(h/t Heather)

Jesse Jackson Jr. was impassioned and emphatic in his press conference today responding to the news that he had been identified as "Senate Candidate No. 5", the figure in the Rod Blagejovich scandal whose emissary, according to Blago, had made a "pay to play" offer. (Blago also indicated on tape that Obama was opposed to this candidate's selection.)

Of course, not only is Blago clearly delusional (how else can you explain this kind of conduct when you're under investigation by the feds?), he's also clearly a liar of prodigious levels. So nothing he said should be taken at any kind of face value.

Nonetheless, the taint clearly threatened Jackson's political future, and coming out -- especially as convincingly as he did today -- was an essential first step in repairing the damage.