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Lynn Sweet

Lynn Sweet

Posted: September 20, 2007 09:56 AM

Jackson Does Not Recall Saying Obama is "Acting Like He's White."


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WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson told The Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday night he doubted a flare-up over a remark attributed to him about White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) "acting like he's white" would harm the campaign. He called discussions about the blackness or whiteness of the biracial Obama "absurd."

Jackson, who has endorsed Obama, on Tuesday was conducting a voter registration drive in South Carolina, a crucial early primary state with a substantial African-American vote. A big black voter turnout would help Obama.

The Wednesday edition of the State, a South Carolina newspaper, said that Tuesday, "Jackson sharply criticized presidential hopeful and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for "acting like he's white" in what Jackson said has been a tepid response to the arrest of six black juveniles on attempted-murder charges in Jena, La."

Jackson said he did not recall making the racially charged remark.

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