Posts Tagged ‘Evan Bayh’

After Evan Bayh announced he was retiring, he wrote a scathing critique of Congress. He bemoaned partisan bickering, constant campaigns caused by growing campaign spending, corporate involvement in the process, and constant filibusters, among other things. It was a gripping read. I think the sentiment of his op-ed is summed up by this statement:

What is required from members of Congress and the public alike is a new spirit of devotion to the national welfare beyond party or self-interest.

Most wouldn’t argue Bayh was a great senator, and he didn’t champion the changes he called for in the op-ed piece, but it was refreshing to see such honesty. It was also interesting to see a moderate call for these changes. In hindsight, perhaps we should have wondered why he didn’t just stay in the Senate to work for these changes. He claimed he thought he could make more of a difference teaching at a university or helping a foundation.

Those seemed like honorable ideas, though the idea that you can make more of a difference at either of those places than in the Senate is a disheartening one. But at least you could say Evan Bayh was making a reasonable move. He had had enough of corporate money and corruption and overt partisanship and what it was doing to America, so he chose another path.

Or the exact opposite. Bayh has accepted positions with McGuire Woods law firm, whose principal clients are “national energy companies, foreign countries, international manufacturing companies, trade associations and local and national businesses,” giant public-equity firm Apollo Management Group, and partisan machine Fox News.

So much for the flowery talk of being sick of corporate corruption and greed and hyper partisanship. I guess when he decided he wanted to make a difference he meant the exact opposite of that. He wants to work to maintain the status quo while making a few bucks. So much for a “new spirit of devotion to the national welfare beyond party or self-interest.”

Enjoy how things are.

Adam Feser