Mass Mediacrocy

From Yahoo

Jesus Christ, when will this guy realize people are actually listening? Reverend Jackson is at it again denouncing Obama, particularly in how he is “talking down to black people.” You’d think this guy would have taken a hint after his previous slip up, but Jackson does not back down. He once again issued an apologly but his true feelings have been expressed. What worries me is not the word that Jackson used, but how quickly he managed to once again show his feelings for Obama’s relationship with the black community. It’s especially appalling considering that he is staunchly against the N-word and yet he uses it in the context of his frustration with Obama. The Yahoo article puts his hypocrisy in perspective very nicely, considering he has advocated to boycott Seinfeld because of Michael Richard’s racist remarks in a certain comedy club. I know no one is perfect, but jesus fucking christ dude, fuck.

From the man himself: “I am against the use of the N-word by anyone and I think we must be consistent.”

From Politico

Barack Obama’s campaign stated that ““The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Sen. Obama’s right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.” McCain’s campaign also communicated a similar sentiment. The comic is certainly offensive at first glance but also an excellent mockup of Republican efforts to paint Obama as a muslim, a terrorist and an outsider. Everyone knows that the right-wing machine is known for its ability to utilize negative campaigning to delegitimize candidates. The problem with this instance is that the New Yorker, a more progressive magazine, has added fuel to the fire in this illustration of the Obamas.

The New Yorker’s portrayal of Barack and Michelle Obama as depicted by right-wing attacks goes a little too far in the inevitable controversy it has created. Barry Blitt’s depiction of this politically crucial moment is largely accurate and comprehensible given the attacks of John McCain and the Republicans. Yet with the influence of the New Yorker and rapidness of the internet, pictures like this have a contradictory effect in reaffirming or worse, giving the false perception of the Democratic presidential nominee. I suppose the question to be posed is whether or not the New Yorker does more harm than good with this piece. Many Democrats and progressive thinkers alike are extremely sensitive this election season after having endured two full terms of Republican leadership and even under something as well-intentioned as the New Yorker, the stakes of this election are too great.

From ABC News blog

Obama has reiterated the point of his father’s day speech and pledged to not back off it because it’s a truth we should all recognize. This has breen brought up in the contxt of Jessie Jackson’s criticism of Obama when he insinuated castrating the presidential nominee. Jackson and Obama are at odds with this issue but the recognition that many black father’s abandon their children is important. The black community can use data like this to find areas that need to be improved and as Obama has mentioned, structural inequalities should be handled in a way that helps America become a stronger nation. This starts with basic family relationships and the great influence of parents who neeed to nurture and care for their children. If we cannot manage these issues, we cannot lift our society up and move forward.

As many have no doubt heard by now, Rev. Jessie Jackson remarked that Obama had “no balls” before the beginning of “Fox & Friends” last Sunday. I realized how fitting that statement was, considering he was on Fox News. He reportedly made the comment in response to Obama’s father’s day speech. I think it’s funny that some reporters and bloggers see the comment as an attack on his masculinity or to imply that he doesn’t have the fortitude to execute his beliefs. Jessie Jackson more likely hated Obama’s speech and disagrees with his negative perception of father’s in the black community.

I agree with Obama though, Americans need to stop looking to blame others for their problems and accept responsibility for their decisions and actions instead of abandoning and ignoring them. His speech was spot on and many could learn from it.

If you missed the speech here’s an excerpt of it: