Another Curious Case of Finding “Socialists” in the Most Unusual Places: Tom Tancardo and Bernie Madoff
It’s nothing new: Economic hard times and self interest can make for some strange bedfellows and surprising viewpoints, considering who makes them. Previously, I wrote about an example on the local level, “Discovering Socialists in the Most Unusual Place: The Costa Mesa City Council and the Orange County Fairgrounds.” Today I will write about another example. This time on the national level.
Tom Tancardo, former U.S. representative from Colorado, is a staunch conservative in the be-self-reliant, don’t-look-to-the government-for-a-bailout mold. However, he wants his own government bailout.
Tancardo is a Bernie Madoff victim. He stated on “Fox News Reporting; Target Madoff” that he lost his entire savings in the Madoff Ponzi scheme that burned so many investors. Some of these victims were able to get partial compensation for their losses from a government fund. However, Tancardo’s circumstances were such that he did not qualify, and he wants the law changed so that he will qualify. When asked about the irony of his efforts to get a government bailout, he said with a smile, yes, but “I want my money.”
Apparently, we are all “socialist,” if it is in our interest.