Some Senate Democrats were harshly critical of Donald Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, the latest in a line of financial elites tapped for his cabinet who they say betrays the President-elect’s promise to “drain the swamp” of insiders.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called Steve Mnuchin “the Forrest Gump of the financial crisis” in a statement Tuesday, referencing Munchin’s two-decade-long tenure at Goldman Sachs, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“His selection as Treasury secretary should send shivers down the spine of every American who got hit hard by the financial crisis, and is the latest sign that Donald Trump has no intention of draining the swamp and every intention of running Washington to benefit himself and his rich buddies,” she said, as quoted by the newspaper.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) also took aim at Mnuchin’s time leading the bank OneWest, known for its aggressive foreclosure practices.
“Given Mr. Mnuchin’s history of profiting off the victims of predatory lending, I look forward to asking him how his Treasury Department would work for Americans who are still waiting for the economic recovery to show up in their communities,” he said in a statement.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) criticized Trump for what he characterized as a turn away from the economic populism of his presidential campaign.
“President-elect Trump campaigned against big money’s power in Washington and accused Wall Street and hedge funds of ‘getting away with murder,’” Brown said in a statement, according to NBC News. “But now he has picked a hedge-fund manager whose Wall Street ties couldn’t run deeper to lead the Treasury Department, which is exactly what this election showed the American people don’t want.”
“This isn’t draining the swamp — it’s stocking it with alligators,” Brown said.
Mnuchin joins a potential cabinet that would be stocked with billionaires, including Wilbur Ross, who was nominated to lead the Commerce Department, and Betsy DeVos, Trump’s pick for education secretary.
Trump: Only Real Billionaires can clean up the swamp.
Damn, that’s a memorable tag that’s gonna stick. Warren knows how to frame things so well. If only all Ds could be so effective.
ETA: Le Monde gave him a little more agency when they call him a “Wolf of Wall Street in the White House”, and pointed out how Trump was ragging on Wall Street during the campaign.
Our Dem senators sure have a way with words. The word they and Rs must all turn to is “Nay” when voting on his confirmation comes up. As well as “Nay” on every other unfit cabinet member rumple is offering. Mrs. Turtle’s a shoo in for transportation. of course, can’t piss off big Mitch.
I feel kind of stupid asking this but…Can someone explain to me Warren’s Forrest Gump reference? I think of Forrest as one of the good guys, so I don’t get it. Maybe it’s the numbness hasn’t fully worn off yet.
Forrest Gump was lucky, not smart (“I bought some shares in a company, something with Apples I think”)