People here are most likely aware by now that the Reverend Jesse Jackson was caught by a hot FOX News microphone saying that Barack Obama has been talking down to black people on the issue of faith based initiatives. Jackson follows it up by saying that he "want[s] to cut his nuts off".
FOX News took the sound bite and re-aired it later that day, causing yet another firestorm of controversy around Barack Obama on the issue of race. My first reaction was actually: "Can they do that?" Because I honestly don't know whether its legal or not to take someone's comment off the record without their knowledge and re-air it. I suppose they can... because they did.
I'm also not a fan of Bush's faith based initiatives and also find it disappointing that Barack Obama would try to expand a program that seems to violate separation of church and state. As for how Obama is talking down to black people or not on the issue - I have no opinion.
What do people think of this incident? Will this hurt Obama's campaign? Was this a devious move on FOX's part or simply par for the course in today's network news environment?
Watch the clips below (the comment, the apology) and weigh in:
The Comment Caught on Tape
The Apology (CNN's Situation Room)