Woodworth: 'We Need to Hear from Jackson'

It has been several months now since 2nd Congressional District Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. .

His pursuits were initially reported to have taken him to rehab in Arizona, but . Congressman Jackson has yet to personally offer any formal comments on his condition. Instead, he’s relied on others such as wife Alderman Sandi Jackson and father Rev. Jesse Jackson to publically communicate—detail by small detail.

, we discussed the response strategy of Republican Brian Woodworth. At the time, Woodworth was abstaining from expressing any criticism of Congressman Jackson in response to his sudden health crisis. Now, that seems to have changed.

Woodworth’s office issued a press release on Aug. 8 in which Woodworth claims he is fed up with hearing status updates on Congressman Jackson through “surrogates.” Woodworth continues:

Surely the person collecting the paycheck, with a great healthcare plan and benefits, should be the one calling these mayors and assuring the public which Congressman Jackson represents. The examples here are former Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Gifford and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. Both displayed their enervative conditions in YouTube videos; why can’t the Congressman do likewise? Something is truly rotten in the 2nd Congressional District.

Therefore, if the Congressman feels he is ready to campaign, I say he needs to engage in a public debate in order to demonstrate he is capable of being about the people’s business. Personally, I don’t think he could stomach it. 

Congressman Jackson has yet to offer an official response to Woodworth’s statements.

Do you think Woodworth’s last line, “Personally, I don’t think he could stomach it,” is an insensitive low blow or is this a necessary reality check?

Tell us what you think in the comments.