June 4, 2011
Bad news
Politico reports that Dave Obey will join the lobbying firm headed by former Democratic leader Dick Gephardt. By most acounts, Obey gave the best speech of the night at the convention. We will try to post the entire speech.
More later.
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Kind of explains the state of affairs and how we got to where we are today: Obey gives one hell of a speech, and then goes home to lay down with his corporate sponsors like some kind of common whore.
I really hate to say it, especially in Obey's case, but only because my sense of disappointment is so profoundly felt. This revolving door between the Capitol and K Street has cost us dearly. The losses we have suffered in the last thirty years during the class war waged against us are enormously staggering, and they have been visited upon us by "our guys" who think they can just carve out a little piece of the action for themselves without consequence.
Ask yourself: "What would 'Fighting' Bob do upon retirement from Congress?" I can assure you it wouldn't involve a corner office "feathered nest" on K Street.
-Jeff Pieterick | Waterloo, WI | June 5, 2011
This is a real kick right where it counts.
Frankly, I think Dave Obey ran out on us last May. This only confirms it for me.
I don't really give a good goddamn what he had to say at the convention.
-Steve Carlson | Trego, WI. | June 5, 2011
Zach, over at Blogging Blue, commented that I did not appear to be a fan of Dave Obey, in reply to an earlier comment I made about Obey becoming a lobbyist. I followed up with the comment below, which I thought I should also post here.
I've been thinking more about your comment, Zach, and I would say, with all due respect, that it's not the right question.
Obey has been slipping for many years on major progressive issues like health care reform and war. Those of us up here who dared point that out have not been treated well.
The irony is that if his loyalists had joined us instead of ferociously defending him and attacking us, we might not be where we are today. We might have been able to save him from the obviously corrosive forces of Washington DC.
Anyone can lose their way. Even Dave Obey. There's no shame in that. The shame is in continuing down the wrong road once you know you're wrong.
Obey doesn't have to go down this path. It's not too late to turn back. And it would help trememdously if those who've been silent these last many years, and so complicit in their hero's fall from grace, would finally speak up.
-Steve Carlson | Trego, WI> | June 5, 2011
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