Posted by
Matthew on Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:39:08 AM
I believe Jesse Jackson is an intelligent man. I disagree with his viewpoint on 99% of the issues, but he has to have some smarts to be able to continue to shake down American businesses so successfully.
But there is something about having a microphone in front of him that drops his IQ. The science of recording technology is his kryptonite. There can be no other explanation.
A few samplings of Jackson's gaffes:
- 1973: Nixon was unsympathetic to blacks because, among his top advisors, "four out of five are German Jews"
- 1979: Few Jewish reporters "have the capacity to be objective about Arab affairs"
- 1984" Jewish people are "Hymies" and New York City is "Hymietown"
The list goes on. Since most who will read this post are either familiar with Jackson's silver tongue or know how to use g00gle, let me suggest that we look a little closer at Jackson's template for an apology.
He never regrets making the remarks.
No, seriously; stop giggling. It's true. He regrets that he was overheard, he regrets that some have chosen to interpret the comments to be offensive, he regrets that people are focusing on what he said rather than how the government (or specifically those with an (R) next to their name) are really to blame.
Look at his 'apology' for his tasteless comments caught by Fox on Sunday: "
It was not a public speech or a declaration."
Um, Mr. Jackson, you were in a TV studio, sitting in front of a microphone. You may not have
meant for it to be a public speech, but it was.
Truth is, he regrets being caught.
I see someone else in the news who has learned from Mr. Jackson. Barack Obama is also unable to apologize for doing something wrong without focusing on how he was misunderstood, how his comments were misconstrued, how he is only sorry that it might detract from his messianic persona.
Guns and Bibles, anyone?
One difference, though. Where Jackson has no regrets, Obama regrets almost everything. I saw an article in the Atlanta paper today where the author pointed out that an internet search on 'Obama' and 'regrets' returns over a million hits (who says he hasn't accomplished much?).
But neither is ever to blame.