Cantor’s triumphant return
by digby
Politico reports today that Eric Cantor returned to his old Washington stomping grounds to
1) restart his political career
2) help others with their political careers
Eight months ago Eric Cantor was forced out of office amid charges that he had lost touch with his Virginia constituents, derailing the political career of the man who was in line to be the first Jewish speaker of the House.
Now he’s back.
At a reception celebrating the D.C. office opening of his investment banking firm Tuesday night, it was like he had never left House Republican leadership. Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) held court among the guests, including now Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.), Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (N.C.), Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), plus a few House Democrats and a handful of GOP senators.
The high powered event for Moelis & Co. is just the latest sign of Cantor’s reemergence as a political and fundraising force. The former House majority leader had practically dropped off of the Beltway radar after unexpectedly losing his primary to Tea Party candidate Dave Brat. His reputation as a political savant was battered after Brat, a virtual unknown, trounced him despite Cantor outspending him by millions of dollars.
Now, Cantor is lending his name to events for 2016 candidates, reconnecting with his strong donor network, giving counsel to former colleagues and hiring advisers to brief him on political happenings on Capitol Hill.
Funny thing. The article leaves out the likely real reason he’s hobnobbing with all his former friends in government and politics: it’s what he’s being paid by his investment firm to do! They don’t even hint at the fact that Eric Cantor was hired by Moelis and Company for no other reason. It’s not as if he had any experience as a banker. He’s not sitting in an office somewhere running spreadsheets. He’s using his experience as a politician and a legislator on behalf of the people who now sign his paycheck and he’s openly exchanging political favors and using fundraising as currency to do it.
It’s so normal that the top political news site in Washington doesn’t even think it’s worth mentioning.
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