Note that I'm not a general fan, but not a particular fan. ;-) That should read I'm not particularly a fan.

And maybe I'm naive and maybe these little comments let us know who the real person is, but I still don't like it.

That's not to say I couldn't change my mind if there was a good reason to air these remarks.

Personally, I think that if a mic is left open and a remark gets accidentally broadcast, then it's appropriate to talk about it because people have heard it. I can't tell from this article if that's what happened here or not. If they were off the air and someone behind the scenes heard it, then gave Fox the tape, I think that's inappropriate. I don't think there's anything unethical about it, but it's just low, and I wouldn't do it.

I agree, BP. If it were accidentally aired then that's life.

It seems that FOX put his comment from a morning interview on The O'Reilly Factor. At least I think the "Fox and Friends" show is done in the morning. He wasn't being interviewed by O'Reilly when he made the remark.

I'd bet dollars to donuts Fox tricked Jackson into thinking the mic was off. Hopefully he'll think twice about appearing on Nazi Network next time.

In this day in age public figures need to be more aware of microphones, especially when they're on a tv "news" set. Especially someone like Jesse Jackson that has been so critical of other people's words. That's another reason I'm glad I'm not a public figure, because I would hate to always have to be on guard. I don't know about you, but I've said some pretty bad stuff about people I like a lot, but at the moment they pissed me off and I vented to someone. One of those comments taken out of context would not look good.

The thing that pisses me off the most about this story is that Fox is claiming that he also said something even worse, but they won't air it because they're not trying to smear Jesse. That's a load of crap. The only reason they're not airing now is so that they extend the shelf life of the story. If there is more, they'll wait until this dies down, and then finally "relent" and air the other comment(s).

Very true. If you have a mic on you should have the sense to watch your words, especially if you are a public figure.

I wonder what the guy next to him thought. Did he agree? Or was he like, "er, thanks for sharing Jesse."

Slack, I did not hear about other comments. Interesting. You're probably right that they will air them. We'll see, unfortunately.

In this day in age public figures need to be more aware of microphones, especially when they're on a tv "news" set.

Very true. That's why I don't think it's unethical to air the comments, just kinda cheap.

Totally fair. Integrity is what you do when you think no one is watching.

"Jackson used a slang reference to wanting to cut off Obama's testicles."

The censored version sounds much worse than what he actually said.

Is Jackson so desperate for any kind of media exposure anymore, that he goes onto Fox?

Apparently.

I don't know. What was the remark? Your post doesn't say, and I can't find it by skimming the article.

BoPo:

just kinda cheap

I think that's actually the Fox slogan.

LoriFLA:

I wonder what the guy next to him thought. Did he agree? Or was he like, "er, thanks for sharing Jesse."

To me it looked like the other guy was a little surprised. I'm not sure if he was surprised at the content or the stupidity of saying it where he did. He had the same look I imagined I used to get when grandma would throw out an occasionally racist remark and I knew it wasn't worth starting THAT discussion.

danf:

Is Jackson so desperate for any kind of media exposure anymore, that he goes onto Fox?

Getting your message out to people outside of your base is essential, although you're rolling the dice in a forum that's so stacked against you. It's sad to say, but for much of America, if it doesn't happen on Fox News it didn't happen.

Video.

Quite frankly, I'd like more remarks of this kind to be heard on the air. All these political assholes hate eachother, it'd be a lot more fun if they were open about and it'd be more entertaining for me.

I like Jesse. and of course it wasn't fair.

Cheney on the Senate floor telling a Democratic Senator to go fuck himself? That's cool. Bush saying asshole, Reagan saying sons of bitches, it's all witty.

But of course the black dude gets crucified.

I mean, the -- however inexcusable -- "hymie" thing in 1984 happened while he was talking off the record, but they burned him anyway. I'm sure plenty of journalists must have heard Nixon say "nigger" -- he used that word all the time, check the white house tapes if you don't believe me -- but no one ever wrote that.

Of course Jesse's not treated the same as the white politicians, he's always fair game of course, but he's accustomed to that, he's tough, he'll be OK.

and by the way, Obama doing the tired, ugly Bill Cosby routine that blacks should suck it up as if they enjoyed an actual level playing field in society is very, very lame. the wording was quite rude, but I agree with Jesse's argument.