Way to go, Dick! Former House Majority Leader Gephardt has made quite the career change since leaving office.
If it seems contradictory (read: hypocritical) that former Rep. Dick Gephardt, at one time a self-styled anti-lobbying, pro-labor crusader, would become a lobbyist for Visa and Goldman Sachs, well, that’s because it is. Oh, and you can strike “pro-environment” off of Gephardt’s list of political poses, too. —KA
The Nation:
As autumn sets in, the progressive agenda on which Barack Obama rode to victory last November has stalled, even with Democrats controlling every branch of government. Key aspects of healthcare reform, like a public option, appear dead; climate change legislation, having narrowly passed the House in June, awaits an uncertain fate in the Senate; the Employee Free Choice Act and financial industry reforms have gone off the grid. Behind all these setbacks is a pattern: with little outright opposition, corporate interests have insinuated themselves into the legislative process to co-opt attempts at reform. As a result, the big-ticket items are rotting away, key provisions have been removed and bills are being weakened beyond recognition behind closed doors.
Certainly there are still those in Congress willing to stand up to pressure from lobbyists—like Cummings, who, after meeting with Gephardt and the Goldman Sachs executives, sent his letter anyway, launching an investigation by TARP inspector general Neil Barofsky. But the broader momentum is with the corporate interests, thanks to players like Gephardt who have escorted them to the bargaining table. In a town where everyone seemingly has a price, Gephardt has distinguished himself, selling his reputation as a pro-labor, pro-universal healthcare, pro-environment expert and advocate to his new corporate masters, giving their efforts to kill and maim reforms a familiar, friendly face in the Democratic establishment. As a result, Gephardt has become a highly sought-after and very effective lobbyist. He has also betrayed nearly every principle he once claimed to hold.
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Oh please ... this is Public Relations 101 for corporations. Every time a corporate leader or spokesperson says the word “jobs” we should all hear “profits & bonuses” because that is what they are really talking about.
Financial Regulation will cost America jobs.
Environmental Regulation will cost America jobs.
Corporate taxes will cost America jobs.
Criminal Negligence suits cost America jobs.
The Financial sector needs a bail-out in order to generate jobs.
See? It’s all quite clear when you hear what they mean instead of what they say!!
Fat Freddy is right on the money. Right now this is no longer a democracy, it is controlled by corporate interests who donate a few million to get billions. Why is no one more angry that the entire country is run by corporations who wave the carrot of jobs (lousy ones) to get whatever they want? Is the country in such a stupor that it can no longer recognize that they are being duped and lied to everyday? Wake up!! We don’t have healthcare, retirement, higher education, savings, jobs, they’ve all been taken away for the sake of plasma TVs, iPods, iPhones, SUVs, cruise ships, Las Vegas and reality shows. I’m moving to Canada. This place sucks.
Fat Freddy, you are too right. Unfortunately, the problem with the excellent reforms you propose is the same as with everything else corporate managers want ... now that the government is bought and paid for none of the rules can be changed to take power from the corporate owners.
Corporate owners, by the way, is senior corporate management. The actual owners, shareholders, are just another stakeholder group like customers, employees and taxpayers who get stiffed…
Looks like Gephardt is getting things all set up for a nice cozy little sector of the corporate lobbying business marketed as “capitalism with a human face”. This means working for the same old pigs only they’ll be made up with purple lipstick instead of red. Barack Obama can join them when he’s stopped winning applause for his Bipartisan Boogie song and dance routine at the White House.
A numerical correction on the amount of money being donated tonight. According to The Huffington Post: “Each donor is paying the legal maximum of $30,400.”
By doublestandards/glasshouses, October 20, 2009 at 9:17 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Quick, is it George W Bush or Barrak Obama who is
hosting a $15,000 a plate fund raiser in New York
tonight? Hint: 50% of the attendees will be wall
street executives.
Meanwhile unemployment is 17% (when you include those
whose benefits have run out) and foreclosures are
running higher than last year.
I’m reminded of a quote by Benito Mussolini. “Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”
It’s nice to see that both parties are the same with their fascist leanings.
Finally the REAL Gephardt has risen in all of his hypocritical glory.. Years ago I called him out and was rebuffed by those loyal dimmo nincompoops. Well here he is shoving his way to the trough of lobbying riches. You loyal dimmo fanatics are as disgusting as the right-wingers.
If only the voters would stop worshiping and be more demanding… oh well, I guess we are doomed.
The Democratic party has ceased to exist. It died - was murdered - under the Clintons. There is a bordello called the Democratic party; it’s on the same block as that other brothel, the Republicans. The continued domination of these two hopelessly corrupt organizations spells the ongoing decline of the United States.
By bachu, October 19, 2009 at 8:28 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Gephardt is the quintessential American. He embodies all the values that most Americans hold near and dear to their hearts. He even dies his eyebrows for the benefit of TV viewers.
Lack of individual responsibility is what enables injustice to be codified into monstrous evil. Using venality as the ultimate alibi to justify corrupt actions, is the oldest lame excuse on record.
Those who, for the sake of money, diligently work to prevent “the system” from self correction, reveal the wisdom of the Mahatma when he said: “there are unjust laws as there are unjust men”.
To deny individual responsibility is to ensure that corruption continues unabated.
Why do we keep blaming individuals? If somebody’s going to pay me a shitload of money to shovel shit, I’m going to shovel shit. It’s the legislative process that’s broken. I’m sure Gephardt has bills to pay just like everyone else. Change the system, don’t demonize the people. Force the politicians to change the system.
1. Term limits.
2. Publicly funded campaigns.
3. Remove the barriers for 3rd and 4th party formation/candidates.
All other issues are bullshit compared to these. All other issues are unsolvable until these three are enacted.
Marching in Chicago: Resisting Rahm Emanuel’s Neoliberal Savagery
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By DBM, October 22, 2009 at 9:24 pm Link to this comment
“the carrot of jobs”??
Oh please ... this is Public Relations 101 for corporations. Every time a corporate leader or spokesperson says the word “jobs” we should all hear “profits & bonuses” because that is what they are really talking about.
Financial Regulation will cost America jobs.
Environmental Regulation will cost America jobs.
Corporate taxes will cost America jobs.
Criminal Negligence suits cost America jobs.
The Financial sector needs a bail-out in order to generate jobs.
See? It’s all quite clear when you hear what they mean instead of what they say!!
Report thisBy bhahnster, October 22, 2009 at 9:17 pm Link to this comment
Fat Freddy is right on the money. Right now this is no longer a democracy, it is controlled by corporate interests who donate a few million to get billions. Why is no one more angry that the entire country is run by corporations who wave the carrot of jobs (lousy ones) to get whatever they want? Is the country in such a stupor that it can no longer recognize that they are being duped and lied to everyday? Wake up!! We don’t have healthcare, retirement, higher education, savings, jobs, they’ve all been taken away for the sake of plasma TVs, iPods, iPhones, SUVs, cruise ships, Las Vegas and reality shows. I’m moving to Canada. This place sucks.
Report thisBy DBM, October 21, 2009 at 8:14 pm Link to this comment
Fat Freddy, you are too right. Unfortunately, the problem with the excellent reforms you propose is the same as with everything else corporate managers want ... now that the government is bought and paid for none of the rules can be changed to take power from the corporate owners.
Corporate owners, by the way, is senior corporate management. The actual owners, shareholders, are just another stakeholder group like customers, employees and taxpayers who get stiffed…
Report thisBy de profundis clamavi, October 21, 2009 at 6:50 pm Link to this comment
Looks like Gephardt is getting things all set up for a nice cozy little sector of the corporate lobbying business marketed as “capitalism with a human face”. This means working for the same old pigs only they’ll be made up with purple lipstick instead of red. Barack Obama can join them when he’s stopped winning applause for his Bipartisan Boogie song and dance routine at the White House.
Report thisBy thebeerdoctor, October 20, 2009 at 12:50 pm Link to this comment
A numerical correction on the amount of money being donated tonight. According to The Huffington Post: “Each donor is paying the legal maximum of $30,400.”
Report thisBy doublestandards/glasshouses, October 20, 2009 at 9:17 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Quick, is it George W Bush or Barrak Obama who is
Report thishosting a $15,000 a plate fund raiser in New York
tonight? Hint: 50% of the attendees will be wall
street executives.
Meanwhile unemployment is 17% (when you include those
whose benefits have run out) and foreclosures are
running higher than last year.
By the tshirt doctor, October 20, 2009 at 7:32 am Link to this comment
I’m reminded of a quote by Benito Mussolini. “Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”
It’s nice to see that both parties are the same with their fascist leanings.
Report thisBy KISS, October 20, 2009 at 4:47 am Link to this comment
Finally the REAL Gephardt has risen in all of his hypocritical glory.. Years ago I called him out and was rebuffed by those loyal dimmo nincompoops. Well here he is shoving his way to the trough of lobbying riches. You loyal dimmo fanatics are as disgusting as the right-wingers.
Report thisIf only the voters would stop worshiping and be more demanding… oh well, I guess we are doomed.
By Mary Ann McNeely, October 19, 2009 at 9:25 pm Link to this comment
The Democratic party has ceased to exist. It died - was murdered - under the Clintons. There is a bordello called the Democratic party; it’s on the same block as that other brothel, the Republicans. The continued domination of these two hopelessly corrupt organizations spells the ongoing decline of the United States.
Report thisBy bachu, October 19, 2009 at 8:28 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Gephardt is the quintessential American. He embodies all the values that most Americans hold near and dear to their hearts. He even dies his eyebrows for the benefit of TV viewers.
Report thisBy thebeerdoctor, October 19, 2009 at 8:01 pm Link to this comment
Lack of individual responsibility is what enables injustice to be codified into monstrous evil. Using venality as the ultimate alibi to justify corrupt actions, is the oldest lame excuse on record.
Report thisThose who, for the sake of money, diligently work to prevent “the system” from self correction, reveal the wisdom of the Mahatma when he said: “there are unjust laws as there are unjust men”.
To deny individual responsibility is to ensure that corruption continues unabated.
By Fat Freddy, October 19, 2009 at 5:10 pm Link to this comment
Why do we keep blaming individuals? If somebody’s going to pay me a shitload of money to shovel shit, I’m going to shovel shit. It’s the legislative process that’s broken. I’m sure Gephardt has bills to pay just like everyone else. Change the system, don’t demonize the people. Force the politicians to change the system.
1. Term limits.
2. Publicly funded campaigns.
3. Remove the barriers for 3rd and 4th party formation/candidates.
All other issues are bullshit compared to these. All other issues are unsolvable until these three are enacted.
Report this