The most important change would occur in the Middle East, where "decades of putting Israel's interests first" would end.
Jackson believes that, although "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.
I have two problems with this. 1.) The "Zionist control" theory is a cop-out, a kind of "the Israelis made me do it!" defense. If you have a beef with American foreign policy over the past couple decades, take it to the people you elected and supported. 2.) Why is this dude speaking for Barack? How does he know what Obama's foreign policy priorities will be? Why can't he stop talking? I don't get this at all.
To Jesse's credit, later in the piece he says that he isn't an adviser to the campaign. But that only makes his comments even more puzzling, because if that's the case, he has no way of knowing what Barack is going to do. There are some very disturbing inferences that can be made, in terms of jealousy. But whenever I've speculated on the contents of the hearts of men, I've gotten in trouble. I think it's wrong to read a generational beef into this, even though I've been guilty of it in the past. I think this has to do with Jesse, and Jesse only.
UPDATE: Jesse says he didn't say it. I'd love to know what that means. Did he never talk to the guy? At any rate, the veracity of the comments are disputed. Here's the thing, the writer has a nasty record. Jesse also has a record of lodging charges at more credible journalists. Frankly, I don't know what happened. Sometimes a blogger gets ahead of himself. It's possible that, in this case, that blogger would be me.
Bingo!!! At this point, Jesse is all about Jesse. Lets face it. As anyone in the public eye long enough, Jesse has a massive ego. Also, somewhere deep down, I am sure he has some kind of resentment of Obama. After all, Obama is at the precipice of what Jackson probably thought he could attain one day. I bet Jackson thought that he'd be the one to break all the barriers Obama now is. In the end, Jackson is lashing out due to jealousy. Pure and simple.
]]>Check him out here, or WikiP:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Amir_Taheri
I'd be okay with saying "hey, he's from another generation, when he was a kid he witnessed things that we can't imagine, etc" and put him in the same category as some great-uncles that friends (acquaintances, really) of ours may have... but it's not like this doesn't have some sort of precedent where Jesse is concerned.
]]>Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, he didn't say it. I don't know why Jesse is even talking to the dude though...
]]>"But [Jackson] adds that Obama has been "a neighbor or, better still, a member of the family." Jackson's son has been a close friend of Obama for years, and Jackson's daughter went to school with Obama's wife Michelle."
"We helped him start his career," says Jackson. "And then we were always there to help him move ahead. He is the continuation of our struggle for justice not only for the black people but also for all those who have been wronged."
and then this:
"Jackson declines to be more concrete about possible policy changes. After all, he insists, he isn't part of Obama's policy team. Yet he clearly hopes that his views, reflecting the position of many Democrats, would be reflected in the policies of an Obama administration."
And then, in a relatively transparant effort to keep the whole Obama might be a muslim/terrorist/what-have-you, the author ends on this note:
"Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims," Jackson says. "Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."
Hmmm...
]]>Barack's father (major-league asshole) was also a part of that. THIS is generational. Think of Andrew Young's venom. John Lewis didn't get down with Barack UNTIL a younger man said get w/ the program or I will run against you and TAKE your seat. No one hates Barry more than Glenn Loury at Brown (equally if not more jealous than Jesse) and remember Cornell West and Julianne Malveaux after Barack's Democratic Acceptance Speech. He didn't say King's name! they cried.
Obama scares the crap out of people who have one mode of analysis for what ails black people. Barack exposes the possibilities of hard work and academic success. They are afraid that white people will forget about structural racism.
]]>Cornell West came to my college in 2005, and I asked him about the impact of first-generation black Americans on American black culture, citing Obama, and he kinda blew me off.
]]>I think the ire here is misplaced.
I don't even think it's close to 'deep down.' I was at the barbershop yesterday flipping through a TIME from a few months ago. There were quotes in there from Jackson about how he felt bad he wasn't a bigger part of Barack's campaign. It didn't even seem like he was trying to hide his resentment.
]]>Its because this clown doesn't realize that Billy Dee has taken over. If he has any more questions, he should go directly to Mr. Williams.
Everyone should remember the kind of bile they spilled to tear down the likes of Cory Booker and Adrian Fenty?
]]>2. What happened to 'foo'? I like foo.
]]>Where have you been? Billy Dee Williams is the official spokesperson for black people. Didn't you vote???
]]>Obama! Bumaye!
]]>Other than that: Obama is doing what JJ couldn't is right on. JJ is yesterday. Obama is tomorrow. Step away from the mic is the best advice we can give him.
The Grounds is Obama's words came right out of his own month "let me be clear!, Jeruseleam must remain Isreal's Capitol!" Then Obama tries to recant his words, then says that was a poor chhoice of words,....Which means.....
Obama does not back up his own words or believes himself.
Watch the whole clip the last one at the bottom, I think it is part 3.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1449/pub_detail.asp
Aha! I am a latecomer, having finally added you & Fallows & Ambinder to my blogroll during the Olympics, so I missed the boat.
So did the Rising McCain guy preempt the results of the white people spokesperson poll, or is Galactus speaking for us now?
]]>Obama's national security spokesman, Wendy Morigi:
'"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...." "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. No false charges can change Barack Obama's unshakable commitment to Israel's security."'
Jesse Jackson Jr.:
'"I know that under a Barack Obama presidency, the United States of America's relationship with Israel will remain rock-solid, strong and unshakable. Barack Obama is committed to maintaining and strengthening the special bond between our two countries, born of our shared values as well as our common interests,"'
'Jackson himself denounced Taheri, according to the Associated Press, for "selectively imposing his own point of view and distorting mine," issuing a statement saying Taheri was trying to "to incite fear and division." Jackson added that he "has never had a conversation with Sen. Obama about Israel or the Middle East."'
]]>Jackson didn't speak to Taheri. According to the NY Post article, Taheri was apparently reporting on statements Jackson made to the World Policy Forum in France.
]]>a simple fact that blows apart his asinine comment. if obama is gonna be a chance after 20 years of "zionist crap", why does he have many of clinton's most influential people working for him?
blech. what a d-bag.
]]>