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

[whcjr46]

Jesse Jackason is irrelevant! However, I strongly suggest Sen Obama hide his nuts...

[Lolasmom]

Rev. Jackson you must feel so down angry and upset that you are not part of the OBAMA Scene and entourage.
Face it: YOU ARE OLD NEWS and you should never speak on behalf of other people and try to pretend you are an insider.

You are history. And you HAIMY TOWN comment will never be forgotten.

Barack Obama is cut from an entirely different cloth than you.
You are a sad and pathetic HAS BEEN.

Get out of the way of history in the making.

[nisa5759]

I can't say that I believe Jesse is entirely innocent in this story. In the past he has used derrogatory remarks when referring to a Jewish part of town, when he was running for President when he thought he was off the mic. That mixed with what he said (once again off the mic) about how he disliked Obama and what he wanted to do to him makes it plausible to me. All Obama was trying to do was to get young black people to think and rise above their circumstances and to believe in themselves not talk down to them as Jackson suggested.

I wouldn't put it passed him at all. For someone who supposedly pushes for unity, he only seems to show is true colors when he thinks no one is listening.

Maybe seeing Obama rise to doorway of the Presidency will encourage others to try to be more than where they came from and that your surroundings do not define you as a person. You can be what you dream.

Jesse has stopped dreaming and wants to hold others back who dare to dream bigger and better than HE ever did. He's simply a shell of the man he could've been.

[VideoHammer]

On the same day that the faked Michelle Obama interview shows up, while the wingnuts are raging about Ayers, THE NEW YORK POST scoops everyone on this story. Then supposed Progressive/Liberal bloogers post here, their outrage at Jesse Jackson, The New York Post, Murdocks paper, Fox News in black and White.
All I needed to see was The New York Post, ........ Don't believe everything that you think.

[patianneb]

Once upon a time before the neocons took over and people like Lieberman had so much influence, there WAS a difference between Jews (as in the religion), Israelis (as in Jews living in Israel, or the governmental or poltiical body: government) and Zionists (essentially right wing pro-Israel on everything).
What has changed now is that the semantic lines have been intentionally blurred so that any comment even remotely suggesting warning or criticism is pounced upon and accused of anti-Semitism: Persecution of the Jews and willingness to abandon her to destruction.
It's ridiculous, but that's what we have right now.
Essentially the same as the accusation that criticizing our government is unpatriotic.
Again, he should have known better.

[Dandywalker]

It is very possible the reporter got it wrong, for I really have hard time making what Jesse say between his mumbling. How can a guy who threats to cut off your marbles, becomes your advisor. GTFOOH Smell like fix news.

[jdcool]

Taheri is known for making stuff up. Ever since the NY Post officially endorsed McCain in Sept., this guy has been in their OP ED section lying about Obama.

[renatam]

So, the very savvy Jesse Jackson CHOSE the right Rupert Murdoch guy/outlet to continue his campaign to distract and try to derail Senator Obama.

How nice.

[S1m0n]

Taheri's record includes fictitious stories on more subjects than this. I wouldn't recommend taking a thing he says at face value without corroboration. Jackson might or might not be telling the truth, but for all his faults Jackson's credibility is higher than Taheri's

[LeftLeanWing]

I think when Jesse was singing 'We Shall Overcome' back in the day, this is not how he pictured it .

[renatam]

Jesse Jackson sold out years ago. His sons have made their fortune courtesy of sweetheart deals largely made possible by his "friendship" w/Bill Clinton -- in particular during Impeachment. Their interests are fused and so they remain.

[Beachrunner]

Uh-huh. And I bet he'd be denying the whole "I slice his nuts off" if it wasn't caught on tape.

[scorpioleidy]

Jesse - you are so yesterday ... always flapping your jaws trying to get in the news somehow. Your son (Jesse Jr., a BO supporter) must be so embarrassed! Just go away!

[georgebush4obama]

A day too late

[Glowcy]

.
J.J. needs to __________­__________ [fill in the blank]. And, leave Obama out of it.

.

[ATruthBeKnown]

Let's all get together and find a good ranch for him to retire on. No phone (cell or otherwise), no internet, no anything but peace and quiet for him to enjoy his remaining years. We'll have all supplies air dropped.

He's like one of those moles in the 'wack-a-mole' game. I guess every now and then we need to smack him down.

[TruthfullyYours]

i'm not dropping a dime for his benefit. no sir.

[TuffCookie]

I say we email Jesse Jackson Jr. and tell him that he needs to put his daddy in a home already.

[renatam]

...and take his fellow traveler, Bill Clinton...with him.

[TomInJax]

Ok. This looks like a non-issue. Sounds like the neo-con writer made it up. The fact that it was quoted in the Post, nothing more than Fox News in print, with no corroborating evidence is makes this very suspicious.

Nothing to see here. Go look for Obama's skeleton's and bogeymen elsewhere.