Jesse Jackson Disparages Barack Obama: Caught On Tape (VIDEO)

** UPDATES BELOW: OBAMA STATEMENT, VIDEO **

CNN reports:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Barack Obama Wednesday for making what he called a "crude and hurtful" remark about the Illinois senator's recent comments directed toward some members of the black community.

According to Jackson, a Fox News microphone picked up comments he meant to deliver privately that seemed to disparage the presumptive Democratic nominee for appearing to lecture the black community on morality.

Jackson didn't elaborate on the context of his remarks, except to say he was trying to explain that Obama was hurting his relationship with black voters by recently conducting "moral" lectures at African-American churches.

Jackson's apology came a few hours before Fox News planned to air the remarks.

Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Jackson said he feels "very distressed" over the comments.

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"This is a sound bite in a broader conversation about urban policy and racial disparities. I feel very distressed because I'm supportive of this campaign and with the senator, what he has done and is doing," he said. "I said he comes down as speaking down to black people. The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care. That's a range of issues on the menu.

"Then I said something I regret was crude. It was very private. And very much a sound bite," he also said.

More details from Clarence Page on The Swamp:

Well, Swamp fans, as Jackson explained to me by telephone, his remarks occurred during an off-air moment during a Fox New Channel interview that aired Sunday.

Jackson didn't realize that the mics were still "hot," as in turned on and recording when he made a few off-the-cuff remarks about Obama's faith-based programs.

Bill O'Reilly has the story and plans to report it on his Fox program, "The O'Reilly Factor" tonight.

Even though O'Reilly has booked me and another guest to respond to the video, he is withholding a full transcript or recording of Jackson's remarks even from me until the program airs.

So far I have only been told by a producer that Jackson criticizes Obama's proposed faith-based programs for "talking down to black people."

And (A warning here to younger or more sensitive readers) Jackson also says something about how the senator was "going to get his (twin objects of male anatomy) cut off."

Jackson, who recalled his remark as, "The senator is cutting off his you-know-what with black people," expressed deep regrets for saying it, even in what he thought was a "private conversation."

"I want to be clear," Jackson said. "My support for Barack Obama is unequivocal. I apologize to Barack and the Obama campaign for my crude and hurtful comments."

Update: Video of Jesse Jackson's remark:

Jackson apologized for his statement on CNN:

Update: A statement from the Obama campaign: "As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children's lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

And a very harsh statement from Jackson's son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.:

I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career.

Instead of tearing others down, Barack Obama wants to build the country up and bring people together so that we can move forward, together -- as one nation. The remarks like those uttered on Fox by Reverend Jackson do not advance the campaign's cause of building a more perfect Union.

Reverend 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.

Comments

[JFaye]

"I said he comes down as speaking down to black people. The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care. That’s a range of issues on the menu." Jesse Jackson

Culpability for Mr. Jackson’s revealing comments belongs to him. In what he perceived as a private moment, no spin … no staging for the camera or public … he spoke honestly from his heart. It is a good thing for Mr. Obama as well citizens across the country to see the heart of men like Mr. Jackson to know better how to deal with these characters.

As tempting as it is to address the character issue of a Mr. Jackson, it's useless. However, after listening to Mr. Obama Father’s Day address, his message was uplifting and to the point. Numerous studies cite the importance of a father’s role in the positive development for his child(ren). If racial justice, jobs and improved health care are ever achieved BY ALL in our society, it will come through parental responsibility (including laying a solid foundation for morals and character in young children) and EDUCATION.

Frankly, the change we all need to work as a single Union includes personal responsibility and contributions by all people. The onus belongs to every one, including Mr. Jackson.

[Pema]

I think the black community is going thru it's own evolution, men and women like Jackson worked very hard to get the black community recongized and acknowledged, however that being said, he also has a construct in his mind of the old ways, when you live that reality for your entire life, I am guessing here that it is past automatic to think as he does. I have the greatest respect for the men and woman who placed their lives on the line to have their civil rights, and men like Barack Obama are the fruit of their sucess, but unfortuantly, some men such as Jackson cannot see this reality in total for what it is, they are still in the old mental construct. Its the old scene from the original "Guess Whos Coming to Dinner" ...The black son says to his black father, "you think of yourself as a colored man, I think of myself as a man"
Pass the torch Jesse, and do so with your head held high with satisfaction of acomplishments.

[happyboy]

Senator Obama has spoken the truth. There needs to be more parental responsibility taken by African-American men. This is not a problem which occurs only in that community, but seems to occur with much more frequency than other ethnic groups. Children need a male and female influence in their lives. A caring male influence, with the child's best interests at heart, can make a huge difference in the outcome of that childhood. Mr. Jackson has an opportunity to help elect a man of color to the highest office in the land, one that he once coveted. To do harm to such a candidate is a betrayal to all he (Jackson) has fought for over the years. Mr. Jackson should be glad that someone is willing to speak the truth to people who have been held down by the very entitlement culture that has contributed to male absence. Speaking about doing better in important parental and role model roles is a good thing. Responsibility is a positive attribute, not a negative message.

[GoBamaGo]

bring it on jesse jackson

[mheister]

The other bad guy in this mess is Fox, because Jackson was led to believe he was not on-camera or being recorded at the time he engaged in this little sidebar. Bill-O engaged in eavesdropping playing this snippet. Very uncool, especially from the guy who was recently embarrassed with the "F-it, we'll do it live" Inside Edition blow-up that's now all over Youtube.

The lesson here for anyone, anywhere, who has a mic on them is to assume it's always on, because it probably is.

[Pema]

The comment for being on fox is, you lay down with dogs, you get fleas...cant trust fox.....

[sunny555]

As a self-proclaimed cynic, my personal belief is that Fox News chose not to originally report the "N" word bombshell in order to get more "mileage" out of Jackson's negative comments. By telling viewers that more tape existed but Fox had edited it, Fox created a frenzied audience for that comment. Then, a week later, the comment is leaked by a "weasel." Now the original story is revived, recirculated, and discussed even more than it would have been, had the entire conversation been reported on the same night by Fox.

The way Fox played this, it is the story that keeps giving. The impact would not have been nearly so significant had the entire story been reported right from the get-go.

[thegirlnextdoor]

Well, and this all begs the question - what was Jessie Jackson doing on Fox news. And if he was there for any reasonable project, why publicly dis Obama?

[bascombe]

setup?

[GJP2006]

Let's not judge Rev. Jackson on a few snippets and poor choice of words. Look at the totality of his life and the good work he has done - none of this should negate his life. Who among us would like to be judged for our most unfortunate acts and poor word choices. The media loves these "gotcha" moments but it always serves to negate entire lives and the good that many of those lives represent. Let's remember and embrace a definition of Rev Jackson's that respects who is and has been over many years.

[steamboat]

OVER RATED.........one example: Obama when state senator got PUSH a $200,000 (start reading our Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily Southtown) education endowment grant. Results: 18 children got eye check-ups. So did MOST of this money go?

[JohnTalbutt]

No link, no cred.

[uclafan]

Jesse needs to just go away. Obama, shut him down!

MSM, stop using him as a commentator or I will boycott you and call your sponsors.

[NjT of DC]

Who can forget Rev. Jesse counseling President Bill and his wife after Bill's infidelity with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky?

August 1998:
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/08/17/jackson/

There he was nursing Bill & Hillary's marriage back to health while also nursing his own little secret about betraying his marriage with his own employee. Just four months later he brought his secret to the White House for a photo-op:

December 1998
http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/01/19/jackson/index.html

So go figure. No wonder Obama's Father's Day message about irresponsible fathers evoked such a raw response from this conflicted man.

Maybe Jesse & Bill should go out for drinks. There they could discuss the good old days-- days when strutting roosters ruled the barnyard and a cocky dude could doodle his doo without much ado.

And maybe Jackie-J and Hillary-C-- two very strong, bright, and vocal women-- should get together for high-tea. There they could discuss the art of pretending to feel victimized by misogynist media while choosing to be long-suffering victims of marriages to philandering mates who now offer little more than political and social brand-equity.

Jackson certainly has the right to disagree with Obama, as does anyone. But one has to question the motives and fake Freudian slip-ups of a man who got so comfortable he forgot himself while sitting in a Fox studio-- especially one who tried twice and failed to win the Democratic nomination.

[WFV]

Neither of them can accept the fact they are has-beens and they simply cannot pass the torch gracefully. Both of them should be retired to their own causes and stay out of the campaign completely.

[steamboat]

President Clinton accomplished far far far more than Jackson. So don't link them together.

[JohnScott]

Fox News, the best News they can shape. Fox shows no ethics in playing of the off air tapes in the 1st place but they have enough decency to save Jesse from himself. Jesse accuses Obama for talking down to the audience, Fox uses this clip. Why? Does it confirm the rumors of Obama's elitist ways?

I guess if FoxNews included Jesse's slur, it would change the focus of Fox's story. Ethics at Fox, are non existent. Oreilly's outrage, is laughable. If playing any of the "off air" segments are some how good enough for "the No Spin Zone" , why isn't Jackson's slur? I would think hearing the good Reverend use the N word, would be great ratings gold. It's too bad he was working on Fox's dime at the time of his slip.

[HannibalSilver]

The headline should not be Jackson's words and much less Barack Obama views on Fatherhood. The headline is FOX news ethics and Bill O'Reilly moral authority as the news "character" referee. Bill will disconnect the mic of anyone saying the magic name Keith Obermman, but he finds no problem in making a private conversation public without consulting his guests. Shame on FOX and Bill!

[adm4peace]

I believe Fox leaked it. They think we are stupid.

[mexicanamerican1948]

Comon boys and girls , why all the problem... Blacks among themselves always say the the "N" word, plus look at at all the rap songs, it's disgusting. Never a black letter talks against it, You must not only talk , but walk it. Racism comes in all colors, white, but the worst is Black and Brown racism,self hate, that is the worst kind. Its Victimhood. Jesse Jackson lives on victim hood of Blacks and Browns, As a mexican american I'm tired of it. We are as good as anyone, and let's stop blaming the "white man", I hope now Jesse goes in retitrement. But will he? NOOOO! he needs the money...

[simplyirresistible]

A year ago almost to the day, Jesse Jackson said the "N" word is dead.

Find his video where he says it here:

http://healinganation.wordpress.com/

[danoj]

Ahhh, finally shown for the hypocrit he is. This man has used the black community for decades using race as bait. It's about time the black community has a leader like Obama that stands for personal responsibility. So long Jackson your time has come and thankfully gone.

[GravitonX]

You're as Mexican as Taco Bell. Black and brown racism, pluease.

[CeeLee]

Blacks do NOT ALWAYS use the "N" word.
If Rap was the litmus test of true life in the Black community, then by the same token the "Sopranos" is the true tale of "white life" in America.

[chuckd74]

Uhh that would be "Italian Americans" come on if your going to do it do it accuratly.

[Lurker50]

Thank you.

"Blacks this and Blacks that... "most Blacks" and "Blacks"...

We do not all look alike nor think alike.

[diamondanda]

Barak Obama was raised without a father and he has made it clear that he felt the loss deeply. His arguments about paternal responsibility are personal as well as policy oriented and for Jesse Jackson to not see that is for him to be incredibly insensitive. But Jackson has always be an egotist, so full of his own feelings that he could never feel for anyone else.

All of this, however, is only partially connected to Jesse Jackson's tasteless breach of good manners, common sense, and political judgment.. Never a great man; he has shown himself to be, at this point, not even a modestly adequate man. Get off the stage, Jesse.

In all social movements, the skills and personalities it takes to fight the revolution are exactly the opposite of those it takes to finish it. That is why Moses could not enter the promised land.

On the WORD. It is offensive. I am offended by it. I cringe when I hear it or see it. It is an ugly word and I do not care whose mouth it comes out of. The offense is the same. There is no such thing a word that is okay for one group of people to say that is not okay for another group to say. Any more than it is okay for one group of people to use torture and another group to not. Rules are not split between groups of humanity. That -- is the birthplace of all the 'isms.

[Opinionater]

Apparently off camera (they were not being interviewed when Jesse spoke) comments is fair game for the number one cable news channel. He also tried sending out an ambush interviewer before on Jackson and reported nothing happened. O'Reilly has a vendetta against Jackson, plain and simple. Why would O'Reilly have these microphone comments when they were spoken on Fox and Friends? To slime Jackson and in turn, Obama.

[danoj]

Just a question, how is it a slime? nobody put these words into this mans mouth. Nobody goaded him into saying it. The statement he made was of his own free will. The man is a jealous, race baiting, hypocrit. Moreover, his time has come and gone.

[Angelic11]

j-e-a-l-o-u-s.......period.

[GravitonX]

I doubt it. Jackson is the forerunner of Obama and is quite proud of him.

[NoSillyName]

Proud enough to personally castrate him?!

[BlackandProud]

Typical democrat using racist remarks and blaming the 'hot' microphone instead of himself.

Martin Luther King would be ashamed.

Democrats like Jackson and Sharpton spend so mush time looking at skin color that they have completely forgotten this part of King's dream: "where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

I'm neither republican nor democrat, but this is a great example of why the movement toward brothas like Michael Steele and Lynn Swann is growing.

Lord help us all if Jackson still gets the special seating he's been promised at the Denver Convention.

[GravitonX]

You must be joking...Michael Steele and Lynn Swann...LOL You might as well have said Ward Connerly and Clarence Thomas. Black Republicans live in a perpetual state of delusion.

[BlackandProud]

Guys like Steele & Swann are instrumental in helping teach minority communities that the 'great society welfare state' created 50 years ago has been a complete failure.

When it was created (in theory, to help the needy), poverty hovered between 14% and 19% annually. Through numerous Republican and Democrat administrations, it has always remained at about 14% annually.

Relying on the government to improve one's life has never worked, and WILL never work. The welfare state is a system that keeps minorities in poverty, and keeps minorities relying on others to help them, instead of them helping themselves.

I am so glad that I never believed that the government should help me. I fought my way out of the lower class (my father only made about $15,000 per year in the 1980's, for a family of 6) and now I am successful.

If I had used the liberal philosophy of "what can the government do for me today" I would still be living in poverty. It's people like Steele, Bill Cosby, etc... that travel the country trying to get the messege of "taking responsibility for yourself" to the minority communities.

[PhillyQuaker]

Allen Keyes - how is it we never hear a peep about this Presidential contender??

http://www.renewamerica.us/

[politicalgenius]

As a black man, I have to urge you to be careful to not inject the legacy of Dr. King when speaking about the use of the word N****. The day before he died, Dr. King said to Andrew Young "N**** where you been all day?" Granted the context that Dr. King used the word in is an affirm, endearing context one that those outside of the race do not understand. Having said that, there is not a shift in anyway towards a man like Michael Steele. Michael Steele - who is a graduate of the same high school that I,Coach John Thompson & Monk Malloy attended (not the same time) is as stepped on the backs of the blacks and has on several occassions played the role of what blacks call "Uncle Tom" intentionally. Steele joined the former govenor of MD, where I live, mainly because he was so far in debt and it was his last leg. There's nothing powerful or life changing about men like Michael Steele because he represents and perpetuates the self-hatred of blacks who forget that at the end of the day they are still black. This doesn't excuse Jesse Jackson's disparaging comments because what he represents is the old guard refusing to acknowledge the success of the youth.

[BlackandProud]

Please see my response a couple postings below.

This "great society welfare state" has imprisoned minorities and left them hanging onto the coat tails of government, instead of striving forward with family, friends and confidence in their own skills and intelligence.

While people like you and I succeed because we had a drive or determination to be nothing less than what we believed we could be, most minorities vote democrat because of the 'handouts' promised to them over and over and over... and it has gotten them NOWHERE after 50+ years.

Will it take another 50 years to realize we have been swindled by this "great welfare state"?

Republicans don't do enough either, but teaching personal reponsibility and faith in yourself rather than faith in the govt is a start. Reps like Steele & Swann don't continue to lie about how much better a new government program is going to make people's lives. Government is not a solution.

[Me2BFD]

"Typical democrat..."? Plenty of Republicans say embarrassing things (racist or otherwise) when they think the mic is off, including "world-class" G.W. http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/09/04/cuss_word/