How Jackson helped Obama

Howard Fineman compares Jesse Jackson's latest stupid comments to the "Sister Souljah" incident of 1992, which established Bill Clinton's centrist credentials. (The difference is, that one involved Clinton gambling that Jackson would overreact to his comments about rap music, whereas the "nuts" controversy was basically dropped into Obama's lap.)

This helps Obama so much, you almost wonder whether it was planned that way all along. But Daniel Finkelstein says the opposite is true - Jackson needs Obama to fail:

Barack Obama represents an existential threat to Jesse Jackson. If he succeeds he badly undermines Jackson and his methods. Jackson needs Obama to fail, even if he must avoid having anything to do with the failure.

[...]

If Obama wins, and is allowed to portray himself not just as a success story but as a black success story, he undermines Jackson's strategy. In fact he undermines Jackson's political reason for being.

No wonder Jackson is keen to tell other black leaders that Obama looks down on African Americans.

If Obama's advisors are smart, they're probably thinking up ways to tick off Al Sharpton.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at July 11, 2008 08:12 AM