Jackson Pushes Back: I've Never Advised Obama On Israel

Reverend Jesse Jackson claimed that his words were distorted by a biased reporter on Wednesday after it was reported that he had told a foreign audience that Barack Obama would decrease the influence of "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades." For good measure, he added that he had no relationship with the Obama campaign and therefore couldn't possibly have been speaking on the Senator's behalf.

"The recent column in the New York Post by Amir Taheri in no way represents my views on Middle East peace and security," read a statement from his Rainbow/Push Coalition office. "The writer is selectively imposing his own point of view, and distorting mine... The slant of this writer's article is designed to incite fear and division. It must not be allowed to divert our focus away from the substantive and sensitive debate around the critical foreign policy and domestic economic issues in this critical region of the world."

To drive home the point, his office added the following: "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."

In an article published this morning in the Post, Taheri asserted that at the first World Policy Forum, held in France this past week, Jackson said Obama would sharply change the United States relationship with Israel and role in the Middle East.

"The most important change would occur in the Middle East, where 'decades of putting Israel's interests first' would end," the Reverend reportedly said.

Within hours the Obama campaign had put out a statement reminding voters that the Senator has never equivocated in his support for Israel and did not count Jackson as an adviser. For good measure, reporters were reminded that the New York Post was not a friendly publication to Obama, that Taheri was considered a hostile writer to the Democrat, and that Jackson had once been caught threatening to castrate Obama during a hot mic moment.

In his own statement, Jackson clarified his position on Israel, saying he favored "a peaceful, non-violent resolution to co-existing with its Palestinian neighbors."

Comments

[pleasethinkcritically]

Ya know.. maybe he was misquoted or it's an out n out lie. Who knows? BUT why is he talking?!?!! Who is asking him anything?
JJ needs to sit down, zip it, and keep Barack's name "out his mouf"!! Dang! 3 weeks people!! No missteps Jesse. I believe Obama is hanging on to some votes by a weak thread and all they need is your big mouth as an excuse to change their minds. Please think...

[gobarackgo]

So let me get this straight: The conference where Jackson supposedly made these comments took place last week and the New York Post finally gets around to reporting the story on THE MORNING OF THE DEBATE? Something smells fishy. And it's not Sarah Palin's salmon boat.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

murdock, smells. Anything in the NY Post stinks and not worth wraping fish in.

[MrSolo]

Jesse needs to go crawl under a rock and come out after New Years Day. He helps no one...not Obama, McCain, Biden or Palin.

[nccp1870]

Jackson made the mistake of letting his envy of Obama show early on in the campaign. Now a GOP flack is using his name and known outspokeness to stir up angst against Barack

[philosopherkingtomas]

old Jesse needs to SHUT up ! has been !

[pjean]

Continuation ---

I'm glad Senator Obama doesn't associate with him and doesn't use him as an adviser, it's time to close the book on the Jesse Jackson's and AL Sharpton's of the world. If it is to be, it is up to me, Jesse should be teaching that instead of "Keep hope alive".

[pjean]

I think Jesse Jackson is angry that he isn't the one in Obama's position and will try and do anything to destroy Senator Obama's chances. I'm black and I do not feel that Jesse nor Al Sharpton represent my generation and although I'm grateful for the good he did in the past but if Martin Luther King were still alive, I think he would be ashamed of Jesse. I feel that Jesse Jackson tries to hold blacks back. I wonder if he has a fear of no longer being the guy people come to with regards to race. He wants blacks to continue to use him as a person to lean on to fight discrimination even if the problem that transpired was not as a result of the person's race. Now, don;t get me wrong, yes, discrimination does still exists but I don't believe that it's like it was many years ago. I'm a double minority (Black women), I have a Bachelor from Loyola University - Chicago & a Master degree from Northwestern University. I work REALLY hard and take responsibility for my success and failures. This is what Jesse needs to teach us instead of acting as is everything bad that happens is as a result of "race".

[Aesthete]

I met Dr. Martin Luther King in person when my dad picked him up at the airport when he came to our town to fulfill a speaking engagement. Although Jackson has sought to see himself as the logical successor to Dr. King. I simply do not see in Jackson the unassailable dignity, humility, and integrity that I saw in Dr. King. Jackson could give some stirring speeches, to be sure, but he always seemed like a "Hollywood" version of a black leader, sent directly from Central Casting. People would hear him speak and shout "amen, brother," but after that nothing happened. After King's death, if there was a problem in my community that involved race, local black leaders dealt with and resolved it. There was no need for a "showboating" Jackson to come in and jump in front of the cameras. Perhaps he should have been an actor.

[naschkatze]

Jesse Jackson Sr. is the first black William Jefferson Clinton. Neither man can bear being out of the limelight.

[LucieLee]

The New York Post is owned by News Corp. which is owned by Rupert Murdoch...­.and considering the consistent misleading info that constantly appears on Fox Noise either through reporters or via chyron graphics..­.I would not be surprised that Jackson's words were distorted. Jackson needs to be more careful next time.....a­nd be very mindful that his words could be misused for someone's personal agenda....­just like when he wanted Barack castrated when the mic was supposed to be after a recent interview.

[aworriedobserver]

JJ, just get out of Obama's way and if you manage, take the Clintons with you.

Shame on you!!!!

[HC4BO]

He should just shut the heck up ...

How about that ...

[Khill]

I have a legitimate question? What is our deal with Isreal? Why do we have to have such close ties with them? why does everyone get in an uproar when people suggest that we shouldn't? I'm not too educated on the US's relationship with Isreal but it seems as though were the only country that has such close ties to them no one ever explains why this is or why it is even necessarry they just call you anit-Isreal if you disagree, shouldn't the American people be allowed to have more understanding about our relationship with Isreal? I'm trying to make an educated decision on this topic and I would like a better understanding before I decided one way or the other Please Help....th­anks (book suggestions or website are appriciated as well)

[UncommonSenz]

I do not pretend to understand the middle east situation. But I do get politics.

Without (at all) venturing into what position is more justified or which party is more aggrieved - the politics boils down to this.

Israel faces an ongoing battle for its existence. Her enemies want to annihilate her completely. And she has to fight for survival daily. That is point one.

Point two, we have seen in history what happens when hatred for jews is allowed to reach its logical conclusion, and have vowed "never again". So we have a case in point as to what happens if she does not defend her people.

So those two things are why policy for Israel is so dogmatic (either you are with us 100% or you are against us). Now, this says nothing about what middle east policies SHOULD be, what actions each side may be taking to make things worse or even that the our current actions make sense. But as to why politicians are not allowed to question it, it is because of the two points above.

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

Thank you for the synopsis.

[GrainOSand]

I can believe Mr. Jackson's contention that his words were distorted by someone with an axe to grind. We know the Republicans and others are doing whatever they can to derail Mr. Obama's chances. The suggestion to Mr. Jackson would be, that in his push to be relevant that he does not risk becoming irrelevant by a lack of wisdom concerning his public statements, that he should know by now are subject to being twisted to scare people. Here is a case where experience means nothing. This man has been on the world stage for years and then he makes grade school errors in judgment.

I love you Mr. Jackson for you have waged war against evil within the American society and nothing will ever diminish that. However, you are a known opportunist and lover of the spotlight. Sit down sir; you need no further validation from the public. Your record speaks for itself. Bask in the joy of knowing that you went through the tall grass of American politics years before Mr. Obama. You did notable work to chop down the tall grass of racism in American politics. This is lost upon me but it may be lost upon others who you should not feel you need convince of anything. Keep fighting for justice for all, for peace and love, just do it with wisdom as opposed to ambition.

[DocJerome]

Amir Taheri is a fraud, a waterboy for the GOP. This article is totally discredited by the fact that no other reporter in the room heard the same lies Taheri saw fit to report. This guy is attempting to reprogram votes in Florida, and sow the seeds of division.

The NY Post is a tabloid paper that is fast loosing it's readership.

[BetterAmerica]

JJ needs to go away-now! He will just bring fear in the electorate that O can't be trusted.

O needs to stay far away from JJ. Obviously, JJ's income depends on the failure of black America and O would be the biggest success yet!

The success of O is not good business for the victocrat propogation of JJ and company.