by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 10, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

xposing his ugly side, Rev. Jesse Jackson unknowingly shared some depraved thoughts into an open mic about Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama (D-Il.) while waiting to appear Sunday, July 6 on “FOX and Friends,” While the media savvy Jackson should have known better, he ranted—though quietly—to a friend about Obama's recent critiques of African-male responsibility in black churches. “I want to cut his nuts off,” the 66-year-old Jackson whispered to an unknown guest, complaining about Barack “talking down to black people,” especially males who either shirk or abandon fatherhood. “Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father,” Barack told the congregation at Apostolic Church of God on Father's Day, addressing an undeniable problem in the black community. “Too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes.”

      Jackson's crude remarks go beyond Barack's painful observations but to the heart of Jesse's own experience. Barack's words were too close to home. Jackson himself, born Jesse Louis Burns to a 16-year-old unwed mother, was a product of black sociology in 1941. He couldn't tolerate insights about his own problem, siring a love-child out-of-wedlock with his 39-year-old mistress Karin Sanford in 1998. Jesse lost it because he couldn't control his envy of Barack, whose first attempt at running for president won him the Democratic nomination. Jackson didn't get too far in 1984 and 1988, prompting former President Bill Clinton, while campaigning in late January for his wife Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), to equate Barack with Jesse only days before the South Carolina primary. Unlike Jesse, Barack doesn't have the long history in the Civil Rights Movement.

      When Jesse accused Barack of “talking down” to blacks, he projected his own problem. Barack differentiated himself from Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, whose 2004 campaign reminded white voters about the long U.S. history of injustice to the black community. African American leaders, like Jackson and Sharpton, have been out-of-the-loop in Barack's campaign, deliberately taking a post-racial view of the nomination. When Barack delivered his impassioned speech on race March 18, 2008, he showed uncanny sensitivity—and identification—with the black community. His speech probably cost him white votes a month later in Pennsylvania and Indiana April 22. After losing the white vote in both states, Hillary questioned Barack's electability. His courageous speech did exactly the opposite of what Jackson ranted about: He celebrated the black community.

      Jackson hasn't been happy watching the 46-year old junior senator from Illinois become what he couldn't: The Democratic Party's candidate who happens to be African American. Barack has correctly run his campaign as a post-racial candidate, shielding himself from black activists like Jackson and Sharpton. Before his March 18 speech on “race,” Barack kept race out of the campaign, despite attempts by the Clintons to drag it into the fray. Jackson and Sharpton felt shunned over the last 18 months while Barack methodically debated the Iraq War, economy, health care, national security and other pressing issues. Obama didn't deliver activists the red meat they wanted on race to advance the agenda of black civil rights advocates. His success, eventually beating Hillary for the Democratic nomination, stemmed from captivating oratory on issues facing mainstream voters.

      Jesse's crude remarks brought a quick rebuke from his son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago), national co-chair of Barack's presidential campaign. “I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric,” said Jackson's son. “He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself,” leading the way to Jesse's eventual mea culpa. “Anything I said in a hot-mic statement that's interpreted as a distraction, I offer apologies for that,” Jesse said on Tuesday before Fox News' Bill O'Reilly went public July 8 with embarrassing recordings. Apart from his vulgarity, Jesse said nothing too disparaging about Barack. “I have supported Barack's campaign with passion from the very beginning. I thought the very idea made sense,” said Jesse, revealing the true motives behind his soft-spoken gaffe: Jackson couldn't stomach being kept on the sidelines during Barack's campaign.

      Rev. Jackson's crude comments mirror his loss of power—and respect—representing the black community on the national stage. Barack reminded black civil rights activists and voters that he is not the African American candidate running for president: On June 4 Barack became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee who happens to be black. His post-racial and post-partisan approach to politics has thrown typical partisans, in the GOP and Democratic Party, for a loop, accusing the 46-year-old nominee of “moving to the middle.” Barack hasn't moved anywhere, he's expressing views and taking positions that benefit the country, not one party or constituency. He's less concerned about placating the American Civil Liberties Union or any other special interest group. Jesse found out the hard way that Barack's politics transcend race and today's bitter partisanship.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2005 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.