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Fox: Jackson Used N-Word in Off-Air Obama Comments

Jesse apologizes, again, to frontrunner

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 17, 2008 4:46 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Red-faced civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has again had to apologize to the nation's first black presidential candidate, this time over his use of a racial slur in off-air comments during the taping of a FOX show, reports AP. Fox News confirmed that Jackson said Obama is "talking down to black people, telling n—s how to behave" after a transcript was leaked to TVNewser. Jackson had earlier apologized for his "hurtful words," but his use of a racial slur hadn't been reported.

Jackson has spearheaded a campaign to convince rappers, actors, and other entertainers to stop using the epithet—and in fact once led a Seinfeld boycott to protest Michael Richards' infamous use of it. "I am deeply saddened and distressed by the pain and sorrow that I have caused as a result of my hurtful words," said Jackson in a statement. "I apologize again to Senator Barrack (sic) Obama, Michelle Obama, their children as well as to the American public. There really is no justification for my comments and I hope that the Obama family and the American public will forgive me."

Barack Obama, right, listens as Rev. Jesse Jackson responds to a question after Obama addressed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's annual conference breakfast in Rosemont, Ill., Monday, June 4, 2007.
Barack Obama, right, listens as Rev. Jesse Jackson responds to a question after Obama addressed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's annual conference breakfast in Rosemont, Ill., Monday, June 4, 2007.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at a Chicago news conference.
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at a Chicago news conference.   (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)
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