Politics

Jesse Jackson Jr.‘s Wife Says He Was ’Completely Debilitated by Depression’

Jesse Jackson Jr.s Wife Says He Was Completely Debilitated by Depression

Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson said her husband, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., was "completely debilitated by depression." (AP)

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was “completely debilitated by depression” when he “collapsed” two months ago, his wife told the Chicago Sun-Times.

(Related: Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Being Treated for Depression at the Mayo Clinic)

“His collapse was D-Day for us,” Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson told the newspaper.

Speaking out for the first time since her husband took medical leave in June, Sandi Jackson said the Illinois Democrat absolutely did not attempt suicide or was receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

“No, no, none of that is true,” she said.

She said Rep. Jackson was at their home in Washington, D.C. when it happened on June 10.

“His father, Rev. Jackson, called him on the phone and felt he didn’t sound right,” Sandi Jackson said. “Jesse told his father he was so exhausted, he couldn’t take another step.”

She said Rev. Jackson and Jesse’s brother Yusef met him at home and took him to a D.C. hospital. Sandi Jackson said her husband’s “body was just worn out…it was obvious he was suffering from a form of depression.”

He was taken to a mental health treatment center in Tucson, Ariz., where a possibility of a correlation between Jackson’s depression and his 2004 gastric bypass weight loss surgery was raised “due to lack of nutrients.” That’s when the decision was made to take him to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for additional screening, according to the Sun-Times.

“What I can tell you is my husband has his good days and bad days and they are increasing his depression medication to therapeutic levels,” Sandi Jackson said. “They are now trying to find out if his depression, which has not yet been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, is connected to the weight-loss surgery. We don’t know.”

She added, “Jesse is now gaining weight and eating and feeling better in that sense, but he is still very depressed. But I am encouraged by the number of tests they are running and the quality of the analysis.”

Sandi Jackson said any decision about whether her husband will return to work before Labor Day and attend the Democratic National Convention is be “up to the doctors,” but added, “we should know soon.”

She also said her husband has been in a “news blackout” during his entire treatment.

“We decided to impose a news blackout during his treatment to enable him to heal,” Sandi Jackson said.

Rep. Jackson is currently under investigation for allegedly offering to raise campaign cash for then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for being appointed to Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

Comments (180)

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  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:22pm

    If I had jessie jackass as a father – I’d be severly depressed also.

    Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
    • ScottR63
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:47pm

      LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES…..YOU WATCH…..Something is going to come out and this MAC DADDY is gonna be right in the middle of the sh%# I don’t believe this crap at all

      Report Post » ScottR63  
    • MittensKittens
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:28pm

      Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was “completely debilitated by depression” when he “collapsed” two months ago,…

      I guess their starting to call drug and alcohol abuse “depression” these days.

      Report Post » MittensKittens  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:09pm

      I’m depressed to JJJ
      Can’t pay my bills/lost my home/have no job
      HealthInsurance cancelled
      BUT I’M STILL STANDING
      and you are in Mayo Clinic getting “help”
      Sorry but get well fast so they check into your Chicago connections

      OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
    • Blazebanned
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:26pm

      Depression, liberal code work for drug overdose…….junior needs to have his seat removed from him and have a special election to fill it, not like it would matter though…..

      Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:40pm

      All these people know is lies. Why should I believe anything they say. And I don’t.Sell that sh1t somewhere else.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • nowonuno
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:02pm

      Well said. I thought that was the meaning of the ‘D’ after Dumbocrats names. Maybe they should change it to ‘AD’ for antidepressants.

      Report Post »  
    • Realist4U
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 4:30pm

      Tell Jesse, they have antidepressants in prison.

      Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 4:51pm

      Sad hope he recovers.

      Report Post »  
    • Lotus503
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 8:49pm

      Prescription for depression for Libs: Start attending Tea Party events and read the Constitution and Bill of Rights every day.

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 10:36pm

      Translation:::::::::he is about to be indicted for attempting to buy Obamas vacant senate seat:::::::::::

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 10:52pm

      I can tell you what’s going to come out…his wife set it up. They don’t know if his depression is bi-polar related. If he gets diagnosed as bi-polar, he has an excuse for the ethics investigation.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 10:54pm

      Gerorgie..good one. Me, too. I have stage IV breast cancer (been a 20 month battle), my husband is coming up on a year trying to fix a broken leg and we aren’t in a clinic for depression. Must be his family or like I said earlier, a set up to explain the ethics investigation.

      Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:01pm

      Why’d JJ have gastric bypass surgery? He should have tried that fantastic new diet miracle pill advertised right here on the Blaze. You can view it on the top right of the screen. LOL.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:16am

      Wrong time of the year for depression or perhaps Obama’s depression is taking hold early.

      Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 9:52am

      Depression? Why? Its easy to be him. He can do as he wishes and cry racism when he is called on it. Depression runs rampant amongst the dems im sure. Looking in the morror and lying to yourself every day takes its toll.

      Its a BS excuse for this cockroach. The light is about to be shined upon his unethical activities. I tried this approach once. Got caught with my hand in the cookie jar and acted like i had a broken leg.

      Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • TAXEVERYONE
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:55pm

      Poor baby!!

      Report Post » TAXEVERYONE  
  • pissantno.10
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:20pm

    seems gonzo has playing with horseys upset, good work

    Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:33pm

      Guilty as charged. The only thing wrong with this guy is he has a conscience for the corruption he’s been involved in and learned well from his father. Shame on you Jesse, it’s your fault.

      Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:20pm

    That young man never had a chance to know who he really is for those vile Democrats/Socialists/Communist/Muslims taking over his life as they did his father. That boy needs to pray to God to get that depression off him and pray to seek after God and Truth instead of giving his life and soul to ideals that may or may not be his, but that was a result of where his father took a wrong turn down a road that glued him to those Socialists/Communists/Muslims who destroy everything good and decent with lies and deceit. No wonder that young man is depressed those Democrats have sucked his soul out of his body and filled it with lies, destructive thoughts and divided this country. I really feel this young man never had a chance to know who he is or what he believes in and it has about destroyed him. Everyone needs to get off his back and quit telling him who he is. Let him grow in Truth.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:32pm

      That “young man/boy” is a 47-year old man with a wife and two children. Somewhere along the way, he’s had 47 years to take responsibility for how he was raised … like everybody else.

      Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • blackyb
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:40pm

      He very well may be 47 years old, but can you imagine being surrounded by Jesse Jackson and that entreurage of Communist/Marxists/Socialist and their lies and having to fight just to breath a breath of truth without politics being weighed in on every aspect of his life? It sounds horrifying to me. He probably lived his whole life wanting to please that father of his who turn a very wrong turn somewhere in life and is now seeing the destruction of this and will not turn from it. Jesse Jackson needs to pray and get the Truth working in his life and help his son in a manner that is healthy and right.

      Report Post » blackyb  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:44pm

      ***fixed**** …. 47 years to take responsibility for the way he lives his life IN SPITE of how he was raised or what the family environment was like.

      Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • RebelRouser
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:14pm

      Black,
      on the other hand it seems the boyking/obama has been invigorated growing up with the same false Idols

      Report Post »  
    • QuincySmith
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:23pm

      David Horowitz communist background didn’t prevent his rising above it. I don’t know enough about jr. say what caused his ‘depression’. I’ve seen several suggestions – and eventually word will come out.

      Report Post » QuincySmith  
    • Cesium
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:53pm

      @BlackyB “needs to pray to God to get that depression off him” Are you simple? Can you pray away Diabetes? Do you know there are people with depression who are quite faithful? and guess what? some of them have it so severe that they still need medication!! Even if they delude themselves into thinking it is god that has got them on medication. It’s a real disorder and anyone who thinks the neurons of the brain are immune to dysfunction unlike other organs are complete rubes…

      Report Post »  
    • songspiritUSA
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 4:49pm

      I completely agree with your diagnosis of Jr’s problems. But since the man is an elected official, what he ought to do is resign. Then, he can heal in peace and without the burdens of those whom he is supposed to represent. The fact that it was his father who “sensed” “something’s not right” is creepy. For all we know, this could be an enforcement mechanism or blackmail to keep Jr. carrying on the corruption. The fact he does not resign shows that those close to him care nothing for him – at least not compared to using him to further the lies and corruption. He may not have the character to walk away from it all – quadruply difficult given his very name will pull him back in. Time will tell.

      Report Post »  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:18pm

    Lawyer-up gastric doctors. The Jacksons are raising money for his defense when he goes to court for selling Obama’s senate seat.

    Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • blackyb
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:44pm

      They will pay for all these people they are protecting who are trying to destroy this country. There is a time to sew and a time to reap, now now the reaping may have begun.

      Report Post » blackyb  
  • MartyTr
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:17pm

    I’m praying for him, it is when we are the lowest that we realize how much we need Christ in our lives. This could be the beginning of something good.

    Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:32pm

      The ‘beginning’ of a long prison sentence.. would be a ‘good’ start.
      He can get religion while he’s in prison.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
  • sbs21078
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:12pm

    Regardless of the pressure he is under, Jesse Jr. will have to Man-Up and confront the issues that are awaiting him.

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:10pm

    He came to the realization that like his father he will never be a Senator or President. He did unholy things to get the Senate seat for life from Blago, the only thing that is saving him from joining Rod is his name, father and connections. But that could end when his connections are out of the White House.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
    • Realist4U
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 4:33pm

      How many different forms of “Justice” do we have in this country?

      Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:06pm

    Now that it’s on record that he’s battling depression.. I hope someone takes this opportunity to tell this dipstick, that he just lost his second amendment rights… Mental history = No firearms .
    We should have a law restricting people with mental disabilities holding office too.. That would cover about every liberal politician and would be a giant step toward fixing this country.

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • FREEDOMoverFEAR
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:36pm

      LOL i like the comedy but if you check yourself into a mental health facility you do not loose the ability to legaly purchase a firearm. That only applies to people who have been committed by a court.

      Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:31pm

      If the Veteran Administration declares a vet unable to handle their own affairs by reason of a mental health issue (when claiming a disability), the veteran is prohibited from owning/purchasing a firearm. There is no court order involved, only a decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:57am

    Maybe he just needs a gentle Rainbow-PUSH to get back on the right track.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:09pm

      Our smiling jackal POS president could provide the thrust to relieve the tension in Jr.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • chips1
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:56am

    Depression seems to be an expected result from years of people like Jackson and Sharpton telling them their whole life, “You are black and that’s why you should demand free stuff”. The few that break away from that thought process, like West, MLK and Cain are immediately pounced upon.

    Report Post »  
    • cmicko
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:30pm

      Depression is a result of not living a good life, and thus not having inner-peace. So people medicate either with the help of a doctor or by their own means.

      Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:56pm

      It is also the result of genetics. It is known Alcoholism runs in families. There are of depressed / bi polar people who avoid drinking or don’t drink because it just worsens depression that they already have.

      Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:53am

    I still say that Jessie Jr got a jail-house phone call from Blago demanding money for silence.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • RIGS
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:50am

    Everybody would be suffering from severe depression if your father was THE REV NO MORALS JACKSON Sr. the LIBERAL HYPOCRITE and PHONY RACE BAITER.

    Report Post »  
  • sjohn70037
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:44am

    Depression is a media code word for drug abuse. This technique has been used by Hollywood’s elite for decades. You don’t really expect any level of truth from this family do you?

    Report Post » sjohn70037  
    • Vickie Dhaene
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:09pm

      No we don’t. We can pray he repents for his sins. We can ask God to forgive him. We can demand justice from our government.

      Report Post »  
  • orlandojon
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:44am

    If the headline is true, he needs to step down and let someone else take his seat, he is not serving his constituents as he was elected to do.

    Report Post »  
  • lamarlamar
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:40am

    Evil does have a way of sucking your life away! When you make deals with him, he comes back for your soul.

    Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:38am

    So is being treated for Depression now code for crack addiction. This guy is a crackhead ,I got the info from the same guy that told Harry Reid about Romney not paying taxes for ten years . He’s very reliable.

    Report Post » drattastic  
    • HorseDancer
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:54am

      Interesting, that same guy told me you were obsessed with juvenile movie characters, stuck in a fantasy world of gay costume designers.

      Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:35pm

      @horseshagger
      Afraid you have it wrong horse’s azz . My pic represents the left’s pushed false narrative on Republicans in general and Dick Cheney in particular but that might be a little too complex for those that fall for simplistic slogans and ideas like “hope and change” and “fairness” . BTW are your horses stump broke ? I bet they are . Are you part of that “farm”out in CA where people come to have “relations” with the animals and get back to nature ?

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:10pm

      No Drattastic, HE is stump broken.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • RANGER1965
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:34am

    I imagine depression is a likely result of the enormous pressure Mr. Jackson is under.

    Despite all the delaying tactics he is about to be found out as complicit in political fraud, which in a normal world, would sink him for good.

    But it’s not a normal world. Mr. Jackson is black and liberal, which is like political plate armor. He is also the son of a civil rights icon, and popular black leader which gives him the ultimate liberal street cred. Lastly he has the full force of the liberal media behind him, which is like having your own private army.

    So why is he depressed? The powers that be can make all of his misdeeds go away. I think there is more to this.

    Report Post » RANGER1965  
  • Thinman
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:33am

    If I don’t go to work, I loose my job, lets “move Forward” and get him out.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:52am

      Chicago will replace him with someone equally as bad. Let him stay in the mental ward and collect pay, less harm to the country.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:19pm

      HORSEDANCER:
      Is your avitar a code word for “road apple”?

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:21pm

      Get back in your paddock… twinkle toes ..!

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:42pm

      Take your meds my pretty pony.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Zipit
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:05pm

      Gonzo! You gotta give our equine deep throat some credit! He can dish it out, and take it in the rear!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Zipit, he certainly gets wound up about avatars…I’ll say that much.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • HorseDancer
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:05am

      Wow, a collective right wing hallucination – seeing things that aren’t seeable, hearing things that aren’t hearable – kinda like Christians. Mass hallucinations.

      Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:33am

    The fear of jail time is his biggest problem.

    Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:15pm

      Exactly!
      That and the same fate Matt Drudge suffered if he dares even think of opening his mouth about Obama.

      Report Post » randy  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:30am

    “Jesse told his father he was so exhausted, he couldn’t take another step.”

    Well nobody said being a criminal would be easy boy,it’s hard work screwing the people over.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • tckid17
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:27am

    Up with hope! Down with mope!

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:25am

    …
    Mrs. Jackson, we Christians and Conservatives are suffering from depression too, while we watch Obama destroy America, but we don‘t get a tax payers’ paid, luxurious treatment center, lengthy vacation.
    We have to deal with it on our own, with real crappy, expensive health insurance.

    Report Post »  
    • HorseDancer
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:55am

      You ain’t seen nothing on the cost of health care if Romney gets elected.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:23am

    “She also said her husband has been in a “news blackout” during his entire treatment.”
    Watch it Sandi, your father in law may organize a protest over that kind of language.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:04pm

      Hey PonyPrancer, I hate to be the one to break it to you but… that’s not my picture. That’s right, when you see these guys with an Obama avatar, you’re not talking to the POTUS. BTW, you are probably old enough now to ask your mom and dad about Santa. I don’t want to be the one to tell you.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • 68Patriot
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:24pm

      HORSEASS, please keep up the childish responses to the posts. Everyone is beginning to see what the left is all about wth that kind of nonsense. You are actually helping conservatives.

      Thanks,
      68

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:25pm

      …and you thought for a long while and wanted to be a dancing horse? LOL

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:36pm

      @ Horsedancer

      Since you signed up a week or so ago, you have offered little but infantile and scatological insults.

      Is this going to be the sum total of your contributions here, or do you have some thoughful points to make?

      You are making left-wingers look unthinking, uncouth, and easily manipulated by your alignment with them.

      My bet is that those of a leftist persuasion on this site, who present considered opinions, are embarressed by you. I’m sure they wish that you would quietly return to the Youtube comments section where you may bark and snarl happily, if impotently, at your peers.

      Report Post »  
    • Zipit
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:26pm

      @ NZKIWI

      Well put! However, most left wingers are infantile, unthinking, uncouth and easily manipulated, (by people who say they are going to give them free stuff.

      And while some of the lefty posters Such as soybomb, occasionally come through with a relevant, even cogent thought, (Yo Soy!), Horse has demonstrated nothing other than a look at me style of idiocy!

      Makes no horse sense to me!

      ZZZZZZ

      Report Post »  
    • HorseDancer
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:03am

      What are you people talking about? More imaginary enemies for the right.

      Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:17am

    Depression is a terrible thing for him and the family to go through but with the God’s help he will.

    Report Post »  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:17am

    What’s amazing is that more Democrats do not suffer this fate. It’s gotta be depressing as hell for them, all day, every day.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • netmail
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:28am

      But ignorance is BLISS. Those of us living in the REAL world have many more reasons to be depressed than democrats do. Jr’s just a sick puppy. Wonder who he inherited that from?

      Report Post »  
    • RightThinking1
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 1:18pm

      Well…, all committed Dems are slightly insane. We see the manifestations of it all of the time. I too, am surprised that we do not see more examples of just plain breakdown. The constant stress of having to say what you are expected to say, rather than what you know to be true, must be terrible. Probably why they are shouting and shaking their fists all of the time.

      Report Post »  
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