Jesse Jackson: Obama "Acting Like He's White"
From the "with friends like these" files...comes this report in The State, a South Carolina newspaper:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Tuesday on Democrats seeking the 2008 nomination for president to give S.C. voters “something to vote for” when they go to the polls in January...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 six black juveniles’ arrest on attempted-murder charges in Jena, La....
“If I were a candidate, I’d be all over Jena,” Jackson said after an hour-long speech at Columbia’s historically black Benedict College.
“Jena is a defining moment, just like Selma was a defining moment,” said the iconic civil rights figure, who worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1965 Selma civil rights movement and was with King at his 1968 assassination.
Jackson, incidentally, endorsed Obama last spring. But today you can almost hear the high-fiving over at Hillary headquarters -- because this is big news today, having been linked on Drudge, etc., etc.
Jackson later said he didn't recall making the "acting like he's white" comment. But he also said that Obama needs to be “bolder” in his political positions if he is to catch up with frontrunner Hillary. No word from Camp Obama on this yet.
Comments (8)
Outside the beltway wrote on September 19, 2007 2:12 PM:Not only did Jackson screw Obama, but he said it in the only state the black vote matters!
Greg wrote on September 19, 2007 2:18 PM:we have a statement from jackson on this coming in a sec
Doyaun wrote on September 19, 2007 2:45 PM:Again, where did he REALLY say Obama was acting white? Everyone is refering to a quote no context or sound file in the State newspaper... I wouldn't be surprised in Jesse comes out and says, "No I didn't"
Crispus Attucks wrote on September 19, 2007 3:18 PM:I don't understand? How was Obama acting white? By not pandering to the locals in Jena? Sure he could score cheap political points, but I don't think he'd go there. It's an issue, but not a huge one. "Racist, White yokuls in Louisiana do something racist"...big deal, more of the same.
Anonymous wrote on September 19, 2007 7:07 PM:to be honest, it is not necessarily a bad thing for Obama to get criticized by Jesse Jackson.
Johnstonian wrote on September 20, 2007 8:35 PM:Jackson says Obama 'acting white'!
Holy crap, who the hell does J.J. think he is to make a statement like that!. What white people cant see what right and wrong is? To call a black man white should be a huge insult to any black man. What is this, the new "thing" to say in order to degrade a black man? Start calling a black man white, or better yet why not just call him cracker. I think it is time for J.J. to step down and get out of his so called social position in life where he is portraying himself as some role model to the people of this country. Clearly he is a racist towards white people and is no role model when he is clearly a hypocrite. He was all for Imus to lose his job over knappy headed ho. I'm all for Jesse Jackson to lose his job he does not deserve it.
Thats a really sad statement that will only make racism and hate crimes increase. I am not racist but if that statement is supported by the black community then I will definetly turn racist.
John Losier wrote on November 28, 2007 7:58 PM:I would just like to point out how racist Jesse Jackson is saying someone is "acting white". As a "white person" I find it insulting to stereotype someone to get on the news. Shame on Jesse Jackson. Why we give this adulter who already insulted Japanese people with his earlier statements news coverage I will never know.
