Jesse Jackson to Obama: I'm sorry I got caught

By GottaLaff

But love is never having to say you're ... never mind:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Barack Obama Wednesday for making what he called a "crude and hurtful" remark about the Illinois senator's recent comments directed toward some members of the black community.

Awww, that is so sweet, so conciliatory, so-- :: brakes go SCREEEEECH!::

According to Jackson, a Fox News microphone picked up comments he meant to deliver privately that seemed to disparage the presumptive Democratic nominee for appearing to lecture the black community on morality.

Those damn Fox-ups!

Jackson didn't elaborate on the context of his remarks, except to say he was trying to explain that Obama was hurting his relationship with black voters by recently conducting "moral" lectures at African-American churches.

Jackson's apology came a few hours before Fox News planned to air the remarks.

Timing is everything.

Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Jackson said he feels "very distressed" over the comments.

I'm sure he does. I'd be distressed, too, if those Fox folks Foxed me over. In his own words:

"This is a sound bite in a broader conversation about urban policy and racial disparities. I feel very distressed because I'm supportive of this campaign and with the senator, what he has done and is doing," he said. "I said he comes down as speaking down to black people. The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and health care. That's a range of issues on the menu.

"Then I said something I regret was crude. It was very private. And very much a sound bite," he also said.

Crude? Private? Sound bite? That sounds supportive to me.

In a statement issued earlier Wednesday to CNN, Jackson said, "For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment."

Am I being too hard on Mr. Jackson?

The Obama campaign had no immediate comment.

Well, I do. This is no way to show his "wide, deep, unequivocal" support for Obama, private or otherwise. And come on, you'd think he'd be more savvy.