When Representative Jesse Jackson Junior disappeared from Washington last month for a mysterious medical leave, it took weeks for anyone there to even notice. That's a measure of the disconnect between the Chicago Democrat's famous name and his lack of stature on Capitol Hill. Jackson arrived in Washington 17 years ago with a star quality that set him apart. Yet he has never lived up to those expectations nationally. One reason for his failure to rise to a more statesmanlike role is the investigation into his dealings with imprisoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
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