* Yesterday afternoon, Andrea Mitchell at NBC News ran with this story…
Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. faced new pressure from Democratic leaders Wednesday to explain his month-long absence from Congress, even as friends and colleagues tell NBC News that he has been at a treatment facility in Arizona.
A family friend who is in close touch with Jackson’s parents says the congressman is suffering from “severe clinical depression” and has an alcohol problem – although his wife and staff have a different view of his condition. […]
Jackson still faces a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether he used his office to compel former Governor Rod Blagojevich to appoint him to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama in 2008. A former fundraiser for Jackson was arrested on June 20 by federal prosecutors in Illinois on unrelated charges. There have also been reported marital problems.
On Wednesday, a close friend of Jackson’s told NBC, “This has all come down on him like an avalanche and there is a good possibility he will have to resign.”
Those are some friends. Ratting Jackson’s condition out and claiming he may have to step down.
* But Jackson’s office eventually issued a statement of denial…
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being treated for “a mood disorder” — not for alcoholism or substance abuse, according to a statement from the Chicago Democrat’s office.
“The Congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder. He is responding positively to treatment,” according to a statement from the congressman’s office, citing Jackson’s unnamed physician.
In the statement, Jackson’s office noted: “In addition, the rumors about him being treated for alcohol or substance abuse [are] not true.”
The congressman’s wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson, denied that her husband was “in rehab.”
* The official statement continued…
But the statement began by quoting federal laws protecting a patient’s privacy.
“The name of the attending physician and treatment center will not be disclosed in order to protect his continuing privacy,” the statement read.
Mary Mitchell is not satisfied…
But those laws should not be used to give an elected official cover to withhold information. Jackson’s duty is to be transparent and keep his constituents informed about anything that could affect the job they elected him to do.
Additionally, if he has a medical or psychological problem with a some stigma attached to it, then discussing it publicly can help erase that stigma.
Instead, by being secretive, he is just perpetuating the stigma.
And that serves no one.
* And things got a little intense at the annual Rainbow/PUSH convention, where Rev. Jackson tried to dodge the media…
Following the Rainbow/PUSH luncheon, the media began assembling at the south end of the dais, where Jackson was heading.
Jackson turned and headed toward the north end of the dais. The media ran to head him off there.
He turned and headed back toward the south end of the dias. The media ran back to the south end.
Then he walked down the center steps of the stage. Security and Rainbow/PUSH staffers held back the media, who shouted questions to Jackson which he ignored as his aides pushed him through a curtain and told the media to leave.
When the press asked questions of Jackson before the event, former Sen. Roland Burris jumped to the senior Jackson’s defense.
“Let it go!” he yelled. “You all are not here to cover this convention. You’re here to cover Jesse Jr. That is ridiculous, and I’ve got enough seniority around here to tell you media people to cool it. You did it to me. Now you’re going to try to do it to Jesse Jr. You’re just hounding people. Go on and get a life. I’m telling Sen. Durbin to back off. I’m telling Steny Hoyer to back off. I’m telling Congressman Gutierrez to back off. That’s what they did to me.”
* Gov. Pat Quinn was at the Rainbow/PUSH convention, and he went out of his way in an unrelated press conference before the event to express his sympathy for the congressman…
“The people of Illinois have good hearts and when someone is dealing with challenges on their health we wish them well and we pray for them. I pray for Jesse Jackson Jr. every single day and I think everybody should.
“He’s one of our fellow citizens in Illinois and we’re all in this together and when somebody has a challenge, we don’t walk away from it.”
* Roland Burris went off on the media…
Burris: We don’t know what Jesse Jr.’s problem is so back off and let’s assess it.
Reporter: Senator, do you know?
Burris: I have no idea! I’m dealing with you all. I’m dealing with you all running around here like a wolfpack, wolfpacking this young man who has served this public so greatly and he’s had some problems and you won’t give him a rest. Media, give him some rest!
Reporter: Were you curious to know what it was?
Burris: Why are you curious? Are you curious to know what it is? Or are you just trying to get some points in the media so you can be the first to give a report? The first CNN…to be the first to report on this.
Reporter: But people want to know.
Burris: They want to know because you all are driving the people. You all are driving it! The people aren’t driving it! You all are sticking cameras in my face like you all are doing me! Don’t you have a right to know. Don’t you feel something about it? That’s what you all are doing to me! Take your cameras and go home!”
Burris told reporters, “you all ought to get a life!”
* And the Tribune diagnosed from afar…
A mood disorder can mean many things. According to Mental Health America, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association, there are four basic forms of mood disorders, including “major depression, cyclothymia (a mild form of bipolar disorder), SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and mania (euphoric, hyperactive, overinflated ego, unrealistic optimism).”
The treatment advocacy organization estimated 1 in 5 Americans report at least “one depressive symptom in a given month,” while bipolar disorder is less common, occurring at a rate of 1 percent of the general population.
Discuss.
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 8:38 am:
If this is something he doesn’t want to talk about after being away from work for a month, he should just resign. The public has a right to a much more prompt and complete explanation than this. If providing a proper explanation is a danger to his health or something like that, he needs to just quit. Now.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 8:52 am:
Generally, using the internet you can find out where someone practices by the name alone, since medical license information is public record along with information in published in insurance directories.
Also a patient has the right to reveal virtually everything about their own treatment.
They don’t want people to know where he is fine, but man up and admit that.
- bored now - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 8:54 am:
like kirk, jackson doesn’t have to resign unless he wants to. and, like kirk’s, jackson’s office can say whatever they want to explain this away. and they will…
- so.... - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 8:57 am:
==like kirk, jackson doesn’t have to resign unless he wants to. and, like kirk’s, jackson’s office can say whatever they want to explain this away. and they will… ==
Nice false equivalence you’ve got there. Kirk’s office informed the media of what had happened within 48 hours, and his doctors held a press conference the same day. Jackson’s office kept this secret for weeks, and now they’re hiding behind HIPAA to keep voters in the dark.
- Jose - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:05 am:
“If this is something he doesn’t want to talk about after being away from work for a month, he should just resign.”
Please see the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 before espousing such extremism.
- amalia - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:08 am:
hoping that he finds peace. however you feel about him, we should be wishing him well.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:09 am:
Again, I think we know much more today about Congressman Jackson’s condition, treatment, prognosis and ability to return to office than we did a month after Senator Kirk’s stroke.
He’s being treated for a mood disorder by a licensed doctor. As far as I know, mood disorders are fully treatable.
Mark Kirk checked into a hospital under a fake name when he had his stroke, and we didn’t hear directly from the Senator for five months.
I understand the dynamic at work here. The press likes Kirk. Kirk’s colleagues like him. And he enjoys widespread if not deep public support.
The press does not like Jackson. Some of his colleagues have a bone to pick. And while he is extremely popular within his district, outside his district he is easily vilified.
If you don’t believe there is a double standard, reread this:
APRIL 11th:
April 11, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — New questions are being raised about the recovery of U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. The senator suffered a stroke three months ago and is now recovering at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
His staff has closely guarded information concerning Mark Kirk’s health and the prognosis for his recovery. There are new questions about the senator and to what extent he helped write a report his office issued Wednesday morning.
During the first two weeks following the stroke, a Northwestern Medical Center surgeon updated Kirk’s condition. Since he was moved to the Rehab Institute, there has been virtually no information on his recovery and to what degree he is involved in public policy statements issued by his office.
You read it right. Three months after Kirk’s stroke, we had “virtually no information” about his recovery. Six months later, he’s still not back on the job.
And you all want Jackson’s head on a pike?
I call “Shenanigans.”
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:10 am:
==Please see the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 before espousing such extremism.==
Gimme a break. We’re talking about an elected official, not an employee.
- unclesam - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:11 am:
If, in fact, Congressman Jackson is dealing with a “mood” or mental disorder (such as depression or bipolar) — it is many times difficult to accept, and even harder to discuss in a public forum (and that’s only because most people don’t fully understand how those disorders impact the person).
That said, it is easier to help others understand by being strong enough to publicly discuss it (this coming from experience with family members).
- Jose - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:14 am:
“Gimme a break. We’re talking about an elected official, not an employee. ”
Oops..I didn’t realize elected officials were exempt from federal law.
My bad.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:17 am:
I’m sorry, but I can’t feel sympathy for the Jackson family when they’re still trying to cover up why Jesse is in this facility, what’s exactly wrong with him and how will this condition impact his duties as Congressman.
Exhaustion, now mood disorder. Vague diagnosis from even vaguer sources just don’t do it for me.
- Jose - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:19 am:
“Vague diagnosis from even vaguer sources just don’t do it for me. ”
Are you a voter in Representative Jackson’s district? Just curious….
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:29 am:
I’m with Jose on this one.
I hear a lot of folks criticizing Jackson’s “secrecy.” Not many of them appear to be constituents.
Where was the concern from Wensicia, et al when “virtually no information” was available about Senator Kirk’s prognosis a full three months after he went on medical leave?
Heck, Kirk’s office couldn’t even explain how reports were going out of his office with his name on them.
Double-standard. Shenanigans. Call it what you will.
I think some folks just don’t like Jackson. I’ve never felt a particular love for him either, although I’ve met and like his dad and think his wife is terrific. But I’m not going to use his illness as a straw man to attack him.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:42 am:
== Mark Kirk checked into a hospital under a fake name when he had his stroke, and we didn’t hear directly from the Senator for five months. ==
Ummm YDD the fake name thing is standard operating procedure in cases of famous people. My wife used to work at a hospital and she would see that from time to time, so that was not unique to Kirk by any stretch of the imagination.
As for his head on a pike, I think the ‘outrage’ you are seeing here (not sure if I would use that word, but whatever) is how dumbly he has handled this.
If they had just said, Congressman Jackson is undergoing treatment for a mood disorder (think they should be a touch more exact, but whatever) and asked for privacy at this time. More information will be forthcoming as treatment progresses.
This would have been basically a non-story, some stuff about mood disorders and the summer would have moved on.
But they didn’t do that, they started with ‘Exhaustion’ which I have never known anyone outside a celebrity ever being treated for. So that leads to some speculation, then the hemming and hawing just makes it worse.
That is why it Kirk is a non-story at this point in part, because people (the media) knew what happened how bad it was and could consult with experts to find out how long he should be out. Also he isn’t facing an election in November and didn’t have a guy tied to him just brought up on federal charges.
News, just like politics and nature, abhors a vacuum. That at the end of the day is the takeaway from all of this.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:43 am:
Jackson brought the heat on himself with his long silence, but now he has said enough about his medical condition.
It’s not like he can escape from whatever may come from the Ethics Committee or Justice Department, as some of the Usual Suspect Conspiracy Theorists have advanced.
Same goes for Kirk. If he wishes to release more as time goes on, that’s up to him. But no one is entitled to a play-by-play of someone’s medical condition. The clamor for the most private of information is very unseemly.
Many people are acting like these situations have never come up before. In fact, they happen all the time, yet the Republic still stands.
If Jackson’s constituents aren’t satisfied, they can vote for the other guy in November.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:55 am:
I don’t know about Jesse, but the price of alcohol sure affects my mood.
As for the “constituents can vote for someone else if they don’t like it” bit, why would anyone vote for another who opposes their ideals/agenda? It would make more sense to vote third party or write in their own name.
- langhorne - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:56 am:
wow, it shows what a circus this has become when roland jumps into the fray, chastising the press, on your behalf. good to see his view of himself (”i have enough seniority around here…etc”)hasnt diminished in the lack of limelight.
- Palos Park Bob - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:59 am:
=Oops..I didn’t realize elected officials were exempt from federal law.
My bad.=
Assuming your response was being sarcastic, you SHOULD know that Congress exempts itself from just about every piece of workplace legislation it passes, from racial discrimination to sexual harassment.
Just another way the political elite separate themselves from the consequences of their actions and flaunt their tyranny on the “little people”.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:03 am:
Great to read that Yellow Dog believes that Jackson’s office is saying.
Who knows? This time the office might be telling the truth. People can change.
- Southern Peggy R - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:07 am:
Whatever is his ailment, I do hope he recovers and finds some peace of mind.
That said, “mood disorder” is rather euphamistic. Every body has “mood disorders” for gosh sake. That’s life.
- reformer - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:09 am:
Bariatric surgery renders patients more susceptible to alcohol addiction, even people who never had a problem prior to surgery. J3 had the surgery. I don’t know if he has developed an alcohol dependency.
- Hank - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:11 am:
Can Roland now add “Stout Defender of JJJ” to his tombstone?
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:23 am:
Too much speculation, too few facts.
You had to consider something was off the rails when he spoke of foreign funding for the proposed airport, but in this era of crazy ideas it was not the craziest.
Ultimately the decision whether to return JJJr to Congress will be made in November. I would expect that he is in a ’safe’ district, so short of a conviction of a major crime (he has not yet been charged with anything) he will be back.
It’s just today’s distraction from the grim realities of the economy.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:34 am:
@OneMan -
Mental illnesses are notoriously tricky to diagnose. Unlike a stroke.
Common procedure for mental illness is to make your diagnosis by starting a course of treatment, usually the least risky treatment for the most likely culprit. If the treatment (usually medication) fixes the problem, you have your diagnosis.
And, it takes awhile for medications to kick in before you know whether or not they are working.
Many times, the patient is suffering from multiple conditions, because one mental illness left untreated for a period of time can often lead to others.
For example, “exhaustion” cause by long term sleep deprivation can often lead to depression. Sometimes, its the other way around, and chronic depression leads to a sleep disorder.
We know more about deep space than we know about the human brain, and we know even less about the complexities of the endocrine system which control everything from appetite to mood to sleep.
I don’t blame Jackson’s office for failing to issue a press release saying “we’re not really sure what’s wrong with him.”
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:38 am:
=== The media report to the people. ===
LOL. The “media” report to advertisers, and their primary concern is how many copies you sell, viewers or listeners you have, or views your web page gets.
Rare is the publication that puts the “search for truth” ahead of a sensational headline. This story’s got sex, money, politics…and thanks to some inebriated “news” coverage, violence. Its a pre-packaged blockbuster.
- Allen Skillicorn - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:45 am:
If you need the defense of Burris, you are in BIG trouble.
9 out 10 where there’s smoke, there is fire…
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:46 am:
Jose, federal employees are exempt from lots of laws.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:46 am:
Yellow Dog, if the office reported “The Congressman is under the care of Dr. Smith as Northwestern Hospital” it would go a long way towards making people be less suspicious.
Right now, we have no idea if he’s even seeing a doctor. Cong. Jackson has some record of not being truthful. Why should anybody believe a vague statement from his office?
- DoubleDown - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 10:54 am:
Jose, as a voter in the now 2nd District(Peotone) I would like to know what is going on.
Don’t you think I have a right to know when he will be back in Washington doing his job ?
- the Other Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 11:02 am:
Two analogies in this discussion are false.
First, to take medical leave for health reasons under FMLA a health care provider has to certify that the condition exists, its approximate duration, and how the condition will affect the employee’s job performance. It’s a two page form. So saying that somehow it’s extreme to suggest that if Congressman Jackson desires to keep everything about his condition private he should resign is not supported by an analogy to FMLA.
Second, this situation is not at all analogous to how Senator Kirk’s office handled his illness. Within a few days of admission, they provided a pretty specific diagnosis (stroke) and that he would undergo surgery. In this case, the Congressman’s office did not even reveal the hospitalization until two weeks in (and those two weeks were crucial, since the information was disclosed only after the deadline for an independent candidate to file), the information was not accurate, and to this day it is unclear what condition caused the hospitalization.
No one is looking for his charts (and if someone demanded that information, she would be out of line). But I do think a public figure who drops out of sight for medical reasons is obligated to release some details.
- cover - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 11:03 am:
Friend @ 10:34 am: “Explain to me why Gov Quinn and others are going out of their way to express sympathy here??”
Out of all the parties quoted in today’s story, Gov. Quinn is the one who is taking the high road. He made no comment regarding the information, or lack thereof, coming from JJJ’s office and staff. He’s praying for someone who is having some kind of trouble in his life. What’s wrong with that?
- Shore - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 11:59 am:
Kirk is not Jackson, stop embarrassing yourselves. Kirk also doesn’t have us attorney problems, but that’s probably because the “us attorney likes him”.
Good to see Governor Jello looking out for his black community support instead of “good government”.
I actually thought Jackson did quite well for himself in his tribune ed board interview with halvorson, and was a lot better than most of the other people they interviewed-kinzinger, manzullo et al. He had stuff down the way you would expect a congressman to.
- downstate hack - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:03 pm:
I love to hear people railing that he is not representing his district in congress. Well in fact this Congress really hasn’t done any thing real for about a year, so maybe we should hope all 535 take an extended leave of absence. It might just be the best thing for the good old USA.
- Joe Melugins - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:18 pm:
Regardless of our political persuasion, I think we all should hope that both Senator Kirk and Representative Jackson return to good health.
Just like the rest of us, politicians are subject to health problems. A politician with health issues is a tricky situation. Should they step down or not? FDR and Missouri Senator Thomas Eagleton come to mind, as politicians who overcame serious health conditions. There is no guarantee however, that anyone who is seriously ill will return to their former capabilities. Time will tell.
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
I don’t think there’s any reason for JJJ to resign or anything of that sort. But it is weird to say so little.
Of course, if his staff had handled the situation more appropriately in the first place, things may not have gotten so weird.
Someone needs to tell JJJ’s staff that, when most people hear “XXX is in the hospital being treated for ‘exhaustion’”, they hear “XXX is in rehab”.
And calling it a mood disorder doesn’t help much, either, especially after first calling it ‘exhaustion’ and refusing to say where he’s being treated and who’s treating him. Just sounds like a further attempt to cover up a stint in rehab. His staff would have been better off claiming that JJJ was hiking the Appalachian Trail at this point.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
“Kirk is not Jackson, stop embarrassing yourselves. Kirk also doesn’t have us attorney problems, but that’s probably because the “us attorney likes him”.
Huh….did you miss the dust up with the Mrs and the gal pal and all the campaign cash flying around?
We hope CommandoMakeItUp makes a full and speedy recovery, same for Trey J, but let’s not pretend the Commando is really that much different.
Perhaps TreyJ can get RxRon to do his PR?
- DoubleDown - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:45 pm:
“Of course, if his staff had handled the situation more appropriately in the first place, things may not have gotten so weird.”
Agreed, they could have given a simple account what happened so they could weaken suspicion without going into great detail.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:48 pm:
I understand people wanting more info from Jackson, but I don’t understand the immediate call to resign.
Just as a practical matter, consider that him resigning now would require a special election in the OLD DISTRICT creating a huge amount of confusion and cost a lot of local election officials money they don’t have in the budget right now. That is something that Michigan is having to deal with after Thad McCotter’s resignation and it’s a mess.
Trips is one of 435 House members in a do-nothing Congress, chairs no committees with his party in the minority and isn’t in party leadership. The republic is not going to fall if he takes until Labor Day to work on his health issues and announce at that time whether he can go back to work or needs to resign.
Of course, he could obviously engender more understanding from the public and the media if he was more up front about things and also if he worked out something with someone in the delegation he is friends with to help his office handle constituent concerns during his absence, and made this arrangement known to the public.
But at the same time, after seeing how gleeful some in the media and political class have acted over his suicide rumors, I can sort of understand his trepidation about being open about whatever he is going through, when there is still so much stigma towards mental health issues even for people who aren’t in a bloodsport profession like politics.
- superstaffer - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:55 pm:
Exhaustion & mood disorder are hard for most people to understand as reasons to miss work.
- Palos Park Bob - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 12:57 pm:
Fortunately for most congresspersons, they don’t have to take a sanity or lucidity test.
Remember those Congressional dinosaurs Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) and Strom Thurmond(R-SC)?
Anyone watching a press conference of Maxine Waters (D-Watts) could probably make a case that she’s certifiable!LOL
What I hope is happening here is that he’s reassessing his life, and the direction he wants it to take. It’s pretty clear that “Daddy” has been pushing him down this road, and perhaps it’s time to take a different path. The millions that the family has made by race baiting intimidation of businesses should provide him with a comfortable lifestyle for which he can handle the stress and “temptations” (and I don’t mean the band).
I pray he makes the right choice. America can move on without him. Perhaps it’s time for him to take a more tranquil path and save his family, and perhaps his life.
- Shore - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 1:06 pm:
kirk never had a guy indicted by a us attorney involved in a trial where several people went to jail pay for dodie mcracken’s rendez-vous with him.
keep telling yourself kirk=jackson.
- The KQ - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 1:29 pm:
I am just excited that we now know what will keep Rev. Jackson away from a microphone.
- Ace Laredo - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 1:53 pm:
It’s obvious that many people are taking pleasure in this issue due to schadenfreude, and that’s understandable. The Congressman got a great headstart in his professional life due to his name, and his father built a 4 decade career, fortune, and empire on deciding publicly what was right and what was wrong in soceity and hammering his enemies through the media. You saw it yesterday when he declared questions about his son “inappropriate”. He’s still trying to control the message and the issue even though his time is so clearly past.
Of course you feel empathy for a human in distress, but we don’t even know if he is in distress. Truly. There are a lot of legal issues surrounding him, and, conceivably, this could just be the laying of the groundwork for some kind of substance or psychological excuse if and when those legal issues come to a head. For all we know, he could be hiking somewhere. Touring with a band. When ANYONE disappears, people with knowledge of that disappearance can’t stop speculating. This is just a grander stage….with, again, many underlying factors driving the interest.
So Point A is, speculation around any mystery is human nature, particularly one involving so high profile a person with so loaded a history, and Point B is that this man’s father made quite a living for his family by using the public and the press as his weapon. And now it’s biting them. So the story won’t go away.. Many people in this world deserve our sympathy, thoughts and prayers outside of just Congressman Jackson. He can end this all by explaining himself.
- too obvious - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 1:56 pm:
What about the Hill story yesterday where Mark Kirk’s ex said Mark has used alias before?
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:06 pm:
For most, depression is called a mental illness. For the 1%, including JJJ it is a “mood disorder.” The former has negative connotations. Not so with the latter.
- Hawkeye - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:15 pm:
I’m wondering… for which organization is Burris claiming to “have enough seniority”? Rainbow/PUSH? The State?? It’s interesting to watch Burris spin the questioning into how it affects HIM. Go away, Roland. Please just go away.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:48 pm:
–That said, “mood disorder” is rather euphamistic. Every body has “mood disorders” for gosh sake. That’s life.–
Make the google your friend. It’s better than Phineas J. Whoopee or a Magic 8 ball.
“Mood disorder” is a medical term. Hit the google, and the medical information will pay off like a slot machine.
Here’s just a taste.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/mood+disorder
- Midway Gardens - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:08 pm:
Hey, he could pass away in October (not that anyone would tell us) and his constituents would still reelect him. This piling on by the media and other politicians doesn’t hurt him at all.
- bored now - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
==Nice false equivalence you’ve got there.==
i’m unclear about what you thought was false. that “like kirk, jackson doesn’t have to resign unless he wants to.” or, “like kirk’s, jackson’s office can say whatever they want to explain this away.” feel free to explain how jackson or kirk have to resign or how their offices have to tell the truth about their bosses condition…
- olddog - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:11 pm:
@ Anon 2:06 p.m.
Wordslinger’s right. Do a little basic research, and maybe you won’t look as foolish in a public forum.
“Mood disorder” refers to a category of mental health issues outlined in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuala, 4th ed.) of the American Psychiatric Association. They’re not always easy to diagnose, and it might not be a bad idea for all of us to chill out while the doctors, the shrinks, Rep. Jackson and his family sort it out.
- bored now - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:18 pm:
==I actually thought Jackson did quite well for himself in his tribune ed board interview with halvorson==
i think we can all agree that jackson has a better command of the issues he deals with. but i think we need a higher bar than that…
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:18 pm:
Looks like JJJ has bought himself a little time by giving the explanation he should have provided in the first place. That’s fine, but his other issues remain, and this one will be right back if this drags out.
As for Kirk, six months is about how long it takes to evaluate stroke prognosis. Got no problem with giving him that long, but it’s about time for him to say when he’ll be back or what his exit strategy is. His meter’s about up.
I am amazed anyone thinks HIPAA or FMLA or anything like that has the remotest connection to a public official’s long-term absence from his duties. I’m not saying they should give out their medical records to the press. But if they can’t carry out the public’s business, they have a duty to promptly explain why not and when they’ll be back. Elected office is not an entitlement, even in Illinois.
- NIref - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:45 pm:
Could be egomania or narcissistic personality disorder.
On a serious note, both extended absences of Kirk and Jackson raise some questions about EP in Congress.
- the Other Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:48 pm:
Excessively Rabid, you are not living up to your name. I second your very reasoned and calm post.
- too obvious - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:21 pm:
The Jackson thing is serious, but seems there is an even more serious issue brewing with Mark Kirk. According to his ex, he apparently had a serious medical condition that required hospitalization in the past on more than one occassion. That according to the story yesterday in the Hill.
If true, shouldn’t he have told voters about that?
- The Mad Hatter - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:57 pm:
The hypocrisy is mind-boggling. Jetstream Jesse never met a camera he didn’t like…until someone behind it starts asking him questions he’s afraid to answer. Roland Burris only has trouble with the media when the media is trying to pin down a Democrat. He doesn’t have that problem when a Republican’s the one being chased.
As for Junior, he should either allow the sun to shine in or resign.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 5:01 pm:
Old Dog and Others…
Depression is also classified as a mental illness in the DSM. I am just saying that they depression is listed under both but MOST COMMONLY when one refers to depression it is called a mental illness. Ask Social Security disability for instance. Please do not challenge me on this. I have more knowledge in this area than the majority of people.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:09 pm:
I grew up in the Lutheran Church of America. We are all sinners, and you should love the sinners most..
I’m not a big fan of Trips politics. But I’m certain that his issues haven’t caused me any harm. Give the man a break. The Justice Department will be waiting for him.
I hate the hillbily voyeurism that we’re seeing now that pretends a mental disorder is a j0ke. You all been down the block before? You ever had a loved one in trouble?
Last week, a high school buddy of mine from DeKalb capped himself because he couldn’t handle his booze.
Three times, he did 90-day rehabs, every time he lost, the last time he blew his brains out and now he’s dead.
He wasn’t weak, he wasn’t stupid, he worked his ass off to beat it, but he was sick and he lost.
There but the grace of God goes us.
- Southern Peggy R - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:57 pm:
wordslinger and old dog,
“Mood disorder” may actually be in the books, but it strikes me as one of the new many emotional “disorders” that the mental health industry and pharmaceuticals have invented to describe what are simply feelings, response to a person’s environment. If some one is having serious difficulties, say an FBI investigation pending, I imagine one would be rather stressed out and emotionally distraught, losing sleep, is difficult to get along with. Such a person might need rest, some time off and a solution to his problems. Is it a mental illness? I am not a professional in the field, but I have done volunteer work with many troubled people and am a skeptic of the veracity of all these new “disorders” as actual medical illnesses. Not a widely-held opinion, I know, but mine.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 11:40 pm:
Note to the IL Republican and Democractic Parties:
I believe shore has the solution to ALL the questions and objections citizens may have with regard to officials’extended leaves of absence AND disclosures pertaining to illnesses.
Please issue twice-daily press releases simply stating “Kirk is not Jackson.” (Or “Jackson is not Kirk”…but only if you MUST.)
No additional text required. Just those four words should do it.
Thank you!
The Citizens of Illinois