Jesse James: “There’s not a racist bone in my body”

Tonight is Jesse James’ Nightline interview, of which there seems to be endless quotes and clips coming out. He’s a surprisingly quotable douche, although listening to his disgusting p-ssy voice isn’t that awesome. In these new clips, Jesse talks about his decision to enter rehab, and how Sandra said she was “proud” of him for going into rehab. Of course, that was when his mistress count was at one, right? Honestly, though, I’m tired of talking about Jesse in the context of his marriage and what he did to Sandra Bullock (plus, CB covers it so well). What I’m interested in is his new excuses/justifications for all of the Nazi stuff. Jesse tells Nightline, “I think out of anything, this is why I’m doing this interview the most… you know, dealing with… losing my marriage and my son and embarrassing everyone and decimating my life… but to be called a racist on top of that, it, like, makes me really sad seeing the photo and how I look.” Poor Nazi baby!!! Here’s the video clip and a summary from ABC News:

Jesse James, 41, said he and Sandra Bullock, 45, found out around Christmas 2009 that the adoption went through and welcomed Louie, born in New Orleans, into their family on New Year’s Day. When asked why they adopted a black child, James said he “didn’t care what color” the baby was.

“My only prerequisite for adopting a baby: I want the baby that needs us the most,” he said.

In the months before James’ infidelity made headlines, the 41-year-old owner of West Coast Choppers garage said watching Bullock be a mother to Louie strengthened their relationship.

“To see her in the role as mother is, like, one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. She is like a fish to water … as soon as she put that baby into her hands it was automatic and amazing,” James said. “I found a new trust for her, like I knew she wasn’t going to leave, and our relationship blossomed.”

Bullock had been a stepmom to James’ three children — daughter Chandler and son, Jesse Jr., whom he had with his first wife, Karla; and a daughter, Sunny, whom he had with his second wife, adult film star Janine Lindemulder. James admits he shattered a seemingly-perfect relationship by having affairs outside his marriage.

Once a magazine printed a story from one of his alleged mistresses, James said he told Bullock “basically everything” about his transgressions. But had Bullock known any of it was going on?

“I think she’s had her suspicions in the past, but, you know, I lied, and lied my way out of it,” he said. “I lied to everyone about everything, even to myself.”

Before James checked himself into rehab at the Sierra Tuscon Treatment Center in Arizona in late March, he told Bullock where he was going and why.

“I just told her I was going to get some help and I wanted to make sure she would take care of [his daughter] Sunny,” James said. He said Bullock agreed, and said that she was “proud” of him.

James: ‘There’s Not a Racist Bone in My Body’

But while in rehab, James’ reputation took another hit when US Weekly magazine ran a photo of him wearing a German S.S. officer’s hat, posing in a Nazi salute. James said the photo, which was taken before his marriage to Bullock, was meant as a joke, but he understands why it has stirred such controversy.

“I could tell by the look on my face it was a joke that was funny then, probably for a minute, but then looking at it in the context of now and in my life, it’s not funny,” he said. “There’s not a racist bone in my body.”

After months of keeping a low profile, James said one of the reasons why he sat down for the “Nightline” interview was to dispel these rumors.

“I think out of everything, this is why I’m doing this interview the most, because you know, dealing with losing my marriage and my son and embarrassing everyone and decimating my life, but to be called a racist on top of that is, it makes me really sad,” James said.

James told his side of the story and opened up on his past, his time in rehab and what made him cheat, in his first television appearance since news of his affairs came out in March. At one point in the interview, while speaking about the reasons why he was unfaithful, James teared up and asked for a moment to collect himself.

“I’ve spent my whole life with the kids and with her trying to … protect her from everything, but the most hurt she’s ever been caused is by the person that wanted to protect her,” James said. “It’s terrible, and she’s going to be hurt for a long time.”

[From ABC News]

So, to give Jesse a little credit, I do think he’s correctly identified all of the ways in which he’s a douche, and he’s genuinely remorseful. I also appreciate that he recognizes what many of us thought about Sandra – that this heartbreak is so huge, so devastating, she might never be able to recover. I mean that she’ll probably never want to date or marry or anything ever again, not that she wouldn’t be able to function. Of course, Jesse being able to properly identify his douchiness isn’t really an “Alert the Nobel committee!” kind of achievement, and after all, he still sucks. I also still have questions about his ties – however ephemeral – to white supremacy and the neo-Nazi community. I really do think there’s more there.

Us Weekly’s Nazi photo courtesy of Us Weekly’s exclusive.