Bloomberg has a rundown of one-percenters who have spoken up to defend themselves, including Jamie Dimon, John Paulson, Bernard Marcus, John A. Allison IV, Thomas Stemberg, Stephen Schwarzman, Tom Golisano, Ken Langone, Wilbur Ross, Robert Rosencranz, Peter Schiff, and Leon Cooperman. Said Mr. Dimon: "Acting like everyone who's been successful is bad and because you're rich you're bad, I don't understand it." Mr. Marcus: "said he isn't worried that speaking out might make him a target of protesters. 'Who gives a crap about some imbecile?' Marcus said. 'Are you kidding me?'"
Some but not all of those quoted are affiliated with the Job Creators Alliance, a Dallas-based 501(c)3 whose staff includes three members — Tucker Warren, Taylor Griffin, and Tony Fratto — that also work at Hamilton Place Strategies. Mr. Warren and Mr. Griffin both worked in the administration of George W. Bush.
It's nice to see capitalists standing up and defending capitalism, and maybe what we need about now is someone like Mitt Romney who is both a capitalist and a politician who can frame the issue in more widely appealing terms — "opportunity society" or "merit-based society" rather than "Who gives a crap about some imbecile?" Not to fault Mr. Marcus for saying aloud what a lot of people were thinking to themselves. Directness has a certain appeal. And give him credit for not being intimidated. But there ought to be a way to win this debate on the merits without stooping to name-calling. As it is, Bloomberg turns "imbecile" into the headline, letting its impact dispel some of the stronger arguments made by the job creators.