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.
Yeah, Condoleezza Rice and Oprah Winfrey have each banged their heads on that old glass ceiling.
"I think she may be a Republican."
Hahahahaha!
Can you imagine Jesse Jackson reading this....
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It's all very simple, she and her illegitimate aunt are about the same age.
"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."
I'm glad to hear that (at least so far) he's not politically indoctrinating/corrupting his daughter.
"She applauded every time the president talked about his tax cuts," Jackson laughed.
"I think she may be a Republican."
Could very well happen that she turns out Republican. It often happens that the most conservative parents have liberal children (my biggest fear with my daughter) and the most whacked-out liberal parents have very conservative children......
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