Politico on the future of recently retired Rep. David Obey (D-Wis):
Former House Appropriations Chairman David Obey is walking the well-worn path between Capitol Hill and K Street, POLITICO has learned.The article helpfully adds (my emphasis):
Obey will join former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt’s lobbying shop on Monday, bringing a master of the federal funding process on board at a time of renewed economic austerity on Capitol Hill.
The Wisconsin Democrat, who served for more than four decades in the House, sat at the helm of the committee that decides where and how taxpayer money would be spent, giving him unique insights into how to win federal money for clients, especially in an age of earmark bans and spending cuts. He’ll also work on health, education, energy, transportation, trade and defense issues.
Former lawmakers who understand the appropriations process are highly valued, especially someone as wired and influential as Obey."Highly valued" means "Welcome to Money Street."
If you need a reminder, this is David Obey speaking in 2007 to Tina Richards, a military mom and activist opposed to the Iraq war.
The real discussion starts at 1:30. The phrase "idiot liberals" falls out of his mouth shortly after. 3:30 is also interesting, and when the guy in the background jumps in, Obey gets really hot.
At 5:00 he self-righteously says, "We do have the votes [to end the war] if you [liberal] guys stop screwing it up." That was 2007. Did the war end? Not on this planet.
David Obey is a perfect example of a corporate faux-liberal. Yes, he said "tax the rich to pay for Afghanistan" while he was head of the House Appropriations Committee and in position to do something about it, but that didn't happen either, did it.
He's a "liberal" only when the interests of the Obama Coalition (which is real) intersect the interests of the Corporate Dem Coalition, which is also real. But he hates progressives with a passion, as the above clip shows — even though he strutted like one in Wisconsin.
Obey's a nice reminder of what supporting him gets you. Maybe progressives should spend their time and money supporting only those who like them. Maybe they should strengthen the Progressive Coalition for a change, and make progressives a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, to do that, you'd have to bite the David Obeys of the world when they attack. Just a thought. Retainers.
GP
