Like Extortionist Father, Like Son

Jesse Jackson has made a career out of extorting funds from big business under threat of protest for real or perceived racial problems, but his son has done him one better. Jesse Jr. has figured out how to take money from the taxpayers without all that bothersome protesting:

Illinois Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has put in an earmark request for $231,000 for the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission to finance what is called "minority and small business development."

But the airport does not exist, and plans for it are the subject of a power struggle between Jackson and the Will County government.

Republicans call the request an example of unnecessary spending.

Will County officials say Jackson is using his influence to waste taxpayer dollars.

Critics also point out that the executive director of the airport commission for the non-existent airport — happens to be the administrator for Jackson's congressional office in Chicago.

Jackson's people say the money is needed to study how the area south of Chicago could transition into an "airport economy" if the facility is ever built.

I thought that naming it after Lincoln was an especially clever ploy. After all, who's going to vote against Lincoln?