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Sandi Jackson won the 7th Ward race with troops and funds from organized labor, and in the last couple of weeks her husband, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., has started working for union-backed candidates Bob Fioretti in the 2nd Ward, Pat Dowell in the 3rd Ward, and Joe Moore in the 49th. But in the south side's 21st Ward the Jacksons and union workers are on opposing sides of a runoff battle.

Challenger Leroy Jones Jr., an SEIU official, received more than $200,000 in union support before the first round of balloting and has gotten thousands more since, though according to campaign records the pace of labor's giving has slowed down. He's trying to unseat alderman Howard Brookins Jr., who alienated organized labor by courting Wal-Mart and voting against the big-box minimum-wage ordinance.

Congressman Jackson, who spoke out in favor of the ordinance last year, said over the weekend that he wanted to see Moore and other union candidates elected to "buttress" his wife and other "progressives" in the City Council. 

But Jackson is an old friend of Brookins's, and he reaffirmed his support of the alderman minutes after endorsing Moore to the cheers and chants of dozens of union members.

"My [union] allies had tried to convince me to support Jones," Jackson said. "But I've known Howard Brookins all my life. . . . I'm not going to lose my friendship with him over a political issue."

Jackson said Brookins was in real trouble in parts of his ward. "But he's a grown man," Jackson said. "He has to go out and do it."



Images:


 
Comments
(please read our policy)
Orion
April 3rd - 5:52 p.m.
Typical Jackson hypocrite BS.

Jackson sold his soul to the Unions for helping his wife win and now he has to payback, but cannot do that 100% with the weaseling out in the 21st ward race.

Jackson wants everyone to forget that while he was just out of school, trying to "find himself" (law school, divinity school, etc) he was on the payroll of the Hotel Workers union in a no-show job at $50K per year (good scratch in those days).

The Jacksons are out for the Jacksons and anyone else be damned.
Noah Robinson
April 3rd - 5:53 p.m.
Sandy won in spite of her husband and not because of him.
Certainly, he raised a lot of money.
BUT exit polls indicated that there was a backlash against Darciel Beavers in the way she was appointed, the Todd Stroger budget cuts and the arrogance.

Jesse Jackson Jr. is a real questionable type of person.
Chicago Tonight
April 3rd - 5:55 p.m.
Saw the segment with Brookins and Jones Jr. and found it relatively mild.

Jones Jr. made a few points, Brookins made a few points and no blood was shed.

Refreshing.

Now, if only the ward had the following:

Full voter registration / participation, (or as close to it as humanly possible).

Informed residents capable of understanding the issues and all the implications of same.

A record turnout on April 17th.

Then, whoever proves to be the winner, we'd at least have the satisfaction of knowing that as close to all the people have truly spoken.
Harold
April 3rd - 6:44 p.m.
Jesse Jr is hated in DC and does nothing.

Jesse Jr is a showhorse not a workhorse.
or
April 3rd - 6:51 p.m.
Or, perhaps, the ass end of a mule?
Sam
April 3rd - 7:18 p.m.
Jesse Jr is selling out and playing the unions
They are in debt in the unions
and supporting candidates the members do not want
Paison
April 3rd - 9:14 p.m.
There is a tape of Jesse Jackson Jr using a racial slur against Italian Americans--how come the media has not called him out on this?
orion
April 4th - 9:37 a.m.
Piasano:

Because Frank Coconutty keeps bringing it up.


Chicago Tonight:
Take your canned responses about voter participation elsewhere. The 21st routinely has among the highest turnout numbers in the city.


Jesse Jr. is a tree shaker, not a leaf raker.
Like many legacies, if his last name was "Smith" he would be lucky to get a job in a toll booth.

Dominick
April 4th - 1:38 p.m.
Regardless of who brings it up.
It is the racial slur that matters.
If this were another elected official it would be front page news and there would be calls for resignation.

Jackson should not be able to get away with making racist comments.
The media is very bad on this.
Being anti-Italian is not justified.
Sarlo
April 4th - 5:32 p.m.
Jackson is a racist pure and simple.
He should be condemned.
re: orion
April 4th - 7:18 p.m.
This guy posts wherever and whenever.
Always the same shit, stirring up conflict from both sides of the fence. Must be the only way he/she gets off.
orion
April 4th - 10:10 p.m.
and you keep reading and commenting on it so there must be a splash guard on your keyboard.
re: orion
April 4th - 10:43 p.m.
You know you love the attention, just admit it.
Big Dipper
April 5th - 7:43 a.m.
Jesse James Jackson Jr also loves the attention.
BUT he loves the money more.
Kenny
April 5th - 8 p.m.
Jesse Jackson only takes credit for his wins but not his losses.

Like Lewis Powell for Water Reclamation.
or
Andre for Judge
or his 2 losing County Commissioner candidates who lost with his photos against Sims.
like not endorsing John Stroger and being with the losing Forest Claypool.
Never supporting Hispanic candidates although extorting support in the close appellate court race.

In the last aldermanic race
2ND WARD KENNY JOHNSON LOST BIG
with the Jackson photo all over including other wards
DENISE DIXON IN THE 15TH WARD
LOST BIG
NOT EVEN RUNOFFS

Suburban races have kept many Shaw allies alive because of the stupidity and arrogance of the Jacksons just ask locals like Frank Zucarelli.

Jackson extorts money from these candidates, foreces them to use his pollsters, buy billboards promoting his image including in areas it does not help, and his photo and photographers--it is a business to Jackson.
Jackosn loves to take credit for things he had little do with like
Obama or Alexi Gunulias.

Jackson is a spoiled arrogant lying hypocritcal punk.
Daley would of destroyed him and all his dirt would of come out.
Niles
April 5th - 8:14 p.m.
Jackson's support for Brookins may lose him the election.
Omar
April 5th - 8:14 p.m.
Rainbow PUSH
PUSH
Pimps
United
to
Save
Hustlers
Bobby G
April 5th - 8:50 p.m.
Congressman Jesse Jackson let a lot of people down, people went out on a limb to support him for mayor and in the end they were all played by Jesse Jr. He and Senator/Rev. Meeks disrespect of Dorothy Brown is unforgivable.
Orion
April 6th - 10:51 a.m.
Junior is trying to support candidates in the hope that his wife will not be spiting into the wind during City Council meetings without any allies.

If any of these people he supports wins, they will form a "Jr." caucus of sorts against the machine.

Jr. had better hope he pulls this out because he is up for election in February and he has made a lot of the locals upset. Whereas he has usually token opposition in elections, all of the Aldermen that are also committeemen that he has crossed could come back to bite him in the butt and at least make him spend some money on his own campaign.
Unity
April 6th - 1:32 p.m.
Jesse Jackson, Jr. is out for himself and does not care who gets trashed or removed. He that remembers, first you and then me is the wisest. If you go against friends secretly and publicly give them enough pats on the back to keep them calm. You will others in the same manner. Jesse is just like his father just younger and a better speaker.
ORION
April 6th - 3:02 p.m.
Please grammar/spell check your post and resubmit.

There are some parts there that are not understandable.
translation
April 6th - 3:41 p.m.
"Jesse Jackson, Jr. is out for himself and does not care who gets trashed or removed. He that remembers, first you and then me is the wisest. If you go against friends secretly and publicly give them enough pats on the back to keep them calm. You will others in the same manner. Jesse is just like his father just younger and a better speaker."

translation:

Jesse Jackson Jr. is a natural politician, a shining example of the political animal.

If you, the reader, can remember
what I, the writer, do remember, we shall both be the wiser.

A genuine political animal, such as Jesse Jackson Jr., will consistently act, secretly, to harm his/her 'friends', while publicly giving the appearance of helping them, soothing and placating his 'friends' whenever they express doubts about his actions.

How a politician treats his/her 'friends' is an indication of how a politician will likely treat others, namely, his/her constituents.

Jesse Jackson Jr. has learned to be as his father has been, and, in the opinion of this writer, is a younger and more accomplished version of same.

and

"There are some parts there that are not understandable."

translation:

I, the writer, orion, am too lazy and much too arrogant.

I, the writer, orion, believe that I am smarter than the average bear and that I rock.

I, the writer, orion, enjoy mocking anyone who I deem is not as smart as me, educated as me, intelligent as me and/or thinks like me, which is essentially everyone, living or dead, from the beginning of time and on into the infinite future.

I, THE WRITER, ORION, RULE!!!!!
Jesse Sr (the Reverend)
April 6th - 5:45 p.m.
Jesse Jr, are you with that idiot Vincent Fry again
WHAT DID I TELL YOU GET OFF THE BOARD!!!
Stop your scizo postings and self hate.
I rule still youngblood.
Come back out of the computer room before I give you a South Carolina whuppin
awww..
April 6th - 7:15 p.m.
Awwww, dad, can't I have some fun, all by myself?

Just this once!!!!????
Nigerian Ballahs and Shot callers
April 7th - 5:18 p.m.
The Reader investigative journalists, should look into the the relationship between mob union guy HANLEY and the Jackson family
and the ONLY real job Jesse Jr had exploiting real workers
Wha??
April 7th - 6:31 p.m.
Waht, you want deese guys to get wacked?
Frank Coconate
April 14th - 10:30 a.m.
JR,
When I was with you, the people of Chicago sort of liked you. I packaged you the right way! Now, you'll have to spend millions of dollars to get you in the same position I had you in the first place! Your endoresements carry no wieght because you have lost that edge of having BALLS to stand up to Daley....your not a black leader or white leader.......your YELLOW!
Presenting .... the 'orion' collection
April 25th - 11:07 p.m.

'orion' comments on 'Crosscurrents' by Mick Dumke on April 3rd

"Orion
April 3rd - 5:52 p.m.
Typical Jackson hypocrite BS.

Jackson sold his soul to the Unions for helping his wife win and now he has to payback, but cannot do that 100% with the weaseling out in the 21st ward race.

Jackson wants everyone to forget that while he was just out of school, trying to "find himself" (law school, divinity school, etc) he was on the payroll of the Hotel Workers union in a no-show job at $50K per year (good scratch in those days).

The Jacksons are out for the Jacksons and anyone else be damned."

and

"orion
April 4th - 9:37 a.m.
Piasano:

Because Frank Coconutty keeps bringing it up.


Chicago Tonight:
Take your canned responses about voter participation elsewhere. The 21st routinely has among the highest turnout numbers in the city.


Jesse Jr. is a tree shaker, not a leaf raker.
Like many legacies, if his last name was "Smith" he would be lucky to get a job in a toll booth."

and

"orion
April 4th - 10:10 p.m.
and you keep reading and commenting on it so there must be a splash guard on your keyboard."

and

"Orion
April 6th - 10:51 a.m.
Junior is trying to support candidates in the hope that his wife will not be spiting into the wind during City Council meetings without any allies.

If any of these people he supports wins, they will form a "Jr." caucus of sorts against the machine.

Jr. had better hope he pulls this out because he is up for election in February and he has made a lot of the locals upset. Whereas he has usually token opposition in elections, all of the Aldermen that are also committeemen that he has crossed could come back to bite him in the butt and at least make him spend some money on his own campaign."

and

"ORION
April 6th - 3:02 p.m.
Please grammar/spell check your post and resubmit.

There are some parts there that are not understandable."


Thus concludes the 'orion' comments on this article.

See individual article comments for the further adventures of your hero and mine, the ever enthusiastic ...... 'orion'.



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