Posted by
Juliana Johnson on Friday, December 12, 2008 12:30:54 PM
Is there nothing sadder than the loss of innocence?
Some of us
lose it upon learning there is no Santa Claus. For others it
accompanies the death of a close friend or forlorn love.
For
43-year-old Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., aka "Senate Candidate 5",
loss of innocence came earlier this week when he discovered that there
is something called "pay-to-play" politics going on in Illinois.
Watching
his press conference on Wednesday was difficult. Something in me died
that day as I watched a plucky, young, silly heart thrust in front of
the callous media glare that had served him so well up until that point.
In
his closing on Wednesday, Jesse Jr. recounted a poignant story. It was
a story of a Cocker Spaniel named "Checkers". No, wait, that was Nixon.
Jesse Jr.'s story was about his "little sister" who had texted him that
very morning, and that text read, "Jesse Jr., I'm proud of you." That
came from his baby sister. She is only 33-years old. How do you begin
to explain something like this to a frightened 33-year-old. I only hope
Jesse Jr. can find the words when she asks him if there is still going
to be a Christmas this year.
For what does Jesse Jr. know of the evil that lies in the heart of men like Rod Blagojevich?
It
is not as if, I don't know, Jackson's father had spent a lifetime
accruing personal wealth running shakedown rackets like those the
governor is alleged to have run.
Just as his brothers acquired
Chicago's River North Budweiser distributorship based on merit, Jesse
Jr. thought he might become a U.S. Senator because of his credentials.
Jesse
Jr. is about public service. How do I know this? Because he said so.
How was he to know his "hard work" meant nothing to this governor?
After 13 years as a congressman from Illinois, how could he be unaware of this state's political culture, some might ask.
To
those who would ask such questions, I say simply, Jesse Jr. is not
taking questions at this time so please refer your inquiries to his
criminal defense attorney.