One wonders what, at this point, Barack Obama thinks about Jesse Jackson. At the very least, he knows he needs to protect his nuts the next time they cross paths. Today, the Obama campaign was once again in damage control mode after a quote from Jesse Jackson about Obama and Israel showed up in the New York Post. Basically, Jackson said that although "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" are still powerful, Obama will end the decades-old policy "putting Israel's interests first."

John McCain's campaign seized on the quote as evidence that Obama is not pro-Israel. In response, Obama's national security spokesperson said, "Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is not an adviser to the Obama campaign and is therefore in no position to interpret or share Barack Obama's views on Israel and foreign policy. As he has made clear throughout his career and throughout this campaign, Barack Obama has a fundamental commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and he is advised by people like Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer, Rep. Robert Wexler, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Senator Joe Biden who share that commitment." For his part, Jackson said his quote was taken out of context. At least it wasn't recorded on a hot mic! [WP]