The tape will be played exclusively on Fox News tonight, but if the "bleeped" version that I just saw on Drudge was even close, certainly the "Reverend" was far less than reverent towards Barack Obama, the candidate he supposedly supports. In fact, Jesse's quickly issued apology alone demonstrates that. Per The Drudge Report, here is Jesse Jackson's statement of apology:
For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama_s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment.Typical Jesse Speak in my opinion. I'm not sure that addresses what he said about what he'd like to do to Obama's male anatomy.
_My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.
_That was the context of my private conversation and it does not reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading it, whom I have supported by crisscrossing this nation in every level of media and audience from the beginning in absolute terms._
My rule, and I think Jesse should adopt it (but I won't be holding my breath) is this: If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it behind their back. For Jesse I might add, and always do a mike check before you open your big, irreverent mouth.
