When Obama said “Change we can believe in,” I don’t think he had THIS in mind.
Strange but true, Rainbow Coalition architect Jesse Jackson may have knocked himself out of the circle of trust for a season or three after an open mic captured him whispering his desire to “cut [Obama's] nuts off..” for the way Obama has–according to the good rev–been talking “down” to the black community on the campaign trail.
I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to figure out where Jackson’s head was when he said this. Off the record or not, what kind of boutique Canadian hashish do you have to be smoking to blabber (and I quote): “.. See, Barack’s been talking down to black people … I want to cut his nuts off.”
Ok admittedly I am a political neophyte, but shouldn’t Jackson be boasting about Obama’s balls, instead of threatening to cut them off? Hmmm. I just KNOW there is a Mike Tyson joke in here somewhere–no wait Iron Mike wanted to eat Lennox Lewis’s children, never mind.
Yoooowch! [that's the noise Tom makes when Jerry puts a hot frying pan under Tom's butt and convinces him to sit down on it]. My first couldn’t-resist question for Jesse J. is: What kind of man would even murmur such Bobbit-esque words about another man? Look, I have been mad at my friends before, and yeah I have even thought “Man, I would like to slap him upside the head right about now..” but never, and I do mean NEVER have I thought about cutting one of my friends’ gonads off.
Second, what channel is Jesse Jackson watching Obama’s speeches on to come up with this garbage about him talking “down” to black people? Maybe the audio on Jackson’s TV set is somehow getting replaced with audio from an old David Duke speech or something. Or maybe Jackson’s just getting senile and hearing things. Somehow, he evidently is not getting the same message the rest of America is.
As usual, I must now pause for the critical cause and go analyst for a minute to perhaps shed some speculative, rant-intensive light on what may have led Jackson to make that statement. Consider this: To the chagrin of some, a lot of Obama’s words have been aimed at black males. Check out this article from the NY Times on one of Obama’s recent speeches:
“Addressing a packed congregation at one of the city’s largest black churches, Senator Barack Obama on Sunday invoked his own absent father to deliver a sharp message to African-American men, saying, “We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception.” “Too many fathers are M.I.A, too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes,” Mr. Obama said, to a chorus of approving murmurs from the audience. “They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.”
This is evidently the simpleton “down” talk Jesse Jackson wants to turn Obama into a soprano over.
But wait a sec’, it’s not like Jesse Jackson is averse to social progress, right? After all, his very own web site About Us page reads: “Reverend Jackson has been called the ‘Conscience of the Nation’ and ‘the Great Unifier,’ challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and human priorities for the benefit of all..” Hence, I submit that it would be absolutely unconscionable to assert Mr. Jackson is anything less than OVERJOYED about Obama’s unifying, inclusive, conscientious rhetoric (tongue firmly in cheek).
Therefore, I am only left to conclude that perhaps Rev. Jackson feels the same way about morality and responsible parenting as Obama, but he just doesn’t approve the manner in which Obama is broaching these topics.(tongue still in cheek)
Instead, maybe Jackson prefers a kinder, more uplifting, more inspirational message.. you know.. like the one Bill Cosby infamously delivered in May of 2004 at an NAACP event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education supreme court victory. In that speech–with Mr. Jackson standing right next to him–Mr. Cosby publicly made bone-jarring observations like:
“..I’m talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was two? Where were you when he was twelve? Where were you when he was eighteen, and how come you don’t know he had a pistol? And where is his father, and why don’t you know where he is? And why doesn’t the father show up to talk to this boy?
“….You tell me ..if there was parenting, he [a black male youth] wouldn’t have picked up that Coca Cola bottle and walked out with it to get shot in the back of the head. He wouldn’t have. Not if he loved his parents. And not if they were parenting! Not if [his] father would come home. Not if he hadn’t dropped the sperm cell inside of the girl and the girl had said, “No, you have to come back here and be the father of this child!!”
Whew. It’s hard to imagine Rev. Jackson, the great unifier and ‘conscience of the nation,’ (more tongue in cheek), would think Cosby’s unfiltered style is the way to influence people…. to change people’s hearts… to change their MINDS… which leads to the social change Jackson’s coalition is said to be focused on. (and that’s NOT to say I disapprove of Cosby’s statements or think any less of Bill Cosby. In fact, it is very possible that Cosby’s raw commentary may have inspired Barack Obama, for all I know).
Personally, I think Barack’s inspirational-but-firm message of hope, accountability, and morality IS building people UP, not tearing them DOWN. It is my opinion that Barack Obama is the best role model for young people–especially those in the inner cities– to come around in a long, long time. MORALITY (that is, having a moral compass in one’s life to light the way) is a UNIVERSAL message that knows no racial boundaries, and Barack is delivering that message as well as anyone in recent memory has. And ironically, it takes BALLS to deliver that message.
Bottom line: no matter what happens, I am thrilled to see a role model like Barack in the spotlight, inspiring young people from all races, building them UP and giving them hope that no one so far has been able to give them. And hopefully going forward Jesse Jackson lives up to the mantra of his own organization which offers its own uplifting message about “fighting for social change….” and how together, as a “mighty coalition of conscience..” we “..workers, women and people of color have the power to make the American Dream a Reality! ”
Here’s to unifying leadership, conscientious rhetoric… and less talk about scrotums and sharp instruments..
killer piece.. has history, humor, good criticism, and positive message… cant ask for much more than that… i agree on all points..thanks joe
Hey Joe,
It has been fun reading your news about Natomas, but it is disappointing to hear such aclaim for Obama and Jackson, both nothing but frauds, Obama has done nothing in the Senate, that is a fact. He has no where near approached McCain who has worked with dems to pass legislation, and served his country with honor. Can you name one law he has passed with a republican sponser? I am so tired of his lame speeches that always sound the same, his hope speeches tell us nothing, tell me what your left blog friends say that in the last two weeks, the hero Obama had abandoned them on several big issues, guns, campaign finance, terror,Telecom, FISA, Iraq, faith based funding, probably more to come to shift to the center to find votes, but piss off the move on org people, and I assume you too. He is just a political whore. He says his positions need refining. It was the Wright case and hearing his stupid wife talk that confirmed how he is unfit to be president. She is horrible sounding and and I hope we are spared 4 years of her lecturing us on the proper ways to live and breath. The sad part is a lot of young people seem to love him, and for no logical reason. All these sorry pricks should be happy that Bush was president, there have been no attacks in 7 years, a fact liberals never want to discuss or give Bush credit for. He has the most liberal record in the senate, and his only experience is stealing federal dollars to fund poor blacks in what is called “community organizing”. As for his moral authority, what does that mean, his preacher is a disgrace and hope you would admit is a crack pot, Obama said he could not disown him, so I guess he believes in his views, what do you mean by no “racial boundries”, his chuch is full of hate. His house was involved in a corrupt deal with a criminal, as for Jackson, I hope you were kidding, where do find uplifting messages from him, all he does is extort money from companies and claims everybody is a racist. I saw his sick old face today,and thought how could blacks have him as a leader. God help us if Obama is elected, I will take a old patriot over a young orator who is an empty suit who will say anything to anybody,some role model that is.
Hi Charlie. Well, I thought this post might draw some passionate comments, and your response did not disappoint. I thank you for reading my post, and commenting here. I would like to address some of your points ..
>>”it is disappointing to hear such aclaim for Obama and Jackson, both nothing but frauds..”
I don’t think I gave much acclaim to Jackson at all. And my comments about Barack Obama credited him for the great message he is in fact spreading and not much more. I even wrote another post a ways back called “unsubscribe me” in which I said i was sick of the Obama campaign asking me to help them change the country.
>>but yet Obama has done nothing in the Senate, that is a fact. He has no where near approached McCain who has worked with dems to pass legislation, and served his country with honor.
OK, but this article was not about Obama vs McCain. This was about Obama spreading a positive message and Jackson ripping him for it.
>>I am so tired of his lame speeches that always sound the same, his hope speeches tell us nothing,
“Us” is too broad in this context I think. IMO there is no “us” in an election season. Voter loyalties are split by socio-economic lines now more than ever. What you want to hear from a politician may not be what your neighbor wants to hear. YOU may not see the significance of the “hope” rhetoric, but evidently millions of Americans do. .
>>[Obama] is just a political whore. He says his positions need refining. It was the Wright case and hearing his stupid wife talk that confirmed how he is unfit to be president.
She’s a Harvard graduate. I don’t think there is anything stupid about her, personally.I recognize she is not Barb’ Bush though… which I’m ok with.
>>The sad part is a lot of young people seem to love him, and for no logical reason.
? I can think of countless logical reasons, but in short, he is the antithesis of out-of-touch Bush.
>>All these sorry pricks should be happy that Bush was president, there have been no attacks in 7 years, a fact liberals never want to discuss or give Bush credit for.
But at what cost? Patriot Act is a total abomination of the constitution. I think he is one of the worst presidents in history.
>>Obama’s only experience is stealing federal dollars to fund poor blacks in what is called “community organizing”.
Unlike stealing a ka-billion dollars to fund a war pedicated on a lie right? Come on Charlie.
>>As for his moral authority, what does that mean, his preacher is a disgrace and hope you would admit is a crack pot…Obama said he could not disown him, so I guess he believes in his views
Authority? I never said he was a moral authority? I said he is spreading a moral MESSAGE. Lest we not forget God delivered the greatest morality message of all time on the back of a JACK ASS. Obama is not immoral. Why can’t he speak to morality? As fo Rev Wright, Obama has COMPLETELY rebuked him. Check Google where there are endless citations on this
>>what do you mean by no “racial boundries”, his chuch is full of hate.
? I said the message of MORALITY had no racial boundaries, not Obama himself. I only said he was delivering the message well. Please read again.”MORALITY (that is, having a moral compass in one’s life to light the way) is a UNIVERSAL message that knows no racial boundaries, and Barack is delivering that message as well as anyone in recent memory has…”
>>where do find uplifting messages from him,
I find him to be very uplifting, especially after 8 years of the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld train wreck
>>all he does is extort money from companies and claims everybody is a racist. I saw his sick old face today,and thought how could blacks have him as a leader.
I have not heard him ONCE call someone a racist when they did not deserve it. Citations please.
>>God help us if Obama is elected, I will take a old patriot over a young orator who is an empty suit who will say anything to anybody,some role model that is.
Hmmm, One has to wonder if God has tired of helping “us” and might shift his focus now to helping those who helped build this patriotic country, free of charge.
Look I’m a vet myself and I appreciate McCain’s sacrifices immensely. But he’s I think he’s more of the same Bush regime and I can not stomach the thought of that for another 4 years, let alone 8.
We can agree to disagree on this. Supporting Obama does NOT make me a communist. I hope you will allow me my opinion as I have allowed you yours.
I did not interpret the article like Charlie did. I immediately got the sarcasm and humor and subtle jabs at Jackson’s hypocrisy.
I notice you have now added “tongue in cheek” in a few spots to clarify. I don’t think that is necessary. Some people will get it, some others won’t. Just write your own way and let people interpret how they want to interpret. That’s life.
Joe I agree Obama is a great role model for kids, but I don’t think he is presidential material and I am voting for the great man of the people Mr Ralph Nader! yay!
Oh yes and Jesse Jackson is definitely short a few watts of a bulb and always has been. No news there Charlie
Joe’s post was (((( tame ))))) compared to the other crap being written and said about Obama and Jackson right now. I also agree that Obama’s wife is not stupid. I actually like her.
Joe,
Thanks for the post, I am sure as with all political dialogue, there is some truth to both sides. I happen to be on a different side, and apparently the side of the US Senate, yesterday they approved a bill(69-28) to broaden wiretap powers, a key component is giving immunity to telecom firms that cooperate with the N.S.A., a big victory for Bush. Why are these laws so opposed, the government is trying to protect us, I am sure enough civil liberty safeguards exist to satisfy the ACLU, and still use technology to protect us. Why shouldn’t the government listen in on terror communication? Obama spent months on the primary campaign trail opposing the legislation, but voted for it yesterday, and made a weak claim of saying he’d support a last minute admendment to strip the immunity provision,which failed. Pandering again. Which gets me back to my earlier unanswered questions, how are democrats dealing with obama’s major moves to the center? How do you support him and claim he is for change, all of his recent changes reflect a Bush presidency, and a continuance of the Bush-Cheeny years you dispise, I guess if he is elected, he’ll have some common sense. But once elected, he may move further left, perhaps misleading 300 million people twice.
>>Why are these laws so opposed? The government is trying to protect us.. I am sure enough civil liberty safeguards exist to satisfy the ACLU, and still use technology to protect us…”
Well, ok, but then who protects US from the government? And I disagree about the exchange of liberty for security. And so did Ben Franklin who said, “Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security.”
>>how are democrats dealing with obama’s major moves to the center?
Aw come on, if the degree to which a politician flip-flops were the sole criteria in their electability index, we wouldn’t have any electable candidates. Flip flopping is as American as flipping burgers. Ask GWB.
>>How do you support him and claim he is for change, all of his recent changes reflect a Bush presidency, and a continuance of the Bush-Cheeny years you dispise,
I would agree he has shifted positions a few times, but the good news is he shifted to a more desirable position right? I mean, is he not allowed growth? Must all presidential candidates have 100% of the answers and be completely prohibited from personal growth and change of position? I’m not sure I would want such a rigid know-it-all robot in office.. would you?
I do disagree with your comments, he is a one term senator, with no record, his character and core values are to be judged for electability, there can be honest debates on policy, but his character can be questioned, and his fundamental shifts lately raise concerns. I wish the media and more people would judge him on a tougher scale, all everybody does is roll over and claim they feel a sensation in their legs like Chris Mathews when is speaks.
I agree with you about his lack of experience. I have stated before I am not THRILLED with Obama. I have even stated “Obama brings no more experience to the table than the average 40 something working professional.” BUT, really, how much worse could we do than Bush? Man.
Hi. I am in Atlanta, GA, so I don’t follow Sacramento much. I just wanted to say I read at least 10 articles on this story in various places around the web, and this was by far the most entertaining and edifying. -Tina
Tina,
How did you hear of Joe in GA.???
Google. This site came up at the top of the list when I searched for jesse jackson obama story.