Another Day, Another Controversy

Jesse Jackson's comments about Barack Obama dominated news coverage.

Rev. Al Sharpton, on his initial reaction: "I think it's very unfortunate. I think that I'm glad Reverend Jackson apologized, I'm glad Senator Barack Obama accepted. I happen to think that talking about parenting is not talking down to black people. In fact, I think that when Bill Cosby did it or Barack Obama did it, it's the right thing to do, and I think the substance of the issue is more important with how they deal with these statements that it clearly were something that I would not say, and I don't think Reverend Jackson is saying is justifiable."

Chicago Tribune's Page, on how he interpreted Jackson's "talking down" point: "as he put it to me, he feels there are people out there who feel that all black people need to do is just work hard and have faith, and all these problems will be solved, and that's too simplistic. And he also doesn't want to see Barack Obama play into that kind of thinking. But, as he says, his support for Obama is unequivocal" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 7/9).

GOPAC chair Michael Steele: "I feel really bad for Jesse Jackson. ... I think, for me, irrespective of the nuances or lack thereof in this case, the real question is why did he think that? Why does he think and say that to reflect something else beneath the surface? And I think, whether it's on a hot mic or he intentionally says it on air, it's the intent behind the words" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/9).

Radio talk show host Warren Ballentine: "I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm going to tell you why. I mean, I think this would have been more damaging coming from Reverend Sharpton than Reverend Jackson. To be honest with you, I think we're at a point in black America where, when you look at civil rights leadership, I think the torch has been passed to Reverend Sharpton. Also, I honestly, as far as talking down, I spoke with Reverend Jackson as well. And what he was saying was that, look, we need to be talking about jobs and education, not just faith-based organizations and faith-based church initiatives. So I don't know that Reverend Jackson meant any harm by it" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 7/9).

(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)

FNC's Sean Hannity: "You know a lot of us are trying to figure out where Barack Obama is really coming from ... and we've been through the controversy with Reverend Wright. ... You know, is it the Barack Obama who talked about people in Pennsylvania as being bitter, clinging to their guns and religion? Or is it the real Barack Obama that we hear inspiring people to faint as he's out on the campaign trail? Did Jesse Jackson really mean what he said here and now he's trying to cover up for it?"

Steele: "I think ... not knowing the heart and the mind of the man at the moment, I think there has to be an element of truth to what he was saying or at least a feeling that what Obama has been saying on this issue does not address a broader concern that Jesse Jackson may have" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/9).

Radio talk show host Warren Ballentine: "This is what I will say as a 35-year-old African-American person. It seems to me that the generation of Reverend Jackson is a generation that has longed for one day to be able to say we have a prominent African-American person who could be president. And I think that generation never thought that day would come. And not to be disrespectful to that generation, but I think that generation is in shock and awe."

FNC's Bill O'Reilly: "So Jackson is so stunned, he doesn't know what he is saying. See, I mean, that's putting a happy face on it there. But I think there might be a more malevolent motivation here. I mean, I think there might be a tinge of jealousy. It would be human nature. Jackson is a trailblazer."

Page: "I think there's an ideological rivalry. I think he supports Barack Obama, but he doesn't want to see Barack go too close to the middle" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 7/9).

FNC's Alan Colmes: "The issue here is, Jesse Jackson probably agrees with Barack Obama on 98 percent of issues, and maybe they have a difference of opinion on Barack Obama's statement on what he would do with faith-based charities, and maybe he is truly upset about this particular position. That doesn't mean he wants to disparage him totally or doesn't agree with his candidacy" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/9).

GOP strategist Amy Holmes, on whether Jackson has the same influence he used to: "I don't think that Jackson has the same influence. And we saw that, with Barack Obama, he has rock-solid support in the black community. And a lot of members of the black community, they agree with Barack Obama. ... So, this isn't a message or a discussion that black people aren't already having. And I would also say, too, I think this underscores a generational shift, that there's a generational dispute here, and that Jesse Jackson is seeing his star starting to wane, and Barack Obama, I mean, he's the big superstar of the year" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/9).

CNN's Bill Schneider: "It will, be damaging to Jesse Jackson, particularly among African-American who are not going to forget what he said. Barack Obama is a unique figure; he is an African-American candidate for president. But he doesn't come out of the civil rights movement like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. There could be some resentment because of that. Maybe they feel he should be more deferential to them, pay more respect to his elders" ("Lou Dobbs," 7/9).

After the jump, more on whether these comments will hurt Obama, and reactions to Iran's missile tests.

BIG DEAL OR NO BIG DEAL?

Ron Reagan, on whether this was a chance for Obama to "distance himself" from Jackson: "I don't think he really needs to do that. I think that there's enough distance between them right now as evidence by Jackson's remarks. Listen, Jesse Jackson is an old lion of the civil rights movement. He's an old lion among Black Democrats. And he sees that his day is slowly passing away now, and I think there's a little personal animosity, a little jealousy, but this sort of thing will blow over. It's not going to be a big deal for long" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 7/9).

Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on whether these comments could benefit Obama: "Yes, they very much could. I'm not qualified to ... to talk about the conversations within the black community and about the agony within the black community about how many children are born out of wedlock or how many young men are in jail ... that Jesse Jackson is rightly very concerned about it. But the way he expressed it, I think, was so crude, that it reflects more on Jesse Jackson than it does on Barack Obama.

More Gergen: "For the community, I think ... many people who had not heard or even understood or recognized that Barack Obama was saying that there has to be more personal responsibility among black families, I actually think this is a theme that will help him in the white community. And people will say, you know, this is something we can't say, but, if he can say it, it may help" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/9).

MSNBC's Dan Abrams: "What about the moderates in the party who want to know? They want to be assured that Barack Obama is not with Jackson on a variety of issues. ... Wouldn't this have been an opportunity for Obama to make it clear that's not where I am?"

Dem strategist Tanya Acker: "I think that just by a virtue of Jesse Jackson having made these comments, it's clear that that's not where Senator Obama is. And then, I think, we also should look to, you know, what gave rise to Reverend Jackson making these comments in the first place. And my understanding is that they come from what Senator Obama has spoken to, which is really a crisis in the African-American community, a single-parent family. I think just like, just like Bill Cosby got a lot of flack for making some of the statements that he did, you see, now, Reverend Jackson coming down on Senator Obama. I don't think that's anything to do with any deep-seated crisis on the Democratic Party" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 7/9).

John McCain appeared on the nightly newscasts, and discussed his reaction to Iran's missile tests.

McCain, on his initial reaction to Iran's missile tests: "It's alarming. It's part of the overall effort on the part of the Iranians to acquire nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. I strongly feel that we must enact meaningful and powerful sanctions, joined by our European allies and others who consider this threat very seriously" ("World News," ABC, 7/9).

McCain: "Hopefully this event, it will serve as a catalyst that will finally gel all of the different factors that have been out there that will allow us then to act with our friends and allies in a most effective fashion and modify Iranian behavior, but we cannot allow a second Holocaust" ("Nightly News," NBC, 7/9).

More McCain, on whether he would discourage Israel from preemptively striking Iran: "I can't get into that kind of hypothetical. But the Iranians are testing these missile not because of action on the part of the Israelis, in my view. This is part of a calculated plan, developing nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them."

McCain, on whether he thinks an Israeli attack on Iran is "imminent": "I have no idea. I know this, that Iran, it continues to develop nuclear
weapons in violation of various treaties and their own commitments and we need to do everything we can to modify that behavior in the form of very tough economic and other sanctions. Their economy is not strong because of their lousy government" ("Evening News," CBS, 7/9).

Pundits and campaign surrogates also weighed in.

Fred Barnes, on Obama calling for diplomatic talks with Iran: "This was incredibly provocative. And we just have to think back to what works and what doesn't work. It's clear, with Nancy Pelosi saying this is a clear signal of the Iranian leaders that such actions hinder diplomatic efforts to bring stability to the Middle East. No kidding. Obama also said it's not in the Iranians interest to have nuclear weapons. But they don't agree. They think it is in their interest to be a huge regional power who can deter almost anything they want."

More Barnes: "Obviously, diplomatic talks aren't going to happen. Just look what happened in Colombia. All those demonstrations and candles in the window and everything, and protests it didn't work at all. What worked was military action, very clever military action. What has worked in Iraq? Not regional diplomacy or soft power, but a surge of troops with a new strategy. That's what turned Iraq heading into a stable, democratic country. So more diplomacy with the Iranians, who want to be a nuclear power, isn't going to do anything whether we are provocative or not" ("Special Report," FNC, 7/9).

Obama supporter/Ex-Navy Sec. Richard Danzig: "On the Israel question, it's clear that it's not useful to talk ... about pre-emptive strikes and the kind of inflammation of the situation that the talk brings, not to mention the strike itself would bring. There are other options and possibilities. What's striking is that Senator McCain's view is that the other options are just one thing. It's to use the existing so-called five-plus-one talks, where five nations act and the United States does not act in direct participation in the talks, and other means of diplomacy, not only sanctions, but also potentially incentives, ability to say to the Iranians, "There's a place for you in the world order. You have to make a choice." And to come forward with a positive program, as well as a strengthened sanctions program, and to do it in a context which says, 'We're not afraid to talk to you. We talk to you about Iraq now. The Bush administration has changed its position on that as a result of the urging of Iraqis. We talk to you about issues associated with the region. Let's talk about these things'" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/9).

McCain adviser Randy Scheunemann: "The Iranians have been presented with a choice. And instead what Senator Obama seems to adhere to is an impetuous desire to engage in unilateral summitry as if somehow that will magically resolve the situation" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/9).