There is a reason why Jesse Jackson and his ilk are in the rear view of black American leadership. They don’t want to tell people what they don’t want to hear, and they resent Sen. Obama for doing so.
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My first response: You-you motherfrackerrrrr! (and then there’s some commotion and your toy ship gets destroyed…)
Two: Do you know anything? Had Jesse not run and changed the rules to proportional representation as opposed to the old winner take all rules Obama probably wouldn’t have won the nomination.
Three: what kinds of things can’t we stand to hear that also aren’t thrown around by the Jesse Helms of this world? Shouldn’t we mind when black dems use republican talking points? Shouldn’t that be just a little offensive?
I, for one, think Jesse Jacksons comments are kind of amusing (well, the nuts part). I didn’t think what he said was all that bad. I can see his point about Obama talking down to black people (though I respectfully disagree that Obama was doing that). The cutting the nuts off part was funny though. The way he said it was like an SNL sketch. Completely straight-faced, whispering, not looking the other guy in the eyes.
Philip,
I didn’t know that Jesse Jackson helped to change the rules to proportional representation. That is awesome. A much better system.
You’re wrong Oliver. I know that you think Obama’s speech on Fathers Day was the greatest thing since sliced bread but, as you know, I thought it was lame, inappropriate and ill-advised. Jackson wouldn’t have his behind in a crack right now if he had publicly expressed his exceptions at the time instead of acting as if everything was fine by him. That’s what happens when you play the access game.
I have not bitten my tongue even once in expressing my extreme displeasure with Obama’s preachifying that day. I am not looking for access to him or his administration. I attended a fundraiser for him this evening and had a great time. I will continue to support his candidacy but I’m not taking low like Jackson when I have a legitimate beef with Obama. That’s why I don’t have fantasize about cutting off his balls and other such rot. Jackson needed to step up on Fathers Day, not yesterday.
Jackson should hang up his spurs. Making an off-the-record, nasty remark ON THE SET OF FOX NEWS?? Duh.
What Jackson said is flawed in two ways. One, Jackson would be expected to do some sort of “work”
WORK: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:
and two, there is absolutely no proof that Obama has balls.
What Obama said wasn’t GOP talking points. It was common sense, common sense that the established black leadership in America refuses to say lest their followers take offense. The whole reason Jackson & Co. are saying this is they feel their toes are being stepped on. Poor dears, their time has passed.
Good Night Rev Jackson, now go on git under that bus… I’m waiting for the FISA update… oh there won’t be one, how fitting.
“What Obama said wasn’t GOP talking points. It was common sense, common sense that the established black leadership in America refuses to say lest their followers take offense. The whole reason Jackson & Co. are saying this is they feel their toes are being stepped on. Poor dears, their time has passed.”
Oliver, I have been black far longer than you have which means nothing more than I am older than you. I cannot ever remember a time when what you describe as black leadership at the most micro and the macro level have not urged black men, in a general sense, to assume more responsibility in their homes and communities. I come from many generations of black men – paternal and maternal – who took their responsibilities as caregivers and providers quite seriously.
Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do. And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.
Obama is running for the presidency of the United States. He is not running for the presidency of Black America. Absent and irresponsible fathers are not just a problem among black folks. They are a problem too among white folks in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and in regions like Appalachia and the Sun Belt. If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.
He said “Any fool can have a child. It takes courage to be a father.”
Where in that is he talking down to black folks?
Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do.
Then he wasn’t talking to them.
And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.
Then they should.
I’m assuming your admonitions carry to white fathers as well, yes?
If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.
But he didn’t do that.
Allow me to go against my own interests and really stir the pot here. According to the consensus of commenters:
Obama speaking about black fatherhood: indicting all black men.
Kerry speaking about wartime atrocities: NOT indicting all service members.
Discuss. Be nice. Have fun.
But I don’t think he was just talking about black fatherhood. No where did I see or hear him single out black fathers. The implication that he was speaking to an A-A congregation and therefore was only speaking to them, I think, is false.
Jesse Jackson was feeling battered because his balls
have been places they shouldn’t have been and he had
a child outside his marriage. So much for preaching in the church
huh Jesse? He and his BITTER ilk should shut the fuck up about being read a
lecture.
When I walk into church and count fifteen unmarried pregnant
black girls under the age of nineteen — I say every damned body should get over ANYBODY lecturing.
If you are a good father–I feel you, hell he isn’t even talking about you!
If you suck–
Jesse needs to go on a vacation for about 4 1/2 months.
The man even managed to humiliate his own son with his big mouth–on FOX no less . . . .
Obama speaking about black fatherhood: indicting all black men.
Kerry speaking about wartime atrocities: NOT indicting all service members.
One ought to take an innocent-until-proven-guilty approach with both. Either speech would require some qualifier (all, every, a majority, almost without exception, etc.) explicity suggesting that they were making a blanket statement. Even Kerry suggesting that it was policy is not good enough – different units and divisions can have their own de facto policies quite distinct from the military at large. Witness the difference in tactics between Odierno and Patreaus from (if memory serves) late ‘03-’05.
He’s just pissed because he’s no longer relevant.
“He said ‘Any fool can have a child. It takes courage to be a father.’”
It does not take courage to be a father. It takes time and commitment. Superman is not needed in these cases, just various versions of Clark Kent.
“Where in that is he talking down to black folks?”
Obama’s appearance at that particular church was designed as a national address. If it had been intended solely for the consumption of the church’s congregation then the press would have been barred. Many of us who are black fathers would have greatly preferred to hear something else from him on that day than the usual litany of failures.
“Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do.
“Then he wasn’t talking to them.”
Then, pray tell, who I-T-F was he talking to that morning? My black male friends and I certainly didn’t need this brother to tell us what our responsibilities toward our families are. My male cousins and their friends who are his age did not need to be told what their parental obligations entailed.
“And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.
“Then they should.”
What they should do and what they will do and are doing are three very distinct things. What we do know is that they are not attending any churches to listen to scolding ministers and politicians chastise them for their failures. I find it difficult to believe that Obama was not aware of this fact. So who was he talking to that morning and for whose benefit?
“I’m assuming your admonitions carry to white fathers as well, yes?”
I have no idea what this question means in the context of this discussion. Fathers should do what they can to take care of their children. Married, unmarried, separated or divorced.
“If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.
“But he didn’t do that.”
Yes, you are right. He talked about the issue solely as a problem for black men.
“Any fool can have a child. It takes courage to be a father.”
If Obama said this, he lifted it from ‘Boyz In The Hood’ where the character of Furious says, “Any fool with a dick can make a baby. It takes a real man to be a father.”
And Quaker, you’re a troublemaker!
Hey that rhymes.
If there is any black person who sometimes NEEDS to have someone tell him, “Ni**a PLEASE!”, it’s Jesse.
BTW, Friday afternoon I’m attending a 60th anniversary commemoration of the fight to integrate the tennis courts in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. Two of the major activists involved were progressives Howard B. Silverberg and his then-wife, Regina. Howard’s second wife (and widow) Jeanne Dresser is a dear friend of mine who continues the fight for those same causes.
He talked about the issue solely as a problem for black men.
No, he didn’t. Point out to me where he specifically spoke about black men and black men only.
Pt, I think you’re taking this too personally, man. It was a national address, the press was there, and he was talking g to EVERY body.
It does not take courage to be a father. It takes time and commitment.
Sometimes that time and commitment requires courage, regardless of color. That’s all I’m saying.
You said,
If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.
I said “But he didn’t do that.”
What I meant was he didn’t address it as a Black American problem. Sorry for the confusion.
I want to see the real shitblizzard that will kick up when Obama goes to some west va. trailerpark and gives the exact same speach to white men who need to quit doing drugs and take care of their children.
//that would be fun.
///honestly, I don’t want to see that- even if it needs to be said, i’d rather see Obama elected.