Jesse Jackson: Obama Just Turned Crisis Into Opportunity

JULY 9, 2008 UPDATE: Jesse Jackson's vulgar comments about Obama caught on tape...

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Reverend Jesse Jackson, who is no stranger to America's racial battles and whose own runs for the White House have been, on occasion, used as a barometer for Sen. Barack Obama, offered effusive praise for Obama's address today on the topic of race and politics.

The head of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, who supports Obama, claimed the Illinois Democrat had averted "crisis" and created "opportunity" by laying out a unifying vision to confront racial and political divides.

"I thought it was a culmination of tough-minded, tender-hearted and a clear vision," Jackson told the Huffington Post. "It really was warm, filling, captive, reconciling and comprehensive and it displayed real true grit. He was forthright not evasive and used it as a teaching moment in American history: America's struggle to overcome its past and become a more perfect union. And once he made the case about the past and the complexities of Reverend Wright's life or [Geraldine] Ferraro's for that matter, he made the case that we are here now, but this time we will go forward by hope and not backwards by fear."

Earlier in the day, Jackson appeared at a Take Back America conference on the legacy of Martin Luther King, in which the topic of race on the 2008 campaign trail came up with some regularity. Asked if he thought voters would respond well to the nuance and broad vision of Obama's address, Jackson said he had not doubt.

"I think American saw an even deeper and more profound view of him today," he said. "He has turned crisis into opportunity."

Comments

[racetoinfinity]

09:54 PM on 03/20/2008

CNN should remove "LIVE" from the title "Larry King". He's been conducting an obviously pre-taped interview with Obama for almost an hour now, and no mention of this emergent scandal. Truth in advertising, people! Would have been nice to hear Obama's response right now.

[Rocky4356]

10:36 AM on 03/19/2008

Think of being in Iraq and seeing your grandmother hanging from a roof in New Orleans. Seeing your sister not having water in the Superdome. Would not you be angry. Think of the guy working his butt off to send his kid to college only to find that another kid got in because of Affirmative Action. Should he not be angry. This is not about the personality of Jesse Jackson its about time that someone had the balls to talk to us like we were adults . We were talked to in not code words we were talked to in real words. Really everyone has a right to be angry when they think they have been wronged. I think there is a place for this discussion in this race for president. Refreshing to be talked to like an adult.

[GayGrandpa]

10:10 AM on 03/19/2008

In a couple of weeks I will be 56 and I will celebrate by celebrating my grandson's birthday with friends and family. Times are terribly tough...the future looks bleak...the war seem endless...the Clintons depress me...Bush annoys me...Cheney has his head up his...but still I am positive and hopeful for the first time in years! Phrases are starting to make sense to me and I repeat them over and over...

I HAVE A DREAM

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN

[smustaro]

09:29 AM on 03/19/2008

Well what else does an opportunist do?
This gets the award of dumbest post title this week.

[longislandlol]

06:21 AM on 03/19/2008

The common denominator has spoken...

[1849]

05:10 AM on 03/19/2008

He shut my mouth wide open! I am still trying to comprehend what he did.

[Ulysses9]

02:37 AM on 03/19/2008

It was an absolutely stunning speech. I was shocked. As someone who has supported Hillary Clinton throughout this campaign (and someone who lives in Pennsylvania as well, and getting ready to vote April 22), I had the sudden realization of why so many people are bowled over by this man. I have been solidly for Hillary for eight months, but have wavered a bit due to the realization that she and Bill are pretty hell-bent on getting power again, whatever it takes. But tonight, as he came to the end of his speech, I made my decision. I am switching my vote to this guy because I have never heard a more bluntly honest speech in all my life of involvement and attention to American politics. People have compared him to JFK... but frankly, he reminds me more of Adlai Stevenson. Yeah I was disturbed by his pastor's remarks. But Obama's response sent the debate about 5 miles higher than any of the criticisms. I am totally stunned. Thought I'd never say it, but... Obama for president!

[valleygent]

03:53 AM on 03/19/2008

I must say that I too thought of Adlai Stevenson, and that old Happy Days episode where Ritchie and his Dad come to terms on their politics. I am in my 40's so I wasn't alive in the 1950's, but from my readings on Stevenson, I too believe the powerful intellect displayed today is worthy of comparison.

I would say that Barack is a mixture of all the greatest leaders of the 20th Century to include FDR, and with the potential to become America's greatest leader ever.

[Henry2008]

08:00 AM on 03/19/2008

You are such a LIAR. LOL

[AntonBursch]

01:20 AM on 03/19/2008

You folks talking trash about Obama got me into the biggest argument today. Nobody believed me when I said that racists knew how to use computers. I tried to convince them. They just did not believe that anyone who uses their brains, as you would think would be required to use a computer, would not be a supporter of Obama. I showed them some posts from here. They are certain that everyone here is just Hillary supporters posing as racists just to stir up trouble for Obama. Well, there's just no convincing some people. I know that you are racist. Don't worry. ;)

[ohiomark]

10:49 PM on 03/18/2008

Nobody knows better on how to turn a crisis into an opportunity. Jesse Jackson has spent a lifetime as a race hustler, turning crisis into cash. He and Al "not so" Sharpton are part of the reason that racism is alive and well in America. There is good money in it.

[LeoMarvin]

01:20 AM on 03/19/2008

What's up? Everyone at Little Green Footballs and Powerline taking a night off for dumpster diving?

[Genna]

11:57 AM on 03/19/2008

Revs. Jackson and Sharpton aside, I haven't figured out in common speech why people who talk about race become hustlers. I also don't know why or how racial strife became a race card.

It is not a game.

Jackson has a way with words but he is no Barack Obama.

[sklfcats]

10:45 PM on 03/18/2008

In what century are we finally going to drop the race card? I for one, am sick it. We get you are black and mad, get over yourself.

[changeishere08]

12:31 AM on 03/19/2008

As soon as you get over being ignorant and naive. I love the faux advice on "getting over it". No wonder the international community term "dumb americans" come to mind. You fit that superbly

[Centaur]

10:00 PM on 03/18/2008

Reverend Jackson, this is exactly what I said would happen in that he would use this moment as an opportunity to educate America on racism and he did just that. How brilliant! This was clearly a course on racism, Racism 101 as I called it, and he gave this country the exam today. I am hoping that the majority of americans will pass it. This may be the one an only chance that we'll have to do so.

[electress]

10:12 AM on 03/19/2008

I don't think we are voting for a History Teacher, and think this is the only chance to do so,
you didn't really get his message did you.

[athy]

08:24 PM on 03/18/2008

Mr Jackson,
Please do not generalize.
You said:
"I think American saw an even deeper and more profound view of him today," he said. "He has turned crisis into opportunity".

That is not what I saw.
What I saw today reinforced to me the fact that Sen Obama has great speechwriters, and that, based upon what I am reading in the mainstream media, the mainstream media supports him-no matter what.

I question the criteria that Obama supporters are using to select a candidate for the president of the US.

It seems that his voting record has been tossed aside as something that's not really important in the decision making process.

"I can see, smell, feel, touch and hear " his votes cast , the hiring of Mr Axelrod's firm to run his campaign, the fact that he supported Lieberman (pro Iraq war) against Ned Lamont (Anti-war opponent) in CT.
There is absolutely no basis at all for some of claims that people are making with regards to his being one of the most 'liberal democrat senators". On what basis?
Votes Cast:

Obama- A liberal, Progressive Democrat???

Reason why conservatives & republicans LOVE HIM is because he VOTES on major issues like they do-against the middle class. see vote analysis.
Sen. Obama"s past voting record (He is no progressive liberal democrat!):
http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/The_Obama_Craze_Count_Me_Out_5413.html
The Obama Craze: Count Me out “ by Matt Gonzalez 2/27/08
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080211/fraser
“Subprime Obama” by Max Fraser 1/24/08 Post 2/11/08 issue
http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2008/03/i-am-barack-obama.html
“ I am Barack Obama” by Mark Winston Griffith 3/17/08

Obama- A uniter?????

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070219/hayes
"Obama"s Media Maven" by Chrisptoher Hayes. 2/19/08 issue
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=aa0cd21b-0ff2-4329-88a1-69c6c268b304
The New Republic, "Race Man" by Sean Wilentz

Are we living in a parallel universe or something? I don't see any of the attributes his supporters (including the mainstream media) assign to him..

Just because someone TELLS YOU that Sen Obama is one of the most liberal, progressive democrats in Congress does not mean it is true...

No Mr Jackson, not all of the "voters saw deeper & more profound view of him today" as you say..
I did not see a man turning crisis into opportunity.
I saw an opportunist lying (with the help of good speechwriters) who thinks the american people are all really stupid.
Mr Jackson, I also learned a little something about your integrity today sir.

[buddhistMonkey]

03:28 AM on 03/19/2008

((( "What I saw today reinforced to me the fact that Sen Obama has great speechwriters..." )))

He wrote it himself.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/18/MNH5VLU7J.DTL

[ordinaryguy]

08:45 AM on 03/19/2008

***WARNING NEOCON DETECTED*** *** ATHY ***

[kardwell]

08:07 PM on 03/18/2008

I read and watched the speech. Simply amazing.

I voted for Obama, and I hope that he will win.

But....sadly, I believe that this man is too dignified, too eloquent, too intelligent, and too conscientious to suit the common tastes of a majority of the US population.

[racetoinfinity]

06:47 AM on 03/19/2008

I know. Ken Wilber a genius I love and respect has stated the secularly sacriligeous observation that one vote, one person does not serve us well, because large majority of the population is still prejudiced and ignornat. I would never have agreed with him, but after the last two elections, even with the cheating, I'm wondering....More about this later, when I've researched this more.

[electress]

10:14 AM on 03/19/2008

Oh what, we're just a bunch of bumpkins!

[uglybetty]

07:49 PM on 03/18/2008

Jesse
I've always loved you but beg to differ on this subject !!
What I see of the (Opportunity) Obama, got was a LOT more Air time !!!
You can't live that life for 20yrs ,then suddenly denounce it,unless it's to your advantage !!

[changeishere08]

12:34 AM on 03/19/2008

Apparently you are clueles are have a problem with comprehension. Sen Obama mention this in his speech. Did you pay attention?

But I see that Clinton can use her hubby's infidelities to her political advantage. I find it hard to believe that a woman would stick with a habitual rapist and cheater and still proclaim "love".

Sybillary supporters give it a flipping rest. Hypocrisy only gets you so far!

[mamamay]

12:53 AM on 03/19/2008

Did anyone talk to Rev Wright? I understood that the leading statement in Rev's speech led up to explain WHY the Rev felt that Obama was getting picked on in this Presidential race.... Obama just came into this race a little over a year ago, How did the twisted message get to be 20 years. Folks when we take a message out of context, we add,and take away, plusm we try to deduce t he speakers meaning to coincide with our own way of thinking. The message may sound like love, hate, anger, etc. to us, and the origianal meaning was totally removed. This man may have been preaching for over 30 years, but this speech was repeated so many times, folks began to think that that he had been saying these things since his day one. Joe SCar, Buchanan et al are all ,so out of touch with relationships, they think the rev hates them. This was a speech that even I didn't like but I didn't think t he message was directed at me. I don't think Obama can do any better than he did today trying to enlight en us on what he felt,How he felt about the Message and the Rev. Obama is not the speaker and he is not to be judged by what folks say . I was taught to not do or say as I do and say, but follow your own head and heart. We are taught to take our troubles to the Lord and leave them there. Our troubles are our own and are not yours by association or otherwise. Obama did a good job today, and I will continue to support and vote for him.

[Cherubim]

06:48 PM on 03/18/2008

These two sentences by Jessie Jackson sums it all up:
"I think American saw an even deeper and more profound view of him (Barack Obama) today."
"He has turned crisis into opportunity."