Skip To Content
JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
News

Jesse Jackson’s Cutting Comment

NEWS ITEM: In a burst of anger over a speech delivered by Barack Obama, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told a colleague that he felt like castrating the presidential contender. Jackson did not realize his remark was being picked up by a live microphone.


When Jackson feels the urge to vent,
He’s apt to wax inelegant.
(Remember when he won renown
By calling New York “Hymietown”?)

Now Jesse’s made a nasty crack
About the eloquent Barack.
Is this the way to talk of pals?
To reference their genitals?

Republicans are sure to laugh
At such a monumental gaffe.
The folks who campaign for McCain
Are toasting Jesse with champagne.

It’s reasonable to expect
A pol to be more circumspect.
Can thoughtful Democrats defend
Such language from a reverend?

Should they rebuke with mild “tut, tut”
So pointedly unkind a cut?
His parlance makes the mind recoil
Envisioning a vengeful moyl.

But if Barack election wins,
He’s sure to pardon Jesse’s sins.
Few Dems this matter will recall
If there’s a presidential ball.


Ven Jackson vil nor epes zogn,
Kumen di verter fun zayn mogn.
Di fraze, “Hymietown,” iz zayn.
Mir proklamirn, “Feh, nisht fayn!”

Yetst makht der man a beyzn atak
Oyf zayn barimtn fraynd, Barack.
“Kastrir dem elokventn Solon
“Un varf avek zayne genitaln!”

Oy, a shande, aza shiltn!
Aza klole hert men zeltn!
Politikantn far McCain
Bagrisn Jesse mit champagne.

M’vayst az a politikant
Muz nit geyn shlogn kop-in-vant.
Barekhnt muz er zayn, a friend,
An emesdiker reverend.

An umglik oyf im, der bandit,
Der man fun der umfrendlekh shnit!
Dos oysklebn vet Jesse spoil?
Er zet oys vi a broygez moyl!

Nor az Barack vert president,
Zeyer shnel vet Jess-eh-leh repent.
Un kumt shoyn an inaugural,
Vet zayn a presidential ball!

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

Republish This Story

Please read before republishing

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search.  See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.

To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at [email protected], subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.

We don't support Internet Explorer

Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site.