Live microphones are turning controversial remarks up to an "11" this week. Jesse Jackson used the N-word — the one for the dangly part of the male anatomy — when dishing about Obama during a break from taping a segment on Fox & Friends on Sunday. Jackson was, he thought secretly, gossiping with his co-guest about Obama's position on black churches and his support for faith-based charities. Jackson made the rude (and puzzling) remark, "I want to cut his n**ts off," into his live mic, moments before going on air.

Jackson didn't know his words had been picked up at the time, but by yesterday the clip was ready to air on The O'Reilly Factor and Jackson was in full damage-control mode, apologizing at a news conference in Chicago and releasing a statement saying:

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.

Barack Obama has accepted his apology. His spokesman said, "[Obama] will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Rev. Jackson's apology."

Not all hot-mic trouble results in hot water. George W. Bush had an uncharacteristically endearing private/public address series of moments at the G-8 Summit this week. To see what everyone heard him say, read more.

At an unintended broadcast lunchtime chitchat Bush said:

  • “Amigo! Amigo!” cheerily in Spanish to Italian prime minister Berlusconi. “How you doing, Silvio? Good to see you!” And later, “I read the courts are after you again. it’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it. Constantly after you.”
  • On his parents' recent joint replacement surgeries to Angela Merkel on his dad, "yeah, I’m worried about him,” and mom “two knee operations, two knees at the same time, because she didn’t want to rehab but once.”
  • On the hilly bike ride in Japan, “so I got on my bicycle this morning and got to the bottom of the hill and realized it was really tough to get up. When you’re older, as you know. . . "
  • And my favorite, on the Fourth of July celebration, “big party at the White House, and they had fireworks. My little girls were there.”

Aw! Though at the next day's lunch, the mics were conspicuously turned off.

What do you make of the Jackson remark? Should it have been broadcast on The O'Reilly Factor given that it was clearly off the record — or has that concept disappeared with technology? Is everything now on the record? Should it be?

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