# Sleaze or stoolie: Which is worse for Jesse Jackson Jr's future? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496 "2008-12-17T01:19:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/1 "2008-12-17T01:19:14Z")
[Coming out about his federal-informant status](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jclordTOUrAKPT4gqF4lTowSgNDQD95426U00) at this time was the only way he could avoid getting his reputation besmirched in connection with the [Blagojevich scandal.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich_federal_fraud_cases) But, after this, how can he ever expect any other pol to trust him, or trade favors with him?! Has he just committed career suicide? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/2 "2008-12-17T01:27:07Z")
I doubt anyone would hold tattling about _Blagojevich_ against him. I daresay politicians might think “Yeah, but _I’m_ not corrupt. He won’t do anything about _me_.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/3 "2008-12-17T01:40:34Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I doubt anyone would hold tattling about _Blagojevich_ against him. Yeah, but apparently he’s been passing info to the Feds for **ten years.** > [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I daresay politicians might think “Yeah, but _I’m_ not corrupt. He won’t do anything about _me_.” I daresy they would ask themselves, not, “Am I corrupt?” but “Have I done anything, or might I wish to at some time in the future, that might conceivably be of interest to the Feds?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/4 "2008-12-17T01:45:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Coming out about his federal-informant status](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jclordTOUrAKPT4gqF4lTowSgNDQD95426U00) at this time was the only way he could avoid getting his reputation besmirched in connection with the [Blagojevich scandal.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich_federal_fraud_cases) But, after this, how can he ever expect any other pol to trust him, or trade favors with him?! Has he just committed career suicide? No body wants to be a career snitch. I wonder what the feds have on him ? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/5 "2008-12-17T01:49:35Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > No body wants to be a career snitch. I wonder what the feds have on him ? :rolleyes: Boy, he just can’t win, can he? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/6 "2008-12-17T02:02:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Yeah, but apparently he’s been passing info to the Feds for **ten years.** Do you have a citation for that? Blago has been under investgation for three years and, depending when Jackson’s wife was passed over for the position of lottery director, Jackson could have been talking to the Feds for some number of “years.” but I have seen no claim in either linked report than mentions a ten year involvement. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/7 "2008-12-17T02:18:47Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Do you have a citation for that? Heard it on CNN, or thought I did; it’s not in [this](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/16/blagojevich/index.html) story. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/8 "2008-12-17T02:27:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Heard it on CNN So did I. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/9 "2008-12-17T02:28:54Z")
I suppose the mobsters in politics will regard him with contempt. I’m not bugged. The world needs police informants. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/10 "2008-12-17T02:31:41Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > No body wants to be a career snitch. I wonder what the feds have on him ? Is that the only reason YOU would ever report a crime? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/11 "2008-12-17T02:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > CHICAGO (AP) — A congressman who acknowledged being mentioned in a criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been sharing information about public corruption with federal investigators for years, a spokesman said. > > Kenneth Edmonds, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., told The Associated Press that the congressman had spoken about Blagojevich and others. Source: [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jclordTOUrAKPT4gqF4lTowSgNDQD95426U00](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jclordTOUrAKPT4gqF4lTowSgNDQD95426U00) > [@](#): > > Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.–who was cited in a criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich– **has been an informant for at least a decade with the U.S. Attorney’s office** , and has informed on the embattled governor of Illinois, though not in the case currently under investigation, Jackson spokesman Kenneth Edmonds told CNN Tuesday. Source: [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/12/16/blogging-blago-jesse-jackson-jr-has-snitched-on-blagojevich-be/) > [@](#): > > According to CNN, sources close to Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. was an informant to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Illinois. Two very close sources to Rep. Jackson, Jr. have confirmed that **the congressman has communicated information about Gov. Rod Blagojevich since 2006**. > \*\* > The sources also said that Jesse Jackson Jr. has provided information to the U.S. attorney’s office in Illinois for more than 10 years.\*\* However, those same sources say that Rep. Jackson, Jr. did not serve as an informant in the current investigation involving Gov. Blagojevich. Source: [http://www.huliq.com/2623/74607/jesse-jackson-jr-identified-informant-blagojevich-probe](http://www.huliq.com/2623/74607/jesse-jackson-jr-identified-informant-blagojevich-probe) So it appears that JJJ has been a federal informant for more than ten years, but only since 2006 with G-Rod. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/12 "2008-12-17T02:52:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Is that the only reason YOU would ever report a crime? Not at all. It may be that I have the wrong impression of what it means to be an FBI informant for ten years, but it suggests he’s been the go to guy to spy on various people and organizations for the FBI. Why would anyone subject themselves to that? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/13 "2008-12-17T02:55:53Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Not at all. It may be that I have the wrong impression of what it means to be an FBI informant for ten years, but it suggests he’s been the go to guy to spy on various people and organizations for the FBI. Why would anyone subject themselves to that? Subject themselves to what? What does it cost to be an honest citizen? I doubt that 3-Jay is the only Congressman who talks to the feds. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/14 "2008-12-17T03:00:55Z")
You already know the answer to that. I’m not saying he did anything wrong but maybe dad did. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/15 "2008-12-17T03:53:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Subject themselves to what? What does it cost to be an honest citizen? For a politician, the cost might (or might not) be his career; that is the point of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/16 "2008-12-17T03:54:44Z")
“I have been an informant to the Feds for 10 years”. Sure to go over well in the black community. And in Chicaco. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/17 "2008-12-17T04:25:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > For a politician, the cost might (or might not) be his career; that is the point of this thread. I dunno. He can campaign on his integrity, and efforts to bring down corrupt pols. Voters might like that. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/18 "2008-12-17T04:32:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I dunno. He can campaign on his integrity, and efforts to bring down corrupt pols. Voters might like that. Of course they will. The problem is that to get anything **done** once in office, he has to negotiate favor-trades with other **politicians.** ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/19 "2008-12-17T12:11:54Z")
I am shocked and outraged that someone has been leaking information about corruption to the authorities, and for 10 years! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496/20 "2008-12-17T12:41:28Z")
We’ve heard repeated references to how corrupt Illinois and Chicago politics are, since the Blago story broke. If Jackson wants to change that, one of the ways is to alert the law enforcement agencies about possible episodes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleaze-or-stoolie-which-is-worse-for-jesse-jackson-jrs-future/477496.md?page=2)