Lobbyist Heather Podesta Draws a Parallel to Hester Prynne

Brody Mullins reports from Denver on the Democratic convention. Barack Obama has waged war against Washington lobbyists. Now one big-time Democratic lobbyist is fighting back in Denver. Heather Podesta , a politically plugged-in lobbyist who represents a range of corporate giants, is sporting a patch with a scarlet letter “L” on her lapel as she makes the rounds of cocktail parties and receptions at this week’s convention. Heather Podesta’s “lobbyist” patch. (Photo by Brody Mullins) In Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s classic, the scarlet letter “A” marked an adulterer in 17th century Puritan Boston. Podesta’s “L” refers to something just as ignominious in present-day Washington: a lobbyist. “It’s my little act of civil disobedience,” says Podesta outside a book party she helped throw this evening for her brother-in-law, John Podesta , who was President Bill Clinton ’s chief of staff. Podesta is one of hundreds of Democratic lobbyists who feel frustrated by ... (link)