalist who is suppose to report the facts, is this true? Could you find out?
Dear Ms. Mitchell:
I saw watched you on Chicago Tonight, the PBS station in the middle of the night while doing my home dialysis treatment but I couldn't figure out how to disconnect so I could email you. The reason for this contact was in regard to Jesse Jackson's comment regarding the "n-ts" thing that the live mic picked up. I must say that if that comment was in regard to "faith based initiatives", I agree with Jesse Jackson. I am against it because once the government gives money to religious/parochial schools they will be subject to guidelines from the government. If such a thing passes it could mean devestation for the schools and/or institutions. Perhaps not during Sen. Obama's time as president, but in the future. Who knows what sort of governments the U.S. will be in power in the future. I have always believed that if religion and government mix, eventually the GOVERNMENT will BECOME the religion.
Also, the last few years it seems as if blacks and whites have turned on Jesse Jackson. I don't understand it. During the civil rights years and all through Chicago politics he kept his presence known in the media when it came to racial and other issues, which was a VERY good thing--showing the world that the eyes of black America were monitoring what was going on. The alarm on my dialysis machine just went off and I believe it means I have to reattach. I hope Sen. Obama wins.
P.S. Just for the record I am a 57 year old white woman who spent most of my years in Chicago but had to move to Wheaton to be closer to Central DuPage Hospital.
Warmest regards,
Theresa Speck
Jackson cannot stand the fact that there is a new African American leader, who actually wants to improve lives of black people in the U.S. Jackson must step back and let Obama fix the damage that he himself and the American Government have inflicted to African Americans. Jackson has been good preaching how to play a race card to get out of bad situations or get benefits. This is not the way to improve lives of African Americans and the interracial relations in this country. Both Jackson and the government have to accept that African Americans need something better then free housing, food stamps and welfare checks. They need empowerment in the form of good education, extracurricular programs, job training and motivational counseling. Giving black people the opportunity to succeed instead of handouts is an equal treatment, which will eventually put a stop to racism in this country.
The best part of this whole primary is this, it JUST PROVES BLACKS WILL SELF DESTRUCT AND DESTROY ANYTHING THAT THEY TRY TO DO. This is great.......this mope doesn't have a chance because of all the ghettoness he as surrounded himself with. We all know though that the animal will riot, loot, pillage, rape, and destroy when he loses. They will say "It ain't right that Obama lost it is the whiteys fault!!!" Although the only thing that I agreed with the Muslim loving senator on is how he placed the burden of blackys plight on them, seeing it is all their own fault that they live like animals.
As he stood beside King on the balcony in Memphis just before he was shot by an assassin, how could something like this come out of Jacksons mouth about another black.
It these word came from someone other than a black, the news media would have still been covering the incident. However it saddens me to think that a black "civil rights" leader would say such a thing. Fathers in the home of black children is a problem and the black mother don't have the option to be a "stay at home mom" because she need to work sometimes two fulltime jobs to feed her family and keep a roof over her head and she is discriminated against for wanting to raise her children in decent housing and send them to decent schools.
Rev. Jackson, speak out on issues that are real and know that when they are heard it might hurt the male ego to hear the truth but it will definately be a good dose of medicine to begin the cure and healing for what really ails the black community...back in the day the government ran the man out of the house in order for the mother to get welfare when dad couldnt find work. Now the mother is ran out the house and the father is locked up..end result the child will and still misses the connection of two parents...what black woman wouldnt like to be "stay at home mom " while dad go off to work a job that brings home the bacon and pays the rent. This occupation for a black woman is rare and is not an option to her.
Rev. Jackson, don't be critical of men who address real issues and give out good advice to a community of people especially if you are in position to do so. Obama appears in all ways to love his wife and children and is a piller in the community of dads in his role of fatherhood...blacks emulate what real men do for their family and not just just talk but walk their talk...soccer or T-ball anyone..dad be there. The clubs and the hollywood image of black men has really impacted our black family.
Great African-American's like B.T. Washington; W.E.B. Dubois; Bessie Cole, & Bethune-Cookman, wore the mantle of personal responsibility as an badge of honor, not being "talked down to", but in Jackson's warped world view of victomization, not only does Jackson not get it, he can't sell it, because that would leave him w/out a job, telling people what to fear, & who's to blame!
I don't know why it was so important to the Reverend that he had to express his feelings to Dr. Reed Tuckson, who understandably looked quite uncomfortable as the brazen comments were being made.
It is truly a shame that backwards thinking, "telling ******* how to behave" was to him unacceptable when Sen Obama was addressing a problem that screams for resolution to strengthen the community, not break it down nor neglect it.
That is the real shame. Rev. Jackson, by his statement and vitriol, appears to not want the Black family to rise and educate themselves and by default strengthen the both the Black community and nation as a whole. When uneducated and separated, it is easier to control a population to your wants and greedy needs.
The comments that were made by the racist "The Whitey Guy" should be removed, he sounds like he is full of hate, not only for blacks, but for himself as well. No one wants to read his response, he is a miserable individual. My comment regarding Jesse, is that he is has always been a jealous individual. I personally believe that he had something to do with the MLK assasination. I also believe he hate and will do anything he can to destroy any black men that have the ability to become a strong leader. What is in you can't be hidden for long and although you leave your past, it will always follow you (Jessie Jackson and Jr.). The comments Obama made, produced guilt of his own actions, with his outside infidelity. I dont' care for him or his son (apples do fall far from the tree). What is son did to Howard Brookins, shows the same kind of hate and envy/jealousy. Howard was his friend and he bashed him in the media. He did not have to support him, however he did not have to make the negative comments that he did either - he and his father are haters. They are all for themselves and that is why they will never get further than where they are. They pretend to be conscious of unity and they are the Judias, set in place to help others destroy us. Obama is speaking to black men, because it is time, for black men to get their mind right. He addressed an issue that is escalating at a very fast pace in our community. If it is not stopped, it will spill over into other communities. These children are growing up with hate and pain, using drugs that have altered their minds and the outcome of the alter is violence. It does start at home, love and self-respect is initially learned in the home. Jesse Jackson is done and is exposing himself for the individual, he has always been- untrustworthy a snake.
What a load of Bull the thoughts that Jesse Jackson's use of the "N" word was not directed at Obama so that makes it better. The $50 fine for Jesse Jackson's use of the "N" word suggested by the Laugh Factory owner in LA, is absurd. I lost my exemplary career of 20 years for using the "N" word one time in a manner that was not even within a derogatory statement directed at anyone. I am not the first or last person that has had this happen to them. I am still suffering the ill effects of using this "N" word and my family continues to suffer every day also. I lost hundreds of thousands of dollars for the rest of my life, I now must drive 150 miles one way to work because I was not willing to start at the bottom and work my way up to the level I had achieved in a "mans" career. I was personally attacked by a small group of those "men" when I tried to fight the discrimination that was occurring to me and other women. Those few guys used the media and politics to blasphemy my name, and my reputation because they predicted the reaction and help they would receive from people like Jesse Jackson. For our little location on earth that person was NAACP activist Daryl Rouson. He reacted, joined the band wagon before even knowing the issues and certainly not caring to obtain the truth. The local newspaper media with whom Mr Rouson worked used their agenda to spread the untruths and the circus began. It worked as planned, the political leaders crumbled under the pressure and I was fired. 20 years of exemplary life-saving service to all of the people of the community with fairness and care, all while being subject to discrimination and harassment myself. Look what happened for one slip of the tongue, one time, one use of the "N" word. So BS to a fifty dollar fine, BS to an apology and BS to those who support his hypocratic behavior. Jesse is a hypocrite like so many others and deserves a huge penalty for his use of that word and in a derogoatory manner about his own race. My life has suffered tremendously, he deserves short of the death penalty in my opinion, lock him up and throw away the key. I have suffered and continue everyday from my one time use of that "N" word and the opportunistic group of men who used it to remove me from the career I had superbly performed for 20 years, taking care of those of all races without any discrimination from me, yet all the while being subjected to gender discrimination and sexual harassment, in a manner that some others should be jailed for. It is this hypocratic behavior that perpetuates ill race relations in our nation, the hypocrasy, the expectations and punishment of whites who did not play any part in the earlier days of historical race discrimination, nor have partaken in discrimination today. I for one was not even born then. I did not partake nor do I partake in race discrimination. I think that there are good and bad people to all races, and we all make mistakes, every one of us. The unwillingness to take responsibility for making something of yourself and working hard to make it happen. The blasphemy of others who do. I know what it is like to be discriminated against and harassed. I have continued to work my career, standing up against the obstacles and have worked very hard to make ends meet. I was bit by the riduculous political word police who had an agenda to the point where the truth did not matter. Any apology that Jesse makes will not bring back the lives of those who he and others have destroyed because of the use of that "N" word, even one just one time. TOTAL BS
JJ is NOTHING more that a SHYSTER & CON! HE self appointed himself everything HE CALL'S HIMSELF! I hope and pray all the folks who stupidly followed THAT FOOL, realizes they've been Dooped, suckered and fooled. From now ON if any of JJ's camp, may it be his kids (Including the one's HE DON'T CLAIM unless the women threaten's to go public like his lastest baby mama did) come's acting like they should received special treatment, is somebody MORE than other Tax Paying Citizen, they should be held to the same requirement's, standard's as all other quaified individuals. Long gone should be the day's of JJ and Al-S so called leadership! All it ever was an extreame case, "Of The Blind Leading The Blind."
A black man once said these words:
1. We have got to get our problems solved frist.
2. The Negro in this country before he can when with the ballot, has to be made more politically mature. Now many Negroes dont like to be criticized.
3. And until our people are able to go in a closet, put you out, and analyze ourselves and discover our own liabilities as well as our assets, we never will be able to win any struggle that we become involved in. As long as the black community and the leaders of the black community are afraid of criticism and want to classify all criticism, collective criticism, as a stereo-type, no one will ever be albe to pull our coat. So frist we have to go in the closet and find out where we are lacking, or we never will be able to be sucessful. We can win the ballot only when we make our people become politically mature.
4.But our accent will be upon youth. Weve already isssued a call for the students in the colleges and universities across the country. This Famous Voice were the words of Malcolm X. Obamas is speaking to the youth the young, he is telling the truth he is asking us to look in to our closets we can win the ballot our people are and have become politically mature and they are involved, Obama has done something that Jackson couldnt do and is saying thing that Jackson should have been saying instead he (Jackson) was stepping out on his wife so who is he to tell us anything about whats right or wrong he dosnt speak for me or to me.