" I been in Congress 13 years. My earmarks totaled $231,000 as of 6/1/07.
There's plenty more where that came from. There's "nothing wrong and nothing
new" about my funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to my wife, Sandi,
a Chicago Alderman."
Posted on 08/09/2010 7:57:56 PM PDT by Libloather
Blagojevich trial stalls Jackson Jr.'s aspirations
By SOPHIA TAREEN
Updated: 2:24 pm, Thu Aug 5, 2010
Jesse Jackson Jr. once possessed the makings of a political star. Son of a civil rights leader and a Democratic congressman with a strong base of support on Chicago's South Side, he set his sights on becoming the city's mayor, or a senator from Illinois.
Those dreams of higher political office have been dimmed - perhaps irrevocably - by Jackson's association with the corruption case of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. One damaging detail to emerge is that Jackson may have known about supporters' plans to raise at least $1 million on the condition that Blagojevich appoint him to President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
Of all the public figures whose names came up during the trial, Jackson has suffered the most political fallout. These days he keeps a low profile in his district, rarely appearing in public and avoiding the media - especially when it comes to questions about Blagojevich.
"There's no doubt that his ambitions have taken a hit," said Roosevelt University political scientist Paul Green. "Right now all his options are on hold."
Jackson, 45, has not been charged and denies wrongdoing, but there's little doubt he remains on the radar of federal prosecutors. A House ethics investigation of him, delayed at prosecutors' request, was scheduled to resume after the trial.
While his congressional seat appears safe in the November election - he has won it since 1995 with more than 80 percent of the vote each time - even Jackson's staunchest allies agree his reputation has suffered.
(Excerpt) Read more at cdapress.com ...
Didn’t he just take a vacation in Spain?
Nice that JJJ was counting on a Senate seat by virtue of his last name and skin color.
He is the son of something, not the son of a civil rights leader but rather a racial shakedown artist.
He’s Jesse Highjackson Jr.
Do we have a monarchy or a tribal system of government now? Why do we have the sons and daughters of politicians making big bucks as staffers or taking over their father’s or mother’s place in office? This country is on the skids.
There is nothing new about nepotism in government.
You don’t really believe that Al Gore got elected Senator on his own do you ?.
His Daddy got him the job.
Al Gore wasn’t smart enough to be elected dog catcher on his own.
I realize it isn’t new, but it is getting worse. As you say, Al Gore could not have been elected to any office if it had not been for his old man. Ditto for the Kennedy clan.
" I been in Congress 13 years. My earmarks totaled $231,000 as of 6/1/07.
There's plenty more where that came from. There's "nothing wrong and nothing
new" about my funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to my wife, Sandi,
a Chicago Alderman."
"I paid Blago plenty for the Senate seat. Included in the price: Blago's wife is gonna play 'Butt Bingo' with me. After she gives me one of her 'hands-on specials.' "
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