Reply #6: Lots of liars and hypocrites around ...

[flyarm]

http://firedoglake.com/2010/02/01/senate-democrats-spend-the-weekend-with-fat-cat-lobbyists-at-the-miami-beach-ritz/

Senate Democrats Spend the Weekend with “Fat Cat” Lobbyists at the Miami Beach Ritz

By: Blue Texan Monday February 1, 2010 10:30 am

Where'd you spend the weekend?

The country is still reeling from the worst recession in 70 years, with millions of Americans unable to find work. People are drowning in bills and working more hours for less pay. All that is stoking is growing populist anger about the relationship between corporate America and government and an increasing cynicism that the whole game is rigged.

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Twelve Democratic Senators spent last weekend in Miami Beach raising money from top lobbyists for oil, drug, and other corporate interests that they often decry, according to a guest list for the event obtained by POLITICO.

The guest list for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s “winter retreat” at the Ritz Carlton South Beach Resort doesn’t include the price tag for attendance, but the maximum contribution to the committee, typical for such events, is $30,000. There, to participate in “informal conversations” and other meetings Saturday, were senators including DSCC Chairman Robert Menendez; Michigan’s Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow; Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; Claire McCaskill of Missouri; freshmen Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Begich of Alaska; and even left-leaning Bernie Sanders of Vermont. (sounds like they're all from freezing states!)

Heckuva job, Menendez. Keep writing those sternly-worded press releases.

“In the upcoming elections, voters will face a choice between Republicans who are standing with Wall Street fat cats, bankers and insurance companies — or Democrats who are working hard to clean up the mess we inherited by putting the people’s interests ahead of the special interests,” Menendez said in a press release last Wednesday.

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Here’s a little free advice, Bob. If you want to appear to be sticking it to the “fat cats,” you probably shouldn’t be caught wining and dining them at the Ritz Fucking Carlton.