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What Jesse Jackson Jr. meant to politics
Washington Post ^ | Aug 15, 2013 | Sean Sullivan

Posted on 08/15/2013 12:04:17 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison Wednesday, the closing chapter in the story of a pol who rapidly ascended the political ladder only to fall quickly and dramatically from public grace.

His story is a reminder of how quickly everything can come crashing down in politics. And the bigger you are, the harder you fall.

It wasn’t that long ago that the political world was abuzz with chatter about the heights that Jackson might reach in his career. He is, after all, the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights icon. And he was elected to the House in a 1995 special election at just 30.

His future once looked pretty bright. There was talk over the years that Jackson might one day run for mayor of Chicago, governor of Illinois, or for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He is a natural public speaker who built a liberal record in the House that could have served as the backbone of a bid for higher office. He even landed a plum speaking spot at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

But things started taking a turn for the worse in recent years. He became ensnared in the scandal over a Senate seat involving Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). And an extramarital affair he was having spilled into public view But it was all nothing compared to the revelation that he spent about $750,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses, the crime that punched Jackson’s ticket to prison.

There’s a lesson here for pols who are considering engaging in similar behavior...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: 113th; cbc; corruptdems; corruption; cultureofcorruption; democrats; elections; jessejackson; jjj

1 posted on 08/15/2013 12:04:17 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

He’ll be back. Just like Marion Berry.


2 posted on 08/15/2013 12:04:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: Jim Robinson
From NBC Chicago: Jesse and Budweiser.
3 posted on 08/15/2013 12:07:42 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: Jim Robinson
He became ensnared in the scandal over a Senate seat involving Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). And an extramarital affair he was having spilled into public view But it was all nothing compared to the revelation that he spent about $750,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses, the crime that punched Jackson’s ticket to prison.

I got ensnared, Dad. Standing there one minute, minding my own business, doing what was right for The People, and the next minute I'm all ensnared!

Then, the next thing you know, my booty call spilled out into public view!

Just goes to show you, a black man just can't get ahead in Amerikkka. One way or the other, you gonna' get slapped down.

4 posted on 08/15/2013 12:09:56 PM PDT by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: Jim Robinson

What JJ means to politics....

In my view the end result of what you end up with corrupt one-party inner city politics. No oversight, no opposition, plenty of corruption, no accountability, not to mention nepotism, graft, cult of personality.

Mindless drones voting mindlessly to tax others for free stuff into their own community. And look what it breeds: A once great city on the verge of bankruptcy over-run by violent gangs, criminals, and drug dealers, with so many murders and and so much violence a virtual war zone where lawlessness, chaos, and anarchy reign supreme.

That is the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson and his family.


5 posted on 08/15/2013 12:11:14 PM PDT by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
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To: Steely Tom

Doncha just love the term, “civil rights icon?” More like civil rights shake-down artist.


6 posted on 08/15/2013 12:12:55 PM PDT by Catsrus
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To: Catsrus

Exactly. Operation PUSH(y)


7 posted on 08/15/2013 12:13:40 PM PDT by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
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To: Jim Robinson

There’s got to be more to this story than meets the eye.


8 posted on 08/15/2013 12:14:01 PM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: Catsrus
Yep. Race-pimpin' Mack Daddy bigot charlatan. One of the lowest forms of human life on the planet.

;-\

9 posted on 08/15/2013 12:17:52 PM PDT by Gargantua ("Da amber lamps. Bring dem..." LMFFAO!!!!)
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To: BenLurkin
He’ll be back. Just like Marion Berry.

Oh you know it - he'll be out within two years and the story of redemption is already being written

10 posted on 08/15/2013 12:20:14 PM PDT by capydick (''Life's tough.......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'')
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To: Jim Robinson
"He is, after all, the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights icon."

Civil rights icon, reverend, adulterer, anti-Semite, race-baiter, shake-down artist.
11 posted on 08/15/2013 12:32:32 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Jim Robinson

Was Jesse Jackson Jr. in politics , LOL I never noticed


12 posted on 08/15/2013 12:41:57 PM PDT by molson209 (Hillary Clinton)
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To: Jim Robinson

The question is.. What did Jesse learn at home?..
From his father... and his bitch.


13 posted on 08/15/2013 1:40:48 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: Jim Robinson

JJ Jr is nothing more than a well-dressed thief and grifter. Hand-wringing by libs of his self-inflicted downfall is ridiculous.


14 posted on 08/16/2013 4:52:53 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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