Jesse Jackson Also Used N-Word in Taped Conversation Critical of Obama

[Jammajay]

Jesse Jackson Also Used N-Word in Taped Conversation Critical of Obama


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2KRDgtutzU[/media]

A FOX News camera captured the Rev. Jesse Jackson uttering the N-word while he was preparing to tape an interview earlier this month, a word he has denounced publicly as degrading to African Americans.
On Wednesday, FOX News’ host Bill O’Reilly revealed the details of Jackson’s appearance on tape, saying that he wanted to lay to rest reports based on news leaks.
Appearing on “Studio B With Shepard Smith,” Smith asked O’Reilly if Jackson’s remarks included the N-word, as some news reports had indicated.
“Yeah. And it’s trash talking,” O’Reilly said.
Jackson has been vocally critical of others’ use of the N-word, saying it is hurtful to the black community, whether it is used by blacks or whites.
For instance, after a November 2006 rant by “Seinfeld” star Michael Richards during a stand-up routine laden with the N-word, Jackson joined other black leaders to challenge the entertainment industry to stop using the slur. He also called for a boycott of the “Seinfeld” DVD series that was coming out because of Richards’ use of the slur.
“We want to give our ancestors a present,” Jackson said at a news conference at the time. “Dignity over degradation.”
Jackson’s comment came when he was discussing Barack Obama, saying the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is “talking down to black people,” and “telling niggers how to behave.”
FOX News aired a portion of the tape last week where Jackson was criticizing Obama because they were deemed newsworthy. O’Reilly said the N-word was not deemed so, because it “did not advance the story in one way, shape or form.”
In the portion that aired, Jackson said he would cut Obama’s “nuts off,” referring to his dispute with Obama over faith-based initiatives.
“I’m not in the business of hurting Jesse Jackson — because it does hurt Jesse Jackson — and I’m not in the business of creating some kind of controversy that’s not relevant to the general subject: one civil rights leader disparaging another over policy. So we held it back. Some weasel leaked it to the Internet,” O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly told Smith there was nothing more of value to the interview tape.
“That’s all I have. … .You’ve got everything now.”
Jackson — who is traveling in Spain — apologized in a statement Wednesday for “hurtful words” but didn’t offer specifics.
“I am deeply saddened and distressed by the pain and sorrow that I have caused as a result of my hurtful words. I apologize again to Senator Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, their children as well as to the American public,” Jackson said in a written statement. “There really is no justification for my comments and I hope that the Obama family and the American public will forgive me. I also pray that we, as a nation, can move on to address the real issues that affect the American people.”
A spokeswoman for Jackson’s civil rights organization, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said she could not confirm that Jackson used the slur.