US:VETERAN CIVIL rights campaigner Jesse Jackson has apologised to Barack Obama for an "ugly and unnecessary" remark criticising some of the Democratic presidential candidate's comments on problems among African-Americans.
Before an interview on Fox News, when Mr Jackson believed his microphone was off, he was chatting to a fellow panellist about Mr Obama's speeches on morality delivered at black churches.
"See, Barack has been talking down to black people," Mr Jackson whispered. "I want to cut his nuts off." When Fox News released a tape of the comments, Mr Jackson called a news conference to apologise publicly for his "regretfully crude" language, saying he thought the conversation was private.
In recent speeches, Mr Obama has stressed the role of personal responsibility in regard to the problems faced by young black men, calling on them to be better fathers. Mr Jackson, who has made similar appeals, said yesterday that he was concerned that Mr Obama should also emphasise structural problems facing the black community.
"I'm a long-standing supporter, and because of my commitment to what he represents and the campaign, I was quick to apologise for any offence or any harm or hurt," Mr Jackson said yesterday.
"And yet within the black community there are some severe structural crises: the infant mortality rate is higher, life expectancy is shorter, the most children in school with teachers with less than three years' experience, the highest murder rate, and now the need to revive a ban on assault weapons."
Mr Jackson, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, supports Mr Obama but he is not close to his campaign. Some black commentators have complained that Mr Obama's emphasis on "tough love" in addressing black audiences is designed to appeal to white voters who fear he might favour African-Americans if elected president.
Mr Obama's campaign said he accepted Mr Jackson's apology but made clear the Democratic candidate would not change his approach to issues affecting African-Americans.
"He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology," said campaign spokesman Bill Burton.