Was Jesse Jackson Jr's attack on Hillary "offensive garbage" and "dog-whistle politics"?

[Karmadillo]

You can find a video of Jackson's comments here

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/011703.php

Thursday :: Jan 10, 2008
Jesse Jackson Jr. Could Use Some Kleenex

by eriposte

Given how African-Americans in this country have been devastated year after year for centuries, he must be crying every minute of every day for them. He should move permanently to Nevada if he's not already there - he might be able to turn the arid desert into a sea with his tears.

Turkana posted the video below and I'm trying hard to be polite by not following the textbook of the Politics of Hope, Change, Optimism, Politeness and CourteousnessTM, but this is offensive garbage from Jesse Jackson, Jr., Sen. Obama's☼ national campaign co-chair. Todd Beeton at MyDD rightly refers to it as "Obama's Dog Whistle Politics" (emphasis mine):

....Her appearance brought her to tears but not Hurricane Katrina.

<...>

The more I think about this, the more I get what's at work here. They know exactly what they're doing. Notice the repeated reference to Hurricane Katrina. He's using some odious dog-whistle politics here, trying to send the message to African Americans (in other words: South Carolina) that, to borrow a phrase, Hillary Clinton doesn't care about black people.

I understand this is a political campaign but this is pretty egregious nonetheless. I had assumed that Sen. Obama does not condone the beliefs of the fever swamps and that he has only been exploiting their irrational hatred for Clinton in his campaign - as politicians are often inclined to do - but this is the kind of stuff that makes me question giving him the benefit of the doubt. (Remember this, Sen. Obama?"...I told my staff that if I catch you guys doing any kind of stuff like this you're fired. Period."... "And I think what we need to do -- and I told this to senator yesterday -- is that we need to send a strong message to all of our surrogates and all of our staffs, that we don't play that.")

There are two obvious reasons I can think of to explain why they trotted out Jesse Jackson Jr. to make a case for why he deserves a user account in the Free Republic or deserves to write a Recommended Diary at Daily Kos. One has to do with money and the other has to do with race.

more...

[DivorcingNeo]

1. I saw what he said and how he said it

You're being disingenuous and as usual distorting the facts.

Oh well, what can I expect from all this HRC desperation!

Still doesn't rise to the level of Cocaine-gate!

Sorry no cigar!

[KennedyGuy]

3. we'll put you down as endorsing this then..

[DivorcingNeo]

15. Hell yes! in BOLD LETTERS

You do not threaten me because I have something you lack in great degree...principles, honesty and depth!

I don't need to distort the facts about Senator Clinton or her staff to get my points across.

Did she cry for Katrina...did she even cry the other day? She didn't skip a bit in hitting her talking points against Obama. There wasn't a drop of moisture on her face.

Get real.

[KennedyGuy]

I hope they use you in an Obama ad...

you are a real whackjob...

[DivorcingNeo]

70. The only one that is a wackjob is you

Because you are sooo obsessed with me!

Move it along...please...

[Cameron27]

23. Did she ever say that she cried?

Do you think that she enjoyed being scolded and humiliated in the press and by the pundits. Maybe she wanted to feed more speculation about her weakness as a woman to be president.

She had no idea how this AUTHETIC moment would play out, as a matter of fact, her campaign believed she was facing a devastating loss in NH, after that moment.

[DivorcingNeo]

31. *shrugs*

:nopity:

That is Hillary Clinton...I think she knew exactly what she was doing. *refer to five seconds after sound bite*

[Cameron27]

34. No save the violin for Obama

who replies to criticisms or questions about his record with ------> Hillary attacked me. Boo fucking hoo.

Good I hope Obama has tons of supporters like you and I hope they speak loud and often.

[DivorcingNeo]

49. Same to you.

Although Senator Obama wasn't playing the fake waterworks the other day...now was he?

tra luh la luh la.

Hillary should only be so lucky to have supporters like me. I am not hypocritical or unprincipled. I do not blow whichever way the wind blows to fit some arbitrary agenda (that being her elevation to the presidency based on her sex and last name).

I will not vote for Hillary Clinton, because I do not believe in her candidacy. It does not matter to me if she defeats Obama, she still would not get my vote and neither would the Republican candidates.

It's not anybody but a Republican in my view. It's standing for something or falling for anything.

That is a fatal flaw (in my opinion) of your chosen candidate. What does she really stand for that is not politically expedient?

[Cameron27]

51. Same to you,

since Obama's voting record and policy statements are almost indistinguishable from Hillary Clinton's, I see that you've fallen for the Obama hype too. If Clinton's a republican, then so is Obama.

[KennedyGuy]

52. you can't argue with the intelligence of "tru-la-la" now can you

Honestly..this is why we should keep 12 year olds away from the computer..

[DivorcingNeo]

55. So serious *shakes head and pouts*

:shrug:

No I only meet half-witted assertions as they should be met and unlike some of you die hard Hillary supporters...I do have a sense of humor.

[DivorcingNeo]

54. Ah well that you just pulled out of the air

I never stated she was a Republican, she is very much a hypocritical pandering Democrat.

[Cameron27]

56. Christ,

talk about pandering. Here are two words for your guy, Donnie McClurkin. Pandering politicians, geeze what a concept.

[KennedyGuy]

57. esom nktogh dotmj vepsid..

that's about how much sense you are making...

[Cameron27]

58. They wear you out, don't they?

Thank god most of the Obama supporters don't think the guy's sporting a halo. I'm done, this could go on all night lol.

[DivorcingNeo]

61. Well when you make sense

Then we will be getting somewhere. I've already fought the Donnie McClurkin talking points and personally you aren't up for the challenge.

[Cameron27]

67. I didn't bother arguing with you about

Donnie McClurkin. The minute anyone spouts something as offensive as "pro-gay agenda," I'm not interested in listening to more of their views about homophobia, bigots, or Donnie McClurkin.

I'm going to respond to the hypocrisy accuastion below, and then I'm done talking to you. The difference between us, is that I accept the fact that Hillary Clinton is a politician who's made mistakes. I don't think she's perfect, but I know her record and her policies and her platform. I also know that she has the tenacity to get those issues inacted into law.

I think Obama is also a politician who's made mistakes, and I can accept those too, not all, but some of them. However, I've never tried to paint Obama as a person who's less "good" or less liberal or less anything else, than Hillary Clinton. That's presumptious, and untrue, but it would also hurt his supporters feelings because it would tell them that I didn't respect their opinions or the choice they made.

I'm here to debate and argue issues, I'm not into character assasination.

Supporters like you, don't seem to have any problem smearing or painting my choice of a candidate in so many awful ways that I've actually lost count.

Now I'm done, and you can keep pushing your spin or whatever the hell you're trying to do here.

[DivorcingNeo]

60. Typical Hypocrite

Engage in the same behavior you chastise me about.

*points to corner* Now get on your way little person.

[KennedyGuy]

62. Does your mommy know you're on the computer?

tell ya what..if you can spell Obama..I'll give you a cookie.

[DivorcingNeo]

63. No baby

but your daddy does!

heee haaaw!

[KennedyGuy]

64. is yours riding you right now baby?

[DivorcingNeo]

66. Classic

You have lost all credibility with the "I'm a kid" argument.

Good night to you sir/or maam! :yourock:

I'm going to bed.

[BenDavid]

68. Speaking of Kos: "This thing is becoming a tsunami, and that's

before Obama even wins New Hampshire and South Carolina. I don't see how Clinton recovers." -- the Great and Powerful Kos, who accepted thousands in Clinton ad money, then proclaimed her dead, What a Shmuck.

[cali]

2. whatever it was, it sucked big time and I say that

as an Obama supporter.

[Tess99]

17. I've lost all respect for Ms. Clinton

and therefore could not care less about Jackson's attack. She and Bill have called Obama everything but the n-word. There's nothing Obama or any other candidate has said about her that compares to the nastiness and racist hits she's put out on Obama.

[emilyg]

30. Spoken like a true

nothing.

[Cameron27]

32. Oh that's one's a lot more than nothing,

check out a few of her posts if they haven't been deleted.

[Tess99]

36. I see I'm too "uppity" for you with all my truth speakin' in my posts

Sorry if I don't admire a woman who uses race baiting to attack a black candidate.

[gaiilonfong]

41. Tess99 I am with you!

Have a great night............

[emilyg]

37. I have. Unfortunately.

[DURHAM D]

43. Amen -

I don't believe that poster is female, AA or a Democrat.

[gaiilonfong]

45. Link please or proof

or are you just giving us your opinion?

[Cameron27]

53. The sexist, racist post was deleted

by the mods.

[KennedyGuy]

50. I think its a freeper..

[cali]

48. Didn't your mother ever tell you

two wrongs don't make a right? Jesse Jackson Jr's words are still offensive. More importantly, they don't help Barack.

[Catherine Vincent]

19. Ah, you've decided on Obama.

:hi:

[Cameron27]

4. I'm guessing that the Katrina survivors

preferred the 150 million dollars Bill raised for them, as opposed to anyone's tears. J. Jackson should STFU.

[OKNancy]

6. I saw it. It was embarrassing

So over the top and ridiclous. Hell, he doesn't even know or care what Senator Clinton said or did about Katrina. I did find this with a 5 second search:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-xtVzFO1QQ&feature=related

ETA: this from her Senate site 2005
http://clinton.senate.gov/features/katrina/index.cfm

[terisan]

5. Sleazy Jesse jax]ckson Jr comments. Will Obama disavow?

[indimuse]

7. how niiiice....

right before SC...

[gaiilonfong]

8. eriposte=Taylor Marsh=DLC Clinton mouthpiece

NO SALE

[Cameron27]

9. Why are you attacking the source

and not addressing what J. Jackson Jr. said?

[gaiilonfong]

11. I am a believer of free speech

even for IDIOTS like Taylor marsh et al.
Do I agree with Jesse Jackson Jr....
NO
but we all know why eriposte, taylor marsh are giving this big time on their blogs, but nothing about bigdog calling Obama a fairytale, boy, etc.....
so NO SALE

[Cameron27]

13. Bill was referring to

Obama's wave of popularity that's based on his rhetoric and not on his voting record or his policy positions. Bill was referring to the fact, that although Edwards and Obama want to paint it differently, when it comes down to issues, there's very little difference between the three of them.

That's the fairytale he was talking about. Myth-making based on nothing but personality and rhetoric.

[gaiilonfong]

16. Nice try

I have many African-American friends, my sister is married to one. So I will take their word on what bigdog said and its meaning

NO SALE

[Cameron27]

26. What the hell do you think he was talking about?

[rodeodance]

10. IT WAS A RUDE hit on Sen. Clinton

[gaiilonfong]

12. rude yes, but many are failing to see what is going on

ever since bigdog used his "fairytale, boy, etc" memes, the African American community is PISSED

I don't blame them...geeeeeeeeeeezzzz even Donna Brazile who is a KNOWN Hillary partisan had smoke coming out of her ears on CNN......

If you think this is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet. Bigdog has stepped in a HORNETS nest, notice he has been SILENT for days....the Clinton campaign made a very BAD AND BIG mistake, whether you agree or not, people of color see it that way, and they have EVERY RIGHT to their own feelings....

[Cameron27]

14. You know this for a fact?

The entire AA community is pissed at the Clintons?

[gaiilonfong]

20. If 100 %

of the African Americans one knows are in total agreement about something I would call that pretty much
a sample of a community...Is every African American pissed, that I can't answer, I just know 100% of the ones I know as friends and family TELL me the community is pissed.

[KennedyGuy]

27. and I talked to someone who met someone who knew an african american..

and he thought he heard someone say that they overheard someone saying that this may or may not be ok.

[gaiilonfong]

28. very adult of you

way to get in the debate....BRAVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[KennedyGuy]

29. you forgot a couple OOOOOOOOO's

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. So ultimately, the primary race is about race?

This'll get real interesting if Obama wins the nomination.

Republicans will be a whole lot more fun than BigDog.

[gaiilonfong]

21. Not in my mind

But MANY on the Clinton campaign have made it seem that way.

And I do want to beat the RETHUGlicans really bad!

[emilyg]

33. I think it is in your mind.

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Yeah, right!

Maybe only a couple got a little pissed. Some of you are making mountains out of molehills.

[KennedyGuy]

24. honestly..are you off your meds or something?

[OzarkDem]

25. Here's hoping these campaigns save their vitriol

for the GE. I'm always suspicious of any campaign that resorts to dirty tricks in the primaries. Its one thing to honestly criticize the competition's voting record or experience, quite another to resort to this kind of stuff.

[bunnies]

35. Attack on Hillary?

Im sure Im missing something. The clip I saw from JJJ said she didnt cry for Katrina victims or Iraq war victims. Did she? :shrug:

[Cameron27]

38. Why would anyone ask that question?

Do we have laws about what, where and why anyone should cry. Does every tear get analyzed for authenticity? He was trying to insinuate that Clinton didn't care about Katrina victims, because she didn't cry for them. That's what's wrong with it.

[bunnies]

47. Of course we dont have laws about why / when anyone should cry.

And... why would anyone ask that question? I dont pretend to know.

Honestly, the racism - sexism - crying thing has got me not knowing what to think. All the input Im getting from living in NH is making me not trust anyone or anything anyone says.

I feel like I camt even tell whats genuine and whats political games anymore. Its enough to make me want to cry.

Genuinely.

edit: typo

[emilyg]

39. How do you know what she did?

[bunnies]

40. I dont. Hence the question. nt

[Cameron27]

42. Hey,

very good point, how the hell does anyone know that she DIDN'T cry for the Katrina victims.

[gaiilonfong]

44. According to her handlers she doesn't cry

she just gets emotional, and she is just showing her "SOFT" side

I would guess even Hillary partisans wouldn't say Hillary is soft?

[Cameron27]

46. She didn't cry in NH

as J. Jackson Jr. said she did, but no one should presume that the woman doesn't cry in private.

[bunnies]

59. My point exactly.

Im not Hillarys biggest fan and Im certain no one would would argue that. But I AM a woman who has cried, alone, when no one else would know about it. Especially as the strong, stubborn, opinionated female that I am. The times other people have seen my cry = about 1/25th of the times Ive actually done it.

[Kermit77]

65. He was just using a metaphor.

At least Obama's people didn't accuse the Clintons of being drug-dealers.

[Barack_America]

69. I'm inclined to believe that Jackson and Dowd got it right....

She wasn't crying for our country or us, she was crying for herself and the injustice that we don't seem to realize that she is fated to be the first woman President.

I actually think that their observations were rather shrewd. Not particularly kind, but shrewd. And certainly not sexist.

[fightindonkey]

71. Obama Is Using All The Usual Whackjobs, That Will Continue To Sink Him

[Karmadillo]

72. I hope you're right, but Jackson's comments do the Democrats no good.

nt