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Let's Talk About Jesse Jackson Jr.

Do you know where your congressman is?

Since June 25, when his office released news that , the congressman's life has been under even more scrutiny than before.

It's been a busy year for Jackson. Accused Blagojevich connections, primary elections and now a mood disorder have all pushed his political career against the ropes, with many calling this his darkest hour.

This medical business raises a sour note with some, partly because of the late notification about our United States representative's absence. Jackson's office released the statement more than two weeks after the congressman disappeared from public view. 

The situation only got more strange when NBC reported that Jackson was being treated for an alcohol addiction in Arizona, only to be corrected by Jackson's office, who said he was being .

"Mood disorder" can mean a lot of things, according to the Washington Post, and they're all disconcerting since we're talking about a person elected to represent thousands of people.

With some (once again) calling for Jackson to resign, only time will tell what's going on with the congressman. 

What do you think is up with Jesse? He's been in his position for a long time. Would you forgive a stress-induced hiatus? Is it more serious than that? Is something awry with the congressman?

Let's talk about it in the comments.

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Brad Jackson July 17, 2012 at 11:40 am
Very easy to fix this on election day!
Deets58 July 17, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Why can a political person take off work for over a month without a reason and still get paid at the taxpayer's expense? There is no way this could happen it the working class business environment. This is just not fair.
minnie ha ha July 17, 2012 at 12:14 pm
No easy fix on election day. dtmfa with an alternative, debating candidates beholden to their constituants, instead of beholden to party hacks or corporate interests or can we say ethnics who vote color, not qualifications? . Who would fit this criteria, who do you trust? JC would not qualify
Brad Jackson July 17, 2012 at 02:29 pm
Just vote the Republican candidate for a change, Brian Woodworth....unless you want JJ JR to represent you from prison. But be careful, Brian is not only a Republican, he is also a Euro -American.
Linda T July 17, 2012 at 02:42 pm
Contrary to what some of the media is saying (nothing's getting done anyway because of the election cycle,) important decisions are being made, including stuff like the farm bill and agriculture funding, among others. I feel our representative owes us an honest explanation of why he is not there representing his constituents. This is even more of an issue, considering one of our senators is also away for medical reasons. At least in that case information has been forthcoming. I'm not mentioning this as a party loyalist, just as a matter of fact. I'm an independent thinker and agree and disagree with party platforms on both sides of the aisle. Whatever the future holds for Mr. Jackson and our district, he owes an explanation for why he's not doing what he was elected to do.
lucille July 17, 2012 at 02:56 pm
If this wasn't Jesse Jackson Jr. who is supposedly in treatment for exhaustion, can you imagine what Jesse Jackson Sr. would say about this. He'd be all over it and demanding an explanation to the public.
Sarah A July 17, 2012 at 03:38 pm
Where is Sen. Kirk? Does what hospital someone is in really matter?
Cfoam July 17, 2012 at 04:02 pm
What's the saying? "No taxation without representation" .... Not like any of these politicians prioritize actually representing the Citizens of this country and state - that is their last priority. Do you think Jessies condition has anything to do with his confidant/buddie getting in trouble? Just like our past Governor was stressed out over his buddie Rezko,.." his friend was arrested a few weeks ago on unrelated federal fraud charges" Turn states evidence to get a lesser conviction anyone?
Citizen July 17, 2012 at 04:09 pm
If I was going to possibly spend 14 years in prison I would be in a depression also.
Phillip R Baggs July 17, 2012 at 05:51 pm
Brad,
What planet are you on? This is Cook County. Jesse and Bobby both received over 80% of the vote. If he goes to jail, you will be getting Congresswoman Sandi Jackson.
Juvenal July 17, 2012 at 05:54 pm
Here is a guy who barely made it out of a fourth rate college, somehow ends up in law school but never passes the bar, and never worked a day in his life except at a job his daddy got for him. He speaks in faux articulate soundbites, but has nothing to say. His politics are so far left that he has even described his own effectiveness as that of "a one legged man at an ass kicking contest." He had a pretty good attendance ad voting record until recently -- easy since he is a life-long DC resident ( his kids go to school in DC and he is a graduate of elite St. Alban's School) and doesn't have the burden of commuting to his "home district." He has never conceived of a single major piece of legislation and his "third airport" remains a sun-parched cornfield. Shall I continue??????
TobyG July 17, 2012 at 06:45 pm
Now come on everybody!!! We don't want JJ jr. to get more disappointed. As you know, that is what Mommy told the Sun Times is the problem. He's disappointed that he didn't become senator or mayor. Boo Hoo. "He just can't handle it like Mommy and Daddy can", she says. What a line of BS. Hopefully, maybe this will be the end of the Jackson era. Mrs. Jackson, he's not disappointed - He's scared he might be rooming with Blago and he should be.
Debbie Hart July 17, 2012 at 07:46 pm
JJJ will win and after the election he'll resign and his wife will be named to his seat. C'mon people, the story is already written.
Kassie July 17, 2012 at 09:04 pm
I find it interesting that people are up in arms as to where JJJ is? No one is asking where Mark Kirk is or when he will be back to congress. If he is in treatment, he has the right to privacy. He is on a medical leave of absence and that is legal. Why the double standard?
Albert July 17, 2012 at 09:18 pm
Are you serious? Do you know who we are talking about here?
Albert July 17, 2012 at 09:21 pm
Plus she butchered one of my favorite hymns.
Diana July 17, 2012 at 11:36 pm
When will politicians learn that the public is much more forgiving when hey are honest and forthright than when they shade things and put up smokescreens?
If indeed Mr. Jackson has health issues, then say so and people will be understanding and things will fall as they fall. It is when their "people" give us a lot of hooey that we tend to become cynical and angry. I agree, if this were someone else the good Reverend Jackson and his backers would all be up in arms demanding explanations. Where are these explanations now? As for JJ having the right to privacy...one gives that up when they enter into politics, become media mongers such as athletes and performers, and spend their lives in the limelight. You can't have it one way - only getting the attention when you want it. I am sorry that JJ is having alcohol problems or a mood disorder. A lot of people suffer from one or the other and if he indeed has either, he could show hope to others fighting these problems if he were honest about it.
Thomas Rickhoff July 18, 2012 at 11:51 pm
There needs to be a Constitutional amendment that would allow Congressman/Senators to transfer their duties to someone temporarily if they become disabled or otherwise unable to serve. It was done so for the President in 1967 (the 25th Amendment) after so many were getting shot/dying from disease.
Sarah A July 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
Yup! We need to do something to recognize that this kind of thing happens, but there should be some rules for who can take on these duties. I assume that ya'll remember the Strogers
babyboomer July 19, 2012 at 01:54 pm
Come on people, unless you get out of that crooked Cook County voting, things will forever remain the same. How do you think the whole state of Illinois got stuck with Quinn, a really poor excuse for a governor? Start thinking out of the Democratic Box. Its the only way this state will ever get solvent
Linda T July 20, 2012 at 11:20 am
Kirk has been forthcoming with information. There's no need to ask where he is because he has been telling us. I'm not saying this because I'm a party loyalist because I'm not - I'm independent, and lean more democrat than republican. Kirk, and his office have been providing updates regularly on his status and progress from day one. They both have the right to privacy, to a certain extent. As public figures put in office by the electorate, they are beholden to us and we are owed a certain amount of information if they are, for whatever reasons, unable to perform the duties we elected them for. Jackson is MIA. Kirk is recovering at home and receiving rehab at the Rehabilitation Institute in Chicago. Sign up for email updates from both of them or google press releases. The reason 'no one' is asking where Kirk is, is because he has been providing updates all along. Initially, when he was incapacitated, his office provided updates.
Mary July 20, 2012 at 01:22 pm
I've talked to Rep. Jackson on several occasions about issues that are important to me and my family and found him to be accessible, intelligent, articulate and concerned. His voting record lines up with my own political convictions. I've been very happy with him as my representative, unlike most of the other commenters here.
I do think he owes his constituents an explanation of what is going on. Since there is a stigma associated with mental health issues, it is my guess that that is the problem. Attack away, rabid conservatives.
babyboomer July 20, 2012 at 03:51 pm
There is no stigma on mental health issues. There is a stigma on scamming the public into believing that there are mental health issues. I think the only issue here is that Jr believes he is in deep do do for all the bribing he has done.
Rich bostrom July 21, 2012 at 07:53 pm
congressman Jackson has the responsibly to inform us on his medical condition.if he feels that he doesn't have to he should step down be fore the election if not we as voters have the responsibly too vote him out on election day

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