Much Ado About Nothing

Mike Boland did not have a heart attack. Mike Jacobs did not "confirm" that Boland had suffered a heart attack. (nor did anyone else)

All the frothing at the mouth here and elsewhere is only a direct byproduct of the animosity between these two camps.

Kurt Allemeier covers the story in the Dispatch/Argus.

A feud between East Moline Democrats has been rekindled after rumors Rep. Mike Boland suffered a heart attack earlier this week.

Rep. Boland was hospitalized for two days earlier this week after feeling ill and suffering flu-like symptoms. A battery of tests showed nothing more significant than a virus. The doctor did recommend a vacation, Rep. Boland said.

However, WQAD-TV reported Tuesday night the state representative's heart attack was confirmed by Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. The story was retracted during the station's 10 p.m. newscast.

A reporter saw Sen. Jacobs at Moline mayoral candidate Pat O'Brien's party Tuesday and asked if he knew anything about Rep. Boland having a heart attack. Sen. Jacobs said he didn't know anything about that, but that he'd heard in Springfield earlier in the day that Rep. Boland was hospitalized.

However, another source told Rep. Boland the state senator mentioned the heart attack in passing at one of the parties Tuesday night.

Rep. Boland called the heart attack rumor "pure fabrication," "a serious lack of judgment," "a terrible disservice to my friends and family," and said "this sinks politics to the lowest level, spreading rumors about someone's health."

He wondered, "if Mike Jacobs' statements about my health were a malicious attempt to smear a potential political opponent, or if it was simply a case of wishful thinking on his part..."

Sen. Jacobs was quoted in February as saying he called Rep. Boland and tracked him down at an event and said he didn't want the feud to continue.

Sen. Jacobs continues to say he wants to work with his counterpart in the House of Representatives, though he is angered by Rep. Boland's accusations, calling them petty and ridiculous.

"I've tried to do everything to work with Mike Boland and will continue to try to work with him," Sen. Jacobs said. "My father recently had health problems and I wouldn't wish health problems on anybody. I don't know what this guy wants from me."

After missing this week's legislative session, Rep. Boland will return to Springfield next week to help guide two bills he is tracking through the legislature, then he is going to take the doctor's advice. He and his wife, Mary, are going on a cruise when the legislature takes a short break the following week.

"I appreciate all the calls and well-wishers," he said, "but I didn't have a heart attack. I've never had a heart attack."

Rep. Boland had two stents inserted into arteries in 1997 and had prostate surgery in 1998.

Rep. Boland said he hasn't made a decision on his political future, and will wait until after the current legislative session to decide what his next move is. He said he might stay in the General Assembly if offered a leadership position or he may consider a run for statewide office.

And a point of clarification, at no time did I report that Jacobs had said Boland had a heart attack. I simply voiced my opinion that if Jacobs had said what was quoted, it was likely a totally innocent remark, but ill-advised due to how others might take it. Obviously, Jacobs inadvertantly gave Boland an opportunity to cry foul, no matter what the intention or spirit of the remark may have been.

This entire issue is truly much ado about next to nothing.
I suggest people save their indignation and ire for matters that are actually important.