How Rich Is Congress?

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/entertainment/congress-financial-information

Congress is big news these days. For what, we’re not really sure seeing as how they don’t seem to get much done, but the fact remains, Congress is big news. Also big news…the fact that Americans are remarkably broke these days. No matter how hard we work, it still seems to be just enough to put food on the table and iPods in our Burberry backpacks.

Meanwhile, as this highly entertaining infographic from the people at Online Schools explains, Congress is ballin’ out of control. Must be nice.

[blm]

1. BIG LIE in a graphic focusing on Kerry - Teresa's money is NOT HIS. They've ALWAYS kept it separate

The other big lie is that it attacks those Dems who do have money though they have consistently sided with funding programs for those in need and the worker.


This graphic is just another way of claiming that both sides are the same. How long with the left be expected to fall for that BIG LIE?

[Obamanaut]

2. The *really* big lie is the one suggesting that the people in congress,

nearly half of whom are millionaires (some many times over), are going to do anything at all that will adversely impact their country club buddies. People actually believe that. Well, some do.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20101117/pl_yblog_theticket/half-of-lawmakers-in-congress-are-millionaires

<snip> The report, based on financial disclosures covering the calendar year 2009, finds that 261 House and Senate members reported a net worth of more than $1 million. Of those, 55 had an average wealth of $10 million or more, and eight lawmakers reported holdings of $100 million or more.


And here's an interesting post from an earlier thread. Note the occurance of (D) alongside the names.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=956944#957675

28. Here are the top 10 most valuable players in congress

Name Maximum Net Worth
Darrell Issa (R-Calif) $451,100,000.00
Jane Harman (D-Calif) $435,429,001.00
Vernon Buchanan (R-Fla) $366,180,982.00
John Kerry (D-Mass) $294,869,059.00
Jared Polis (D-Colo) $285,123,996.00
Mark Warner (D-Va) $283,077,995.00
Herb Kohl (D-Wis) $231,245,995.00
Michael McCaul (R-Texas) $201,537,000.00
James E. Risch (R-Idaho) $179,131,990.00
Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa) $136,218,002.00

[bighart]

4. I found the information interesting.

[blm]

5. Another example of the lie...they add Teresa's wealth to Kerry though the funds are legally separate

and always HAVE BEEN since they married in 1995.

Kerry, like Ted Kennedy, has always voted for and to protect programs that aided the lives of the disadvantaged and the workers.

Graphs like this are deliberately set up to LIE the left into seeing both parties as the same. Tell that to Wisconsin...tell that to Michigan....tell that to Ohio. Who BENEFITS from the lie that both parties are the same? Only the fascists.

[Obamanaut]

6. 'Legally' separate is splitting hairs a bit. No one *really* believes the

husband doesn't benefit from the wealth of the wife, do they? Rreally? Or the social/business connections?

[blm]

7. Baloney - he already HAD that, but, the BIG MONEY was deliberately kept separate for

their own reasons. Obviously it is being used as a tool to push the idea that he could never care about anyone else because of the money. Tell that to Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Florida Dems who would probably appreciate a Governor Kerry in their state.

You also refuse to note that there is any difference between a wealthy Democrat who works for issues that protect and enrich the lives of the disadvantaged and the worker, and the wealthy Republican who works only to enrich the powerful at the expense of the disadvantaged.

If you can't see a difference and the BIG LIES in that graphic, gee, why should freepers? Hey all, let's vote for Kasich the postman's son....he's more like us than a wealthy guy like Kerry or Kennedy, and we'll be able to count on him to protect the poor and working class.

Get to the bottom line of the argument. The BIG LIE that there is no difference and somehow Kerry is the worst of them all benefits ONLY the GOP.

[Obamanaut]

12. Does anyone *really* think that a congressperson worth millions (and

nearly half of them are) is going to do anything at all that will greatly benefit, as you said, "the poor and working class" if it adversely affects the members of their own club?

Really? Does one? Even if the bulk of their wealth is that of his or her spouse (wink, wink)?

One wonders where all the gains are, for "the poor and working class" that could have occurred during the period when the Dems controlled the WH, the Senate, and the House.

They don't exist because the only thing that changes after an election is a small number of names on the roll call.

"Hopey-changey" doesn't exist in DCspeak, it is actually "same old, same old."

[blm]

13. You obviously have no idea who Kerry is. He's proven already that he'd risk his life for that

of another human being, no matter their life circumstance.

He also has uncovered more government corruption, including the BANKING SYSTEM, than any lawmaker in modern history. He worked for 5 years to investigate BCCI, and just about every institution in DC was set against him, including the powerful in his own party at the time. Knowledgeable activists would be aware of this by now.

You are only proving that YOU buy into the narratives fed you by the corporate machine that works against some of the best Dem leaders by making the claim that there is no difference.

[hfojvt]

8. Kerry may be one of the best of the rich

although in some states, as I understand it, you cannot keep funds separate, at least not in their growth. That it, in community property states, if she had $80 million when they married and she has $300 million now, then he is entitled to half of that increase, or $110 million.

Of course, I don't know if Mass is a community property state.

If you look at that list though, Herb Kohl is a long-time DINO. He took the lead in getting the Bush tax cuts passed in 2001. When it was suggested in the 1990s that Republican Governor Tommy Thompson run against Kohl, Thompson joked that there was no a lot of difference between himself and Kohl, policy-wise, except that Thompson was more of a Brewers fan and Kohl, of course, favored the Bucks. Around that time, Kohl was, once again, voting with Republicans to cut taxes for the rich.

And Mark Warner was on PBS touting social security 'reform', so I am not sure if he is worth a bucket of spit either.

[blm]

9. The graphic has Kerry as its focus. What the hell are any of you thinking when you condone it and

even defending its exaggerated focus on Kerry?

[Obamanaut]

11. I was for defending him before I was against it. nt

[blm]

15. Try reading the National Security Archives - take Kerry out of the last 30 years and see what

you get.

[Obamanaut]

16. It would seem, from your responses, that you are a Kerry fan. Opinions

vary.

My opinion is that people should not be allowed to make a career of congress. After a couple of terms, or a maximum of eight or ten years, they should be replaced. People talk of term limits, and this is the ideal way to do it.

Congress members will not pass legislation that will adversely affect their status or perks, or those of any of their friends.

People say "My senator (or representative) is not like that. He is one of the good ones." The sad truth is they are all the same. If they are not the same when elected, they soon become just like the others. Power and money corrupt, and politicians are not immune.

[blm]

17. I am someone who knows history. Opinions SHOULDN'T vary when the facts are irrefutable.

It would seem, from your response, that you know very little about the significance of Kerry's efforts over the last 30years, probably because so few people get their news from actual documents and real government reports and sworn testimony.

So, since you couldn't answer the challenge with actual facts, you think supposing it's all 'Kerry fan' is sufficient argument.

Pathetic. Read National Security Archives and voting records and then try again.

[Obamanaut]

18. Nearly half of the members of congress are extremely wealthy, and

a chart is published.

The 'fans' of any one of those listed in that chart can glom onto the information and state while clutching their beads "My senator is not like that. He's one of the good one."

It's a similar argument when people are talking about the poor performance of congress: "My senator is not like that. He's one of the good one." Actually, it's the same argument, isn't it.

Keep on keeping on.

[blm]

19. Except Kerry's ACTUAL performance has been as one of the good guys and the best ever on open govt

matters, especially in regard to corruption. So...how is it that YOU are unaware of that IRREFUTABLE fact? The ONE lawmaker who uncovered IranContra, BCCI, CIA drugrunning, and the corruption of the S&Ls is no different to you than Darryl Issa....because YOU SAY it's the only way a wealthy person CAN BE is absurd.

You GENERALIZE to the point that the lawmaker who has uncovered more government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history is no different than those who supported the corruption, simply BECAUSE he has some wealth and his wife has plenty of her own (wealth that happened to subsidize much of the environmental movement the last 20 years, by the way).

[texshelters]

10. What people would see Kerry's name on the list and think

that the parties are the same on the issues? I think you have overreacted here. Yes, Kerry has a good record, and has even voted against trade deals that didn't have worker and environmental protections in them. But what about Ben Nelson, Democrat by convenience, and his horrible record? I see it as more of a general indictment of who is running our national government, not as an attack on Kerry. Anyone who can't see the difference or find out about each representatives voting records has no credibility with me.



Peace,
Tex Shelters

[blm]

14. The graphic in the OP focuses squarely on Kerry. The GOP has been funding this type of attack

that makes Dems look guiltier than they for carrying water for the rich, or for being no different on policy. It's disgusting when Dems fall for it.

[texshelters]

20. yes, the graphic at the top featured Kerry

and it's pretty insipid. The basic idea that Congress is NOT us still holds true and many in Congress use their wealth and connection to defend their own wealth instead of helping the people.

I just ignored th e graphic for the most part, it was poorly done and tacky. And the point is Kerry's perceived wealth was effectively used against him to paint him as an elitist and Bush as a man you would have a beer with, ha ha. As if.

Moreover, I would put some of that on Kerry's campaign for not defending his record and letting the swift boat lie get traction.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[RC]

3. Congressional Freshman Class Filled With Millionaires

Seven House freshmen, all Republican, followed Blumenthal on the list of Congress' wealthiest new members. Those freshmen, along with their estimated wealth, are:
Diane Lynn Black of Tennessee ($49.4 million)
Rick Berg of North Dakota ($39.2 million)
Blake Farenthold of Texas ($35.8 million)
Scott Rigell of Virginia ($29.9 million)
James Renacci of Ohio ($28.4 million)
Steve Pearce of New Mexico ($23.2 million)
Richard Hanna of New York ($22.1 million)

Last year, the Center {for Responsive Politics} estimated there were 261 millionaires in the 111th Congress.


http://www.wkrg.com/financial/article/congressional-freshman-class-filled-with-millionaires/1205362/Mar-09-2011_7-07-pm/


I think there might be a clue here somewhere.

[kenny blankenship]

21. Compared to you or compared to rich people?

Compared with average Americans, yes Congress (house and senate) are rich. Compared to Wall St.? Congress is their live in maid.