EVAN BAYH’S DEPRESSING POST-SENATE CAREER…. About a year ago, to the great disappointment of his Democratic colleagues, Evan Bayh announced he wouldn’t seek re-election. He even wrote a lengthy New York Times op-ed about his decision, decrying “strident partisanship” and “unyielding ideology.”
Even at the time, Bayh’s move was tough to understand. He implored Americans to take seriously the “challenges of historic import” that “threaten America’s future,” while at the same time announcing that he would stop working on these challenges altogether.
And what would he do with this time? Bayh said he had a few ideas in mind, including possibly teaching and/or philanthropic work. He added at the time that he hoped to do something “worthwhile for society.”
That was a year ago. Today, the former senator who decried “strident partisanship” and “unyielding ideology” will be paid by a ridiculous cable news outlet that exists to spew “strident partisanship” and “unyielding ideology.”
Fox News officially announced on Monday afternoon that former Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is becoming a contributor to the network.
Michael Clemente, the network’s senior vice president for news, announced the move in a statement. He said that “Senator Bayh’s decades of experience in the political arena and his participation in key decisions in Washington will lend a valuable point of view to the entire Fox News lineup.”
“I’m pleased to offer analysis of public policy and politics to the millions of Americans who get their news from Fox,” Bayh said in the statement.
Howard Kurtz said it’s “good” for Fox News to hire “a prominent Democrat.” But that’s fundamentally at odds with what’s transpiring here — Fox News hires Democrats who can be reliably counted on to say unpleasant things about Democrats. Why do you think Doug Schoen is on Fox News all the time? Because of his charming smile or because he’s the “Democrat” who hates Democrats?
Also note, this won’t be Bayh’s full-time gig. As Matt Yglesias reminds us, when he’s not pontificating for the Republican news network, he’ll be a D.C. lobbyist.
I guess Bayh’s efforts to find a post-Senate career that’s “worthwhile for society” were tougher than expected? That or just wanted the cash.
Either way, it’s a reminder that Evan Bayh capacity to disappoint isn’t limited to his career on the Hill.
