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Posted by on Apr 16, 2014 in Blog, Politics | 1 comment

Washed-Up Politicians for Sale — Cheap

 

blanche-lincoln-photo

Former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, just another pimped out politician for sale

 

Everything’s for sale if the price is right.

Especially, washed-up politicians.

Take for instance the discarded rejects plucked out of the political junkyard who have been recruited by both sides in the online gambling debate, which is currently underway in Washington.  

 

A cursory glance of the “free agents” signed by both camps leaves a lot to be desired.  Problem is, virtually none of these people who have joined the ongoing debate recently have any credibility.  Everyone knows their opinions and voices were for sale.

An organization billing itself as the Coalition to Stop Online Gambling, which in reality is a one-man front bankrolled almost entirely by billionaire bully Sheldon Adelson of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, recently announced they’ve added the services of a former U.S. Senator named Blanche Lincoln to their board.  Don’t worry — you’re not alone.  I had to look up her name, too.

Hiring a former senator who served two full terms might seem to be a feather in the cap of any political organization vying for attention.  That is until one realizes Sen. Lincoln has sold off enough of her feathers already to stuff a chicken.  She’s repeatedly pimped herself out to powerful multinational conglomerates willing to pay her price, including most recently — Walmart and Monsanto.  Now, add Adelson’s name to her little black book of “do no-good.”  Does anyone see a pattern emerging here?  First Walmart, then Monsanto, now Adelson — three mega-giants in their respective fields willing to do just about anything to gain political favor and destroy competition.  Hand it to Sen. Lincoln, though.  At least she’s consistent in the kind of company she keeps.

Indeed, this washed-up former politician from Arkansas is the latest flunky hired to puppet dance and whistle Dixie on command.  She joined other political retreads willing to sell whatever shred of respectability remained of their floundering careers in order to try and cash in one last time.  And just as the current debate escalates, look for Sen. Lincoln and her fellow paid mercenaries to recite the talking points provided to her like a trained seal.  The only thing missing will be a colored beach ball.  One seriously doubts if she really knows a damn thing about online gambling.

Sen. Lincoln’s 11th-hour “conversion” to the same blind faith as Adelson and the highly-suspect timing of her sudden “concern” about this issue is quite interesting.  A detailed web search of Sen. Lincoln’s previous statements and public pronouncements about online gambling and anything to do with Internet poker during her 12 years while in office (prior to being hired by the Adelson-backed organization) reveals pretty much nothing.  As in — a total blank.  In other words, she didn’t even have a position.  Now, out of nowhere, she’s become a trusted authority on this issue and has a mouthful of coercive statements ready to spew to the media, no doubt written and paid for by others.  How convenient.

Sen. Lincoln is hardly alone in arriving late to the party.  Her cohorts hired by the same political front group also lack much of a backbone on the issue.  Former New York Governor George Pataki found Adelson’s sweet brand of honey far too tempting to pass up.  So now, Poo-taki has stuck his hand in the nest along with the rest — which is getting awfully crowded with paws competing for a handout.  Yet oddly enough, while he was in office, Gov. Pataki actually favored online gambling’s expansion.  In 2006, he even signed a bill into law that allowed lottery and horse racing wagering to take place online and on mobile devices.  But now, just as paychecks start rolling in, he’s come out against all of this — despite never once uttering a peep of opposition during his three full terms while in office.  Gee, I wonder why the former governor is now $o out$poken again$t online gambling?  Anyone care to gue$$?

Unfortunately, as much good work as the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has done over the years, they’ve also misfired badly by hiring two former politicians who bring little or nothing to this fight.

Former Sen. Alfonse d’Amato has been a disappointment of epic proportions to the cause from the very start.  He was originally pegged as a key political insider who might be able to wield influence with his former Republican colleagues in gaining much-needed support for a federal bill that would legalize and regulate the industry.  Yet, I’ve seen no evidence that Sen. D’Amato has had any impact whatsoever on the debate.  Moreover, his representation for the cause in public has been a disgrace.  The numerous times I’ve come across former Sen. D’Amato in various interviews and appearances over the years, he never seems to bring up his association with the PPA, nor the rights of poker players.  So, what good has he been to the cause?

Answer — none.

At least I’ll say one thing on his behalf.  Sen. D’Amato is apparently a true believer.  He was (and still is, I presume) an active poker player who enjoys the game and fundamentally believes in what he’s doing.  That sincerity counts for something.  In fact, it counts for a lot.  At least when Sen. D’Amato opens his mouth and talks about poker, he has credibility on the issue.  I just wish he’d be more out front about it.

Sadly, the same can’t be said for former Rep. Mary Bono.  She was recently caught in an embarrassing gaffe.  Allegedly, some cringe-worthy old e-mails were leaked to the media (likely by someone inside Adelson’s camp).  At one point a few months ago before she joined the PPA’s noble cause, Rep. Bono tried to establish contact with the anti-online gambling forces.  She even went so far as to hint at offering her services to the opposition.  After these humiliating details were reported, she’s now “damaged goods” in my view.  Cut her loose.  She’s just another Blanche Lincoln.  Note:  Read the RALSTON REPORT here.  

So, the major players in the national debate can be summed up as follows.  A former senator who never had an opinion on the matter until she started getting paid.  A former governor who was for it before he was against it.  Another former senator who has been feeding at the poker trough for nearly seven years, and apparently hasn’t swung a single vote.  Finally, a former congresswoman played both sides of the fence before finally deciding what she really believes.

None of this is surprising given what politicians do.  Loyalty is for sale.  That said, if any evidence exists which suggests hiring these “has-beens” is an effective political strategy, I could swallow my idealism and go along with the program.  But apparently, none of these paid shills makes much of a difference.  When it comes to lobbying their former colleagues or swaying public opinion, they’re worthless — and that goes for both sides in the fight.

Let’s be clear about this.  None of these people deserve the media’s attention nor our respect as credible authorities on the issue of online gambling, save perhaps for Sen. D’Amato for the reasons stated.  Not as long as they’re willing to go to work for the highest bidder.

Indeed, there’s an ugly word that applies to people who sell their reputations and do anything for money.  And it applies here.

1 Comment

  1. Great article. Good overview of the players involved and funny, slightly mean analysis. 🙂

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  1. An Open Challenge to Blanche Lincoln and the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG) - Nolan Dalla - […] WASHED-UP POLITICIANS FOR SALE — CHEAP […]

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