David Sirota discusses Democrats and the ‘corporate revolving door’

David Sirota, founder of The Daily Poster, said the recent move by former Labor Secretary Tom Perez to a law firm and lobby shop, as he mulls a run for governor in Maryland, illustrates the presumption in the Democratic Party that there are “no consequences” for going through the “corporate revolving door.”

Tom Perez, the former Labor Secretary in the Obama administration and previous chairman of the Democratic National Committee, joined Venable LLP last week, a law firm that, among other services, regularly counsels and trains clients on “union avoidance.”

In January, Perez said he was “taking a look” at running for governor of Maryland in 2022.

Sirota, during an appearance on Hill.TV’s “Rising,” said this illustrates the presumption in the Democratic Party that there are no consequences when it comes to corporate power.

“I think what that speaks to is the presumption that inside of the Democratic Party there are no consequences to going through the corporate revolving door. No consequences when it comes really to, fundamentally to corporate power. That you can ally yourself with, explicitly ally yourself, with corporate power. And this will not bring any negative consequences,” Sirota said.

He also recognized the assumption that there are “no downsides” for Democrats going through the corporate revolving door, which he called “a really disturbing commentary.”

“Clearly, we know it comes with positive benefits in terms of fundraising, in terms of elite connections. But the fact that there seems to be a presumption that there are no downsides. I mean usually politicians are weighing ‘well listen, if I go work for, you know, corporations or a lobbying firm, at least I get you know, fundraising connections, elite connections, but there may be a political downside,’” Sirota said.

“I feel like we’re now in an era where the presumption is there is absolutely no downside, and that is a really disturbing commentary on the incentive system inside of the Democratic Party,” he added.