Don Pesci: Connecticut's rich Democratic politicians
In politics, including in Connecticut, there are two kinds of riches: personal riches – Democrat Dick Blumenthal, weighing in at $67 million, is among the eight richest senators in Congress – and campaign riches.
Democrat U.S Sen. Chris Murphy, who complains often enough that hustling campaign dollars wastes time that he might otherwise more profitably spend demonizing the National Rifle Association – which recently signaled its support of a bill championed by Murphy and fellow NRA demonizer Blumenthal, the “Fix NICS Act of 2017”, that would reinforce requirements that federal agencies report all infractions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System -- currently has about $6 million in his campaign kitty. Most people could not name Murphy’s likely Republican challenger. None of them have yet hit the $60,000 mark.
Democrat Rep. Elizabeth Esty has $1.2 million in her campaign bank account. Craig Diangelo, a Republican running against Esty, had $57.16 on hand at the end of September.
So then, all the Democrats in Connecticut’s all-Democrat U.S. congressional delegation are far wealthier than their impoverished Republican challengers. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney – “two subs Joe” – has tucked away $837,805. Rep. Jim Himes, who has no Republican opponent, boasts $2.3 million. John Larson, representative for life in the gerrymandered 1st District, has pocketed $354,915. U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro has $64,969 on hand, but that modest figure only hints at a larger story. DeLauro and Larson, both representing gerrymandered districts, have been in the U.S. House for a combined total of 44 years, which suggest that neither of them is reliant on massive campaign war chests to remain in office.
Like Blumenthal, DeLauro is personally rich. Both Blumenthal and DeLauro married well. Blumenthal is married to the daughter of redundantly rich New York real estate magnate Peter Malkin, who owns the Empire State building and other money-making properties. A few years ago, Malkin and his son Anthony took Malkin Holdings public. According to the New York Post, “the company’s initial public offering raised about $754 million.” It takes money to make money, as the one-percenters say.
DeLauro is married to Stan Greenberg, pollster to Democratic stars. Greenberg’s politically high-profile clients have included such political shakers and movers within the Democratic Party as former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, the late Vice President Walter Mondale and a host of both national and international corporations and issue groups.
The CEO of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, boasts that his firm “is one of the world's premier research and strategic consulting firms. Beyond data, we provide the strategic insight necessary to develop the right messages to achieve our clients' goals. Smarter, faster and committed to our clients' interests: We work harder and think deeper than the rest.”
In off hours, the DeLauro-Greenberg team is The Great Gatsby of Washington, D.C. DeLauro shares her campaign wealth with the Democrat National Committee, which in turn parcels out its contributions, in both money and services, to other worthy and appreciative Democrats, usually incumbents like DeLauro. In turn, Greenberg is showered with business from Democratic politicians, and the bread DeLauro has thrown upon the political waters, as the Good Book says, will be returned to her after many days.
It may be difficult for some to make qualifying distinctions between this profitable loop and self-dealing, but one may be sure the loop is legal. In addition to prime property in Washington DC, where the DeLauro-Greenberg team holds salons for political activists and seasoned politicians, money buys pro-active legal services from accomplished and wealthy law firms.
Among some more slithery politicians, the phrase “it’s all perfectly legal” sometimes precedes ethically questionable dealings, which is why Honoré de Balzac said, “The secret of great fortunes without apparent cause is a crime forgotten, for it was properly done.” Mario Puzo paraphrased the quote and used it to open his novel The Godfather – “Behind every great fortune, there is a crime.”
Because of gerrymandered districts, both DeLauro and Larson will likely keep their seats in Congress in perpetuity. Still, God being just, Ecclesiastics warns us that there will be a final election, a warning that seems to be addressed especially to successful senators from Planned Parenthood:
“As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb[a] of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything …
“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”
Don Pesci is a Vernon, Conn.-based columnist.