For the third time Barack Obama finds himself in the unenviable position of having to denounce statements from one of his supporters. This time it was remarks made by State Sen. James Meeks (D) two years ago at the Salem Baptist Church:

“We don’t have slave masters, we got mayors,” Meeks said then while preaching. “But they are still the same white people who are presiding over systems where black people are not able to be educated. You got some preachers that are house n——. You got some elected officials that are house n——. Rather than them try and break this up, they’re gonna fight you to protect that white man.”

When confronted in 2006 about his divisive language, Meeks initially defended it.

“The word n—– is not, in the African American community, a bad word,” Meeks said. “It’s a term of endearment and I don’t see it as derogatory or offensive.”

“No one will be offended by it, except an individual it applies to,” he added.

Confederate Yankee found the video.

Mike Flannery remarkably attempts to attack Fox News for reporting on this, while defending James Meeks by stating;

An important part of the truth that Fox News did not report Wednesday night is this: Shortly after Flannery’s story aired two years ago, Rev. Jesse Jackson said it was time to stop using the N-word. And Rev. Meeks announced from his South Side pulpit that he was “retiring” the N-word from his vocabulary.

I would hardly consider this an important part of the truth, more like a footnote to the story which could (or maybe should) have been included. What is important however is Meeks reply that the term n&gger is not offensive unless it applies to you. I suppose this is the type of logical thinking one could expect from a minister who wears a Superman Jersey in church, however this is not the type of thinking the black community as a whole would agree with.

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Election 2008, Features, Politics, Racism, Video