Jesse Jackson Renews Some Blacks' Concerns

Washington Post: Some Activists Have Been Unhappy About Critiques Of Problems In The Black Community

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Perry Bacon Jr..

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The larger point of Jesse L. Jackson's criticism of Barack Obama -- if not the crude way he expressed it -- touched a nerve among some African American political activists who have been unhappy about the senator 's pointed critiques of absentee fathers and other problems in the black community.

Jackson, an Obama supporter, spent much of yesterday apologizing for a remark that was caught by a Fox News microphone and aired Wednesday on the network. Jackson was overheard saying Obama's pitch to expand President Bush's federal assistance for faith-based social service programs was "talking down to black people." He then used a base phrase to say what he wanted to do to the senator from Illinois.

But he also told CNN that while he agrees with Obama's arguments that blacks must do more to improve their lot, "the moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."

Michael Eric Dyson, a vocal Obama backer and a sociology professor at Georgetown University, said he worries that the candidate's speeches criticizing the behavior of African Americans will distract attention from larger societal issues. "I'm quibbling with the use of his speeches," he said yesterday.

Writing in Time magazine last month, Dyson likened Obama's critiques of the black community to that of comedian Chris Rock, but noted: "Rock's humor is so effective because he is just as hard on whites as on blacks. That's a part of the routine Obama has not yet adopted."

Ronald Walters, who teaches at the University of Maryland, worked on Jackson's presidential campaigns in the 1980s. He criticized a speech Obama gave last month chastising black fathers who were "acting like boys instead of men," and adding that "we need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child -- it's the courage to raise one."

Walters said that "we're not electing him to be preacher in chief," and that Obama needs to give more speeches about how he would help black communities.

Eric Easter, a blogger on the joint Web site of Jet and Ebony, two black-oriented magazines, wrote yesterday that some of Obama's rhetoric "smacked of calculated political expediency" in an effort to win over white voters.

The criticism was similar in some ways to the reaction to comedian Bill Cosby, who over the past decade made some of the same points as Obama.

But Al Sharpton, a New York civil rights activist, said Obama has been giving the right message, especially in his Father's Day speech.

"It was a courageous, necessary statement," Sharpton said. "I think people misunderstand. I disagree that he's talking down to black people. The civil rights movement of the 21st century must be government accountability and personal responsibility."

Aides to Obama defened his remarks, with spokesman Bill Burton noting that the candidate "has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility."

Obama gave a speech similar to his Father's Day address in 2006, before he was running for president. Early in his presidential run, he complained in speeches to black audiences of blacks disenfranchising themselves by not voting, took rappers to task for their language, and decried "anti-intellectualism" in the black community, including black children telling peers who get good grades that they are "acting white."

And while Jackson and others suggested he has not focused enough on other issues facing blacks, Obama has laid out proposals such as providing more funding to revitalize the economy in urban areas. He also frequently cites his experience as a community organizer in Chicago.

For Obama, distancing himself from a controversial black figure such as Jackson may help him among white voters. But that possibility raised questions about whether the senator is targeting blacks for political purposes.

Kevin Alexander Gray, who worked for Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign, compared it to a move by Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, who in 1992 famously attacked political activist Sister Souljah for saying, "If Black people kill Black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?"

Obama aides rejected the comparison, and the candidate himself, in his 2006 book "The Audacity of Hope," called Clinton's attack "clumsy and transparent."

[confused25]

Jesse is right and so is Bill Cosby.

We are whiners, we want the government to fix everything in our lives, welfare, healthcare, education, mortgages.

When do we Americans take personal responsibility for our lives. We lose jobs but do nothing to get new training for another job, we eat food that is bad for us and we ask the government to give us better healthcare, we don''''t educate our children at an early age at home to give them a headstart in school we want the government to improve education, we didn''''t get an education and we want welfare benefits for life and don''''t want to get the training that is offered, we buy gas guzzlers and question why the government is not controlling gas prices, we bought a house we knew we couldn''''t afford or were trying to keep up with our friends and were talked into and the bubble burst (educated people shouldn''''t do any of these).

Take responsibility for your lives fellow Americans

[ariel133]

The issue in America: Taking responsiblity for your own lot in life. A government that holds your hand is bound to disappoint. Hasn''''t Americans learned nothing else? Obama wants to hold your hand, and you can really say "No" to that. Just because he promises you ''Change'' it is not always good change. If he is running low on money, who cares, he is Not qualified to lead this great country and this great country doesn''t need his kind of change, anyway.

[xmanborg]

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are has beens. Its time for them to go. Every day they are becoming less and less relevant and every time Al Sharpton is on TV he make it such a frackin drama.

The Black Community & pretty much everybody else are done with Jackson and Sharpton.

[ariel133]

XMan- Not any differant than the ''drama'' Obama creates. Soon, America will be sick of him, too.

[mandylou4u]

If you don''t act like you are injured all the time, you will probably feel better. Have better self esteem and look up to yourself more. Most people have disrespect for black people because they don''t respect themselves. You show other people you are respectfull to yourself and they will have a much harder time disrespecting you, no matter what color you are.

[pghlady3]

Jackson only said that so Obama would get more support from the white''s. Jackson ''took one for the team''. What a stinking joke!

[concerned222]

Amen to confused25. You are absolutely correct.
And isn''t it time for us to encourage marriage before having children. Having children before marriage is either an attempt to trap someone or irresponsibility. There ARE ways not to have children. The children suffer (single parent does too) with only one parent, even though there are those who do a wonderful job parenting alone. I admire and respect them. We just All need to encourage and support doing the right things. Working, paying for things we can afford, taking care of ourselves and our children, etc.

[credibility2]

If the truth hurts, then it must be true. Some in the black community just don''t get it. They whine and moan when things don''t go their way and then they whine and moan when prominent blacks dare to have the temerity and speak the truth. News flash, the ones speaking the truth are correct and those finding fault with the remarks aren''t correct. And, let''s stop this do-do about what blacks want and that they''re somehow "different". Plain and simple, the basic "wants" of blacks aren''t really any different than the basic "wants" of whites: safe streets, adequate law enforcement, decent and affordable housing, decent paying jobs, affordable health insurance, reasonably priced food, lower gas prices, viable education, a strong economy, no unnecessary wars, a government that isn''t dysfunctional, etc. News flash, there''s really no difference here, except the difference than some want to perpetuate and use as a wedge and chasm between the races.

[mandylou4u]

Why does there have to be a "black community"? There is no more segregation. A black person can go to the same places a white person can go, or any person for that matter. I am white and I don''t have this glorious healthcare. It really has nothing to do with color, it has to do with if you have insurance or not. If you don''t have insurance, they could care less to help you unless you tell them you have cash first. Ever notice how they ask you how you are gonna pay before they ask you how you feel? This happens to EVERYONE, not just people of a certain color. Jesse and Al really need to get a real life and stop keeping the black race down. That really is all they are doing. They keep talking about how hard it is for the black community, take yourselves out of this "community" and join the rest of the world for your own good.

[ariel133]

I don''t think the ''whites'' are now going to jump on the Obama ship because of Jackson''s comment, regardless of what the press wants to encourage or assume. "Whites" or "Blacks" who are beyond being manipulated will certainly not change their minds about whom they feel is more qualified. Obama is not. It is that simple.

[lvdragonlady-2009]

Here we go AGAIN with the ANGRY OLD MEN syndrome. Lord these clowns need to just find a corner and sit this one out.

[jongood65]

I can''t believe a black man who''s made his living off of fleecing folks would ever admit to something like this?

Even though it''s absolutely true. I''ve been saying all along how Sen. Obama is not a American black man like I am. But, he''s in fact is an interloper pretending to be.

The only American in his family tree is a first generation born white athiest mother and a Kenyan born and raised father who never attempted to become a naturalized American.

Clearly what Jesse Jackson is upset about is what I have long been upset with.....These dumb libtard whites don''t have the good sense to recognize this man who is merely pawning himself off as an American black man for what he truly is.

Sen. Obama is something less than a 50%-American. This by his own admission and writings.

And, I''m simply too dang American to ever vote for anyone like him, regardless of what color he is.

[penrod8]

Jackson and others who believe the government should do more for blacks and citizens of all color are basically saying to those in that camp, the more you do for me the less I have to do for myself.

[johnsole1]

We are all equal, we are all different, we all want a safe, clean, healthy life.

Everyone deserves a hand, not a hand out.

Use your hands to work, not to hold your pants up. Use your hands to take of the babies you made, not to hold your pants up. Life can be good if you do for yourself.

[fedup_w_pols-2009]

A fact is a fact and he could throw all colors of worthless fathers in the statement that is fine with me. In fact this is about the only intelligent thing albeit VERY OBVIOUS I have heard Obama say.

Blacks will never act for themselves when they have these so called leaders telling them what to think and how to act. I counted 3 different blacks in this story who basically said it wasn''t the blacks fault they have so many missing fathers. BS it is only your fault. Seems those that want the government to fix everything are the on Jessie''s side and those that stand for responsible people are everyone else.

This just goes to show even if you send your kid to a high $ college like Georgetown Univ. the pinhead professor''s are everywhere so your just wasting you money. I have seen more moron''s on TV from these so called Elite colleges. Sorry nothing elite about any of them.

[minuteman-1]

ssshhh...."Obama''s talking down to African-Americans, I want to cut his nuts off", said Jessie

Sounds like Obama has another close Reverend problem

[minuteman-1]

JesusFace at 10:36 AM

You forgot something important.....Barrack Obush needs to actually win a general election accross the United States before you can even mention the presidency....not likely

How''s Barrack Obush doing by the way? Still continuing and expanding Bush''s policies ?

Get off the Barry-Berry Koolaid and vote for John "Maverick" McCain for honor and real change....not the racial baggage Obama brings

[hungry1968]

Get off the Barry-Berry Koolaid and vote for John "Maverick" McCain for honor and real change....not the racial baggage Obama brings

Posted by Minuteman-1 at 10:46 AM : Jul 11, 2008





McCain voted WITH Bush 95% of the time, and now touts ALL of Bush''s policies as his own.

What a MAVERICK!!

[old300d]

Obama''s speaking style sounds very preacher like.

He studied under Rev. Wright for 20 years. Rev. Wright is a leader of a racist hate group that preys on people of color.

Obama was a member and supported this racist hate group that preys on people of color for 20 years.

That is where he learned how to preach " down " to people.

Connect the dots ! ! !

[three-o-six]

Until this attitude of %u201CI am owed something%u201D is abandoned the blacks will never come out of poverty. Even though I am a staunch conservative I happen to agree with Obama (I guess you can%u2019t be wrong all of the time). There are a multitude of African Americans that have taken what is at hand and made it with that. The African American community is the only ones that can raise themselves out of the ashes they are in. Welfare has done more to destroy their community than anything else that they have suffered through. Until they rebuild their family structure, they will go nowhere. The attitude of the likes of Jesse Jackson will keep them destitute.

[floydzepp2]

"the moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."
--------------

Translation: Treat us gang member blacks differently than every other minority in America. Give us handouts and special treatment. We shouldn''t have to struggle to make it on our own like Latinos and Middle Easterners and Far Easterners do!

[pmaldona]

Jesse Jackson is an idiot. Why say something, then say "I''m sorry" after you''re caught? Don''t say stupid *** in the first place! Barack Obama is right, the lack of fathers is only bringing down society..These kids grow up without a father and not only does that hurt them mentally (which leads to drug addictions/crime), but then unless the mother is really strict, they also lack a certain discipline as well. For the "maverick" Mccain supporter, apparently you voted for the ********* in office as well....THANK YOU! It''s sad there are so many idiots in this country, hopefully this year the smartest guy in the class (Obama) will win.

[libh8er]

Oh yeah....Ubama''s message didn''t contain the obligatory "blame whitey" rhetoric, so the Rev. Jackson''s thong is in a wad.

Hey Rev, are you still sending your child support payments to your ho? Could be you''re all upset because Ubama was taliking about deadbeats, like YOU!

[morganbarber]

I wish Jesse Jackson could teach his massive entourage of gorillas something beyond the law of the jungle.

[megamanx1-2009]

Sen. Obama is something less than a 50%-American. This by his own admission and writings.

Posted by JonGood65 at 10:27 AM : Jul 11, 2008

Oh yeah? what writing would that be?

Quote please....

[dogsoul]

"the moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."

In other words... we need to make sure we''re still blaming white people for all our problems - and we need to get more free stuff & racially based favoritism from them.

That''s PRECISELY the attitude that has kept black people down.... and Jesse in business

Question for black people - do any of you even LIKE this joker? Aside from the ''blame whitey'' mentality - I really don''t get the impression most black people take him that seriously...

[themagic07]

PLEASE WAKE UP AMERICANS%u2026.A vote for the car salesman is a vote for over 20 years of personal relationship with REZKO, Wright, Ayers, and Farahkhan%u2026He is an empty suit; he can say anything to get elected. This rookie is a big PHONY. %u2026.I%u2019m tired of all his rhetoric%u2026..The more I listen to this guy the more I hate him%u2026%u2026He can not be trusted%u2026

Remember Muslim%u2019s sons are for life. Blood is sticker than water. He can say any thing and he can run, BUT he can not hide.

I was a lifelong Democrat, but now Independent. I will never vote for Barrack HUSSEIN Obama.

Please don%u2019t be fooled by a car salesman. %u2026.As a patriotic American; I don%u2019t care if you are a Democrat or Republican, we deserve an honorable man like Sen. McCain.

[flreason]

"He never got a degree from a Divinity school. He may as well call himself "King" Jesse for all it is worth. No man of the cloth (except perhaps a Muslim) would say what Jesse said he wants to do to Obama."
Posted by bullyforhim

Jackson is an ordained Baptist minister. After graduation from N. Carolina A&T University, he studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary, but left six months before graduation when he became involved in the civil rights movement.

BTW, neither Jerry Falwell nor Oral Roberts--also ordained Baptist ministers--had a degree of any kind. Do you dispute their rights to the Reverend title? And re your comment that "no man of the cloth" would make a statement like Rev. Jackson, perhaps you have forgetten when Pat Robertson, who BTW does have a divinity degree, called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Why don''t you just admit that you''re racist instead of hiding behind false religiosity.

[megamanx1-2009]

I agree with Obama. Guys who have kids and don''t take care of them are losers.

If I had kids, I couldn''t fathom abandoning them.

[charlezwash]

Let%u2019s set the record straight about black folks, because, some people on the board think that things has dramatically has changes for black people in this country. Yes in terms of economic, yes some black athletes, actors, rappers, singers, musicians has made great strides financial in this country. But as a whole, blacks are more likely to do more jail time for the same crime as whites, less likely to get a home loan than a white with the same credit score. Less likely to get promoted than a white when things are equal in job performance. Take a look around white people, in your office, in your communities, at your local grocery market, at sporting events, at you local bar and restaurants, at your banks, schools, gyms, malls, etc. How many black people do you see, I bet you can count them. Black people in this country is probably the most hated race ever known to man. Why is that? some people say we complain to much, that we should just take what people give us and shut up about it, that today%u2019s time has changed, has it? yeah we got a Barak Obama, Michael Jordan, Oprah and others, but why not more, black senators, governors, mayors, CEO of banks, College Presidents, high school principle, Teachers, Managers of fortune 500 companies, Small business owners, etc. people in positions that can make a difference in peoples lives.As I said before, look around? tell me if you still think black people are equal to white people as

[jjp735i]

"the moral message"...from Jackson? Did he not cheat on his wife? A preacher telling others about morals who has none him self? The man has no shame.

[ricinboerne]

Jesse Jackson is no more or less than the very thing he preaches so adamantly against... he''s a racist. Pure and Simple.

[billpl-2009]

Folks you have to remember. Anti-Racism is big business and government.

If Racism just vanished tomorrow, a lot of people would be out of work.

It''s up to people like Jackson to keep the wheels turning.

[chrisl45]

I feel one of the reasons Jesse Jackson said what he said was to distance himself from the Obama campaign. Maybe he wanted to keep in touch with a possible Republican win and a very big future black loss.

[patriot12436]

charlezwash
I have looked around all my life. What i see is blacks depending on the fovt to provide a living for them so they don''t have to work. Blacks ciommitting crimes. Blacks refusing to get an education to better themselves whn there are many programs to help them. Blacks thinking welfare is an acceptable replacement for working for a living. I have seen ghettos torn down and rebuilt with new homes to oly look like ghettos again in two years time. I have always supported equality, but i am tired of paying for someone who will not help themselves. This is what i see.

[ariel133]

Alot of whiners here and everywhere- and I don''t hear how people are standing up and taking responsibility for themselves. They are depending on someoneelse to give them HOPE. That is the mistake. Dependency.

[ringading3]

i bees a reverand so i can be crude and rude as i want i lernt dat in revvernd scrool it calll frreee of reliigioon

[flreason]

themagic07:

Everyone knows by now that Obama is not Muslim and and never has been a Muslim. This BS about "once a Muslim..." is just that! His father didn''t even practice Islam.

You neocon apologists take such a high moral tone, but have no qualms about using bold-faced lies to try to defeat anyone who opposes your viewpoint. Where is your moral indignation at the breaking of one of the ten commandments by bearing false witness? You use religion as a bludgeon when it suits your purpose, and ignore it when it stands between you and your goal.

Why don''t you just have the integrity to state your true opinion instead of hiding behind lies? If you have a problem with his race, be honest enough to admit it. If the problem is he''s a Democrat and you hate the fact that polls show him leading against McCain in key states, admit it. If you don''t have the courage of your convictions, be quiet.

[floydzepp2]

The Libtard buzzword about Jackson''''s THREATENING, HEINOUS AND HORRENDOUS comments about CUTTING OBAMA''''S NUTS OFF is "crude."

It was not crude. It was a THREAT to a secret service-protected presidential candidate. Yet the secret service has not gone knocking on Jackson''''s door.

Why not?

Posted by ddhinnyc at 11:43 AM : Jul 11, 2008
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Because nobody listens to RINOtards like you anymore.

[ringading3]

i bees a reverand so i can be crude and rude as i want i lernt dat in revvernd scrool it calll frreeze of reliigioon

[megamanx1-2009]

I agree with Obama on pretty much everything he said regarding some black communities and lack of responsibility.

With that being said, there are too many white people posting on these boards who act as if they know what it''s like to be black in this country. You can give your opinion, but please...some of you speak in a way as if you know 1st hand about being black. Watching "the cosby show" reruns doesn''t count....

[ringading3]

I can see da Obmamma self destructing as we all watch on TV. And Hillary is waiting in the wings......

[ringading3]

And it ain''t over until the blond lady sings......

[libh8er]

I think most whites know what it''s like to be black in America.....

You find the words "Black Hole" offensive.
You have more rights and perks than any white person will ever see.
Not happy with where you are in life? It''s whitey''s fault.

Didn''t study because you didn''t want your homies to accuse you of ''going white'', and now you have to stuff sour cream in to taco shells because it''s all you can do.

Don''t want anything to do with white culture or blending in to American society, yet you want all the beinnies that come from being part of the society.

Yeah, I think we get it.

[jongood65]

Sen. Obama is something less than a 50%-American. This by his own admission and writings.

Posted by JonGood65 at 10:27 AM : Jul 11, 2008

Oh yeah? what writing would that be?

Quote please....
Posted by MegamanX1 at 11:23 AM : Jul 11, 2008
==============

Read his book, "Dreams of my Father"....And, don''t be plucking single quotes out of my whole very detailed post and act like you have your panties in a twist.

For nothing I offered is false, and you obviously know this, or you would have pointed it out.

Including where I explained how my family tree is steeped in American black history, while Sen. Obama''s tree contains absolutely zero percentage of American black.

[aggiekat2004]

"What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care."

What we need is for the youth of today...white, black, or other, to believe that their success in life doesn''t revolve around imitating gangsta rap artists and sports figures.

Yo, yo, yo homie, let''s go pop someone and steal their hum-vee.

Thank you, Obama, for chiding these absentee fathers and for trying to call attention to the problems within the black community. These kids with no future WILL be the downfall of our society.

"I don''t have to work for what I have, life means nothing and I can just steal and kill because there ARE NO REPERCUSSIONS."

Did you know that Wells Fargo doesn''t even prosecute identity theft cases because it''s too expensive to hire a lawyer to prosecute a $2000 ID theft case? Some little thug in Massachusetts stole my boyfriend''s card number, programmed it into another card, and had one HECK of a time. It was a black youth.

[megamanx1-2009]

and you speak as if the black community is the only one in this country that has had and continues to have a hard time in this country!

Proverty, unemployment, lack of health care, to just a few of the challenges facing this nation is truly color blind...

Every day, somewhere an American is being racial discriminated against as well, be they Asian, Hispanic, Afro-American, etc., etc...


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Posted by ozilot at 12:08 PM : Jul 11, 2008

Never said they were. But it''s like me trying to tell a gay person what it''s like to be gay in america. I have no idea...other than what I see on TV and read in the news. And who knows how skewed those writings are...just saying some of you speak on this like you are an expert on "black communities" or something when really you couldn''t possibly have any idea of what you are talking about unless you have lived it. That''s all.

[aggiekat2004]

Crime pays, and the gangsta rap SCUM are there to tell you how to disrespect your momma, the law, cops, your neighborhood. It''s okay to go kill that honkey because he''s got what you don''t got.

Oh, by the way, you can study EBONICS *IF* you go to school, but of course since you''re going to be a rap star someday, it''s really not necessary to speak English well. Just make up your own language...

[megamanx1-2009]

I think most whites know what it''''s like to be black in America.....

You find the words "Black Hole" offensive.
You have more rights and perks than any white person will ever see.
Not happy with where you are in life? It''''s whitey''''s fault.

Didn''''t study because you didn''''t want your homies to accuse you of ''''going white'''', and now you have to stuff sour cream in to taco shells because it''''s all you can do.

Don''''t want anything to do with white culture or blending in to American society, yet you want all the beinnies that come from being part of the society.

Yeah, I think we get it.


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Posted by LibH8er at 12:08 PM : Jul 11, 2008



See, this is what I mean. Thanks for making my point for me. Good work.

[ringading3]

Whenever you see two Blacks fighting, get out of the way before you get cut!