Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Political Expectations

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Barack Obama is the first African American to secure the nomination of a major political party. Black leaders and public intellectuals--who never thought that would happen—are struggling over how to respond. If Obama is moving toward the center in order to win, is he abandoning the struggle of black people? Has his very success redeemed the legacy of slavery and discrimination? Also, Treasury Secretary Paulson seeks to assuage new mortgage fears, the president of Sudan may face formal charges of genocide and crimes against humanity because of the violence in Darfur.

Making News

Treasury Secretary Seeks to Assuage New Mortgage Fears ()

Shares in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae dropped again today amid speculation that the federal government will have no choice but to bail them out. James Politi is US Economics and Trade correspondent for the Financial Times.

Guests:

James Politi: US Economics and Trade Correspondent, Financial Times

Main Topic

Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Political Expectations ()

In the studios of Fox News, Rev. Jesse Jackson did not know the microphone was on, but was recorded saying to another guest, "Barack's been talking down to black people." Then he added a crude remark about wanting to cut off part of Barack Obama's anatomy. Even Jackson's own son, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr, a co-chair of Obama's campaign, said the original comments were out of line. Jackson apologized quickly for the crude way he criticized Obama, but the sentiment behind his comments is shared by other black Americans. Some say that Obama's unexpected success leaves them with a sense of "vertigo." Should he talk more about correcting the legacy of slavery and discrimination? Does his nomination mean that black "victimhood" is a thing of the past?

Guests:

Lester Spence: Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University
Amiri Baraka: poet, playwright and community activist
Erin Aubry Kaplan: Freelance Journalist, Contributing Editor to the LA Times
Joe Hicks: Vice President of Community Advocates
Peniel E. Joseph: Professor of Afro-American Studies, Brandeis University

Reporter's Notebook

Darfur, War Crimes and a Truth Commission ()

In Sudan, hundreds of thousands of people have died in political violence. UN and African Union peace-keepers have not been effective. Now the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court plans to file charges of genocide and crimes against humanity and seek an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan. Luís Moreno-Ocampo plans a news conference next week to explain his charges against Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Sudan's Ambassador to the UN says "Ocampo is playing with fire." New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff has written many times about Darfur.

Guests:

Nicholas Kristof: Columnist, New York Times

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