Jackson's `Crude' Remarks May Be Boon for Obama

Jackson's `Crude' Remarks May Be Boon for Obama (Update1)

By Jonathan D. Salant

July 10 (Bloomberg) -- The Reverend Jesse Jackson's derogatory comments about Barack Obama could provide a boost for the presumptive Democratic nominee, giving him an opportunity to win over some voters who have been skeptical of his candidacy.

Jackson was appearing on Fox News on July 6 when a microphone picked up his remark suggesting that Obama was ``talking down to black people'' in recent speeches at black churches, according to a tape of the comments played on the Fox News Channel.

He then said, referring to Obama, ``I want to cut his nuts off,'' according to the Fox News Web site.

Jackson was speaking at the time to Reed Tuckson, executive vice president and chief medical officer of United Health Group Inc.

Jackson, 66, apologized for his remarks, telling CNN yesterday that they were ``crude.'' The comments may turn out to help Obama by emphasizing his call for personal responsibility, a favorite topic of Republicans, said Mark Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.

``It reinforces Obama's effort to present himself as an advocate of responsible personal behavior, a position that Republican candidates like to secure as uniquely their own,'' Rozell said.

The Illinois senator, who in August stands to be the first minority candidate to be nominated for president by a major political party, spent Father's Day last month at one of Chicago's largest black churches telling the audience that they should set better examples for their children and shouldn't abandon them.

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...for something like this to happen than for Obama to personally diss Clark and MoveOn in an effort to create distance.