Jackson apologizes for comment about Obama
CHICAGO (AP) - July 10, 2008 Jackson said the "hurtful and wrong" comments came in response
to a question from a fellow guest during a break from taping "Fox
& Friends" on Sunday. The guest asked about speeches on morality
Obama has given at black churches.
Jackson said at a news conference Wednesday that he had said
Obama's speeches can come off as speaking down to black people and
that there were other important issues to be addressed in the
community, such as unemployment, the mortgage crisis and the number
of blacks in prison.
He said he was not aware the microphone was still on.
Jackson declined to repeat the comments, but said he decided to
apologize publicly after hearing from Fox News that it would air
them.
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier Wednesday,
Jackson said he didn't remember his exact words, but said he was
"very sorry."
The Fox News program "The O'Reilly Factor" aired Jackson's
comment Wednesday night, including a slang reference to his wanting
to cut off Obama's testicles. The report bleeped out the slang but
made clear what Jackson said with subtitles.
"It was not a public speech or a declaration," Jackson said,
adding the comments "will not be helpful."
"For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation
may have caused, I apologize," he said in a written apology
released earlier in the day. "My support for Senator Obama's
campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal."
Jackson said he called Obama's campaign to apologize.
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton noted that the Illinois
senator grew up without his father and has spoken and written at
length about the issues of parental responsibility and fathers
participating in their children's lives, and of society's
obligation to provide "jobs, justice and opportunity for all.
"He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to
ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend
Jackson's apology," Burton said.
Though Jackson supports Obama, the two are not close.
In September, The State newspaper in South Carolina reported
that Jackson had said Obama was "acting like he's white" in his
response to the arrest of six black juveniles in Jena, La. Jackson
disputed the quote.
Jackson's comments sparked something of a family feud. His son,
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., said he was disappointed by his father's
"reckless statements."
"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," the
younger Jackson said.
The comments are not the first the elder Jackson has had to
explain after believing he was off the record.
In 1984, he called New York City "Hymietown," referring to the
city's large Jewish population. He later acknowledged it was wrong
to use the term, but said he did so in private to a reporter.
Jackson is at least the third vocal Chicago supporter to create
problems for Obama on the campaign trail.
Obama resigned from Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ
during the primaries after a videotape of his pastor, the Rev.
Jeremiah Wright Jr., hit the Internet. On the tape, Wright accused
the U.S. government of creating AIDS and is seen shouting "God
damn America" during a sermon.
In May, Roman Catholic priest the Rev. Michael Pfleger mocked
Obama's then Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton during a guest
sermon at Trinity United. Pfleger, who is white, pretended he was
Clinton crying over "a black man stealing my show." He later
apologized.
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Associated Press Writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to
this report.