Rev. Jackson is apparently a hypocrite
July 17, 2008During his now infamous whispered remarks against Barack Obama, the Reverend Jesse Jackson used the ‘N’ word. That’s according to various reports that Fox News has confirmed. However the network has chosen not to release the actual sound bite or a transcript.
If people of a particular group want to use disaparaging terms on themselves, that’s usually not a big deal. It’s like gay people using the word “fag” — it makes everybody else cringe but since it’s a member of that group using the term on themselves we’re generally okay with it.
The problem here is that Rev. Jackson has campaigned vigorously against anybody using the “N” word. Jackson helped lead the attacks on Michael Richards over the comedian’s N-laced rant. And he’s spoken out against rappers who also make heavy use of the word in their music.
It’s absolutely hypocritical of Jackson to speak out against the N-word on the one hand, and then so freely use it himself. Even if he thought it was a private conversation, he’s supposed to be leading by example. Now it turns out he’s just like any other two-faced politician. He wants people to do one thing, even as he does the exact opposite in his own life.
Jackson clearly is just a publicity hound — he takes stands not because he actually believes in them, but because he knows it will get him mentioned and interviewed in the press.