Jesse Jackson - Patron Saint of the Barack Obama Campaign
First, Jesse Jackson wanted to cut Sen. Barack Obama’s nuts out for talking down to us. Then, in what he believed to be a more private conversation, he refers to us as “niggers being told how to behave” by Obama?
Just when everybody thought it was safe to begin attacking Obama on what seems to be wavering policy stances, Jesse comes along and makes it all right. A perfect deflection, a surreal distraction, all in time for the Senator from Illinois to shake up the world with comprehensive reform and planning for a new day in domestic and foreign policy.
And they, the news media, have to talk about it.
At first, I thought that Jackson was on the John McCain payroll, taking swipes at the very person he helped pave a way for. But you have to assume that the democrats, and particularly the black democrats, are becoming well-versed in the Karl Rove playbook of dirty politics.
Rule number one - attack their strengths.
And with media being a significant strength of conservative politics, with television and radio shows having such pull over informed and uninformed voters alike, what better way to draw attention from what the candidates are doing right and wrong on the trail then to completely denigrate them to distract focus from the issues?
Truth be told, Jackson’s remarks couldn’t come at a better time. Obama, preparing to embark on a fact-finding visit to Iraq and Afghanistan, was criticized for outlining potential policies on the international conflicts prior to his trip. It could’ve have tripped Obama up slightly in the court of public opinion, but Jackson’s remarks are more noose worthy than any perceived missteps Obama could make in foreign affairs.
Give it about two weeks and this will all blow over, but for right now, Obama supporters should take up a familiar cry from the 80’s.
“RUN (your mouth) JESSE, RUN!”