Jesse Jackson Used N-Word In Obama Remarks
Fox News Confirms Civil Rights Leader Used Word Off-Air During Interview Break; He Apologizes Again
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Play CBS Video Video Jesse Jackson's 'N Word' No-No The Rev. Jesse Jackson has once again had to apologize, this time for using the "N-word" in off-air remarks, the same day he made disparaging comments about Sen. Barack Obama. Bill Plante reports.
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Photo Essay Barack Obama A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
The longtime civil rights leader already came under fire this month for crude off-air comments he made against Obama in what he thought was a private conversation during a taping of a "Fox & Friends" news show.
In additional comments from that same conversation, first reported by the blog TVNewser, Jackson is reported to have said Obama was "talking down to black people," and referred to blacks with the N-word when he said Obama was telling them "how to behave."
Though a Fox spokesman confirmed the TVNewer's account to The Associated Press, the network declined to release the full transcript of the July 6 show and did not air the comments.
Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said the network had nothing to do with the latest on this embarrassing moment for Jackson, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante.
"We're not out to get Jesse Jackson," O'Reilly said. "We're not out to embarrass him. We're not out to make him look bad."
Jackson - who is traveling in Spain - apologized in a statement Wednesday for "hurtful words" but didn't offer specifics.
"I am deeply saddened and distressed by the pain and sorrow that I have caused as a result of my hurtful words. I apologize again to Senator Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, their children as well as to the American public," Jackson said in a written statement. "There really is no justification for my comments and I hope that the Obama family and the American public will forgive me. I also pray that we, as a nation, can move on to address the real issues that affect the American people."
A spokeswoman for Jackson's civil rights organization, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said she could not confirm that Jackson used the slur.
Jackson has called on the entertainment industry, including rappers, actors and studios, to stop using the N-Word. He also urged the public to boycott purchasing DVD copies of the TV sitcom "Seinfeld" after co-star Michael Richards was taped using the word during a rant at a Los Angeles comedy club in 2006.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who has joined Jackson in opposition of the word, said on CBS News' The Early Show on Thursday that he was "very disappointed" by this latest revelation.
"I think this certainly does not reflect the Reverend Jackson that we all know and love," Sharpton said. "I think that we have to be consistent. We have denounced the N-word… I think clearly all of us must strive to do in private what we profess in public. Once we take this public position we have that responsibility. I've said and many of those in other groups, NAACP and others, that we've all used it in the past. And we've got to stop it as we challenge this nation. We can't challenge others without challenging ourselves."
"I still hold Reverend Jackson in high esteem, but I certainly do not at all condone the use of the word by Reverend Jackson, myself or anyone else," he added. (Watch video of Sharpton's interview)
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See all 727 CommentsMic is always on and FOX will air your private remarks
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Guess what, they''''re JOURNALISTS. Exposing fraud is part of THEIR JOB.
And yah, only a moron would make inflammatory or self-incriminating remarks ON THE PREMISES OF A NEWS SHOW and expect it to be kept secret.
Posted by txgrouch2006 at 11:41 PM : Jul 18, 2008,,,
When I watched the Video I saw Jackson whispering, he was attempting to whisper quietly but those powerful Mics at FOX recorded his conversation as if he was speaking in his normal tone of voice. I think people are entitled to some privacy, especially within their personal space which FOX violated! I don''t believe everything is fair game, a big free for all, FOX crossed the line even though many don''t think so! If this is permitted then nothing is sacred, what about Lawyers whispering to their clients in court, you mean to tell me if someone picks up that exchange with a powerful Mic and uses it against the Defendant its ok? Hmmm.
Posted by yurpallid at 08:27 AM : Jul 18, 2008
yurpallid / don''t see why not, there both
n-i-g-g-e-r-s.
Thumbs up by me.
i got tired of not seeing anyone in the black communiuty trying to do the same.
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Sad but true. And not JUST the black comunity. Racism still runs rampant in the Asian and Hispanic communities.
It seems like white people are the ONLY ones who have been taught that racism is wrong.
Anyone who supports farakhan and his ideas is also a racist so Michelle doesn''t surprise me with her tirade and i cannot believe her husband doesn''t share her views, as we know who wears the pants in that family.
I read the definition many years go concerning the term n-i-g-g-e-r in Websters. It defined as uneducated, unintelligent, unable to learn. No mention of color or race. I know many of several races this could apply too.
Computer went haywire.
I tried to support equal rights most of my life. Finally i got tired of not seeing anyone in the black communiuty trying to do the same.
I tried most of my life to support equality for all. I
I tried most of my life to support equality for all. I
Mic is always on and FOX will air your private remarks
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Guess what, they''re JOURNALISTS. Exposing fraud is part of THEIR JOB.
And yah, only a moron would make inflammatory or self-incriminating remarks ON THE PREMISES OF A NEWS SHOW and expect it to be kept secret.
Apparently Jackson calculated correctly that he could expose himself as a total fraud, and he''d get away with it.
That''s why this kind of hypocrisy happens. THERE''S NO OUTRAGE over it. People have given up on expecting anything better from their leading citizens.
This makes the future look very grim indeed.
It has been said over and over again Jackson is a hypocrite when he denouces the use of the n word and goes after those that do. Jackson apologized as he should have, but what about all the others he has gone after and/or attempted to destroy their careers for the use of racial slurs. I just hope the word is not used, but if it is, please don''t go to Jesse Jackson for forgiveness.
Al Sharpton has responded by saying the same rules should apply in private as in public. I even agree with Sharpton on this.
Jackson is a FRAUD for saying one thing in public and doing the EXACT OPPOSITE in "private." Especially when others have been punished so severely for using the n-word in other situations.
It was ok for the black children to use the "n" word towards another black children.
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You''re absolutely right. Either EVERYBODY can say it, or NOBODY should be able to say it.
It is utter nonsense to say the rule is selective based on race or, worse yet, whether the other person LIKES YOU or not. The distinction between "friendly greeting" and "hate speech" should NOT be based on how popular you are. It should be obvious where this would lead.
If the rules is based on race, THEN THE RULE ITSELF IS RACIST (OR BIGOTRY, IF YOU PREFER). Making something differ based on race alone IS THE DEFINITION OF RACISM OR BIGOTRY.
The ones crying to end racism and bigotry SHOULD NOT BE PRACTICING IT, especially not so blatantly.
Technically yes, but as you can see by some of the posters here who BTW also fit the definition, they still cannot get past the ethnic connotations.
"It carries a strong connotation of personal worthlessness which makes it so highly pejorative that most people would no longer use it, particularly in public."
The current administration has carried a strong connotation of personal worthlessness in the last 7 years, does that mean this word would aptly describe Bush and his groupies.
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