Say Anything Blog

If the Rev. wants Hussein’s onions, he should look in Michelle’s purse.

I (mostly) agree with your entire post—though I think that Jesse Jackson Sr., after weighing all of his good works and bad works, is a net positive.  As you wrote, I think his son Jesse Jackson Jr. is a “more respectable man than his father.”  Certainly in this case, and in a good number of others (though by no means all), Jesse Jackson Sr. has indeed shown himself to be resentful of Senator Obama.

I think the title, and your P.S., however, are off the mark.  Maybe I’m confused, but doesn’t “throwing someone under the bus” mean that someone is blaming someone else, or sacrificing that person, for personal gain or political expediency?  Calling someone out because they are wrong is a different thing—and I think, given your post, that you think what Jesse Jackson Jr. said was right.  Unless there is evidence that Jr. agrees with what his father said, but doesn’t want Sen. Obama/the media/the public to know about it, the phrase doesn’t really work here.

Jesse Jackson Jr. wasn’t throwing his father under the bus—he was calling him out for saying something wrong.

I’ve had the “pleasure” to meet both Jesse Jackson, Sr. & Jr. on separate occassions. 

Rep. Jackson (Jr.): liberal as they come, but a truly nice person and easy to talk with.  Rev. Jackson (Sr.): a pompous jerk.  So self-absorbed it’s almost comical.

Maybe I’m confused, but doesn’t “throwing someone under the bus” mean that someone is blaming someone else, or sacrificing that person, for personal gain or political expediency? 

Well, I think Jackson Jr. was doing exactly that, in defense of Obama’s campaign, of which he is co-chair.

Well, I think Jackson Jr. was doing exactly that, in defense of Obama’s campaign, of which he is co-chair.

I’m just trying to ask what you’re saying Jesse Jackson Jr. did by calling out his father—either he is simply throwing his father under the bus because he is Sen. Obama’s campaign co-chair (as you say in your last post), or perhaps he is a “far more respectable man than his father” which you wrote in your original post, which means that maybe, just maybe, he is doing what is right and NOT simply throwing his father under the bus for political expediency. 

In other words, if Jr. is a good guy, then why assume he is “throwing someone under the bus.”  If he is simply “throwing someone under the bus,” why mention that he’s a good guy in your original post?

I’m just saying that it seems as if folks are trying to cram in a few phrases—“throwing under the bus,” “arugula,” “not the [X] I knew,” etc., when it isn’t always the best fit.

What if this whole sound byte was orchestrated to draw attention & help close the ranks?

I think something can be politically expedient and the right thing to do at the same time. This seems to be one of those cases.

all jakson jr. did was tell the truth he just got caught on a open mike and got saying things that he really thought
but now he has to lie to keep the other blacks happy after all he is a preacher, and he might have used better words then what preacher or any one else should do. if we are getting ready to have it out with iran i trust mccain in that if obama gets in then the leader of iran will i belive hit us just to test obama so i give my vote to mccain

Ah, Jesse’s just whining, just like the rest of us Americans.  Right Phil Graham/John McCain?

“Gravitas” was the left’s word in the election of 2004, not 2000.

I have always disliked Jesse Jackson for his seeming “know what’s good for them” attitude. I think his time has come and gone.