Jesse Jackson Jr. to hold news conference @ 4:15 Eastern

[sabra]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/12/jesse-jackson-j.html

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., will hold a news conference at 4:15 p.m. ET in Washington to respond to allegations that he is one of the Senate hopefuls listed in a federal criminal complaint that accuses Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich of trying to sell the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

ABC News and MSNBC are quoting anonymous sources who say Jackson is the person identified as "Candidate 5" in court filings.

"It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers," Jackson tells ABC News. "An impossibility to an absolute certainty."

[David Dunham]

1. Jackson will not be Illinois' next senator

[Alhena]

3. His name carries too much baggage in southern Illinois regardless

I never thought he was a smart choice politically- the important thing is keeping this senate seat in Dem hands and he was never the best choice to do that, even before this broke.

[goodhue]

2. Keep in mind the relevant paragraphs of complaint

Here is text:

a. On December 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke to Advisor B and
informed Advisor B that he was giving Senate Candidate 5 greater consideration for the
Senate seat because, among other reasons, if ROD BLAGOJEVICH ran for re-election
Senate Candidate 5 would “raise[] money” for ROD BLAGOJEVICH, although ROD
BLAGOJEVICH said he might “get some (money) up front, maybe” from Senate Candidate
5 to insure Senate Candidate 5 kept his promise about raising money for ROD
BLAGOJEVICH. (In a recorded conversation on October 31, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH
described an earlier approach by an associate of Senate Candidate Five as follows: “We were
approached ‘pay to play.’ That, you know, he’d raise me 500 grand. An emissary came.
Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.”)

b. Later on December 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke to Fundraiser
A. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated he was “elevating” Senate Candidate 5 on the list of
candidates for the open Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated he might be able to cut
a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided ROD BLAGOJEVICH with something
“tangible up front.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH noted he was going to meet with Senate
Candidate 5 in the next few days. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to reach out to
Individual D, an individual who ROD BLAGOJEVICH is attempting to obtain campaign
contributions from and who, based on intercepted phone calls, ROD BLAGOJEVICH
believes to be close to Senate Candidate 5. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to tell
Individual D that Senate Candidate 5 was very much a realistic candidate for the open Senate
seat, but that ROD BLAGOJEVICH was getting “a lot of pressure” not to appoint Senate
Candidate 5. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to tell Individual D that ROD
BLAGOJEVICH had a problem with Senate Candidate 5 just promising to help ROD
BLAGOJEVICH because ROD BLAGOJEVICH had a prior bad experience with Senate
Candidate 5 not keeping his word. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to tell
Individual D that if Senate Candidate 5 is going to be chosen to fill the Senate seat “some of
this stuffs gotta start happening now . . .right now. . . and we gotta see it. You understand?”
ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A that “you gotta be careful how you express that and
assume everybody’s listening, the whole world is listening. You hear me?” ROD
BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to tell Individual D if there is “tangible political support
(campaign contributions) like you’ve said, start showing us now.” Fundraiser A stated he
will call Individual D on the phone to communicate ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s message. ROD
BLAGOJEVICH responded that “I would do it in person. I would not do it on the phone.”
ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Fundraiser A to communicate the “urgency” of the situation to
Individual D.

[SuperTrouper]

4. He needs to address this now and throw Blago completely under the bus. He has to be

honest with his constituents and speak from the heart and not nuance his way out of this one. IN spite of this, he may have higher political success but not as US Senator at this time.

[redstate_democrat]

6. If they have a special election, he should run.

Just on principle. People were trying to shut down his candidancy. He should run in spite of them. I bet you he gets a lot of support in Chicago.

[ErinBerin84]

8. Lynn Sweet from the Chicago Sun Times

was on MSNBC earlier basically saying that, from knowing JJJ over the years, she would be very surprised if he did anything wrong here, and she thinks there will probably be a special election with many people, including him, in the future.

[redstate_democrat]

5. I'm glad he's holding this presser. Put this bullshit to rest.

Everyone's hiding behind closed doors and shit, acting scared. Step up. I'm glad he's defending his name and honor. Fuck the MSM who only wants a sensational story. JJJ is an easy target for them. People here were all too ready to throw him under the bus with no proof simply because of his fucking name. Shame.

[maddezmom]

9. Attorney: US Rep. Jesse Jackson is 'Candidate 5'

~snip~
The governor is accused of trying to profit from his authority to appoint a replacement to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat.

Montgomery says Jackson "never authorized anyone to seek the governor's support" for anything of value.

And he says Jackson isn't aware of any associates having made such an overture on his behalf.

Montgomery says Jackson learned he was mentioned in the complaint against Blagojevich the night before the governor's arrest on Tuesday.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jclordTOUrAKPT4gqF4lTowSgNDQD9502QS83

I'm betting JJJ has been cooperating since he found out about his name being in the indictment/complaint.

[whippo]

7. He may need to tell people "talking on his behalf"

these things. He should shut that down.

[EFerrari]

10. You don't even know if that's true. All you have is the word of

a man too corrupt to hide his own rot.

JJ Jr better not have a single hair on his head harmed by this corrupt @sshole. Anyone who wanted this appointment would have been dragged in to it. That doesn't make this special to Jesse.

[whippo]

13. JJJ doesn't deny it, he says that no one has the authority to make

deals on his behalf. -"It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers," Jackson tells ABC News. "An impossibility to an absolute certainty."

[EFerrari]

16. Yes, he did deny it. Is English not your first language, "whippo"?

[whippo]

18. I don't see where he denies that someone may have made an unauthorized

offer.

[ErinBerin84]

11. wow, these are some stupid questions so far.

[MadBadger]

12. Who the fuck asked if Reverand Jesse was involved? Take her Press Pass Away

Stupid Cow.

[ErinBerin84]

14. yeah, what the hell was that?

And asking if the lawyer was Jesse Jackson's lawyer too...

[redstate_democrat]

15. That question tells me everything I need to know about this dumb shit.

[goodhue]

17. please feed cube rats

Questions?
Answers?

[elkston]

19. Yeah, I was like WTF??? with that question.

NOTE - This was in regards to the lady who asked the lawyer, "Are you Representing Rev. Jackson (his father) as well?"