Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin brought his own lunch to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — a knuckle sandwich.
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| Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin (AFP/Getty Images) |
He repeatedly pounded the Chambers lobbying and advertising blitz against the White Houses financial regulatory overhaul, accusing them of being misleading, dishonest, and backward.
He delivered his broadside standing on a podium within the U.S. Chamber while some of the groups officials sat in nearby tables aghast at the pummeling.
Despite the urgent and undeniable need for reform, the Chamber of Commerce has launched a $3 million advertising campaign against it, Mr. Wolin said. That campaign is not designed to improve the House and Senate bills. It is designed to defeat them.
He said the Chamber has an obligation to be honest and invoked the organizations name at least 16 times.
As the tea party folks might say, read the bill, he said.
After the speech, which received a muted applause, Chamber chief executive Thomas Donohue stood up and called it a bit of a political speech. He countered that the White House didnt object to the Chamber as a special interest when the business group supported the stimulus plan or the governments efforts regarding General Motors.
But were a special interest when we say we want a plan, we want it this year, Mr. Donohue said. The constitution is very clear on our right to raise our issues.
Its unclear if everyone will settle down, but heres betting that Mr. Wolin wont be invited back over for lunch any time soon.