Reply #11: Hmm,

[karynnj]

I think I should use the good info that Mass dug up on Sweitzer and post that to the BG threads. One advantage of just a small number of responders is that you don't get lost - and at least it gets solid links to any really trying to understand.

Unfortunately, this plays to the biases of the left blogosphere. They are against Senators being rich, have - for the most part - little understanding of the stock market and this was set up as hitting both parties. The Rep Bacus one sounds pretty bad, though I haven't heard his side. I have to admit that it took a few minutes before I realized that a Senator would not know of a HHS ruling before it happened - and this was before I read that he does not buy or sell any stocks. Most people in the upper middle class know the stock market recovered and in doing so grew 57% from the low in March 2009 to April 2010, but there are many here who don't know that and see these double digit gains as obvious red flags. We have a small amount of a company stock that my husband once worked for that increased over 250% in that interval - and was still lower than it had been in September 2008!

I think Kerry's letter was excellent, but note how the BG used it.