As others have mentioned, Obama's success at breaking free of the old skool notions of race politics threatens Jackson Sr.'s career.  But, Barack's call for black fathers to man-up probably cut a little too close to the bone.

From: http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/08/16/jackson.mistress/

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The mother of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's 2-year-old daughter says she just wants Jackson "to be a father" to the child who was born after the two had an affair.

...."I want Jesse Jackson to be a father to Ashley. I want us to have very clear visitation," says Stanford in an interview with Connie Chung to be aired Friday at 10 p.m. EDT on ABC. "He (Jackson) was born out of wedlock ... He understands the hurt and the pain it causes."

She said Jackson has only visited his daughter once in the last seven months -- a far cry from his frequent visits in the first year of her life.

"He was concerned about her just like any father would be. He checked on her, he came to visit her, he played with her," says Stanford. "She knew he was Daddy."

Jackson, she said, has been paying $4,000 a month in child support.

..."This child deserves the monthly support she receives, a life insurance policy, provisions for a college education and, most importantly, dignity and privacy," [Jackson] said.

That last comment is interesting in light of Jackson's "apology" to Barack Obama.

“My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.”

What, pray tell, could government have done to provide for conditions in which Jackson could have been offered better choices?  Especially seeing as how he's capable of $4000 monthly child support payments.

Granted, he's no different than other inattentive "baby daddies" of any race in this regard, but that's the point.  Many poor descendants of Asian, European, South American and African immigrants are burdened with poverty and discrimination yet choose to raise their children to the best of their abilities.

Thankfully, Jackson's "Blame Government First" shtick is old and stale.  This dust-up will favorably contrast the differences between Obama and Jesse Jackson for white voters.  Isn't it ironic that Bill O'Reilly was the one to provide such an invaluable service?