1 week Ago
Plenty of politicians have social media moments and appearances on cable news.Few inspire spontaneous ovations in public places, like the one U.S.
Rep. John Larson received last month at Bradley airport.Here is the story, untold until now, of one of the most unusual incidents of a 40-year political career and which proves the lion in winter is still a lion.
The 13-term East Hartford Democrat delivered the firm message to the ambitious Democrats below him on the greasy pole of power in the First Congressional DistrictCT congressman defends Social Security as ‘capitalism’s safety net’ amid claims of waste and fraudOn Lincoln’s birthday, Larson suffered a complex partial seizure as he expressed his alarm on the floor of the House of Representatives at Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, access to Social Security and tax records of individual Americans. Larson’s dismay was well-placed and fluidly expressed, so when he suddenly stopped and a minute of silence followed, something was wrong. Perhaps seriously wrong.
Whatever one’s political views, concern and dread were natural reactions, unless you are a greater Hartford Democrat hoping to replace Larson. A few of those were scrambling over the bullpen in their minds before Larson was discharged from the House infirmary. It was unseemly and not as invisible as some of those wannabe congressional candidates thought.
Larson consulted a specialist and explained in a written statement that the February 12 incident was related to a heart valve replacement performed 15 years ago to address the shape of an aortic valve from birth. He is 76 years old. Things are going to happen, but in this remarkable age of medical advances many can be treated and minimized.
Larson was prescribed medication that should prevent another seizure.Politics is a rough business. Larson no doubt heard the rumblings that perhaps next year would bring a serious — or simply well-funded —challenger in a town district that has not elected a Republican since 1956.
The Democratic primary is where the game is won or lost. Larson won his first term in 1998 by defeating a handful of Democrats in a competitive primary. He has been renominated every two years since.
U.S. Representative John LarsonLarson followed his recovery with a media tour that seemed to remind Democratic activists that maybe the former insurance agent had stayed too long.
Longtime Larson supporters, and there are still many, began to talk among themselves that losing a primary would be a brutal end to their friend’s long career.And then came March 12. At a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, Larson made a moment.
What it took Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, 25 hours to do this past week with a record setting oration on the floor of the Senate, Larson accomplished in two minutes. He eviscerated the Republicans running the committee for abandoning its independence by refusing to address the nation’s growing dismay and fear at Elon Musk’s unrestrained authority.“Where is Elon Musk?” Larson hollered as he escalated from calm discourse to righteous fury.
The committee needed to hear from Musk, Larson said, because “he’s out to privatize Social Security.” Larson has spent much of his long tenure in the House trying to protect Social Security. Musk and his mysterious DOGE squad continue to lay waste to federal agencies with no explanation of what they are doing and why.
Larson’s two minutes reverberated around the nation and, crucially, made an impression in his district. It had an extended moment on social media. He appeared on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show.
When Larson returned to Connecticut the week of his Ways and Means declaration, he arrived at Bradley International Airport on a flight from Washington with his colleague U.S. Rep.
Joe Courtney of the state’s Second Congressional District.As the two Democrats descended on the escalator to the luggage are, travelers waiting for their luggage or family members, burst into applause for Larson. Courtney told me, “I was there, and it was extraordinary.
It really resonated.”In the last 26 years, Larson has trudged to that luggage area thousands of times. For most travelers waiting for their bags, the congressman may be a familiar face, but not one who has inspired an intense moment of gratitude.
For plenty of others not from Connecticut, he was just another passenger.Hartford CourantU.S.
Rep. Joe Courtney (Courant file photo)The rare member of Congress who inspires an ovation from weary travelers at an airport does not lose a primary. Larson will continue to be lucky in his targets.
Musk has called Social Security “a Ponzi scheme,” giving his growing army of detractors more reason to fear Larson is right: they want to dismantle the nation’s safety net, make its promises unredeemable.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump’s newest albatross, claimed in one of many ill-advised interviews that anyone who complained about missing a monthly Social Security check is likely a benefits fraudster. These billionaires cannot help themselves in spewing their contempt for the rest of us.
Larson could not get luckier.VIDEO: Rep. John Larson takes viewer calls on tariffs live on C-SPANThe campaign consultants hoping to latch on to a primary campaign for Congress later this year can move on.
The internet survey aimed at local Democrats that trashed Larson and boosted Southington Democrat Jack Perry was an embarrassing bust.Those grasping hopefuls will need to busy themselves elsewhere. Larson will leave when he’s ready, not when then are.
Kevin F. Rennie can be reached at [email protected].
