Stop the Whine Senator Daschle

He evidently doesn't pay his taxes that are due, makes one million dollars a year, and gets a free limo and driver from a client and hedge fund operator (for several years and worth over $200,000) and he thinks we all ought to feel sorry for him. Pleeeease.

We then read further into today's NY Times story that when he joined hiw lobbying/law firm after being defeated for his Senate reelection, he insisted that he was not a lobbyist, but rather was just a "rainmaker". Like there is a difference. His firm was trying to influence public officials on behalf of their clients--nothing wrong or illegal about that. That is in the great American tradition dating back to our first President and Congress. But not good enough for the Senator. I guess he thought he was above it all. He wanted to engage in "good works" (helping students learn and understand government--a good thing to do but not necessarily unique) and also continue to be paid tens of thousands of dollars for speeches on government. He then wants us to believe that in additon he was going to give his services to a lobbying firm (and get paid handsomely for his services) but he was not a lobbyist, but rather a rainmaker and a policy wonk. I guess he thinks his other colleagues in this lobbying firm are not as good as him and/or are not as "ethical" as him.

What rubbish.

His former Senate colleague, Trent Lott, has this to say in the NY Time story:

“Once you come out and you get into whatever you’re going to do, whether it’s a lawyer or a consultant or a lobbyist, you are representing clients who can then be used against you,” said Mr. Lott, who has more openly embraced the lobbying life since retiring from the Senate. “In the minds of the people, it’s a distinction without a difference. You can’t be advising people on how to deal with Congress without, in effect, at least indirectly influencing Congress.”

Trent Lott is correct--it is a distinction without a difference. The American people know better. Not paying your taxes like every other American is wrong. Making believe you are something you are not and thinking you are better than other American citizens is not the American tradition and is just plain arrogant.

America will be served well by not having someone like this in the President's Cabinet. Back to LOBBYING Senator Daschle!