congrats on the endorsement, Bern!

[enid602]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/24/786031/-

After fraud settlement, Paul Kirk decided to pay insurance CEO $21.5 million
By littlesis , Thursday Sep 24, 2009  9:34 PM PDT

The same year that Hartford Insurance settled a $20 million fraud suit with the state of New York, board member and compensation chair Paul Kirk decided to make the company's CEO the second-highest paid executive in the insurance industry.
Today, Kirk was named Kennedy's successor in the Senate by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick.
Sunlight's Paul Blumenthal detailed Paul Kirk's corporate ties in a post this morning, highlighting his role on Hartford Financial Services' compensation committee and his past lobbying work for Aventis pharmaceuticals. He also noted that Kirk helped make CEO Ramani Ayer one of the most overpaid executives in the country, according to Forbes, with compensation of $9 million in 2008. The New York Times chose to report exactly none of this in an article posted this afternoon.
The Hartford is an insurance company, so it wasn't very hard to find areas where they've run afoul of the law. Seriously: google "Hartford Financial" fraud. There you have it: in 2006, the company agreed to pay $20 million to settle an investigation by New York and Connecticut into fraudulent sales of retirement products:
"This investigation shows how payoffs and deception influenced major deals for retirement products," Spitzer said. "This was wrong. But the company at the center of the scandal has acknowledged misconduct, provided compensation for those who were harmed, and implemented reforms that will help protect retirees in the future."
The Attorney General’s office began its investigation of the marketing of retirement products last year after receiving tips indicating that insurance companies might be making secret payments to insurance brokers to recommend group annuities to pension plans.
Perhaps Kirk misheard that bit about compensating victims. That very same year, as chair of the compensation committee, he decided to pay the Hartford's CEO $21.5 million in salary and benefits, making him the second-highest paid insurance executive in the country, according to Forbes.
Hustling retirees continues to be a core competency of the Hartford, it seems. In recent months, the company's lobbyists have been fighting 401k fee transparency.
Word has it that the Kennedy family pushed hard for Kirk's appointment. Is this what they stand for?
This post originally appeared on Eyes on the Ties, the blog of LittleSis.org, an involuntary facebook of powerful people maintained by a community of watchdogs. Follow us on Twitter: @twittlesis!

[Scootaloo]

1. You mad?

[enid602]

5. no

No . Looks like Bern's finally earned a seat at the big kids' table. Endorsed by a real live capitalista.

[Scootaloo]

7. You mad.

[Ed Suspicious]

9. I doubt he'll have much influence on Bernie's policy proposals. We welcome whomever wants

to profess their support for the Senator.

[Empowerer]

11. Interesting, isn't it?

[Ed Suspicious]

12. How's that?

[Empowerer]

18. It's interesting that whenever Hillary Clinton is endorsed by anyone who has any smudge

on their record - or even when they don't - it is treated here as proof of how corrupt she supposedly is. And everyone who endorses her is subjected to a pile-on attack by Sanders supporters who insist that they are either corrupt, corporatist, in the tank, bought off or are otherwise naive, ignorant or stupid.

Yet, when Sanders is endorsed by someone with something troubling on their record, the kind of thing that would have been red meat had anyone endorsing Clinton had such a history, it is being brushed off as no big deal and certainly no reflection on Sanders.

I find that very interesting.

[Ed Suspicious]

21. I just trust Bernie. I don't trust Clinton. That's just me. I don't speak for the rest the rest of

us even though I might us a plural pronoun now and again.

I don't think I've scrutinized endorsements for Clinton in that way, however. I usually scoff at the idea, but not the endorser themselves. I hate it when a union goes her way, but I don't start investigating for malfeasance or anything. I just accept it for what it is, gather my disappointment, and move on. (another great Bernie endorsement btw)

[Empowerer]

25. That's great. You're not part of the problem.

Many other supporters probably feel the same way, but they pretend otherwise. If they don't trust Clinton, that's one thing. But to insist that everyone who endorses her is corrupt while everyone who endorses Sanders is above reproach, even when they have the same backgrounds, profiles and strengths and weaknesses as Clinton's supporters is hypocritical.

It's nice to see that you aren't stooping to that.

[Warren DeMontague]

39. Yeah, well, i keep hearing that Sanders supporters are everything from racist klan members

To pony wanting stalinists to libertarian rand paul acolytes.

That sanders supporters suffer from something called "white man pathology", and we are such horrible people THE ENTIRE INTERNET (!) cant stop talking about how awful we are, which is odd because when Sanders wins moveon's endorsement based on what their members want, Hill folk go on about "well that doesnt count, of course the internet is for sanders"..

A lot of people I like and respect are supporting Hillary. But for some reason her campaign seems to have attracted some of the worst, most toxic personality types, too. A lot of people seem to be carrying a grudge match from 2008, or something else.

[Empowerer]

41. It's too bad that anyone would say that, but the difference is that such comments

are outliers by a very few people and do not dominate the discussions. On the other hand, the kinds of behavior that I'm referring to on the part of the Sanders supporters is not an exception - it is the theme and overwhelming approach here on DU and many other places on the internet. The two aren't even comparable.

For example, I defy you to find a critical mass - beyond a smattering here and there - of personal attacks on Bernie Sanders or his endorsers by Clinton supporters. On the other hand, this place is inundated with very, very personal attacks on Hillary Clinton and just about everyone who has endorsed her. She's called names ("liar" being one of the milder but most prevalent), called out of her name ("Shillery," "Her Royal Highness," etc.), accused of all manner of criminal activity, and more - often the attackers don't even bother to come up with original material, but instead just cut and paste from right wing websites. Her supporters are told that they aren't "real" liberals, they are "corporatists," or they are stupid and naive.

And that's not an occasional outburst from a few zealots - it's becoming a pattern and practice here. I don't think this is being done by a majority of Sanders supporters, but it is being done by a group that is becoming increasingly dominant, loud, nasty and overbearing.

[Ed Suspicious]

42. Hostile Media Effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostile_media_effect

[Warren DeMontague]

43. They're not outliers. There have probably been 300 threads here in the past 6 months with the

Same basic theme, ie "sanders supporters are racist/misogynist/blahblahblah"

Never mind that "Sanders supporters" arent on the ballot.

If Hillary Clinton says something demonstratably untrue, it is legitimate to call her on it. Her campaign's current meme, that sanders wants to take away peoples health insurance, is flat out disingenuous at best.

When she claims her ties to wall st. Are okay "Because nineneleven", well, thats just ridiculous.

When one month she wants the public to believe that she doesnt understand what "wipe a server" means, and the next she is telling silicon valley to censor the internet and start a "manhattan project" to do the mathematically impossible around encryption becuase of her deep understanding of tech issues...

Again, come the fuck on.

[Empowerer]

48. 300 threads in the last 6 months?

Out of how many thousands of threads?

On the other hand, there have probably been that many such threads from Sanders supports in just the last week. And even more pro-Hillary threads that are hijacked by Sanders supporters intent on spitting all over even the mildest praise or good words for her, her campaign or her endorsers.

And I'm not talking about calling out a candidate on a policy issue or for something they said. The attacks on Hillary and her endorsers are at a totally different level. It sounds like you don't see it, so pointing it out to you is probably not a good use of my time.

But thanks for the civil discussion - except for your last sentence, which wasn't necessary.

[Warren DeMontague]

49. well, I do swear like a fuckin' sailor. It's one of my myriad character flaws.

I have no problem with Hillary supporters for their supporting Hillary. We simply have a difference of opinion on who should be the nominee.

I also have no problem with people who choose to endorse her. I certainly am not going to take on Planned Parenthood for making that decision. Their call, doesn't affect my support for them or their mandate.

[Empowerer]

50. :-)

[enid602]

31. holder

I died a little the last few days when swarms of Bernie's harpies descended on DU to do a hatchet job on Eric Holder. It was like having to watch Louie Gohmert grill him on the House floor all over again. Disgraceful.

[Empowerer]

37. It was disgusting

And while they were not as voluminous, the attacks and smears on Anthony Foxx were also disgusting.

It's interesting that these folks consistently attack people for no other reason than that they are "career" politicians, regardless how committed and effective they are, insisting that the very fact that they have chosen to commit themselves to politics makes them corrupt and claim that we need more "real" people in politics - and then the minute anyone gets in to politics, they blast and belittle them for being part of the "establishment."

[Fawke Em]

29. From his speech endorsing Bernie, it sounds like he no longer believes in corporatism, as well.

Some people really do evolve outside of political aspirations.

[enid602]

40. . . . .

. . . In other words, if it still has a pulse, it's welcome.

[Xipe Totec]

2. You seem to be a fifth ahead of me

I'm catching up.

Trust me.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Kirk's corruption is hereby annulled.

See how that works? Once you endorse Bernie, you are cleansed of all past sins.

This dishonesty will be repeated by the Professional Leftists including, Cenk Uygar, Ed Schultz, Van Jones, etc...

[Scootaloo]

6. "Professional Leftists" - there you go again with that.

Y'know that's a right-wing term, yeah?

[enid602]

8. shower

It's going to take more than a 20 minute shower in hot hot holywater to wash away this guy's sins.

[Fawke Em]

30. Rahm? Is that you?

Shouldn't you be resigning your mayor-ship over the Laquan McDonald murder?

[enid602]

59. Rahm

Of course, that's Rahm's problem, he hasn't endorsed Bernie. Once he does, his little political problems will just go away.

[Fawke Em]

60. No. I was responding to the poster calling liberals "the Professional Left."

Rahm called the left much worse, of course, but Robert Gibbs paraphrased Rahm's curse into "the professional left."

[Dawson Leery]

4. Alternet has it too:

http://www.alternet.org/story/142930/kennedy's_senate_replacement_rewarded_insurance_ceo_for_fraud

[riversedge]

61. Thanks

[Motown_Johnny]

10. The double standards presented by Clinton supporters are just amazing.

Yesterday I did nothing more than say an interview Howard Dean did made him look bad and was immediately attacked for throwing him under the bus.


Yet, this blatant attack goes without challenge.

Well guess what, I won't challenge it either. You have every right to your opinion and I respect that it is being presented in a factual way.

Have a nice day.

[Empowerer]

13. There are double standards on both sides

DU's been inundated with multiple, long threads smearing everyone who endorses her. I have not seen similar attacks on every single person endorsing Senator Sanders.

[Dawson Leery]

14. Yes. Hillary is constantly attacked here.

Same as in 2008, I was not member back then as I saw the cespool of hatred against her.

[underthematrix]

28. I think of this forum as the DU Bernie bubble.

It doesn't reflect what is going on in the real world. Bubbles are like that. And yes, the number of negative HRC spin articles posted on this forum is significant.

But HRC is getting the BEST endorsements from people who are cultural and political icons in the AA community and to the Obama Coalition as well.

i think she's doing great. Although if you spent all your time in DU Bernie Bubble world, you would never know it.

In a way, it's sort of the same hatred Obama has had to endure for the past almost eight years. I think people will make the connection between Obama and HRC hate and that's good for HRC.

[Dawson Leery]

32. Her social media following is 5 times larger tha Bernie's.

The idea that people are not listening to her is more than absurd.

John Lewis, Eric Holder, and Trayvon's mother need to go on the trail with Hillary.

Agree on this: s"In a way, it's sort of the same hatred Obama has had to endure for the past almost eight years. I think people will make the connection between Obama and HRC hate and that's good for HRC."

[Ed Suspicious]

44. Yup yup yup yup yup. Aha aha.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3038621/More-2-MILLION-Hillary-Clinton-s-Twitter-followers-fake-never-tweet.html

[underthematrix]

45. A couple of other sports figures and Nnamdi Asomugha did an event

with her. He's Kerry Washington's husband and Kerry is the star of Scandal. HRC has five times the followers on Twitter. Twitter is really all the action happens. HRC sent out this great post following PBO's #SOTU which made clear she was gonna run on his accomplishments and add her policy agenda to it. This is the way to the Obama Coalition. And HRC has made it clear she's gonna take on the NRA and make gunsense laws part of her core policy agenda.

I like how HRC is getting it done.

[Empowerer]

36. Very true

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Because many of his are from members voting to endorse him, like MoveOn

and 5 unions (while Hillary has no endorsements won through members votes).

[Empowerer]

19. I wasn't aware that Kirk or Eric Holder or Anthony Foxx or Sybrina Fulton or John Lewis

are member organizations.

But that aside, your hairsplitting does not obviate my point. The "Member Vote" exception is bs.

[Motown_Johnny]

22. Power elites in the Establishment endorsing a power elite in the establishment is to be expected.

The ~ 80 - 20 vote from MoveOn members is something very different.

[Empowerer]

27. How are Anthony Foxx and John Lewis and Sabryna Fulton "power elites in the establishment?"

Last edited Thu Jan 14, 2016, 11:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Please explain.

[Dawson Leery]

38. Sabryna Fulton a "power elite"?

[underthematrix]

46. Sabryna is a cultural icon and is one of the faces of the

Black Lives Matter or what I like to call now thanks to PBO, the Justice Matters movement.

[Dawson Leery]

51. My post was a critique of the anti-Hillary people

who attack anyone who supports her.

Hillary will do right by Ms. Fulton, Bernie will not.

[underthematrix]

52. Of course HRC will do right by her. I'm very very

Happy Ms. Fulton endorsed HRC. I said so on Ms. Fulton FB page.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

17. Check the OP above you.

[Empowerer]

24. You clearly missed my point

Certainly there are individual criticisms of every endorsement. But Sanders supporters pile on with their criticisms and virtually drown out everyone else in thread after thread and then claim, "EVERYBODY is doing it, not just us. Just yesterday, somewhere in here someone criticized Bernie, so don't say it's just us."

You remind me of conservative apologists who, in response to complaints about the vicious and racist attacks on this President by mainstream Republicans, including members of their leadership respond with "Oh, come on. It happens on both sides. When George Bush was President, the Dixie Chicks said mean things about him once" as if the two situations are equivalent.

There's no equivalency here either. Sanders supporters (not all, but the loudest and most visible minority) are way over the top on this and engage in this exponentially more often than the Clinton supporters do.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

26. You tell us that we remind you of conservative apologists. I assume you don't wish to remain civil.

You're dead wrong, but we could go back and forth all night claiming the other is wrong, with no objective proof to ever settle the matter.

So bye.

[lunamagica]

16. So, a corrupt one percenter? Interesting...

Thanks for this very informative post, Enid

[enid602]

47. hype

You know I risk banishment from the BS Group for saying this, but the irony of the situation is enhamced by all the hype and manure being spread this AM regarding Bern's mysterious and influential edorsement soon to be announced.

[ejbr]

20. And he backed Obama...

what are you trying to say about Obama?

[enid602]

34. good try

The article was written after BHO's election. Good try.

[ejbr]

54. Same person

And if Hillary can rely on the ignorant masses to support her candidacy, Bernie should get an occasional pass too.

And proof that Bernie knows any more then Obama did or didn't?

[lunamagica]

23. Does Sanders know about this?

[enid602]

33. bernie

I have a feeling he'll be diistancing himself.

[Dawson Leery]

35. Bernites somehow think that Kirk - Teddy Kennedy.

Kirk will have no net effect for Sanders.

[lunamagica]

53. Distance? After all the hype? I think it's too late. So is sanders incompentent or a hypocrite?

If he didn't know, it shows incompentece on his part

If he does, he is a hypocrite.

Which is it?

[ejbr]

55. If you are supporting Hillary,

then you know what a hypocrite looks like. You tell us

[lunamagica]

56. Oh, but he is honest and pure as the driven snow...you know, he is diffetent...not a politician...

[ejbr]

57. You mean he must

demonstrate perfection in order to be taken seriously while Clinton just requires a mention of her name; any semblance of propriety out the door?

And should we examine all of Clintons endorsements? Yes, she has so many that don't appear to be doing much so this grabbing at straws to reduce Bernie to her level must be tiring. Calling her out is SO much easier.

Let's just say he and Kirk are close because of 9/11. Will that satisfy your angst?

[lunamagica]

58. Perfection? Please, expecting him not to associate with the people he is supposedly figting against

is not perfection

I'm very proud to have people like Rep. Lewis, Gaby Giffords, Sybrina Fultonn on Hillary's side. True heroes. Honest people full of courage an integrity.

(angst? That's funny )

[ejbr]

62. 9/11 n/t