By now, virtually every American not on an expedition to Antarctica has heard about Rev. Jesse Jackson’s crude and offensive remarks picked up by a live mic in a Fox News studio last Sunday.
Rev. Jackson expressed his extreme displeasure about Sen. Obama supposedly “speaking down to black people.” Most observers believe the specific remarks that triggered Rev. Jackson’s outburst were uttered by Sen. Obama in a Father’s Day speech at a black church in which the senator admonished absent black fathers by saying, “We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child–it’s the courage to raise one.”
Rev. Jackson’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., issued a blistering repudiation of his father’s comments saying that while he would always “love his father,” he did “thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric.” Rev. Jackson has apologized to Sen. Obama for his comments.
One point that I have not heard made in the barrage of criticism directed at Rev. Jackson is the extreme vulgarity of his comments. Some have talked about his “crude” language, but as far as I know, no one has pointed out that Rev. Jackson’s comments are particularly beyond the pale for a man of the cloth.
As a minister myself, I am even more shocked that Rev. Jackson would state that he–how shall I put it?–wanted to remove Sen. Obama’s procreative abilities. Am I suggesting that ordained ministers should be held to an even higher standard of conduct than non-ordained people? Yes, I am.
The New Testament is quite clear that people who would be pastors or ministers are held to a higher standard than other Christians (1 Tim. 3:1-7) and even other church officers such as “deacons” (1 Tim. 3:8-13). I, for one, do hold ministers, including myself, to a higher standard of conduct and that includes both not harboring such hostile and vicious thoughts toward others and not verbalizing them in such vulgar and crude language.
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posted July 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I think we should hold reverends to a higher standard too. But I feel that beliefnet doesn’t hold all church leaders to the same standard. I feel that behavior from those that are on the “Right” is overlooked, and those on the “Left” are blogged about.
posted July 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm
The shocking thing to me is that Jesse Jackson’s remark puts him in solidarity with the KKK. Castration is historically associated with lynching, and if anyone ought to know this, its Reverend Jesse Jackson.
The crudity of the remark I’m sure reflects the depth of his jealousy.
posted July 13, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Alicia, I agree with you completely. I hope what I have to say doesn’t offend anyone reading here, but here I go again.
The election of a Black man to the Presidency would undo a great deal of the pretensions to victimhood that fuel Reverend Jackson’s power. It would mark an end to the Jesse Jackson’s style of politics. It’s entirely understandable that he would be jealous and resentful, and it’s not surprising that another preacher of the liberate the victims ilk, Reverend Wright, pulled his own verbal stunts. Both men ultimately support the Obama candidacy but both men are part of leadership passing from the scene.
posted July 14, 2008 at 10:10 pm
It’s been stated several times in many quarters before and it hurts me to repeat it but I’m now convinced that we Blacks are or own worst enemies. Why on earth would “Reverend” Jackson use such hateful language about someone he supposedly supports and is a friend of? It was obvious that what he said is what he felt in his heart so what exactly is he apologizing about? That he was overheard?
Then there’s Reverend Wright… good grief! It took a while for him to realize he needed to just shut up. (I wonder how long he will keep quiet.)
posted July 16, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I don’t understand why everyone is so upset over Jackson’s remarks. He’s always been a hypocrite and liar. Martin Luther King Jr would roll over in his grave if he could hear Jackson. It’s hard to believe Jackson was one of Kings men given his total disregard for King’s teachings. Giving Jackson the respect to call him “Reverend” totally disrepects the church. I on the otherhand am an athiest so that doesnt suprize me either.
posted July 17, 2008 at 9:05 am
There was a piece on the Today Show this morning confirming that Jackson also used the n-word to describe the African-Americans Obama was supposedly guilty of talking down to… hypocrite indeed. He issued a statement from Spain asking for the forgiveness of the Obamas and of the American people.
If he really wants public forgiveness, he should retire and keep his mouth shut.
posted July 17, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I am appalled that a clergyman would use offensive language. Is this a wolf in sheep’s clothing? What church does he represent? Are all the members of his faith like him??
posted July 18, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Jesse,
The one thing you don’t realize is that your purpose in life was to pave the way for an viable Black canidate (Obama), you did that, now shut up please your services are no longer needed. You should be ashamed for using God’s name in vain. You should be ashamed for hiding overseas in the midst of your firestorm. You should be ostracized as Don Imus, for you are both cut from the same cloth. And to think you wanted the news media , the general public and society as a whole bury Nigger or Ebonics because it is offensive to whom? Blacks say they have a born given right to call each other that, just don’t let other races say it. That shows me all of your civil right movements efforts were in fact in vain. Now we are killing ourselves, drugging our families, Not educating our children, having babies out of wedlock ( oops the man of supposed cloth did it) thanks for your marches, Whites can’t publicly kill us; we’re doing a damn good job ourselves. Jesse where are you in the community as our babies are being gunned down, where are you when are kids are failing in school, and were are you, when the fathers of our kids keep going to jail and leaving the babies? You need to be ashamed, pretending you care about Black People; you care about the dollars opening your big Mouth generates. Yes I said it.
posted July 19, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I totally agree with Lisa’a comments and would like to add that Obama upstaged Jesse at the one game that Jesse has always really been playing – the political one.
Jesse thought he or his son would be the next black president. His animosity toward Obama is fueled by his frustration at the being the second most powerful political family in Chicago (Daleys #1) that now has no shot in the near term of the presago others idency.
The “Rev” has never really been a reverend and only wears the mantle when he wants assume the Morgan Freeman like role of elder, wiser religous guru or the Samuel L Jackson like fiery prophet. You know – he almost gets paid as much as they do. Maybe if he went into acting he would be more believable.
As the son of a South side Chicago teacher who taught in the projects and did voter regisration drives in the summer – her church was PUSH rallies – I’m disappointed in Jesse not just for this but for not bowing out gracefully and passing the torch a few years ago.