News flash: Esty will run again after all

This time next year Democrat Elizabeth Esty will be well into her fourth term in Congress.

Yes, I read the newspapers and I know the three-term congresswoman from Cheshire has said she wouldn’t run for re-election in the 5th District but, well, that was then, this is now. Congresswoman Esty is running. Here’s why. No credible Republican has stepped up to run, no substantive Democrat has announced either, and Esty has $1.7 million in the bank. At this late date, any challenger would need to raise approximately $5,500 a day until Election Day to compete financially. And that’s just $1 million.

Money does not always win campaigns, ask Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush or any number of “self-funders” here in Connecticut.

But no money always loses campaigns. At this point, with Esty being in the race, any opponent will raise no money.

Esty is not foolish enough to give up her seat when she, from all media reports, will ride the “blue wave” into the majority. She has never been in Congress in the majority. This is her chance.

Being in the majority gets you better visibility, office space and most of all, better parking.

The reason Esty announced she would not run for re-election is that The Washington Post reported that the congresswoman covered up sexual harassment and threats of violence by her chief of staff, Tony Baker.

In a texting rage, Baker had messaged another staff member, Anna Kain, whom he had previously dated, “You better f-----g reply to me or I will f-----g kill you.”

In response to this admitted behavior by her chief of staff, Congresswoman Esty kept Baker on the payroll ($132,000 per year) for several months, “waived” his students loans, wrote glowing recommendations to his future employer Sandy Hook Promise, gave Baker a $5,000 severance check and $4,500 in accrued vacation time pay.

Pressed on her handling of the situation, Esty provided an explanation.

“The next day, I confronted him about this and said, ‘This is completely unacceptable,’” Esty told The Hartford Courant. “He did not deny that this happened. He was contrite. I told him he had to get anger management and basically stop drinking.”

The Hartford Courant called on her to resign, as did many others, Republicans and Democrats.

Instead, Esty announced her intentions not to seek re-election.

This was awful behavior by the congresswoman, but within the context of an otherwise workmanlike career of public service and dedication to Democratic ideals. In fact, on issues that matter to Democrats, such as strict gun control, health care, education, the environment, etc., Esty is both a reliable and well-informed member of Congress. Her past re-elections by comfortable margins shows the voters approve of her efforts.

Outside of Esty’s declaration of “not running” there are no tangible signs she is not running.

Esty has not given her $1.7 million campaign war chest to any cause, such as Sandy Hook Promise, which she could do. Nor has the congresswoman given her imprimatur to any future democratic candidate. Her social media posts still look like a congresswoman running for re-election.

In a few weeks, the Democrats will hold their convention. Esty’s name will be offered up for consideration. The troops will rally. A visibly overwhelmed Esty will stagger to the podium and give an impassioned speech dedicating herself to the #metoo movement and “working families.” All will be forgotten and forgiven. Unfortunately for Kain, she will never forget getting a death threat. Or will Kain’s co-workers forget the anxiety of walking into such a hostile work environment.

It is disappointing that there has not been a call for Esty to resign by leaders in the “metoo” movement, or by more members of Congress, or by women’s groups such as Emily’s List or others who benefit from Esty staying in office.

For all the high dudgeon created by the “#metoo” movement, the case of Congresswoman Esty shows that the fight for true equality for women has a long way to go. It will take more than marches and funny hats.

It reminds me of Aesop, “After all is said and done, more will have been said.”

#Sad.