The Rev. Jesse Jackson told The Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday night he doubted a flare-up over a remark attributed to him about White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “acting like he’s white” would harm the campaign. He called discussions about the blackness or whiteness of the biracial Obama “absurd.”
Jackson, who has endorsed Obama, on Tuesday was conducting a voter registration drive in South Carolina, a crucial early primary state with a substantial African-American vote. A big black voter turnout would help Obama.
The Wednesday edition of the State, a South Carolina newspaper, said that Tuesday, “Jackson sharply criticized presidential hopeful and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for “acting like he’s white” in what Jackson said has been a tepid response to the arrest of six black juveniles on attempted-murder charges in Jena, La.”
Jackson said he did not recall making the racially charged remark.
I really doubt Jackson said any such thing. This has the earmarks of a typical Republican strategy: Accuse someone on the left of the general failings of the right. Neo-cons tend to be racist, so they find ways to paint liberals as racist. If they can do it to an outspoken opponent of racism, so much the better.
Comment by Peregrin — September 23, 2007 @ 1:26 am