Jackson gave a prime-time speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 25 , 2008 . During his speech he referenced Martin Luther King Jr. , stating , " I 'm sure that Dr. King is looking down on us here in Denver noting this is the first political convention in history to take place within sight of a mountain top . " Jackson said , " I know Barack Obama . I 've seen his leadership at work . I 've seen the difference he has made in the lives of people across Illinois . " At the convention , Jackson started what was described as a " hugfest " in an attempt to unite the Illinois Democratic party , which had been squabbling internally . He started by hugging Bobby Rush ( who had been upset that Jackson 's wife was being positioned for Rush 's seat when Rush had been ill earlier in the year ) and then he hugged Debbie Halvorson , who as been at odds with him over the proposed airport . He then asked if anyone else was mad at him . At this point Mayor Daley jumped up to hug Jackson . Jackson then said " I 'm not going to be satisfied until I see Rod Blagojevich give Mike Madigan a hug . " Before the entire Congress was charged with seeking a solution to the financial crisis of 2007 – 2008 and overall economic crisis of 2008 , Jackson proposed that the United States Department of Agriculture increase the allotment of food stamps . During the congressional debates on a federal bailout , Jackson worried about the viability of various plan iterations to his constituents . Although only two years earlier he spoke of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in glowing terms , he could not support the late-September version of the legislation she was proposing because he felt it contained inadequate homeowner protections . Although he voted against the bill on September 29 , 2008 he voted in support of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 on October 3 , 2008 . He later expressed concerns in a '' New York Times '' op-ed article about the implications that the eventual bill had on enfranchisement due to the lack of protections for homeowners as it relates to voting rights . Jackson sponsored legislation to make the Pullman District a National Park Service jurisdiction . On April 21 , 2012 , Jackson held a symbolic groundbreaking for the proposed third airport
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
Jesse Jackson Jr.