How Jesse Jackson's Comments Almost Slipped By

The news that the Rev. Jesse Jackson took a crude swipe at Sen. Barack Obama this week put renewed scrutiny on the relationship between the veteran civil rights activist and Democratic presidential contender.

But Jackson's vulgar criticism of Obama came close to going unreported.

Jackson made the comments to a guest before an interview on Sunday's "Fox & Friends," whispering that Obama was "talking down to black people" and that Jackson wanted to "cut his nuts off."

The comments went unnoticed in the control room, Bill Shine, Fox News' senior vice president for programming, said Thursday.

The scathing remarks first came to the attention of an employee working the overnight shift Sunday, who transcribed the tape as part of training for the network's ongoing digital conversion. Otherwise, "it potentially would have not been discovered," Shine said.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Phil123]

If FOX hadn't aired it, would Jackson have felt disenfranchised?

[LillianB]

Oh, could you imagine what would have happened had these comments "gone unnoticed". Fox might actually have had to report real news about McC's gaffes, lack of respect, nonsense remarks and answers filled with neglect instead. Though they might just as well had found another Democrat saying something stupid about Obama. (Yes. That's more likely...)

[Boris]

Some points about Jackson should be obvious...

First, he is a moron to think that anything he says on or off the air at Fox wont be repeated. He is really too stupid to be a Democratic spokesman, or a spokesman for a racial minority.

Second, his absolute fear that Obama will render him irrelevant is obvious. Obama is not just the new face of America, he is the new face of Black America...strong, intelligent, ambitious and unapologetic for being so.

Third...and this hurts to say, but Jackson has built his power on 'unempowering' the black community. He is the poster child for 'vicitmization' politics. If Black America can stand on its own two feet, they sure as hell dont need this 60's left over. Jackson can only point to white America and say, 'all the black community problems are the fault of you white people.' Liberal consciences probably agree, out of fear.
But, Obama is right...the only way black America can achieve true social and economic parity is to accept responsibility for their own problems.

"Its all your fault" just doesnt work any more. If Obama wins, then every bit of Jesse's BS rants will become irrelevant.

[DCtrain]

Jesse is an Rtard, a has been...he should zip it and stay out of the way

[TrueBlueMajority]

Heads were spinning at Faux News while they tried to decide what to do.

They can't stand Jesse Jackson.

But if they broadcast the remarks it might hurt Obama and that would make Jesse the good guy of the hour in their eyes.

On the other hand, some viewers might like Obama BETTER after the remarks because they hate Jesse so much.

And they certainly don't want to HELP Obama.

remember they are a propaganda channel and they do not broadcast anything without a clear idea of the result they want from the broadcast.

this was one time when they weren't sure what way the reaction was going to go.

That's why it took them so long to decide what to do.

[eridees]

Going on Faux News is like going into a lion's den with raw meat strapped to your body. Jesse should have known better!

[JeanPaulSatire]

Jackson has been active in the public eye -- and in politics in particular -- for far too long to have made such a basic mistake as to say something like that while in Faux News' studios at all, let alone while having an open mic. Jackson wanted that message to get back to Obama; it was push-back, pure and simple.

[wm1066]

This is turning out to be a plus for Obama.
Fox must be nashing thier teeth over this, they thought they could foster division in the Democratic ranks and it only brought more cohesion.
It certainly made me understand how the younger folks are handling issues of race. And the "angry man" is nonproductive and over.

[mindlessmissy]

Faux Noise SET him up ...

[JeanPaulSatire]

As much as I detest Faux News, the claim that he was set up is absurd.

Jackson wasn't reading from a cue card or parroting words given to him by anyone else; rather, he was making a comment that he HAD TO KNOW could be overheard by others.

[TexasDem0]

What pressing social need was served by releasing the tape?
The decent thing to do would have been to simply archive it.

[NoahVail]

You can't slip anything past those top-notch investigative journalists at FOX.

[Lils]

This is Fox, so forgive me if I have a hard time believing that it almost "slipped by".

[BigBen]

Good thing Bill didn't say what Re. Jackson said. Or Hillary; they were accused of racism for saying that Johnson signed the civil rights legislation. It is OK for black people to say racist things. What phonies we all are.Castratrion is a legacy of the KKK, now being used by Rev.Jackson.First Rev. Wright now Rev. Jackson what next?