The Honorable Thing To Do

Last year, Evan Bayh received the predictably revisionist, ‘dead celebrity’ treatment. The consummate beltway politician, perfect corporatist, moderate on social issues, husband to a Wellpoint board member, Bayh was hailed as a brave man who was just too damn tired of trying to accomplish something of substance.

'haha, i don't give a shit about your job at all. lolz!'

Once he had done his duty by killing the public option, he proclaimed he couldn’t handle DC anymore.

He was so above it all. Above the partisanship. Above the inactivity of the US Senate. Above the idea of getting trounced in the ’10 GOP wave, saying…

“I want to be engaged in an honorable line of work.”

Never has the word ‘relatively’ felt so left out. After taking a job as a Fox News contributor, he locked himself into a gig with a private equity firm, Apollo Global Management, where he could honor the pastime of fighting regulatory reform.

Today, the esteemed Senator has joined with [former Bush Chief of Staff/side-part guru] Andy Card on the most honorable crew around, the Special Olympics, suburban Jacksonville BDSM Society, U.S. Chamber of Congress.

The Chamber’s hiring of Bayh, a big name in Washington circles, will only help its efforts to delay or kill new regulatory legislation in Congress. Indeed, [Chamber Spokemsman] Donohue’s memo touts how the Chamber has filed legal briefs to challenge the validity of President Obama’s health care reform bill; successfully delayed a new Securities and Exchange Commission rule on giving shareholders a say on corporate directors; unveiled plans to undermine the clout of the fledgling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and delayed a rule forcing companies to disclose when they use conflict minerals from the Congo in their products. Bayh and Card, the memo says, will help the Chamber push this pro-corporate agenda in Washington and beyond.

I can’t think of a better homage to a Senate career distinguished only by constantly flirting with failed runs for the presidency and shilling for his honorable corporate overlords.  Go get ’em, Evan.