ArchPundit

Shockingly, the Dan Rostenkowski gives Dan Seals an envelope is pretty much a non-story.

Let’s run down what happens. In a class on government, Dan Rostenkowski visits the class–Rosty being former chair of the House Ways and Means Committee understands Congress better than 99% of Congress even.  He gives an envelope unsolicited to Dan Seals.  Seals is nice and takes the envelope, finds out later it’s a contribution from Rostenkowski and politely returns the donation.

What else was he supposed to do?  Have vapors and throw a tantrum? He is no Frank Burns.

Randy Blaser picks up the real story:

So why is the GOP focusing their attacks on a couple of non-issues, like Seals’ causing a traffic jam with his gasoline purchase stunt, and this evil classroom envelope passing? I guess when you’re responsible for a tanking economy and a war built on deceit, what else have you got?

How is that working out for the GOP?

I’m somewhat baffled by the attacks or should I say ‘attack’ on Dan’s credentials to be teaching such a class:

Dan returned to the United States to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in international economics and Japan studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Upon completing his master’s degree, SAIS nominated Dan for-and he won-the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship. Dan served as an Aide to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and as an Economics Fellow in the U.S. Senate. Dan tracked exports of U.S. technology to foreign markets at the Department of Commerce, and worked on tax, budget, economic development and international trade issues in the Senate. After completing his fellowship, Dan returned home to pursue an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago. Dan began work as a manager at Sprint and then as Director of Marketing at GE Capital. Currently, Dan is a business consultant and adjunct professor at Northwestern University. Dan and his wife Mia have been married for 10 years and live in Wilmette with their three daughters.

The Presidential Management Fellowship is a highly competitive Fellowship and quite impressive.

The overall background isn’t much different than this guy:

Representative Kirk graduated from New Trier High School and attended the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico before earning a B.A. from Cornell. He holds a Masters Degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Georgetown.

Oh, and the people who have donated to Mark Kirk who he accepted donations from:

FEC records show Kirk received financial support from Americans for a Republican Majority, a PAC formed by Tom DeLay. As reports of misconduct surfaced against DeLay in 2004, Kirk returned all monies received from ARMPAC immediately.

Mark Kirk received a donation from Congressman Bob Ney, who pled guilty to bribery. Kirk refunded the Ney contribution in the 2nd quarter of 2006.

Kirk received funds from American Prosperity PAC, which was controlled by Republican Duke Cunningham, who pled guilty to federal charges. Kirk refunded the Cunningham contribution and contributions from all parties affiliated with the case when news of wrongdoing first became public.

Kirk accepted contributions from Tony Rezko, ^[8] who is currently facing federal charges of attempted extortion, money laundering, and fraud.

REZKO! REZKO! REZKO! I have vapors!