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Ex-Operative Says Jackson No Reformer

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Dec 11, 2008 4:29 pm US/Central

Ex-Operative Says Jackson No Reformer

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. this week denied he participated in any scheme to buy Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat from Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
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Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has acknowledged that he is "Senate Candidate No. 5" in the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But he says he's not a pay-to-play politician.

But as CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, not everyone agrees.

Throughout his career, Jackson Jr. has portrayed himself as a political reformer. But a one-time campaign associate paints a starkly different view of Jackson and his motivations.

Former city worker Frank Coconate was Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Northwest Side point man when Jackson flirted with the idea of running against Mayor Daley.

Now, Coconate says, he's not shocked by federal wiretaps in which Blagojevich discusses selling Barack Obama's Senate seat to someone described as a Jackson emissary.

"He was always looking to deal," Coconate said. "If he couldn't get it outright, he'd buy it."

In a 2005 meeting with a longtime Jackson aide, Coconate says, he was told Jackson only endorsed candidates who sent money Jackson's way.

"He said, 'We have a criteria before we support anybody,'" Coconate said. "`They have to have $50,000 to $10,000. They have to take our polls, which can cost $8,000 or $9,000 … and any endorsement with Jackson, you have to take a picture with him, which costs you.'"

In short, Jackson's office was selling endorsements, Coconate said. He said the Jackson aide he dealt with is likely the one referred to in the Blagojevich case.

On Wednesday, Jackson denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney, James Montgomery, said someone may have been posing as Jackson's aide.

"I wouldn't put it beyond someone to be purporting to represent Jesse without authority," the attorney said.

Coconate doubts that idea. He said the congressman knows anybody that's using his name.

CBS 2 tried to contact the Jackson aide but was unable to reach him. The station is not using his name.

Coconate admits he's bitter toward Jackson. The two had a falling out after Jackson backed out of the mayoral race.

The congressman returned to Chicago today and is scheduled to meet with the FBI tomorrow.

Governor Blagojevich Arrested

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