Earlier this morning I saw an article on Yahoo news about a Democratic senator wanting to work with the Republicans to craft a bi-partisan plan to privatize social security. The headline gave no name and I've got to admit my first thought (which was wrong) was Max Baucus. Well, it was Tom Carper, "Democrat" from Delaware.
The short article was pretty bad. Carper was quoted as saying he wanted to provide "cover" so no party would be attacked for changing social security. (Why NOT? If they break it, you know they won't fix it. So the Republicans OUGHT to take the blame).
I know Carper voted against Gonzales so I decided to find at least a little about the man other than what I know (Former Delaware governor. His secretary was dating a mid-level Mafia guy from Philly and got bumped off in an incident lavishly covered by the Philly papers). A visit to Carper's web site seemed in order.
The first item on the site trumpeted how Carper's bill had reformed class action suits. That was the only thing mweiting bold type. The rest included a visit to Rehoboth Beach with the State's Republican congressman (they have just the 1 House seat), the vote against Gonzales, and the usual "please contact me, constituents.
Others in the top 10 hits did not sound promising: a DLC leadership position, etc. Delaware has a strong financial services industry as well as a heavy corporate law presence. Other than that, northern Delaware, at the least, looks like it should be the county, if not the state of DuPont.
Carper's leaving the reservation is bad, Shooting his mouth off about providing cover for Republicans, etc, before the Bushies even send a bill up is worse.
Can Harry Reid rein this bad boy in? Can we pressure him? I suspect he might be open to heavy Delaware input.