From the Wall Street Journal:
WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) said Saturday he will vote to confirm Ben Bernanke for a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, bringing to 27 the number of senators who have said they will do so.
According to the latest Dow Jones News Service tally, 15 senators have said they will oppose him, 10 Republicans, four Democrats and one independent (Bernie Sanders of Vermont.) The other 58 haven’t said how they will vote.
Sen. Kerry’s endorsement was not unconditional. “While I have some concerns about the Fed’s approach to banking accountability,” he said in statement, “Chairman Bernanke should not be a scapegoat for systemic failings. The politics of the moment cannot distract us from the urgent work which remains of reforming our financial regulatory system and creating jobs and stability.” He added that it is “understandable why there is debate, questioning and even anger” about giving Mr. Bernanke a second term. “Everyone understands that these are some of the most difficult economic times we’ve ever faced, especially for working American taxpayers who have seen jobs destroyed, life savings emptied, and then been forced to bail-out Wall Street and the big banks that created the mess.”
Fortunately, Kerry’s seat is safe – Mass voters would never elect a Republican to the Senate. But how many senators from less-predictable states will have the courage to back this inflator of bubbles and hero of the Predator Class? It’s simply sad that some irresponsible nuts like Bernie Sanders want to derail Bernanke’s confirmation to implement their crypto-Marxist agenda: stopping the forced transfer of working-class money to America’s greatest asset, our bankers.
