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Jackson says he’s “not well,” not much else

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* The Daily caught up with Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and snagged a brief interview…

Jackson told The Daily that he is “not well” and has doctor’s appointments twice a day at George Washington University Hospital, not far from his home in the trendy DuPont Circle neighborhood: “I go over there … at 10 [a.m.] and 1 p.m.”

But he didn’t say much else…

Jackson didn’t address the allegation that he misused money from his supporters — to decorate his home.

* The publication did apparently confirm that Jackson went out on the town the other night, but it didn’t seem like a big deal…

Jesse Jackson Jr. showed up at the Bier Baron Tavern last Tuesday and Wednesday, the first time he had been seen in a public place since going on leave.

Jackson caught the attention of both patrons and the staff. A server who would identify himself only as “Frank” told The Daily that Jackson was with a group that included both men and women.

“He was here. He was drinking. He was with other people,” Frank said. “I personally didn’t serve his table.”

Some commenters wondered why I didn’t post that breathless and oddly sourced Gawker story yesterday. Well, there you have it.

Speaking of which, WaPo quoting Frank Coconate on J3 is a bit much, considering.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:41 am

Comments

Golly it must be Halloween. HAve not seen Frank the CocoNut name in print for a long time. A big fav of Tom Roeser - may he rest in piece - Frank was a big part of the CFS…like Cal Skinner.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:47 am
The Daily apparently caught Jackson sitting on the front stoop of his home smoking a cigar. It didn’t say whether he was dressed in his pajamas and robe, unshaven, with a Mac McMurphy grin on his face, but that’s the picture that appeared in my head when I read it.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:52 am
those cigars apparently go for $12 a pop. tough times in the jackson household.

Comment by Shore Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:58 am
deserved or not, gotta feel sorry for the dude. a p***ed off wife, and the G ready to indict. Life aint good for Jr.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:58 am
–“He was here. He was drinking. He was with other people,” Frank said. “I personally didn’t serve his table.”–

Now it’s a story. But it’s also quite different than what the Gawker was alleging.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:59 am
==gotta feel sorry for the dude==

Um, no, I don’t.

Someone well enough to socialize still can’t communicate with his own constituents?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:02 pm
why communicate with your constituents when you know the HAMMER is coming down and your leaving for 18-24 months..REALLY?? Do you think Jr is thinking about his constituents??

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:17 pm
==gotta feel sorry for the dude==

Me either. Chickens coming home to roost.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:24 pm
==why communicate with your constituents when you know the HAMMER is coming down and your leaving for 18-24 months..REALLY?? Do you think Jr is thinking about his constituents??==

Then why is he running? If he’s not thinking about his constituents he should drop out of the race…or better yet resign.

Comment by Chucky Jay Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:30 pm
JR. needs the monthly check.. doing the right thing has never been that family’s trait. Are you all that innocent? Always thought Rich’s readers understood the reality of Illinois politics

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:43 pm
==Are you all that innocent? Always thought Rich’s readers understood the reality of Illinois politics==

Never said I thought he would. Only that he SHOULD. Of course he won’t - that’s not the way it’s done around these parts.

Comment by Chucky Jay Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:45 pm
Not much is adding up as far as Jesse Jr. goes.

The sale of his home because of medical bills? Congressmen have some of the best Health Insurance in the country…

Drinking when you have psyc problems, aren’t most medications used in treating such disorders state not to use alcohol with them?

As time goes on we will find out the real reasons. But not much is adding up in the meantime.

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Nativev Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:58 pm
For the record Frank Coconate blew the whistle on the corrupt rain blockers program with the city, it was like a 50 million dollar plus B.S. contract for a pal of Mayor Daley,He want on TV with Walter Jacobson, Coconate later had a rally for Jesse Jackson Jr on the northwest side, Coconate was targeted by Daley and fired. Coconate is one of the good guys.

Comment by Reform Ready Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:08 pm
==why communicate with your constituents==

Because you’re up for re-election? The reality of Illinois politics notwithstanding.

BTW, the 12:02 pm post was mine.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:15 pm
There was a great article in the Sun-Times today
by Mary Mitchell headlined UNACCEPTABLE!

He sure has done very little to help his District.

Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:15 pm
Oh c’mon! Asking how this affects JJJ’s wife is a perfectly valid and reasonable point to raise.

Comment by Brendan Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:25 pm
Reform Ready - Rain blockers was a succesfull program. It came in ahead of schedule and underbudget. The big media scoops were showing replacements and acting like they were never installed and claiming it had caused flooding where they weren’t even installed.
Did they eliminate basement flooding - No, but they reduced it by a substantial amount.

Comment by springfield native Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:31 pm
He’s not well ? This is all a ruse to avoid the pokey.

Comment by Heh Heh Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 2:16 pm
After Gus Savage, Mel Reynolds and Jackson, what if voters decided to just elect a real jackass, instead of the political equivalents?

There has to be someone available to represent the second district that isn’t a monomaniacal fool, is there?

What’s Dorothy Tillman doing these days?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 3:03 pm
–The sale of his home because of medical bills? Congressmen have some of the best Health Insurance in the country…–

Congressmen, as well as federal employees, cabinet members, the president, etc., choose from among a menu of private insurance plans, with a range of costs and coverage.

It’s like the brilliant plan Gov. Romney passed in Massachusetts and Pres. Obama pushed through Congress for the country.

But in some weirdo circles, private-sector choice is communism.

I just hope they didn’t all go to Illinois schools.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 6:50 pm
–After Gus Savage, Mel Reynolds and Jackson, what if voters decided to just elect a real jackass–

Dude, your time has come.

Some are born to jack-assery. Some have jack-assery thrust upon them.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 6:54 pm
I would love to see some of the kung fu moves, come on back, we don’t bite.

Comment by Halsted Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 12:00 am