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Jackson, Obama and Fox: who owes whom an apology here?
By Lauren | July 10, 2008
By now, former Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson’s crass comments about current Presidential candidate Barack Obama are being gleefully bandied all over the Web. Jackson has publicly apologized for what he said (quite correctly – his comments were so tasteless that even his own son has condemned them) and Obama has accepted the apology. So we’re all done, right?
Not exactly.
Jesse Jackson has often been a controversial figure, and has made crude comments before. (Remember that horrible ”Hymietown” crack in 1984?) But Jackson’s remarks about Obama were made when he thought he was off the record during a break in a Fox News program several days ago. Maybe it’s naive for a seasoned public figure like Jackson to think he can ever speak outside his own home without being quoted, especially in a television studio. However, if Jackson’s microphone had been switched off (as he apparently thought it was), there likely would be no story.
So, what is Fox up to? Yes, Fox had Jackson’s remarks on tape, but the network didn’t have to release them. Was Fox’s goal in releasing Jackson’s comments to educate the voters, contribute to polite public discourse, or clarify an important point of breaking news? (Remember, it’s not Jesse Jackson who’s running for President.) Or was Fox’s goal to humiliate Jackson, strain relations in the black community, and use Jackson’s embarrassment as an excuse to run a lot of disingenuous “who, us? We’re not racist, we’re just reporting what happened” commentary for the next several days?
I cannot and do not condone what Jesse Jackson said. Still, someone at Fox should have warned him that, when they turned off the cameras, they didn’t turn off his microphone. Jackson has apologized to Obama; Fox should apologize to Jackson for the setup that led to his fall.
Topics: Apologies, Business Ethics, corporate responsibility, ethics |
July 11th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Lauren,
Since I am not at all familiar with American politics in terms of current events, I will not comment on Mr. James’s remarks.
It does seem extremely discourteous and unprofessional of Fox not to inform Jackson about the microphones, and I think your approach of sitting back and asking exactly who owes who the apology shows a healthy dose of independent mindedness on your behalf.
Unfortunately, the media often (rightfully) crucify others for unethical behavior, but all too often employ questionable ethical practices themselves.
Cheers
Andrew