Boy, oh boy, Jesse Jackson’s definitely got a bit of egg on his face. Or, we hope it’s egg. Fox News caused a scandal yesterday when they aired footage off Jackson criticizing Senator Barack Obama.
Speaking with United Health Group’s Reed Tuckson about Obama’s father’s day speech, during which he took on absentee dads, Jackson, thinking his microphone had been turned off, remarked, “See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based … I want cut his nuts off … Barack … he’s talking down to black people.”
Cue damage control…
Hearing that Bill O’Reilly planned on airing the footage, Jackson issued a preemptive apology for the “crude” remarks and declared that he has nothing but respect for the candidate and his campaign:
It was not a public speech or a declaration… For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize… My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal.
He went on to say, “…I think this campaign is a redemptive moment for America and a great opportunity to redefine America.’Obviously not wanting to give this story too much energy, Obama accepted Jackson’s apology, saying they will continue to work together.
While some people will use Jackson’s comments to tear down Obama, others wonder if this may actually help him:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The comments may turn out to help Obama by emphasizing his call for personal responsibility, a favorite topic of Republicans, said Mark Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.
“It reinforces Obama’s effort to present himself as an advocate of responsible personal behavior, a position that Republican candidates like to secure as uniquely their own,” Rozell said.
Obama’s campaign’s definitely playing that card. Spokesman Bill Burton commented that the candidate “will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other…”
Watch as Rachel Maddow and democratic strategist Chris Kofinis discuss the dust up…
RPCV
Love it. Shows the true colors of Jackson. See, if the blacks heed Hussein’s advice (and they surely won’t) and become “good” dads (now that’s an oxymoron) then Jackson and Company will be irrelevant. Jackson and Co. prey on the downtrodden status of the black community.
Note to Jesse: Don’t worry. The blacks will prove themselves unable to heed Hussein’s advice and you and Sharpton will still have jobs every time you perceive something nasty has goes down with yo’ people.
Besides, kind of goes against the grain of what one would expect a Right Reverend to say: “…cut the nuts off!!!” Got God and the bible, Jesse? Or are you and Sharpton and all the rest just using the “bible” to make millions off yo’ po bruvas and sistas??
Kyler
Faith based charities = aweful idea
Separation of church and state mean anything to anyone anymore. Maybe we can elect the pope as president in 2012 and fund Holy Wars.
However I fail to see how the idea talks down specifically to black people, it seems to be something that would affect all people.
Truly I think this is Obama’s way of reaching out to evangelicals and I hope it works because Obama is the only candidate that can at this point give me hope for a brighter and gayer tomorrow.
IDNY
Is it just me or does Jackson do more harm then good more often then not?
However, I love O’Reilly when he announces, so everyone looks and takes notice that he is going to take the high road on this one, unlike others. Yet still does not take a professional and objective stance to the story and start attacking Jackson to publicize the story and fan the flames lol.
Republican bigots are funny (and sneaky, and dangerous).
hells kitchen guy
Jackson feel on his sword for Obama. The whole thing was staged so Obama could distance himself from controversial black leaders. I mean, come on, he had a microphone on him – on Fox!
Tom
Jackson has lost his mind. But it shows that Bill Clinton is not the only person wanting to cut Obama’s nuts off.
Tom
That’s some conspiracy theory you got there Hell’s Kitchen, any thoughts on who killed JFK?
Charley
Rachael Maddow is my favorite person. She is electric, fresh, powerful, and a pleasure to watch.
MJ
O’Reilly, who seems very pro-Obama these days, was making a good point. There are some black activists who just do not want Obama getting elected. It will seem too much like the country has moved beyond racism, and leave them with nothing to gripe about (rightly or wrongly). Be aware of that when certain activists put down Obama. It’s sometimes the case.
emb
A. If Jackson wasn’t irrelevant before this, he just ushered himself into a whole new level of irrelevance. The Obama campaign may have graciously accepted his apology, but I wouldn’t look for Jesse to have many more self-serving photo ops.
B. Charley is SO right about Rachel!!
C. People who refer to others by unused middle names thinking that they’re making some sort of snarky political/religious/social point (when in fact they just sound dopier and more shallow than a rightwing radio talkshowhost) really need to be consistent and call mccain Sidney.
Charley
We have heard enough from pastors and priests, black and white. They think they have power to control politicians, but in fact they are showing they don’t. Jackson and Wright are of the old school of afro-centrism, which translates “don’t say anything that does not compliment the black civil rights movement”. Glad Jackson’s son condemned his father.
CHURCHILL-Y
Please Jackson keep opening yer trap and letting the world know what you truly think about the Messiah. No amount of progress is good enough for lame idiots like him and Sharpton as far as their concern black people in the United States are still picking cotton in the fields.
You won’t hear them discussing the Messiah’s vote in favor of the FISA bill which by the way Hillary voted against, NO no NO! it’s CHANGE we can believe in all the way!
‘MERCI BEAUCOUP’
He’s changing alright and most of us non-black GLBT folk won’t end up liking what his morphing into.
Thom
“most of us non-black GLBT folk won’t end up liking what his morphing into.”
Yes, because non-black GLBT people are currently being given the services they need by our great non-black government. Keep up the ignorance… It reminds me how much work there is left to do in this country.
Typical White Gay Person
Jackson and Sharpton are has beens. He should get down on his fucking knees and apologize to Bill Clinton for all the bullshit he threw at him.
Threatening to cut someone’s nuts off is far more offensive than anything Imus ever said.
Nitesurf
There are some black activists who just do not want Obama getting elected. It will seem too much like the country has moved beyond racism
If anyone seriously thinks that racism will magically end because Obama gets elected, they are completely deluded. A casual glance at some of the comments posted on this site shows how bad off things still are between the races.
AJ
How come all the Obama supporters are not jumping all over this? What if Bill would have said that? I agree with No. 13, Threatening to cut off someone’s nuts is far more offensive than the Bill Clinton “Fairy tail” comment.
Steve
“Yes, because non-black GLBT people are currently being given the services they need by our great non-black government.”
Ok, I’ll bite. What services do you think I am getting from the Fed that black GLBT people aren’t?
RPCV
AJ: I agree with Bill Clinton that Obama has a fairy “tail” – he sort of waddles like a duck and I’ve heard rumors that Hussein acts on the down low…… But, in this case I think you meant fairy “tale!!” LOL. Were you so traumatized in school for being gay that you missed the day the teacher discussed the difference between tail and tale???
blake
R2D2 and Church-Nazi are here to mar the day and inject their daily doses of racism to Queerty! Can a day pass on Queerty when these two losers can’t go without some anti-black racist crap?
“Hussein”? Yeah, nice try at using xenophobia there. Scary, scary, someone has a “different” name.
R2D2, gay, white supremacist Republican, who complains about those terrible liberals but is more than happy to take advantage of the hard work and sacrifice liberals, gay, bi, or straight, devoted to ensure rights for GLBT Americans.
It’s like some sci-fi horror movie: a vicious, robotic parasite!
R2D2 revealed, he is a government employee in D.C. So, what do Republican officials think of gays in the government?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2005_April_12/ai_n13606960
michael
Obama voted for FISA- Watch what you type and say on the phone boys cause you don’t know whose listening? (by the way Hilary voted against it)
Obama wants to continue in the tradition of Bush with his faith based initiatives.
“Marriage is between one man and on woman”
Uses a “reformed” gay during his campaign
Considers former Senator Sam Nunn for VP
Its good to know that finally I can quit worrying about who will be elected in November cause the differences between Obama
and McCain are getting slimmer every day. Jesse Jackson probably could of said a lot more than he did.
SUPPORT THE ACLU AND THEIR LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE FISA ACT. ITS OUR ONLY HOPE.
AJ
lol, I guess, I didn’t notice that. I’m aware of the difference, just too many languages in my head at the same time. I’ve been speaking German all day at work and by the end, I don’t know what the hell I’m saying or typing.
pj
Gee, Jesse, just because he talked about the irresponsibility of fathering out of wedlock children, you don’t have to take it, um, personally.
Mr C
I have a few comments on this..
First and foremost Jesse was 100% WRONG for what he said. But I also realize he is apart of the old guard who is bitter that something new has come in their place to carry the torch. But also keep in mind he never was an Obama supporter anyway. So such as……….whatever
Now to the following folks who posted on this:
Typical White Gay Person you said No#13: He should get down on his fucking knees and apologize to Bill Clinton for all the bullshit he threw at him…FOR FUCKING WHAT. It was Bill who brought back the Jesse issue in South Carolina so they have to apologize to Bill for SHIT! Bill has a lot to apologize for……Truth be told. And how many times has the queens said things before. What Imus said was interpreted as a RACIST STATEMENT! PERIOD.
AJ said No #16: How come all the Obama supporters are not jumping all over this? What if Bill would have said that?
OK AJ and what if Bill said it? Don’t you think he’s said enough and read other blogs because the Obama supporters have been firing Jesse up about this. Once again he (Jesse) was originally a Clinton supporter.
Michael said: No# 20
Obama voted for FISA- Watch what you type and say on the phone boys cause you don’t know whose listening? (By the way Hilary voted against it). OKAY so Hillary voted against it. They are only looking for anyone who would be considering a terrorist act against this country. And I have had some very intimate conversations and others one as well. The Gov’t hasn’t knocked on my door. So please girl it’s rubbish it won’t affect you unless you want it to like you are letting it now.
Obama wants to continue in the tradition of Bush with his faith based initiatives. And what is wrong with that? These initiatives are NOT harmful. Just like he does want to see LGBT has the supportive rights that they need so that we can still live without being 100% discriminated against. Nothing is full proof
“Marriage is between one man and on womanâ€â€¦.AND MOTHER HILLARY FEELS THE SAME!
Uses a “reformed†gay during his campaign.
So what?????? Should the entire Obama campaign use all of us Gays then what will heterosexuals say? By the way they out number us so there has to be an equal playing field. It’s called “Strategyâ€
Considers former Senator Sam Nunn for VP…..
GIRLS take some Advil. That post will be filled by Hillary Clinton
But Mike do know Obama does support LGBT…Does McInsane?????
As for Churchychicken-Y the hell are you here??? No#11
You know in previous post you always talked about being one of these Blue Collar lunch bucket workers that Hillary stood for or at least that is how you felt.
Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you stop with your racists rabid posts and get educated and move from a Blue collar to a WHITE collar. Always talking about Blacks this and Blacks that. BITCH why haven’t you achieved “THE AMERICAN DREAM†you know the one where the milk and honey was laid out for you. And it still is GO GET IT ASSHOLE and stop being sitting and waiting for to you! OH my badd only us Blacks have our hands out and complain Go figure silly queen
And last but not certainly least!
Miss MOTHERFUCKING R2D2…Chief of Racial Prejudices for the US Gov’t No #18
Why don’t you worry about your motherfucking health instead of your hate spewing on Blacks. Very bitter queen I see. It’s not our fault girl. Don’t be mad at us for your stupidity.
Mr C
/REPOST/
Um I have a few comments on this..
First and foremost Jesse was 100% WRONG for what he said. But I also realize he is apart of the old guard who is bitter that something new has come in their place to carry the torch. But also keep in mind he never was an Obama supporter anyway. So such as……….
Now to the following folks who posted on this:
Typical White Gay Person you said No#13: He should get down on his fucking knees and apologize to Bill Clinton for all the bullshit he threw at him…FOR FUCKING WHAT. It was Bill who brought back the Jesse issue up in South Carolina so they don’t have to apologize to Bill for SHIT! Bill has a lot to apologize for……Truth be told And what Imus said was interpreted as a RACIST STATEMENT! PERIOD.
AJ said No #16: How come all the Obama supporters are not jumping all over this? What if Bill would have said that?
OK, AJ and what if Bill said it? Don’t you think he’s said enough and read other blogs because the Obama supporters have been firing Jesse up about this. Once again he (Jesse) was originally a Clinton supporter.
Michael said: No# 20
Obama voted for FISA- Watch what you type and say on the phone boys cause you don’t know whose listening? (By the way Hilary voted against it). OKAY so Hillary voted against it. They are only looking for anyone who would be considering a terrorist act against this country. And I have had some very intimate conversations and others one as well. The Gov’t hasn’t knocked on my door. So please girl it’s rubbish it won’t affect you unless you want it to like you are letting it now.
Obama wants to continue in the tradition of Bush with his faith based initiatives. And what is wrong with that? These initiatives are NOT harmful. Just like he want to see LGBT has the supportive rights that they need so that we can still live without being 100% discriminated against. Nothing is full proof
“Marriage is between one man and on womanâ€â€¦.AND MOTHER HILLARY FEELS THE SAME!
Uses a “reformed†gay during his campaign.
So what?????? Should the entire Obama campaign use all of us Gays then what will heterosexuals say? By the way they out number us so there has to be an equal playing field. It’s called “Strategyâ€
Considers former Senator Sam Nunn for VP…..
GIRLS take some Advil. That post will be filled by Hillary Clinton
But Mike do know Obama does support LGBT…Does McInsane?????
As for Churchychicken-Y the hell are you here??? No#11
You know in previous post you always talked about being one of these Blue Collar lunch bucket workers that Hillary stood for or at least that is how you felt.
Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you stop with your racists rabid posts and get educated and move from a Blue collar to a WHITE collar. Always talking about Blacks this and Blacks that. BITCH why haven’t you achieved “THE AMERICAN DREAM†you know the one where the milk and honey was laid out for you. And it still is GO GET IT ASSHOLE and stop sitting and waiting for it to come to you! OH my badd only us Blacks have our hands out and complain
Go figure silly queen
And last but not certainly least!
Miss MOTHERFUCKING R2D2…Chief of Racial Prejudices for the US Gov’t
Why don’t you worry about your motherfucking health instead of your hate spewing on Blacks. Very bitter queen I see. It’s not our fault girl. Don’t be mad at us for your stupidity.
AJ
No. 24 · Mr C said, “OK AJ and what if Bill said it? Don’t you think he’s said enough and read other blogs because the Obama supporters have been firing Jesse up about this. Once again he (Jesse) was originally a Clinton supporter.”
Come on, you KNOW that they(Obama supporters- includng yourself and sometimes myself) are giving Jesse a free pass with this. This is not even receiving half of the media’s attention as they gave to Bill Clinton over his comments. Honestly, It doesn’t offend me what politicians and their surrogates say. I think that they should feel free to say what they think, no matter how damaging the statement may be. But if you attack another’s comments, then you should do the same for all. There should be no double standard, and that is just commen sense.
And second, don’t label me or put me into the same group with radical racists. You have no idea whether my ancestral background includes a slave ship or not, by the comments I’ve made. But I would also expect nothing less from a hardcore Obama supporter to label someone a racist for having an opinion.
And third…while I know that I must attend a spelling class for the mistake I made above, you should definitly be in the grammer class across from me.
Mr C
Hey AJ,
I guess that’s why we have spell check in which neither one of us used at the time…LOL
Now to repsond, I never called you a racist sweetie
Please READ what I wrote to you! What I wrote in response to you never labeled you anything.
R.I.F
The other response was directed at Churchychicken and R2D2.
The resident racists here @ Queerty
AJ
Understandable, but nobody wants to be in a group of racist, even when it’s in a group of comments directed toward racists. Alot of people don’t read the whole context, they only look at the top, then the bottem, and assume everything in between is similar to that. Sorry, if any offense was taken.
RPCV
Mr. C: I suspect that one of these days you’ll be joining Ronnie L. White. You know what I’m talking about……….
Mr C
AJ,
No offense taken. It’s all good. I love good dialouge no matter how exciting, or emotional it can get.
Bill Perdue
From the Los Angeles Times: “As Barack Obama moves to broaden his appeal beyond loyal Democrats, a chorus of anger and disappointment has arisen from the left. But those voices are a distinct minority because the party has a more pressing concern: winning in November.”
Obama has begun the traditional Democratic election dance – the Allemande Right. He’s lurching to the right. He has a lot further to go on the path trail blazed by Clinton, Gore and Kerry.
When Obama started out he masqueraded as an ‘independent’, vaguely left candidate who’d repair the damage caused by eight years of Bush. He reveled in the fact that he didn’t have a history of sellouts and betrayals like Hillary. In his book the Audacity of Hope he boasted that “I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.†His lack of a record fooled lots of people and got him the nomination.
And now he’s repeating the pattern that gave the last two elections to Bush on a silver platter. Even so revulsion with Bush is so deep that Obama could still win as a right-centrist candidate. The expected slimy betrayals and capitulations of Gore and Kerry, following Bill Clinton’s betrayals of labor (NAFTA), ourselves (DOMA and DADT) and everyone else to the right of Pat Robertson drove millions away from the voting booth.
The Democratic Party leadership, as distinguished from those who mistakenly vote for it, has long been indistinguishable from the Republican Party in terms of actual practice, and nothing else, certainly not candidates promises counts. They are the twin parties of war, bigotry and economic chaos.
For all those who were taken in by Obama’s lies it’s not enough to follow Bette Davis’ advice to “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.†You’re going to need nose plugs and anti nausea drugs to get past the rightwing stench and vote for Obama. If elected he’ll be another Clinton: not just a worthless friend, an enemy.
Bill Perdue
Those clueless wonders who claim, like Mr. C., that Obama’s unending history of pandering to superstitious (religious) bigots, beginning with Donnie McKulkin and Mary Mary and continuing with his offensive and corrupt support of the Clinton/Bush plan to bribe sky pilots and pulpit pimps are deliberately ignoring the dangers that superstition (faith) based bribery offers not just to us but to all Americans.
Obama’s doing it because he’s only interested in one thing, getting elected like Clinton or Bush so he can line his pockets. In that regard and on the questions of war, bigotry and the promotion of economic chaos his politics are identical to those of the Clintons, the Bushes and McCain.
According to Christopher Anders, Senior Legislative Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union “Selling Senator Obama’s proposed expansion and retooling of the Bush faith-based initiative to the LGBT community is asking people to buy a pig in a poke.“ Then Anders says “The promise of an Obama campaign staffer of no federal funds for proselytizing or reparative therapy (trying to turn LGBT people into straight people) is an empty one. Even Bush bars proselytizing with federal dollars, and as far as we know, no federal dollars go to reparative therapy. At this point, Obama has proposed substantially increasing the size and stature of the faith-based initiative, while making only vague promises of additional safeguards… Right now, the LGBT community has no assurance that an even more powerful faith-based initiative won’t end up with more LGBT people being left out of working in, or receiving services from, government-funded religious groups. “
Anders adds, “Ironically, we’ve been down this road before. In fact, the Bush administration tried the same misguided appeal to the LGBT community in early 2001, when the Bush White House got the support of the head of a predominantly gay religious denomination to support the Bush faith-based initiative, based on the hope that his church would be able to start getting federal funds to carry out its religious mission. Seven years later, the LGBT community has gotten nothing but harm from the faith-based initiative. Certainly the rule for the LGBT community should be once burned, twice shy.â€
Pandering to religious nuts is a betrayal of the GLBT communities
Mike Licht
What Was Jesse thinking? Well, who was he talking to?
See
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/no-dead-mics-on-fox/
Mr C
Well I guess Bill,
Then Republicans know it all…HUH?
That’s why they don’t like gays and make NO BONES about it.
And since you really think that Gays should be at the top of any of these peoples agenda…..
WAKE UP WE’RE NOT EVER GOING TO BE!
Or rather do think Hillary would have done something better?
And he didn’t pander to them (McClurkin, Mary Mary) they was just ask to sing. I don’t get it?
But McCain is always looking for the non Obama vote!
Bill Perdue
Mr. C, you’re clueless. You’re usually wrong and it’s because you can’t see beyond your election year puppy love/hero worship for Obama.
For the record, it’s clear that Obama’s pandering to the nuts on the religious right is just going to increase. His support of the law to use federal funds to bribe pastors, priests and ministers to promote his candidacy is final proof of that.
After seeing the ACLU’s scornful attack on Obama’s pandering you began you began your habitual defensive whine, saying that if Obama’s a bigot then the Republicans and the Clintons are just as bad. As if that excused Obama right wing dance in lock step with McCain and Clinton. They’re all bigots. Their common opposition to same sex marriage, ENDA and hate crimes legislation proves it beyond a doubt. Forget their promises and concentrate on examining their actions.
Condemning the Clintons and the Republicans does not, repeat, not justify Obama’s doing the same thing. I know you don’t get it about McKulkin and Mary Mary but inviting them to ‘sing’ (and btw, they didn’t just sing, they pushed the whole nine yards of christian superstition and bigotry) is very much like inviting the Focus on the Family Choir to ‘sing’ at a Pride festival – it doesn’t prove that Obama’s not a christian bigot. On the contrary, it proves that he is.
Mr C
Bill,
First of all I’m not wrong you have your opinion and I have mines. All my election life every last candidate for WHATEVER panders. Even the Gay ones. So when you find your PERFECT CANDIDATE. let me know.
Or if it’s that bad to you. Then run yourself. Unfortunately no matter who is running for what and no matter who comes and panders the Gay community. In this life right now we live in total equality seems like a dream. But some equality for now we accept. Unfortunately we’re not getting everything we want and that’s sad. But I still feel he would make more headwaves to the LGBT community than McCain.
But again that is how I feel.
Also I don’t have a habitual whine. It seems more to me you just dont like the Man and that’s your choice. The religious issue is not a big deal for me because either you believe, or not. I do not agree with evey thing that none of these religious figures say especially when it comes to homosexuality.
However, I’m not one of these gays that’s running around cursing God and calling their beliefs superstition and bigotry. It’s all a choice. God hasn’t told you that you were’nt accepted, nor loved. Man did and why should you care what he (Man)says?
In the end you have to pick the lesser of 2 evils and being African American I don’t trust any REPUBLICAN for my vote. And I will not sit at home and NOT vote. Too many died for me to have this opportunity. And it has nothing to do with a Non white running for President.
Todd Nelson
Funny how Jesse hopes everyone can just get past it and move on to the more important things. I wonder why that same strategy couldn’t have worked when Don Imus made his silly remark?
Tom
Todd, I did not know Jesse had a nationally broadcast TV and radio show. What channel can I find that? And if you do not recognize the difference between Jackson’s statement and Imus’, then you may need to get your head out of your ass. Actually, you referred to Imus’ statement as “silly,” so you definitely need to get your head out of your ass. There is nothing “silly” about referring to female college basketball players as “nappy-headed hos.” Its so offensive on so many levels only a moron would try to justify it.