Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rahm Emanuel are two peas in a pod.
Say what, you say? Wondering where the twain meet with these veteran politicians? They may be radically different in myriad ways, but Jackson and Emanuel are the political players to watch as we enter the unprecedented era of all things Donald Trump.
Their origins and politics vastly differ. Emanuel, 65, is from Chicago’s North Shore, the son of a physician and an establishment mainline Democrat.
Jackson, 59, is a Chicago South Sider, Black progressive and son of a famed civil rights leader.
It is said that Trump’s second reign will dispatch the Democratic Party to the political wilderness. These two Democrats aren’t going anywhere.
They are back in Chicago, the city Trump hates most, and ready to roll. They share unparalleled moxie and are inveterate talkers, relentless political animals and decidedly controversial. That’s a potent mix that could keep them in eye of the political hurricanes ahead.
Jackson, as the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights warrior and founder of Rainbow PUSH, is a member of the most famous family in Black politics. That pedigree took him to Congress to represent Illinois’ 2nd District from 1995 to 2012, and, for a time, he was one of the most influential elected officials in Illinois. The younger Jackson rose to lofty heights, fueling talk that he could become the nation’s first Black speaker of the U.S. House or even its first Black president. (Others beat him to that punch.)
Instead, he took a life-changing fall. He was convicted of misusing campaign funds and given a 30-month federal prison term. He has also struggled with substance abuse and mental health challenges.
Emanuel, also known as “Rahmbo,” returns after three years as the U.S. ambassador to Japan. He also was a congressional power player when he represented Illinois’ 5th District from 2002 to 2008. He served as President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and two terms as Chicago’s mayor.
His mayoral record continues to dog him, including his decision to close nearly 50 Chicago public schools and half of the city’s mental health clinics. Emanuel was mayor at the time of the horrific police shooting of Laquan McDonald in 2014, and there is a widespread belief that he tried to cover it up, making him a pariah in progressives circles.
Emanuel and Jackson have hordes of critics and rivals, but they won’t be looking over their shoulders.
They are back, loaded for bear, and ready to jump into Chicago’s wild and woolly politics. Jackson reemerged in Chicago last summer, grayer and hopefully wiser, as he made the rounds at at the Democratic National Convention. He made an all-out, frenetic bid for a pardon from departing President Joe Biden.
It failed. He has moved his redemption tour to the radio waves. In recent months, he has been guest hosting on WVON-AM 1690, Chicago’s Black talk radio. The station just hired him to host its afternoon drive time slot.
Jackson’s name, network and nose for news will stir the political mix. He recently hosted Michael Cohen, Trump’s notorious former fixer, on talk radio KBLA-AM 1580 in the Los Angeles area.
Perhaps a bid for elected office? While he is a convicted felon, he is legally free to run for federal office. Just ask Trump.
Emanuel returns from Japan with international street cred. He is set to do a lecture series this spring on foreign policy at the service academies of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to a report in The Hill.
He has signed on as a contributing columnist to The Washington Post. Hours after TikTok was shut down Sunday morning, Emanuel appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” show to blast Trump for going soft on the social media juggernaut.
“Look, China is after Americans, gathering data, collecting data,” he declared. “There’s a reason the United States is getting rid of Chinese-manufactured cranes at our ports: because it collects data. Why would you let American children be influenced by China and their data collected?”
Closer to home, some are speculating that Emanuel might take another turn at a mayoral run. Brandon Johnson, look out.
A majority (56%) of Chicago residents agree that Chicago would be better off if Emanuel were currently the mayor of Chicago instead of Johnson, according to a Harris Poll taken in early December.
Jackson and Emanuel may be worlds apart politically, but these hard-nosed operators relish a fight.
There are big ones brewing in Chicago. These men will be front and center as voices of opposition and opportunity.
Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Wednesday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Originally Published:
Despite facing various controversies and setbacks in their political careers, Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr. are not going anywhere. Both politicians have proven themselves to be resilient and determined in the face of adversity.
Rahm Emanuel, the former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of Staff, has faced criticism for his handling of various issues, including the city’s high crime rate and corruption scandals. However, Emanuel has shown that he is not easily deterred and continues to be a voice in the political arena.
Jesse Jackson Jr., the former U.S. Representative from Illinois, has also faced his fair share of challenges, including a conviction for misusing campaign funds. Despite this setback, Jackson has remained active in the political scene and continues to advocate for social justice and civil rights.
Both Emanuel and Jackson have proven themselves to be tenacious and dedicated public servants, and it is clear that they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Their resilience and commitment to their communities make them forces to be reckoned with in the political landscape.
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Rahm Emanuel, Jesse Jackson Jr., political news, Chicago politics, current events, mayoral race, Illinois politicians, political commentary
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