Jackson Comment on Obama

I am not a big fan of Jesse Jackson- to me, he is in the Al Sharpton category of instigating media frenzies. Still, there was a time when Mr. Jackson was someone to respect and a leader in the black community. Seems like he, as others before him, wished someone put his foot in his mouth before the words came out....

Unaware that his microphone was on during a break for a Fox News program last Sunday, Jackson used a slang reference to wanting to cut off Obama's testicles. When he learned Wednesday that the Fox News program "The O'Reilly Factor" would air his comments that night, Jackson apologized for "hurtful and wrong" remarks.- ABC News

What irritates me:
If someone of the same age, profession, socio-political stature- same in every aspect- but was WHITE, the black community would be demanding his ass, an apology would not be sufficient, and the person would have to resign/ be encouraged to resign any held position.
Of course, Obama accepted his apology:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama shrugged off a crude comment aimed at him by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, accepting an apology for a remark Jackson made as he contended that Obama wasn't speaking to issues important to the black community.- ABC News

If the reporter was white, would Jackson have said what he did? Most likely, definitely not. Perhaps he was looking for comradeship. The reporter kept his mouth shut- later claiming that he did not hear what Jackson said.
Was the apology to save-face in the black community? Possibly. I believe to stop a growing division in the community: the educated v. the uneducated. The educated black person can understand Jackson's statement in the context of Obama's campaigns, and then agree or disagree; whereas, the uneducated agrees without any sort of reference or reflection, perpetuating the stance of the "victim" (because Obama is "too white to understand the struggle").

Even Jackson's son condemns his father's words:

Rep. Jackson, Jr.: "Revered Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him. 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."- ABC News

What has Obama said, really, that offends?

.... lamenting that many of his generation are "disenfranchising" themselves because they don't vote, taking rappers to task for their language, and decrying "anti-intellectualism" in the black community, including black children telling peers who get good grades that they are "acting white."- Washington Post

Is he wrong?
I do not think so. This is the same/ similar rhetoric that turned people against Bill Cosby, although Cosby was much more upfront with his 'tough love' opinions of those in the black community who create and maintain an ill-perceived status quo perpetuated by an MTV generation and family cycles of accepted poverty and violence sustained by federal handouts and community outreach programs.

Similar can be said about the Mexican illegal immigration issue: we give too much.

In this media-savvy world, everyone has to be careful what is said in front of/ near journalists and news media. With Mr. Jackson's experience with the media, he should know better. There is no "private conversation" when you are attached to a microphone; his claim that he was speaking "privately."

Is Obama our next President? I am not sold on him yet- to me, he lacks the experience. In addition, I have concerns about his wife (her "baby daddy" comment) and concern about who he will choose for his running mate. If he selects Clinton, Gore, or Edwards, I will not vote for him- Clinton will bring Bill back into the fold (very undesirable); Gore will bring his "global warming" agenda (which he does not follow himself); Edwards, in my opinion, like Gore, does not practice what he preaches (particularly about money).
Still, I believe this country needs a CHANGE, and perhaps someone with less experience and not affected by political sways will bring a fresh perspective to the position.

On the flip, I am not encouraged by McCain at all, but he does have a lifetime of experience. I fear he will continue Bush policies and agendas and carry on with a 'business as usual' in other areas. I liked Romney better, who could take the VP spot. As for the other potential running mates, I am not familiar.

We shall see.