Rum, Romanism and Rebellion

On last night’s Arizona Illustrated, Republican Pooh-Bah John Munger spoke about the candidacy of Jim Pederson. When Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Donna Branch-Gilby brought up that Pederson is rich, but a self-made rich man, Munger said “I have a problem with that…” Munger proceded to complain about wealthy people running for the United States Senate.

Wow. You would almost think that Munger would be for public financing to prevent such a thing from happening, but no, he later trashed the state’s Clean Elections system as a failure, even though many of his Republican friends don’t seem to have a problem running under it.

Munger also complained that Pederson’s announced donation of $2,000,000 to his own campaign is forcing Jon Kyl to spend all of this extra money. Once again, Republicans are whining that a Democrat is campaigning. ¡Pobrecitos!

When Branch-Gilby said that this is still dwarfed by Kyl’s $7,300,000 warchest, Munger had an interesting riposte. Kyl’s money can only come in $4,000 donations, you know, from regular working folks. He said this as if there are thousands sweat drenched working mothers writing $3000 and $4000 checks to Kyl in their breaks between their waitressing and telemarketing jobs.

The defense that Kyl is being “forced” to raise this money is even more silly, since he raised nearly $3,000,000 in the 2000 cycle when he had no major party opponent. Did his supporters complain then that the Green Party candidate “forced” him to raise and spend all that money?

Munger’s defense of Kyl seemed to imply that he is some normal guy that happens to be in the senate. So much better a better guy than some plutocrat like Pederson, I guess. Well, what was Kyl before a Senator? He was a congressman. Before he was a congressman? A lobbyist. Oh yeah, and his father was a congressman too. Yes, Jon Kyl, much more of a regular guy than Jim Pederson.

PS - Munger is one of many state Republicans touting the fact that Time magazine picked John McCain and Jon Kyl as two of our country’s ten best senators. So, I suppose that they will be slathering praise on Edward Kennedy, who made the list as well.

PPS - I wanted to point out that Munger himself practices real estate law, among other things, which means he has done pretty well for himself in the same industry that Pederson is in. A quick perusal of his firm’s website shows that they also handle “immigration law:”

We can help your company compete in the global marketplace by assisting you in hiring foreign individuals with needed skills including professionals, technicians, management, executive personnel, or other accomplished individuals. We can also help the corporate client establish or expand operations in the United States by assisting in the transfer of managers, executives or specialists from affiliated entities abroad to the United States.

The Firm can help your company develop compliance plans and conduct private audits to prevent fines for failure to maintain certain immigration and labor-related paperwork. Munger Chadwick can help your company bring world class athletes, entertainers and entertainment groups, or cultural exchange groups to the U.S. for international festivals, meets, performances, etc.

Wow, Munger Chadwick will help you “prevent fines” for breaking labor and immigration laws. Nice. Also, they will help you find those foreign workers that you can pay 25% less than an American worker. Interestingly, immigration, possibly the biggest issue going for his party right now, was undiscussed in the interview.