Editorial: Somebody brought it on

Editorial: Somebody brought it on
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
6:20 p.m. CDT, September 22, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-jesse-20100922,0,3918464.story


What we know about Jesse Jackson Jr.: That a businessman told federal authorities Jackson asked him to raise millions of dollars for Rod Blagojevich in an effort to barter an appointment to the U.S. Senate. That the businessman told authorities he paid to fly a "social acquaintance" of Jackson's to Chicago. That Jackson vehemently denies he made any effort to secure the Senate seat by showering money on Blagojevich. That if prosecutors have any evidence, Jackson said on the radio Friday, they should "bring it on."

What we don't know about Jesse Jackson Jr.: If he's telling the truth.

Oh, there are a couple of other things we know about Jesse Jackson Jr.

We know that he has not been accused, he has not been indicted, he has not been convicted of anything.

We also know that he has enough bravado to fill a house. It was certainly on display Friday, with that challenge to prosecutors to "bring it on." Four days later, in Tuesday's Sun-Times, somebody brought it on: The allegations reported in that story are breathtaking.

So now there are a lot of calls for Jackson to talk, to explain, to be more forthcoming about what happened in his dealings with businessman Raghuveer Nayak. But Jackson has already said that he didn't try to orchestrate a campaign-cash-for-the-Senate-seat deal. He has, in essence, said that if Nayak told investigators that, Nayak lied.

Jackson has to stick to that story … or admit culpability to a crime.

Whatever happened between Jackson and the "social acquaintance," a hostess at Ozio Restaurant & Lounge in Washington, is, indeed, his family's business. Unless he really did have his friend and campaign supporter pay to fly her to Chicago; then it's likely the business of the House ethics committee.

Not that anyone should count on the ethics committee to be a quick and final arbiter of this whole mess. A year ago, the ethics committee put an investigation of Jackson on hold at the request of the Justice Department, which didn't want congressional busybodies tromping all over the trial of Blagojevich. Even if the committee does resume its scrutiny of Jackson after Blagojevich's second trial, the committee is notoriously plodding in its investigations of House members.

So what are Jackson's constituents supposed to do? There doesn't seem to be a lot of sympathy for him emanating from the 2nd Congressional District. Perhaps some voters will try to learn about Isaac Hayes and Anthony Williams. Hayes is the Republican candidate against Jackson in the Nov. 2 election; Williams is the Green Party candidate.

Jackson got 89 percent of the vote the last time he ran.

He has a safe seat. You would think.