In the grand scheme of things, the disappearance of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. hardly matters at all.
A minority party congressman drops out of sight, checks himself into some sort of treatment facility and won’t say where he is or for what, exactly, he’s being treated.
Watergate this is not.
But everybody loves a good summertime mystery. “Embattled congressman takes it on the lam!” Oh, such fun.
And there is a veritable smorgasbord of salacious details for reporters assigned to write about Jackson’s disappearance. They’re all in need of lots of padding for their stories because, frankly, there isn’t much news to report. He’s gone. Nobody is clearly answering where, why or what. That’s about it. Rehashing the nasty bits also increases the pressure on Jackson and his staff to come clean. So, rehash it is.
Jackson’s infidelity issue, splashed all over the front page of this newspaper after Jackson taunted the U.S. attorney to “bring it on,” has become a necessary story component in almost every rehash of this sad tale. Businessman Raghuveer Nayak allegedly paid to fly what Jackson called a “social acquaintance” from Washington to Chicago when his wife was away.
The uncertainty about more “bimbo eruptions” has fueled the fire of the disappearance story, despite the lack of any evidence that something else is about to come out.
And then there’s the corruption stuff that surfaced when the U.S. attorney was investigating Rod Blagojevich. Nayak allegedly set up a bribery scam to get Jackson appointed to President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. Nayak was arrested on an unrelated charge not long before Jackson disappeared from sight, fueling much theorizing that the arrest and disappearance were somehow related.
They probably aren’t related, but there’s no convincing out-of-town reporters of that. Nayak spilled his guts to the FBI long ago and nothing came of it. Now, this month, the U.S. attorney who headed up the Blagojevich probe retired, which strongly suggested no big busts were imminent.
Jackson also is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, and that final report may not be pretty. The committee conducts its investigations in secret, so the informational black hole has prompted tons of conjecture that this could’ve triggered Jackson’s disappearance. But short of a rare expulsion vote by the House, it doesn’t appear likely that Jackson is in any real danger of losing his seat.
Jackson has been criticized for missing votes while away. But what, exactly, is he missing? The House this week voted to repeal ObamaCare — for the 33rd time. Not exactly earth-shattering stuff. Not a single bill of importance has been affected by Jackson’s absence.
Being absent from Congress this month is like skipping the first day of a college semester. You probably should go, but it’s really no big deal if you don’t.
Look, the congressman has brought much of this on himself because he won’t clearly say what’s going on. And, yes, it’s summertime and the rest of the news is mostly boring.
But that doesn’t qualify Jackson for national villain status.
Discuss.
* Stress of Life in the Public Eye Might Have Fueled Jackson’s Mood Disorder, Doctors Say: Besides the pressures of a high-stress job, times have been tough for Jackson lately. He became embroiled in the scandal surround President Obama’s vacant Illinois Senate seat and dealt with allegations of an extramarital affair.
* Rep. Jesse Jackson’s political future in question: But after a week in which Jackson’s staff has been forced to try to dispel an array of rumors, including one that he is in an Arizona facility being treated for alcohol and drug problems, his friends in the Congressional Black Caucus are whispering that they expect him to resign.
* Tribune Editorial: The redrawn district stretches far past the south suburbs, into parts of Will and Kankakee counties. Many of those voters aren’t familiar with Jackson and vice versa. If he can’t campaign actively for their votes, he at least owes them an explanation.
* Colleagues to Jackson: Get well: “It’s incumbent upon us to be transparent,” said Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., from McHenry. “The reason there’s a storm now, all these questions, is because he hasn’t been transparent. My thoughts and prayers are with him — whatever issues he has — but my God, we have to let our constituents know.”
- sue - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:17 am:
the biggest laugh line in the material is how anyone could call the job of being in Congress “high stess”. Unless of course attempting huge fund raising through dubious means is stressful?
- Kilroy - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:20 am:
I’m going to go out on a limb with a prediction:
Jackson re-elected in a landslide.
- Downstate - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:26 am:
Treated for “exhaustion” is really becoming a media red flag.
A St. Louis area mayor claimed to be going in for treatment for exhaustion - it’s now been discovered that he was treated for a meth addiction.
There’s not an illness that our downstate community has not seen - even some pretty rare disease. But I can’t think of one person I know that has ever been treated for “exhaustion”.
It’s become the exclusive domain of the media stars. It’s the new GOUT!
- Adam Smith - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:27 am:
There is an odd paradox at work here.
Because JJJ is his father’s son this case is getting much more attention than it ordinarily would outside the individual district involved.
But also because JJJ is his father’s son no one seems willing to really call him and his people out for such an egregious violation of the public trust.
Vitrually no other politician could go radio silent for months and only say that he was suffereing severe mental problems and seemingly get away with it.
This would never be tolerated from your run of the mill pol.
JJJ is very sick. He is completely incapacitated, and his political career is likely at a complete end (even after his unique position allowed him to skate past corruption and personal infidelity issues that would have sunk anyone else).
Enough is enough. Either come clean with a detailed description of what he suffers from and how it is being treated and his prognosis for recovery, or resign.
Pols are (kind of) human and should have a chance to recover from illness. But the voters deserve a say in whether or not they think the illness, its effects and demands impact the ability to serve effectively.
- cover - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:35 am:
It’s refreshing to see a positive comment from the other side of the aisle, this one from Rep. Walsh. Given his history of generating more heat than light with his public comments, this is doubly refreshing.
- Enemy of the State - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:53 am:
Would it make a difference if he were Senator Jackson?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:54 am:
“Kilroy - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:20 am:
I’m going to go out on a limb with a prediction:
Jackson re-elected in a landslide.”
Pathetic as that is, I agree with you.
- PublicServant - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:59 am:
=== Off topic Heads up for Rich ===
Supremes just ruled that U of Iowa doesnot have to release personally identifiable info on students involved in a rape, denying a FOIA request by a local newspaper. I believe this let’s the U if I off the hook for releasing personally identifiable student info in the admissions scandal.
No Charge.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:02 am:
@Kilroy & anonymous: The Feds would have charged JJJ by now if they had something on him. Why would Jackson’s constituents vote for the GOP candidate if that candidate opposes everything most 2nd congressional district constituents support?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:14 am:
“Why would Jackson’s constituents vote for the GOP candidate if that candidate opposes everything most 2nd congressional district constituents support?”
Fair point, but that is the same logic that put gems like Smith in office.
I semi-seriously endorse adding a “none of the above” option on the ballot.
- Wensicia - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:16 am:
It’s not the illness, it’s the cover up.
Whatever his medical problem, think of how sympathetic his constituents would be if he or his family had been up front about it from the start. It would have blown over before the end of June. The longer it’s put off, the closer to the election we’ll be. And I have a feeling we won’t be hearing from Jackson anytime soon.
- D.P. Gumby - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:22 am:
So glad I can turn to Not-for-much-longer-Rep. Joe Walsh for ethical guidance on how Congresscritters should provided transparency on their lives!
- soccermom - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:58 am:
Which would get more attention in your house: “Honey, I have a doctor’s appointment and I may have to have some blood draws after, so I’m not sure when I’ll be home” or
(Hours of disappearance without responding to phone calls or texts, followed by) “I can’t tell you where I am, and I can’t tell you when I’ll be back.”
I understand that, when an illness strikes, there may be no opportunity to come up with a communication plan, but this one did the Congressman no favors.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 11:05 am:
–Pols are (kind of) human and should have a chance to recover from illness.–
Dude, your post is just nasty. You might want to look in the mirror before you start questioning others humanity.
Tell us again about the “egregious violation of the public trust” that’s in play here? What the what? Why are you so outraged about this situation? Who has been harmed?
You must blow your top when you consider Barclays and LIBOR — you know, something real.
You don’t have to like Trips or his politics, and I’m not a big fan of either. But you might want to review some of your Sunday school lessons before you start piling on.
- Shore - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 11:35 am:
One less challenger for Senator Kirk to have to deal with, not that this guy had much of a future anyway. Another instance of typical spoiled brat cook county politician behavior. Nothing more.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 11:49 am:
Thanks for the insight Shore. You’re a real one-trick pony. The list of challengers to your pal Senator Kirk is long and growing every day, and even in the absence of this situation with Jackson, Jackson was never going to be a top challenger to Kirk.
How is the Junior Senator doing by the way? Do you know when we might expect to get an update on his condition?
- WazUp - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 11:56 am:
Well it ain’t no cure for the summertime blues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeWC59FJqGc
- mokenavince - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 12:55 pm:
If I had the G on my neck,I feel mighty stressed.
It’s summertime he dosen’t have to be back to work till September.Relax with a cold one or two
it’s Friday. Go White Sox!
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 1:33 pm:
This certainly is going to put a damper on the Jesse Jackson Jr Airport, ugh I mean Peotone airport.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
Well said, Rich.
I personally love the Tribune editorial, which I can only assume is the first in a series that will castigate numerous Republicans running in safe seats for failing to mount a vigorous post-remap campaign.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 3:15 pm:
SO it’s okay to speculate and pontificate on someone you don’t like, i.e. Blagojevich, but when an elected official, who serves at the will of the people, albeit “in the minority party et al” evades accountability, the people can’t be mad and the media can try to find out the truth?? We have a right to more information. He is NOT a private citizen. After all of the rumour-mongering, guilty before trial baloney that went on regarding the Blagojevich drama, this stance is hugely hypocritical. What, does Jackson have something on everybody? He deserves the same respect he is giving his constituents - nada right now. This is PR / crisis communications 101 - - i.e. what not to do.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 4:21 pm:
===the people can’t be mad and the media can try to find out the truth?===
Sure they can be mad and sure the media can try to find out the truth. Where did I say they can’t? Perspective, however, is required here. Something you apparently know nothing about.
- Adam Smith - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 4:29 pm:
Geez, Wordslinger, for someone who posts here a lot you seem to be unaware of the concept of “snark.”
JJJ is not just the guy next door. He’s a public figure and his fitness to serve is fair game.
Sorry you think I’m being mean to poor little JJJ but I suggest you grow a pair.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 4:31 pm:
===What, does Jackson have something on everybody?===
You’re an idiot. Bite me. Goodbye.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 4:44 pm:
@Adam Smith -
Unless there’s some evidence that JJJ’s “fitness to serve” has been impacted by his medical condition, other than the fact that he exercised his legally protected right to seek medical treatment, i’m not sure what “fitness” question we’re debating.
Contrast that with Rod, who was intermittently diagnosed from afar with meglomania which many argued impacted his job performance.
Prior to his medical leave, i dont really think anyone question Jackson’s “fitness” for health-delated reasons.