Step 1: Open Mouth

Step 2: Insert Foot

Step 3: Remove Foot

Step 4: Apologize. Apologize. Apologize.

This is the recipe for bad publicity in the silly season of politics. The good Reverend Doctor himself was caught on tape saying some pretty "crude" (his word not mine) things about Senator Barack Obama. The exact quote isn’t being printed but many radio and news shows are reporting that the quote references Jackson wanting to cut off Barack’s "n***" (again his words, not mine) for "talking down" to black people.

WOW. Just wow.

After faux Fox news threatened to air the comments, Jackson went on  a media offensive. Apologizing for the comments and stating his unequivocal support of Barack.

What is this really about? The old guard vs the new guard of civil rights, crabs in a barrel syndrome, or just pure jealousy. Jackson’s own son had to issue a statement condemning his father’s comments, stating:

"I’m deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson’s reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama," wrote the younger Jackson, who is an Obama national campaign co-chairman. "His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee — and I believe the next president of the United States — contradict his inspiring and courageous career." Washington Post

Senator Obama issued a statement accepting Jackson’s apology and stating that he will continue to talk about personal responsibility for all Americans.

Oh yeah, that was the switch that lit Jesse’s fire to begin with.

 

On Father’s day, Obama visited the Apostolic Church of God, Bishop Brazier’s church for you in the know. There he spoke of missing dad’s in the black community and taking personal responsibility for our own issues.

He spoke the truth. This apparently riled Jesse’s feathers.

I respect Rev Jackson, but in my ordinary opinion, harping on the government has not changed many of the key issues affecting the black community. I believe in self-reliance and hard work on an even playing field. But if the field is not even, CHANGE THE GAME.

It is important to take the black community to task for the high rate of single moms and absent fathers. Absent fathers mean one less parent to supervise, provide, and nurture kids who then fall ever increasingly into crime, reckless sex, and early parenthood themselves.

I will get down, off of my soapbox now and let you talk amongst yourselves.