Which party is the fat cat party?

By Michelle Malkin  •  September 1, 2010 12:38 PM

The Hill reports on how the wealthiest members of Congress fared over the past year. Can you guess who tops the Capitol Hill 50 wealthiest list?

And can you guess which party outnumbers the other on the list?

Hint: Think Thurston and Lovey.

Here are the details on the list:

The 50 wealthiest lawmakers were worth almost $1.4 billion in 2009, about $85.1 million more than 12 months earlier, according to The Hill’s annual review of lawmakers’ financial disclosure forms.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) tops the list for the second year in a row. His minimum net worth was $188.6 million at the end of 2009, up by more than $20 million from 2008, according to his financial disclosure form.

…There were a few other new faces in the Top 50, including Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who received an inheritance after his late father, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), died in 2009. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) also made the list.

Twenty-seven Democrats along with 23 Republicans make up the 50 richest in Congress; 30 House members and 20 senators are on the list.

…Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), with a net worth of $160.1 million, is the second-richest member of Congress under The Hill’s formula, even though his wealth declined by more than $4 million in 2009.

He is followed by Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), who saw her net wealth leap to $152.3 million, a jump of more than $40 million from a year ago.

The rest of the top 10 are Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), McCaul, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Useful facts to keep on hand when the next Democrat class warfare talking points get hurled at ya.

***

Related flashback: People in “fat cat”-infested houses shouldn’t throw stones

***

And via Dan Collins, take a look at the Big Labor fat cat PAC expenditures for 2009-2010 just released.

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Comments


  1. #1
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:46 pm, spaceycakes said:

    Is Kerry really wearing a cardigan on an airboat?

  2. #2
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:51 pm, J S Ragman said:

    And the Kerry’s, of course, were following Sherrif Joe Biden’s advice that it is patriotic to pay your taxes.

    I’m not so sure that patriotism under duress is actual patriotism.

    But in point of fact, that seven million dollar yacht did stimulate the economy . . . of New Zealand.

    Gosh, I’m finding it hard to say something nice. Well, Senator Kerry is a war hero, he’s got the medals to prove it. Since he threw somebody else’s medals over the White House fence, that is.

    But at least he didn’t come back from Vietnam and badmouth the war effort and his fellow servicemen. Oh, wait.

    Dang, I’m still having a hard time finding something nice to say.

    Well, at least he wasn’t a mimbo, by marrying into his wealth. Ooops.

    Aw, forget it.

  3. #3
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:53 pm, Mister P said:

    Man, do I wish Oregonians would wake up and vote Wyden out of office.

  4. #4
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:53 pm, TigerLady said:

    Airhead?

  5. #5
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:53 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Is that the same boat Kerry took into Cambodia?

    Kerry: “Don’t you know who I am?”

  6. #6
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:53 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Theres the Skipper and
    John Kerry to
    The Demorats and their Wives
    Sycophant movie stars
    Junk Science Professors and
    Botox Nan
    Here on Progressive Dimwit Isle!!

  7. #7
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:54 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    I’m John Fn. Kerry and I’m reporting for doody!

  8. #8
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:54 pm, cabrerski said:

    It helps hide the Lenin and Castro tats he has on his chest and back.

  9. #9
    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:56 pm, frostrt said:

    Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) tops the list for the second year in a row. His minimum net worth was $188.6 million at the end of 2009, up by more than $20 million from 2008, according to his financial disclosure form.

    —————————————-

    In a way, this works for conservatives/Republicans. Paint the Dems as the real “party of the rich”, despite their rhetoric (which is exactly what this article is doing), point out their overwehlming support from billionaire Hollywood Leftists, etc. It should be obvious to any rational person who really stands for “real people”.

  10. #10
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:00 pm, letget said:

    When a person spends 50m, or more, to get elected to a 150,000 year job, you know something is wrong someplace! These people, both d’s and r’s, are getting wealthy at taxpayers expense with the bills they vote for. Another thing, some don’t think they should pay the taxes they ram down on us. The whole blooming lot in dc needs a re-do! I just pray come Nov. we can do a re-do.
    L

  11. #11
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:01 pm, spaceycakes said:

    cabrerski–I do not believe he has the goober peas to get tattoos; literally or figuratively.

  12. #12
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:03 pm, J S Ragman said:

    The 50 wealthiest lawmakers were worth almost $1.4 billion in 2009, about $85.1 million more than 12 months earlier, according to The Hill’s annual review of lawmakers’ financial disclosure forms.

    And that number only includes the stuff that they “remembered” to put on the financial disclosure forms, eh Charlie?

  13. #13
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:04 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Wanna bet they do not intend to spread their wealth!

    I would love to see their donations to chairty.

    I sure didn’t know working for our government paid so much… :mad:

  14. #14
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:05 pm, right_on said:

    I wonder…did the wealth of Democrats on the various powerful committees increase at a greater rate that others who were not so fortunate? Hmmmm?

    Is Kerry’s income increase come because of an increase in Heitz Ketchup sales, financial investments, tax shelters/tax avoidance, are all three? Jane Harmon’s speaker systems must have been hot items at Best Buy, and Diane Feinstein’s hotels, and her hubby’s government bilking, er, uh, building contracts must be booming.

    I’m not jealous, just curious how their incomes increase, as public servants, while those they serve, the general public’s, is on the decline.

  15. #15
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:06 pm, flaming_o said:

    After seeing this list, I’m inclined to agree with the Democrats. Rich people are evil. Rich people should be taxed punitively. Rich people’s wealth should be redistributed for the good of the country. Let’s get ‘em. Especially the Democrats.

  16. #16
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:11 pm, charlieod said:

    I wonder if Patrick Kennedy will be willing to pony up 55% of his inheritance to show his support for the resumption of the inheritance tax next year. I do not think so

  17. #17
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:18 pm, DBNinKY said:

    It should be obvious to any rational person who really stands for “real people”.

    I wish I could agree, but WV has been electing Jay ROCKEFELLER to some or other office since I was a kid – despite the fact he was one of the Rockefellers, a native New Yorker, and advocated policies that made many hard working West Virginians more dependent on government than their own ingenuity – and I doubt they’ll change anytime soon.

  18. #18
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:19 pm, RedDog said:

    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:03 pm, J S Ragman said:

    And that number only includes the stuff that they “remembered” to put on the financial disclosure forms, eh Charlie?

    Keep in mind too that these Dems, like all good Marxists, have most of their money securely ensconced in off-shore accounts. Then they can safely “redistribute” the life savings of the middle class at their liesure without fear that their own assets would be tapped.

  19. #19
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:19 pm, sambo said:

    On-my-soap-box said:
    Wanna bet they do not intend to spread their wealth!

    I would love to see their donations to chairty.

    They are very chairtible…its just that its not their money that they are donating!

  20. #20
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:21 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    But in point of fact, that seven million dollar yacht did stimulate the economy . . . of New Zealand.

    Well, at least he’s paying taxes on that yacht to his beloved home state of… Rhode Island?
    Nevermind.

  21. #21
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:22 pm, Hangfire said:

    Fat Cat Party?

    Not only that, but they are also the party that, a member being accused of tax fraud, embezzlement, adultery, whoremongering, racketeering, or influence peddling, is NOT called a hypocrite.

  22. #22
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:22 pm, sambo said:

    When I saw this my first thought was to sell a generic katchup called ‘NOT Heitz’

  23. #23
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:23 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    These people, both d’s and r’s, are getting wealthy at taxpayers expense with the bills they vote for.

    Its shocking to see how many become millionaires during and after they’ve served years in office.

    They should NEVER be able to vote for self rewarding legislation and should NEVER be personally exempt from the effects of legislation.

    There should be NO career politicians. One or two terms of public service in office and then get back to a real job.

  24. #24
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:30 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 1st, 2010 at 12:46 pm, spaceycakes said:
    Is Kerry really wearing a cardigan on an airboat?

    And a necktie?

    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:22 pm, sambo said:
    When I saw this my first thought was to sell a generic katchup called ‘NOT Heitz’

    Great idea! My husband and I have made it a point to NOT purchase Heinz products, even if they are on sale. Just our small way of protesting this jerk.

  25. #25
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:31 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Dems own the lamestream media and have been selling the idea that those “rich Republicans” don’t care about the working, middle class. I don’t let them get away with it. Nancy Pelosi has become more and more wealthy with each year she is in Congress–there’s a connection. She is just another one of the many who have been bought and paid for by PACs and lobbyists. Who spends millions campaigning for a job that pays $175K a year? Any really rich person will tell you that there’s more here than meets the eye.

  26. #26
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:39 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Nancy Pelosi has become more and more wealthy with each year she is in Congress–there’s a connection.

    At least we can be sure it isn’t from book royalties.

  27. #27
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm, Red State Skeptic said:

    Not that I give a crap, but if the party that controls 59% of both houses of Congress only has 54% of its richest members, that makes the other party the rich one.

    Next.

  28. #28
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Which party is the fat cat party?

    Hence the legions of obese multi-generational welfare mothers.

  29. #29
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:48 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Uh, RSS, you must have taken math in public school. 54% is still a majority.

  30. #30
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:50 pm, spaceycakes said:

    OT, but if all this is true (which it’s not), why would you need a PR campaign?

  31. #31
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:53 pm, spaceycakes said:

    RSS said:

    (insert covetous blather here)

  32. #32
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:54 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) tops the list for the second year in a row. His minimum net worth was $188.6 million at the end of 2009, up by more than $20 million from 2008, according to his financial disclosure form.

    Tuh-RAY-zuh seems pretty generous with his allowance. Does he have to walk the dog or do the dishes for it?

  33. #33
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:54 pm, TigerLady said:

    Red State Skeptic said:

    and just supported my post on another link. Laughable. Truly laughable.

  34. #34
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:56 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    J S Ragman said:
    Uh, RSS, you must have taken math in public school. 54% is still a majority.

    You forgot to ask him who he feels is the majority – that’s far more imprtant than facts.

  35. #35
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:57 pm, stillontheroad said:

    (59% of both houses of Congress only has 54% of its richest members, that makes the other party the rich one.)
    Wow, I just learned obtuse Math -

  36. #36
    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:59 pm, frontierguy said:

    Useful facts to keep on hand when the next Democrat class warfare talking points get hurled at ya.

    Maybe, I had a friend who was half Jewish half Mexican, I must admit it was kinda weird seeing him wear a star of david around his neck, as he looked more Mexican decent. Die hard democrat, loves Obama. We got into a debate once (he started it) and I brought up why the Democrat party is run by the more wealthier of the politicians, when he was insisting that the Democrat party is for the little guy. I argued that the Democrats were the cause for the housing crash (he lost a lot of money and is under water on his house). He of course brought up no “facts”. Just laughed like a moron to everything I said, like I had no idea what I was talking about. I told him, you are under water because of Frank/Dodd (he didn’t know who they were), the two who were big players in the destruction of the economy through the Banking and Finance sectors that they ran. The housing collapse was orchestrated by these two. You would think he could have at least brought up talking points about the wars being the cause of the economic collapse, but could not, just laughed. The sad thing was his wife was shaking her head whenever I stated anything, you could tell she at least was thinking I had points that may well be worth looking into.

    I later got an e-mail about the next NFL party and on it it said, leave your stupid political comments at the door, they are not appreciated (he started it). I was content to just watch the game, but can’t help but answer to people who spew political based comments thinking that I was just going to agree to stupid, Republican bad…without any context to the debate. My answer to the e-mail was, sorry I don’t just parrot opinions without a real debate on the cause, not my style, so I will be inviting people to my place for the game this week and skipping your, please make sure your opinions mirror mine shindig. Did not hear from him again.

  37. #37
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:01 pm, rambler said:

    These fat cats need to atone for irresponsibly spending our money by using their wealth to pay down some of the debt. Why aren’t the eco-nuts going after the fat cats? Instead of buying “carbon credits” for their beyond anything life styles, the fat cats should be walking the eco-friendly walk and not using the gov to stick it to the rest of us.

  38. #38
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:05 pm, cheapseat said:

    That isn’t much of a picture, but if that’s ta ray za, it’s time for her to get her trunk to the spa, or John Fn will be playing tiger woods in the hole in 100 stakes.

  39. #39
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:05 pm, Red State Skeptic said:

    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:48 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Uh, RSS, you must have taken math in public school. 54% is still a majority.

    So what? There are more of them. 8.6% of Democrats in Congress are among the 50 richest, compared to 10.5% of Republicans. Get it?

  40. #40
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:06 pm, evilned said:

    I challenge the accuracy of this post! Everyone knows that Gigolo John doesn’t have two pennies to rub together. It’s his wife, Mrs. Senator Ketchup who has all the cash. :D

  41. #41
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:11 pm, stillontheroad said:

    RSS:
    Here is a Math question,
    If you have six of one and half a dozen of another your total will be:
    A)Flounder
    B)It’s all Bush’s fault
    C)Halliburton
    D)None of the above because I will spew some panicked blather about something inane and try to divert the conversation to something I can preen about.

  42. #42
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:14 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Twenty-seven Democrats along with 23 Republicans make up the 50 richest in Congress; 30 House members and 20 senators are on the list.

    27 is greater than 23. Get it?

  43. #43
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:15 pm, RedDog said:

    Sorry, off-topic but I just got this email from Kos pushing his new book. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer but even I could debate this guy and win:

    Conservatives say a lot of ridiculous things. But few were more ridiculous than the repeated claims that liberals were in league with Islamic terrorists.

    Why would we make common cause with terrorists? The values and tactics that make Jihadists so despicable are the same values and tactics embraced by our own homegrown fundamentalists – the American Taliban.

    That’s why I wrote the book American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right.

    In the book, I show how similar both the American Taliban and Islamic Jihadists are — from their fetishization of violence and guns, to their love of theocracy, to their hatred of women and gays, to their fear of scientific progress and education, to their weird hangups about sex, to their disdain for popular culture.

    An Ann Coulter or Mark Levin would shred little Markos. He does fit into an elitist thread though. So “progressive”.

  44. #44
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:16 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    7 of the top 10 are Dems.

  45. #45
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:17 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    BTW, they all have good health plans paid for by us. No, not the Obama plan.

  46. #46
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:28 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    Darryl Issa made his money before being elected to Congress.

    I don’t know where Tom Petri’s money came from.

    Now, who among the Democrats made his or her own money?

    ECS

  47. #47
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    …Darrell Issa…

    Sheesh.

    ECS

  48. #48
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:46 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    On September 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm, Red State Skeptic said:
    Not that I give a crap, but if the party that controls 59% of both houses of Congress only has 54% of its richest members, that makes the other party the rich one.

    Next.

    Compared to this convoluted POS, the plotline of the movie “Inception” reads like a Dick and Jane book!

  49. #49
    On September 1st, 2010 at 2:56 pm, vatodio said:

    John Kerry has earned his money the hard way.

    He married a RICH widow.

  50. #50
    On September 1st, 2010 at 3:04 pm, sambo said:

    sounds like he pledgerized John Holdrens writings…

  51. #51
    On September 1st, 2010 at 3:17 pm, SHoward said:

    Actually, I don’t see congress-critters having wealth as a problem. The problem is what they’re telling us we should do with ours.

    BTW: Once upon a time congress was elected form those that were independently wealthy. It had to be, since it was unpaid. Perhaps it should be again.

  52. #52
    On September 1st, 2010 at 3:29 pm, happyscrapper said:

    their hatred of women and gays, to their fear of scientific progress and education, to their weird hangups about sex, to their disdain for popular culture.

    Hatred of women = pro-life
    Hatred of gays = pro-traditional marriage
    fear of scientific progress = against embriotic stem cell research and cloning
    fear of education = against brainwashing our children into the liberal lunacy of progressivism
    Weird hangups about sex = don’t believe government employees should watch porn on the taxpayer’s dime.
    Distain for popular culture = hates rap “music” and totally uninterested in Paris Hilton, the Academy Awards, etc. etc.

    Do I have that right?

  53. #53
    On September 1st, 2010 at 4:14 pm, spaceycakes said:

    I kinda like rap.

  54. #54
    On September 1st, 2010 at 4:48 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 1st, 2010 at 4:14 pm, spaceycakes said:
    I kinda like rap.

    Sorry about that. I guess I was just speaking for myself! Anyway, you get the drift.

  55. #55
    On September 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm, mojoe said:

    I wish they’d go on a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour.

  56. #56
    On September 1st, 2010 at 6:02 pm, right_on said:

    There are more of them. 8.6% of Democrats in Congress are among the 50 richest, compared to 10.5% of Republicans

    Not that you would care, but, dare I say that the majority of the Republicans on the list actually made their own wealth, rather than inheriting, or marrying into it.

    Rocky; inherited.
    Patty: inherited.
    Kerry: married into it.
    Pelosi: married into it.
    Feinstein: married into it.
    Harmon: married into it.

    And then there are those who didn’t have a pot to pee in, like the Clintons, who became wealthy on the public payroll. (BJC did give his used undies to the poor, and claimed in on his tax returns as Governor Clinton.) :)

  57. #57
    On September 1st, 2010 at 6:24 pm, spaceycakes said:

    just messing with ya, happy. I do like some rap though.

  58. #58
    On September 1st, 2010 at 7:17 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    vatodio said:
    John Kerry has earned his money the hard way.

    He married a RICH widow.

    Technically, marrying a rich widow could be the easy way, but we’ve all seen Tuh-RAY-zuh, so yeah, that’s a hard-scrabble existence. Anyone offended?

  59. #59
    On September 1st, 2010 at 8:38 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Back in the 2004 election cycle, I noticed that a site called Fundrace.org really liked to display the “Money Index” when in late 2003 the leaders were:

    GrassRoots Index
    Who gets small contributions from all over America?
    #1 Howard Dean

    Devotion Index
    Who inspires repeat giving and financial sacrifice?
    #1 John Edwards

    FatCats Index
    Who gets large contributions from the wealthiest Americans?
    #1 George W Bush

    They didn’t like it when, once the race was just Kerry and Bush, the results were:

    GrassRoots Index
    Who gets small contributions from all over America?
    #1 George W Bush

    Devotion Index
    Who inspires repeat giving and financial sacrifice?
    #1 George W Bush

    FatCats Index
    Who gets large contributions from the wealthiest Americans?
    #1 John F Kerry

    Those results didn’t fit their agenda, so they removed the link to that page from the main page (and any other page). But, since I had bookmarked the URL, I could still get to it directly.

    Who was beind that? Well, it’s very interesting to see that if you type http://www.fundrace.org in your browser, it now takes you to “http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/”

    Isn’t that special?

  60. #60
    On September 1st, 2010 at 8:51 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    The info in my last comment is part of a larger post I wrote about the Scott Brown vs. Martha Cokely race:

    Grassroots vs. Astroturf

  61. #61
    On September 1st, 2010 at 11:44 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

    Man, do I wish Oregonians would wake up and vote Wyden out of office.

    I hope the for same thing.

    For now, they just don’t get it. It’s all rainbows and unicorns out there.

  62. #62
    On September 2nd, 2010 at 2:16 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Rocky; inherited.
    Patty: inherited.
    Kerry: married into it.
    Pelosi: married into it.
    Feinstein: married into it.
    Harmon: married into it.

    Frank: backed into it.

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