O'Reilly Factor to Air Video of Jesse Jackson Comments About Barack Obama

MediaBistro ^ | 6/9/08

[LdSentinal]

Breaking: The O'Reilly Factor will air exclusive video of the Rev. Jesse Jackson making disparaging comments about Sen. Barack Obama. TVNewser has learned the comments were made prior to an interview Jackson did Sunday morning on Fox & Friends. We're told some of the comments are so raw that O'Reilly will most likely only run a couple of soundbites.

The video will show Jackson chatting with Reid Tuckson, EVP of United Health Group. The two were at Fox News Channel's Chicago bureau getting ready to be interviewed about a new health care initiative.

Jackson was apparently unaware his microphone was hot when he made the comments about Obama, which we're told are racial in nature.

Just before 4:00pmET on CNN, anchor Don Lemon reported that Rev. Jackson had reached out to the network to apologize for the comments.

Later, during The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer and Lemon interviewed Jackson about his comments. At one point, Blitzer said, "because it's so crude, we can't even repeat it on the air right now."

When reached for comment about the story, a Fox News spokesperson said, "We want to thank CNN for driving tune-in to The O'Reilly Factor tonight."

> More: Jackson will respond to the hot mic comments at 8pmET tonight — but on CNN, not FNC. He will be interviewed by Campbell Brown during CNN Election Center...

> More, More: Matt Drudge Reports Jackson will hold a news conference at 6pmET...

[hummingbird]

...but it does keep racism front and center...

I agree that is a strong possibility, randita.

[hummingbird]

I think Jesse is just jealous of Obama.

I think this is also a strong possibility, Ron Jeremy!

[hummingbird]

I don't know. My opinion of BO has risen by 0.00001% because Jesse doesn't like him. Anyone Jesse doesn't like can't be all bad.

Heh....

[hummingbird]

I just can’t believe Jesse would say that, in that way, without it being a strategem coordinated with his campaign.

Or her (HRC's) campaign. It ain't over until the Pantsuit sings.

[hummingbird]

Plus he probably sees Barack as white, as Obama is mostly White and Arab.

Plus, Barack saith a few things about men abandoning their children.

Weird: Barack was abandoned by his father and hasn't Jackson kind of abandoned his child fathered with a coworker. Sure, maybe he pays for his little indiscretion, but is he there for his daughter emotionally and often. I don't know - just speculating on the Jackson/Child abandonment part.