CHICAGO TRIBUNE: …Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the civil rights leader’s son who once dreamed of becoming mayor or senator, and his wife, former 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, were tripped up by a taste for luxury that was bankrolled with $750,000 from campaign funds.
On their day of reckoning, the Jacksons brought up a host of personal struggles in an effort to inspire sympathy: his reported mental illness, her series of miscarriages, the plight of their two children if they lost their mother to prison.
In the end, the former congressman got 30 months in federal prison and could end up serving about five months less if he behaves behind bars. The former alderman got a year and stands to serve it all… (more)
EDITOR: Such a human tragedy. Many liberals looked to Jackson, Jr. as a future national leader. He already had become an impressive spokesperson for their causes. We especially feel sorry for his father, a towering figure in his time who was a serious candidate for the presidency before most of us heard of Barack Obama.
Many years ago I walked out side of a hotel and saw Jackson, Sr. standing by himself, apparently deep in thought. I could sense a field of privacy that radiated from Rev. Jackson. Such it is with some leaders.
