 
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Saturday, December 29, 2001
A candidate who aims to unseat U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., the son of the clergyman and civil rights activist, has decided that if you can't beat a famous name, you should join him.
The New York Times reports that the Illinois congressman's rivals in next March's primary election may include Jesse L. Jackson (no Jr.), a political newcomer who, according to skeptics, is really a 68-year-old man named Jesse V. Jackson.
Where do these people think they are? Pennsylvania?
Ours is the state, after all, where a succession of candidates named Robert Casey capitalized on the prominence of late Auditor General and Gov. Robert Casey.
Such was the proliferation of other Bob Caseys that the original began referring to himself in campaign literature as "the real Bob Casey." (The late Gov. Casey's son, Bob Casey Jr., may have to start calling himself "the other real Bob Casey.")
Even if the "fake" Jesse L. Jackson proves to be Jesse V. Jackson, he might benefit in future races from the similarity of his name to the congressman's.
On the other hand, if he decides to dispel any confusion, he can adapt a slogan identified with the original Jesse Jackson. "I am somebody," he can proclaim. "Somebody else."