The other charming aspect of the Daschle affair is that it
demonstrates how tax-hiking Dems like markets when they are
delivering wealth to tax-hiking Dems. And because their
political connections are of value in a world in which government
policy can create and destroy industries and divert taxpayer
wealth to influential interests, the Dems are only too happy to
collect on their newfound "talents."
The New York Times looks at Daschle:
Tom Daschle, the
former Democratic Senate leader, had been voted out of office.
His close friend Leo Hindery, a Democratic donor and media
mogul, was out of a job too, having just sold his latest
company, Yes Networks.
So in early 2005 the two men decided to team up. Mr. Daschle
agreed to become the founding chairman of "a world-class
executive advisory board" of "industry and regulatory experts"
for a new investment firm run by Mr. Hindery, according to a
news release announcing its inception and seeking investors.
The Daschle-led board, the release said, would help provide a
"collective depth of industry knowledge and expertise that will
allow us to pursue unique and high-value opportunities."
In addition to lending the prestige of his name, Mr. Daschle
traveled to help raise money from investors for Mr. Hindery's
new venture, said Jenny Backus, a spokeswoman for Mr. Daschle.
And in exchange, over the next four years the firm compensated
Mr. Daschle with over $2 million, and Mr. Hindery lent Mr.
Daschle the use of a chauffeured limousine in Washington.
What a system. You get elected to the Senate. You
expand the state, making it even more important for private
companies to lobby and suck up to politicians. Then you go
out and get those very same businesses to pay you to help them
wend their way through the political thicket that you helped
create! Is this a great country, or what?
