My Dog’s Bigger Than Your Dog
Have you noticed the new game being played among the GOP presidential hopefuls? It’s the political version of the old schoolyard boast about the size of your dog. Today it’s “My Billionaire’s Bigger Than Yours.” While the American electorate is out holding beauty pageants, (i.e. Missouri’s recent non-binding GOP primary), the presidential contestants are lining up the big dogs that really matter, many of whom have a net worth rivaling that of a small country.
Gingrich has Las Vegas “Super Dog” Sheldon Adelson in tow, the fellow who shelled out $5 million to keep the Speaker in the running, while his wife dished up another $5 million. Adelson promises to help Mitt, as well, though the casino tycoon may wind up in the doghouse for corrupt practices involving his Macau operation. Stay tuned on this one.
Before you swoon over how costly such a donation was for “Super Dog” to make, consider that Adelson is worth $22 billion—give or take a billion—and is the world’s 16th wealthiest man. To put that in perspective, he makes $3.3 million an HOUR (based on a 40-hour week); the average American makes about $18 an hour.
Not to be outdone, Santorum now has a “Super Dog” of his own. Rick had his political hound dog on display the evening of his winning trifecta. He was the guy standing on Santorum’s right, Foster Friess—sounds like the name of an ice cream parlor--wearing, quite appropriately, a green tie. Friess says, modestly, that he’s not really a billionaire; at least, he doesn’t think so.
As more and more “Super Dogs” place their bets on the outcome of this year’s presidential race, it will definitely enliven the contest. Meanwhile, the little dogs in the GOP kennel will stay occupied, scratching and yipping about gays, guns and abortion. It’s a cheap bone for them to gnaw on while the Super Dogs strut their stuff.
