In my decade or so in Washington, D.C., while I was not even close to a quasi-regular on Capitol Hill, I did have occasion, for work purposes, to attend House and Senate hearings and several lobbying-type events.
On nearly every one of these trips, two things always stuck in my craw: 1) the unbridled arrogance of the 20-something staffers and 2) the remarkable deference with which the House and Senate members were treated.
An article in today's New York Times about recent overcrowding in what are supposed to be Senator-only elevators made me think about the latter observation again, and how the way elected officials are treated exacerbates the how-dare-you attitude expressed by Joe Lieberman during this primary challenge.
Sen. Lautenberg of New Jersey is the literary string for this particular article, as he explains some of the background behind the Senators-only elevators, which even come with their own attendants to perform the arduous task of pushing the floor buttons:
"I hesitate to say that it's a big problem," said Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey, shaking his head gravely. "There is terrific crowding."
The crowding extends to the elevators, one of the few sanctuaries available to beleaguered lawmakers as they try to navigate between the Senate chamber, various hearing rooms and offices in the Capitol.
"Sometimes you have to shove your way through, push people," Mr. Lautenberg said.
The article details some of the famous stories of the Senate elevator, including Strom Thurmond pawing at the then freshman senator from Washington, Pat Murray. And one Paul Wellstone, who, it is explained, went out of his way to invite members of the public onto the elevator with him. That, of course, is no surprise. But he may be the exception to the rule.
Worse, senators sometimes share their moving sanctums with staff members, lobbyists and T-shirt-clad tourists who apparently missed (or ignored or cannot read) the senators-only signs.
Or, double-worse, with reporters.
"No, no, no, c'mon, c'mon," Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania complained recently as about 10 reporters trailed his colleague Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York onto a senators-only elevator.
My point is this: Many of these guys and gals get treated like they are royalty. Go to a hearing, and you will see their DKNY-clad staffers scurrying behind them as they walk into the room, taking orders like pesky servants. You will witness unbelievable levels of ass-kissing by those attending the hearing who happen to be in handshake length or worse, are about to testify. At lobbying events, it seems as if the women all but curtsy and the men bow to a legislator. And, to be honest, it seems as if that is what the legislators want and expect.
That's why I was so impressed with Sherrod Brown during one event I attended a few years ago. There was no attitude. He was just a guy doing his job. He didn't seem to solicit or expect any special behavior. It was really refreshing.
Which brings me back to Joementum. The many diaries on the little old primary dust-up in which Joe finds himself have documented Joe's apparent belief that it is an insult, a personal affront that he has to engage in this unseemly, almost tawdry primary challenge. He is a Senator. Not just deserving of respect but of obedience and obeisance.
The way I have always understood it, these guys are supposed to be our employees. We put them there. Our taxes pay their salaries. And, yes, they have some staffers who help arrange tours or clear up a little problem with this or that state or federal agency that a constituent might have.
But too many legislators today just don't realize who they work for. How else can one explain the actions of Chuck Schumer and Babs Boxer with regard to Lieberman. They have been coddled for too long, been treated like they are Prince freakin' Charles.
Over the next two elections, I hope the message gets delivered loud and clear. The taxpayer is your boss. Your constituents are your boss. We'll treat you with respect, but you better damn well reciprocate, or we're gonna do our damndest to boot your ass from office.