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3-year-old makes news at State of the Union (JUNIOR JESSE ALERT)
Daily Southtown (Chicago) ^ | Thursday, January 22, 2004 | Phil Kadner

Posted on 01/24/2004 11:16:20 AM PST by Chi-townChief

Five days before the president spoke to the nation, a decision was made that would significantly alter TV coverage of the State of the Union address.

Three-year-old Jessica Jackson decided she wanted to meet "President Boosh."

"Every time her mother drives by the Capitol building with Jessica in the car she points to it and says, 'That's where Daddy and President Bush work,' " said U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) of Chicago, also known as Jessica's father.

Jackson said his daughter told him five days before Tuesday's speech that she wanted to meet the president.

He agreed to take her.

"Then we begin this process that involves four hours of hair braiding, which is no small task," Jackson said.

"She cries all through it, but she knows she's going to meet 'President Boosh,' so she puts up with it. Every day she tells everyone in the house she's going to meet President Bush.

"Then she decides the day before she needs a new dress to meet the president. That's the one you saw her wearing on television."

On the day of the speech, House Speaker Dennis Hastert made an announcement to his fellow congressmen.

"At 11 a.m., he said no children would be allowed on the House floor. At 5 p.m., he again tells us that no children will be allowed on the House floor," Jackson said.

"I went up to the speaker and said Jessica Jackson has gone through some extraordinary measures to meet President George Bush, and you have no idea what's going on in my household.

"I'm prepared to take whatever sanctions you may want to impose, but my daughter's been waiting for this, and I can't tell her now that she's not going."

According to Jackson, the speaker of the House told him, "I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to look the other way."

Jackson explained that there are no seating assignments for members of Congress during the State of the Union address, so early in the day he found a chair along the main aisle.

"I placed my name on a piece of paper and left it there. But anybody could have removed it.

"So every few hours throughout the day, I would go back and check on it."

At 8:45 p.m. EST, 15 minutes before the president's speech was scheduled to begin, Jessica arrived via a one-car motorcade (her mother drove).

"That's about 15 minutes after her normal bedtime," the congressman said.

Were there concerns that an over-tired Jessica might disrupt the speech?

"She never cries at public events," Jackson said. "Never."

I wondered about Jessica's motives.

The congressman has been an ardent critic of the president's foreign and economic policies.

Was it possible that Jessica had been exposed to some exaggerated descriptions and — out of curiosity — had asked to see the president's horns and tail for herself?

"Not at all," Jackson said. "In fact, she has never heard me express my opinions of the president at home.

"Unlike some people in politics, I keep my professional and private lives very separate.

"I never take political disagreements personally."

So at 9 p.m. EST, the president was announced to the joint session of Congress, the members stood as one, and as Bush made his way up the aisle shaking hands left and right, he came upon the Jacksons.

He put out his hands, hugged Jessica and gave her a big fat smooch on the cheek.

The TV cameras caught the action and, throughout the one-hour speech, returned repeatedly to Jackson and his daughter.

"She applauded every time the president talked about his tax cuts," Jackson laughed.

"I think she may be a Republican."

Throughout the following day, playmates kept calling the Jackson home.

"She's booked solid with play dates for the next month," the congressman said.

On a more serious note, Jackson said he is well aware of the glass ceiling that prevents many women from rising beyond a certain point in their careers.

"I want my daughter to know that she can dream of doing anything," he said.

"She can be a congressman. She can become president of the United States."

On Wednesdays and Fridays, Jessica takes karate classes.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's ballet.

On Mondays and Saturdays, she attends gymnastics.

As for Jessica, "Her favorite politician today is President Bush," Jackson said.

One thing about the people she met did puzzle her, however.

"She wanted to know why so many of them seemed to have the same first name," Jackson said.

"Senator."

And Jessica, unlike many in the United States, didn't fall asleep until the president neared the end of his speech.

"I think it was the part about Iraq that did her in," Jackson said.

Phil Kadner may be reached at pkadner@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-6787.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: bush; inspirational; jessicajackson; sotu
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To: Aeronaut
Any news if grandpa is still breathing after the speech? I doubt he actually watched it. He doesn't seem interested in anything that doesn't focus on him, but I am sure he got a report on what happened.
21 posted on 01/24/2004 11:38:18 AM PST by FreeAtlanta
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To: Chi-townChief
On a more serious note, Jackson said he is well aware of the glass ceiling that prevents many women from rising beyond a certain point in their careers.

I thought they finally figured out that what prevents many women from rising beyond a certain point in their careers is that they take a couple of years off, or more, to focus on the more important things in life:

http://www.fww.org/famnews/1204c.htm
The researchers found that women put the brakes on their careers after their first child, regardless of their career status, men tended to scale back only after they had achieved an "acceptable level of flexibility and autonomy in their careers."

A family friend of ours got her law degree, but hasn't worked as an attorney in years, preferring to raise a happy, healthy, whip-smart brood of four delightful kids.

I mean, would anyone want to spend time at work if they didn't have to, when they could be spending time raising and teaching joyful children instead?

22 posted on 01/24/2004 11:40:41 AM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: Chi-townChief; BartMan1; Nailbiter
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one.

I'm going to play the cynic and suggest that Junior is looking out for his daughter's political career.

Remember the picture of Clinton and JFK?

23 posted on 01/24/2004 11:42:02 AM PST by IncPen ( The Liberal's reward is self-disgust.)
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To: mhking
I still can't understand why he's not running for a Senate seat he'd probably cake walk into. Makes no sense to me.
24 posted on 01/24/2004 11:45:04 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("Howard Dean is incontrovertible proof that God is on Bush's side in the 2004 election"- Dick Morris)
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To: mvpel
Oh you missed seeing this beautiful little girl. The President stopped, picked her up, and smooched her. A shining moment to be cherished.

I can only hope and pray that this man is telling the truth when he says he does not bring his political bombast home to his family.

25 posted on 01/24/2004 11:45:34 AM PST by OldFriend (Always understand, even if you remain among the few)
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To: Dog
As for Jessica, "Her favorite politician today is President Bush," Jackson said.

There's hope for the Jackson family .. *L*

She is a beautiful little girl

26 posted on 01/24/2004 11:48:41 AM PST by Mo1 (Join the dollar a day crowd now!)
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To: Chi-townChief
What I make of it is what an incredibly decent man our president is and how lucky we are to have him. I may not agree with all of his policies but then I don't have to. It has never been a mark of someones worth how much they agree with you.
I think America has been blessed that each time in history we have been challenged a great man has stepped up to the plate.
27 posted on 01/24/2004 11:50:53 AM PST by IrishCatholic (Liberals are proof that public education has failed.)
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To: Mo1
It is fun to imagine this little girl joining the Republican party and tormenting Jesse in his old age.
28 posted on 01/24/2004 11:50:53 AM PST by Dog ("America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our Country")
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To: IncPen
Yeah, but would Clinton have used that pic if it were Nixon and not JFK? It would be useful to Jessica if she ran as a Republican one day. Otherwise, it's not really useful.
29 posted on 01/24/2004 11:52:28 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("Howard Dean is incontrovertible proof that God is on Bush's side in the 2004 election"- Dick Morris)
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To: OldFriend
I don't think she'd like Bush if her Dad told her that he was the Devil all the time, so good for Jesse Jr.
30 posted on 01/24/2004 11:53:51 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("Howard Dean is incontrovertible proof that God is on Bush's side in the 2004 election"- Dick Morris)
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To: Cicero
If she is a smart kid, she most probably will become a Republican, even perhaps a conservative. Miracles have been known to happen even on the Jacksons.
31 posted on 01/24/2004 11:54:06 AM PST by desertcry
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To: Dog
There's a story here at FR that backs up a theory I've had for years-- that kids who grew up during Reagan's terms are more open to GOP beliefs and that Clinton's terms could have had the same effect, but didn't because of Monica. So, these kids will look fondly on their childhoods (as everyone does) and automatically view Bush fondly.
32 posted on 01/24/2004 11:58:12 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("Howard Dean is incontrovertible proof that God is on Bush's side in the 2004 election"- Dick Morris)
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To: Dog
It is fun to imagine this little girl joining the Republican party and tormenting Jesse in his old age.,

LOL ... Be Afraid Jesse .. be very afraid

33 posted on 01/24/2004 11:59:38 AM PST by Mo1 (Join the dollar a day crowd now!)
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To: GraniteStateConservative; Mo1
I believe I read that the 18-29 age group is one of the most conservative.
34 posted on 01/24/2004 12:02:03 PM PST by Dog ("America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our Country")
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To: Chi-townChief
She was decked out pretty good that little girl..
BUT she was asleep close to the end of the speech..
The cameras showed her... "contemplating" ...the Presidents speech..

Just before I fell off in my chair.. ugh.. to do the same..
(cough) very heavy speech... and I dreamed of Mexicans four abreast marching across the border crossings all named Juan or Juanita with work permits mailed by illegals here in the U.S. and border guards(INS) asleep in the guard shack with Sombreros pulled down over the faces with a sign on their chests reading wake me when its time for retirement...(and the tip bucket was overflowing with pesos)

And I woke up with a revelation.....
What if we had a new service like the Coast Guard called the LAND GUARD... with the same purpose(border patrol).?... course the Coast Guard is mainly now a rescue service and only intercepts drugs when a new boat is needed (RICO and all that)...

Naah!... that wouldn't work... too much money involved in chattel slavery.. drug payoffs and other corruptions,,,, looks like the mid-east's bribe-o-culture economy is rampant in the hills and dales of the new banana republic.. pity too... we had such a good start provided by the founding fathers.

Nice speech otherwise...

35 posted on 01/24/2004 12:11:33 PM PST by hosepipe
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To: Chi-townChief
OMG, President must be doing a lot of things right. Who would have thought his staunchest rival's granddaughter would give the president such a gift.

The critics say the president hasn't brought a new tone to Washington. He has for those future voters.
36 posted on 01/24/2004 12:16:26 PM PST by swheats
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To: Aeronaut; Cagey; SeeRushToldU_So
"My gwampa's a bwackmailer."

Oh Lord! That's one of the funniest things I've ever read!

37 posted on 01/24/2004 12:32:26 PM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (PA drivers: so bad they won't let an ambulance change lanes.......)
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To: Chi-townChief
The child may be a doll but I suspect an ulterior motive considering who the Father is. Daddy Rev. Jackson's name has been getting bad press lately due to the fact that the libs are no longer in control. Further, the numerous black leaders that were overshadowed by the Rev. due the bias liberal media are finally being heard and not suprisingly listened to. The Rev. is on his way out. I think Jr. used his kid as a prop for attention and some good press as well as to help distance himself from Daddy.
38 posted on 01/24/2004 12:35:36 PM PST by mindspy
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To: GraniteStateConservative
Yeah, but would Clinton have used that pic if it were Nixon and not JFK? It would be useful to Jessica if she ran as a Republican one day. Otherwise, it's not really useful.

Never underestimate the mind of a craven political beast.

At the very least, Jesse Jackass Junior got some national face time for his stunt.

39 posted on 01/24/2004 12:36:17 PM PST by IncPen ( The Liberal's reward is self-disgust.)
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To: Dog
She's a cute little girl. Speaking for me, I'd never subject myself to a 4 hour hair-braiding session with any 3 year old though.

Prairie
40 posted on 01/24/2004 12:46:14 PM PST by prairiebreeze (God Bless and Protect the Allied Troops. And the families here at home---they are soldiers too.)
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