What do Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., soccer legend David Beckham and conservative godfather Barry Goldwater have in common?
All three men have, on more than one occasion, subjected themselves to the exquisite pain of an artist putting ink to skin.
Beckham has more tattoos than most rock stars, Goldwater had Native American tribal work done on his hand and, as for Chicagoland Democrat Jackson? He has two half-sleeves nearly done, complete with portraits of his family and boyhood hero Bruce Lee.
“I believe in body art,” Jackson said, explaining that he tries “to get a new tattoo every year.” On tap for Jackson this year is a collage celebrating the centennial of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.
Tattoos are everywhere on Capitol Hill these days. Capitol Police officers have them. Reporters — including this one — do. Lula Davis, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s former right-hand floor aide, sported tattoos in the Capitol for years.
Read more at Roll Call.
