Discussing the recent comments from Jesse Jackson about Israel, Pejman Yousefzadeh of Redstate wrote the following at 12:13AM EST today:
But the Obama campaign should be asked to what degree Jackson speaks for Obama here. And just how much does Obama stay up at nights worrying about the supposedly undue influence of ‘Zionists’?
And yet, 7 hours before, this.
“Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is not an adviser to the Obama campaign and is therefore in no position to interpret or share Barack Obama’s views on Israel and foreign policy,” Obama national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said in a statement. “As he has made clear throughout his career and throughout this campaign, Barack Obama has a fundamental commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship … As president, he will ensure that Israel can defend itself from every threat it faces, stand with Israel in its quest for a secure peace with its neighbors, and use all elements of American power to end Iran’s illicit nuclear program.”
We on the left like to use “the Google”. Perhaps if our friends on the right considered it something other than witchcraft they wouldn’t seem so out of it on a regular basis.
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You mean Black people don’t share a hive mind?
Kinda petty, Oliver. Even for a blogger.
I’m a little curious as to what the fuck Jackson thought he was doing here. Obama is finally up in Florida. What business does Jackson have speaking for Obama on a foreign policy issue?
The amount of shit you will throw at the wall to see what sticks is directly proportional to how close the election is (timewise) and how unclose the election is (pollwise).
For you non-statisticians, the further behind you are the closer to election day, the crazier the shit your supporters are likely to try in your defense.
I’m pretty sure a nine point lead on the weekend before election day is good enough for cannibalism allegations, while it has to be a ten point lead before they’ll say he’s actually the devil.
Hannity and Colmes led off with this last night. Everything against the wall strategy on the march
Silly people. Don’t you know that every liberal is responsible for anything said or written by any liberal? And that no conservative is responsible for anything written by any conservative (including themselves)?
Was Jesse Jackson claiming to speak for the Obama Campaign? When did Jackson lose his right to speak on whatever he chooses to talk about? Why did the Obama Campaign feel it necessary to issue a statement about Jackson when it is clear that Jackson is not a spokesperson for the campaign? Why is the Obama Campaign afraid of black folks expressing positions on foreign policy and other matters that are distinctly different from Obama’s positions?
Try this experiment – Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama are in 2 different states. Jesse says something silly, and Obama is asked to respond. If he says something like he was not there, and therefore is not responsible, that is not good enough.
Now – Sarah Palin is giving a speech. She criticizes Obama, and while most people just boo, one over eager attendes yells “Kill him!” Now, they are in the same room, but Palin does not feel the need to ask that person to get up and leave.
It was a bit of an imprudent thing for Jackson to say at this point in the campaign, but I don’t think it does much damage, because a) people realize Jackson and Obama don’t see eye to eye on everything, and b)Obama rebutted those comments fairly swiftly.
That said:
I would like to see a major American presidential candidate admit what the world already knows: Israel is a nuclear power, well capable of turning Iran and most of their neighbors into uninhabitated wastelands. They even have a robust first and second strike capability. So, I had to roll my eyes at the question about providing troops to assist in Israel’s defense in the event of an Iranian attack. Israel is militarily stronger than Iran. They have no common border. The prospects of a direct Iranian attack on Israel are actually pretty remote. But we’re supposed to act like a suicidal nuclear attack on Israel is imminent, just as soon as Iran develops a single nuke. A little sanity in middle east policy would be a welcome change.
Why did the Obama Campaign feel it necessary to issue a statement about Jackson when it is clear that Jackson is not a spokesperson for the campaign?
Because, as has been shown w/r/t Rev. Wright, Obama has to defend or repudiate everything every black person ever says or has said.
Why does Jesse Jackson keep hanging on to the hope that he is somehow relevant anymore?
No, Obama does not have to defend or repudiate everything or anything a black person says. Rev. Wright was the pastor of the church he attended for 20 years so a need for him to respond is obvious. Obama is running for the presidency of the United States not the presidency of the Black Electorate in America or HNIC.
What does Jackson’s alleged relevancy or irrelevancy have to do with his right to express his opinions about anything he damn well pleases to express his opinions about without the Obama Campaign issuing statements aimed at reassuring members of the Jewish electorate? It is absurd.
PTCruiser: I think Duros Hussein 62 was being sarcastic. Just a guess.
Jackson was talking about Obama’s foreign policy, not about his own views. When he presumes to predict what Obama is going to do/say/be, that’s Obama’s business, and Obama should repudiate it if it’s not accurate.
If everyone involved were white, the same principle would apply.
Word, Mr. Bozo.
Sorry, forgot the /sarcasm tag.
Well, I’m glad that you feel assured that the same expectations and demands would follow if everyone was white. I guess that’s why Sarah Paln has not had to explain her husband’s involvement with the Alaskan Independent Party or her own recorded greeting to the party’s convention in Fairbanks.
Obama has to defend or repudiate everything every black person ever says or has said.
No, just those closest to him, like Rev. Wright and Jesse Jackson, who claims that the families are close and he helped Obama get his start in politics. Certainly McCain is not being held to less of a standard.
How is it that everyone already has forgotten that before folks at Palin rallies were yelling, “Kill him!” the right Rev. Jesse Jackson was talking about how much he wanted to cut Obama’s nuts off?
WTF is wrong with a media that can’t hold a memory for three months?!
I haven’t seen a single news article or blog post about Jackson’s comments that acknowledged that maybe he has a slightly dysfunctional relationship with Obama and may not be the best source on what Obama thinks.
Jesus Christ.
Agree with PG, BTW.
PT CRUISER: “I guess that’s why Sarah Palin has not had to explain her husband’s involvement with the Alaskan Independent Party or her own recorded greeting to the party’s convention in Fairbanks.”
No, she hasn’t had to explain her husband’s secessionist sentiments BECAUSE SHE HASN’T BEEN AVAILABLE TO ANY REPORTERS who would love to ask about it. And about her “witch-hunting” pastor. And about Troopergate’s indictment of her ethics. And her creationist views. And… and..
Seems Jackson’s only mistake was to talk to Murdoch’s NY Post and assume they’d report him accurately:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/15/jackson-pushes-back-ive-n_n_134914.html
Always follow the links all the way back to the source, people. This came from Amir Taheri, the same loser who has been busted–twice!–trying to fabricate a story that Obama interfered in security negotiations between the U.S. and the Iraqi government.
Recall that his earlier effort on this score was shot down by Republican Senators in the room when the conversation took place!
Sloppy is too kind, OW. This is just a higher grade version of the African Press fraud.
Still searching for sourcing on this that doesn’t track back to Taheri.
….searching…