Obama on Jesse Jackson: “In case you missed the point…"- UPDATED AND CORRECTED
We've written here about allegations that Jesse Jackson told a forum that an Obama administration would drive out the "Zionists." As you can see we're a teensy skeptical of the source.
We also allude to the less than kissy kissy relationship between Jackson and Obama - the elder statesman, umm, threatened emergency surgery after Obama delivered a lecture on African American fathers and responsibility.
Now I'm wondering why we tippy-toed around all the colorful stuff, when the Obama campaign statement Jake Tapper at ABC gets right to it:
The Obama campaign's response to these vague quotes – recorded by a columnist it considers hostile in a tabloid newspaper it considers biased against them – from an interview with a man last publicly seen threatening to castrate Sen. Obama, is as follows, from Obama campaign national security spokesperson Wendy Morigi:"Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is not an adviser to the Obama campaign and is therefore in no position to interpret or share Barack Obama's views on Israel and foreign policy. As he has made clear throughout his career and throughout this campaign, Barack Obama has a fundamental commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and he is advised by people like Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer, Rep. Robert Wexler, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Senator Joe Biden who share that commitment. As President, he will ensure that Israel can defend itself from every threat it faces, stand with Israel in its quest for a secure peace with its neighbors, and use all elements of American power to end Iran's illicit nuclear program. No false charges can change Barack Obama's unshakeable commitment to Israel's security."
UPDATE AND CORRECTION: The Obama campaign sent out the above in an email forwarding the peerless prose of Jake Tapper at ABC. So the quotes from Morigi are directly from the campaign, and the stuff about castration is from Tapper, via the campaign.
Jackson has now responded and says his remarks were distorted and - regarding the "Zionist" jibe - even made up. From Jackson's Rainbow Push coalition:
"The recent column in the New York Post by Amir Taheri in no way represents my views on Middle East peace and security. The writer is selectively imposing his own point of view, and distorting mine.I have a long held position of a two state solution to achieve peace in the Middle East. I stand forthrightly for the security and stability of Israel, its protection from any form of hostility, and a peaceful, non-violent resolution to co-existing with its Palestinian neighbors."
And:
Reverend Jackson is not a representative of Senator Obama. He has never had a conversation with Senator Obama about Israel or the Middle East, and was not characterizing Senator Obama's views on these issues.
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Diane,
Good point, and also remember that one of the few differences between McCain and Holocaust survivors is that the North Vietnamese admittedly did not tattoo a number on his arm. They broke his arms instead.
Jessie “Hymietown” Jacksson isn’t an advisor to the Obama campaign, so that means you shouldn’t believe him, even when he tells you the truth about Obama.
And, regarding the “surgery”, I believe that really was misconstrued, given what Obama was talking about. Jackson was NOT threatening Obama, but reacting to what he saw as a threat to Blackdom in the ideas Obama expressed at that time. Jackson’s remark could be loosely translated as Obama would emasculate Black men if he followed through with policies he was advocating at the time. I don’t know why Jackson so overreacted, knowing that Obama was just lying to get his audience to support him.
Yes, Obama is now willing to throw Mr. Hymietown under the bus along with his friends at ACORN (now that ACORN has served its purpose by signing up hundreds of thousands of fake voters to vote for Barry).
The problem is that Obama’s campaign site at my.barackobama.com welcomed very similar commentary about the “Jewish Lobby.” When this became an Internet-wide scandal, Emily of Obama’s campaign staff counseled users to say “Israel lobby” instead. When Emily got caught (the person to whom she had written posted her letter at MyBO, where I found it), the “Israel Lobby” stuff went under the bus as well. But only after MyBO was caught and exposed all over the Internet.
Furthermore, Barry’s pastor advocated for divestment for Israel while calling Zionism racism. Am I the only one who sees a consistent picture here???
All the liberal Jewish publications, including this one, are trying to bury the Jesse Jackson story.
It is amazing that American Jews would choose to ignore the numerous anti-Semitic and anti-Israel connections of a presidential candidate just because he is a Democrat.
In 1984, Jackson denied making anti-Semitic comments and later admitted to them:
January 25: Rev. Jesse Jackson used the word “hymie” and the word “hymietown.” He said he made the remarks in private and was “overheard” by reporters.
February 19: Jackson said on CBS News’ Face the Nation, “It simply is not true, and I think that the accuser ought to come forth.”
February 23: At a nationally televised debate between all eight Democratic contenders, moderator Barbara Walters confronted Jackson about the remarks. Jackson said he had “no recollection.”
March 12: Two days before the primary election, at a Manchester, NH synagogue Jackson apologized for making the offensive comments. “In private talks we sometimes let our guard down and become thoughtless,” he explained. “However innocent and unintended, it was insensitive and wrong.”
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Diane
10/15/08 07:15 PM
My In Laws lost most of their family in the Holocaust. I sat at dinner with cousins with numbers tattoed on their arms. I am NOT willing to take a chance on Obama.
VOTE MCCAIN - KEEP THIS COUNTRY AND ISRAEL