Let us face it. There are elites among Democrats too. These are people who think they are doing us all a great favor by working for the Government. While they are in power, they build up networks of powerful people. When they leave Government they cash in. Free limousines. Dinners with titans of business. Golf junkets. Rides on corporate jets. All in the expectation that soon they will be back in Government able to repay the favors.
It may not be the Abramoff scandal, but the Daschle episode is a lesson in how the ethos of the go-go years collide with the reality of the Recession. He was not the worst. And he helped elect the best to the Whitehouse. But in the end, Daschle too must play by the new rules.
But, doesn't everybody do it? Can you become a Senator and function without such perks? Not everybody does it. Sen. Paul Wellstone remained a man of the people even after he was elected to the Senate. He could drive himself to the airport and check in like any of us. Granted, it was in the years before the extra security measures caused by 9/11. Still, he did not think that he was underpaid as a Senator: he pointed out actually his income went up from that of a college professor.
Sen. William Proxmire represented Wisconsin for 32 years without becoming one of the elite. He holds the record for the most consecutive roll call votes cast: 10,252. He was an early opponent of the Vietnam war. Every year he identified the most wasteful Government expenditure and publicised it with the Golden Fleece award. In other words, he actually did what Sen. John McCain claims to have done. There are many good Americans serving humbly without fanfare and without getting corrupted by the lures the lobbyists offer.
Sen. Biden rode the train to work for over thirty years from Delaware. Instead of getting a cushy job as a lobbyist, Jill Biden made a living teaching English at a community college. No, everyone doesn't do it. We still have Bernie Sanders and Claire McCaskill in the Senate.
If someone wants to become a lobbyist after years of Government service, let them do it. Just don't expect to return to Government work. The argument that these are people whose talents we cannot do without is bogus. It is a big country. Political talent is rare, but if we cast a wide net, we will find people who can do great work. We don't need to go to the same incestuous cliques that run the country no matter which party is in power. We don't need to turn to the children of the same elite to represent us.
OK, Daschle is not in the same sleazy company as Packwood. Even Sen. Dole cashed in and became a lobbyist. But neither of them are returning to Government service.
At a time when people are outraged at bankers on public dole buying private jets, we cannot afford to hire a former Senator who didn't pay taxes for his limousine and chauffeur. Sen. Daschle is a good man, and if he wants to return to public service, he could take some years off from lobbying and work for a non-profit group or think tank. I hear the Washington subway is very good. Maybe he ought to check it out.