As I’ve noted here before, one of the most resilient myths in politics, and one that tends to go hand in hand with the risible “extremists on both sides” nonsense, is the belief that the right wing reactionaries are mostly low class goobers. They were able to take over so many offices by getting the votes of their fellow benighted goobers in low turnout Republican primary elections. This is followed by the conventional wisdom that the key to restoring collegiality and ending gridlock lies in recruiting affluent Republican business people to run for office. By dint of being wealthy and successful, they are assumed to be sensible and pragmatic.

With that in mind, let’s consider Senate candidate Wil Cardon, who is challenging Jeff Flake in the upcoming primary. Unlike Flake, who disguises his hard right wing views behind a facade of bland amiability, Cardon is full-on kookoo for cocoa puffs. Here’s a campaign ad Cardon just released of supporters praising him:

Those appear to be some pretty comfortable people. Not a toothless one in the bunch. Lot of pricey looking hairdos and spray tans. One Cardon supporter is Barbara Lane, who is a real estate agent with the Peggy Rauch Group. Barbara can help with your housing needs in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. Vernon Swaback runs Swaback Partners, an architectural firm that designs “custom residences” in places like Paradise Valley. It’s worth noting that Wil Cardon, the Tea Party endorsed candidate in the race, is himself a wealthy businessman.

On Cardon’s website you can learn about more well-heeled fans:

Phoenix, Arizona – The Women for Wil coalition kicked of its endorsement of Wil Cardon in style. The group gathered at Modern Steak Restaurant in Scottsdale Wednesday to chat with Wil. After a casual question and answer session, Jane Hight McMurry talked with them about her latest book, Navigating the Lipstick Jungle: Go from Plain Jane to Getting what you Want, Need and Deserve! McMurry’s premise: while women may not be able to have it all, they can get what they want and need if they know how to get it.

The Women for Wil Coalition is led by Wil’s wife Nicole. She’s joined by 3 co-chairs:

Sarah Suggs Cheek has worked in management at several large, reputable firms including TRW, a Fortune 500 company. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the American Advertising Federation and is a sustaining member of the Junior League. She’s also involved with the American Heart Association Heart Ball, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Scottsdale Health Care Foundation.

Christine Ewing, owner of Ewing Consulting, works with organizations around Arizona to secure charitable support including hospitals, health and human service organizations, religious entities, arts and cultural institutions and environmental agencies. Christine considers herself a “coach” instead of the principal of the firm and prides herself on working closely on all the company’s projects.

Karrin Kunasek Taylor, the Executive Vice President at DMB Associates, is responsible for ongoing land use entitlement matters and provides oversight for the company’s government and political affairs efforts. She has been involved in a variety of projects including Verrado, Marley Park, Centerpoint, One Scottsdale, DC Ranch and Eastmark.

You may be thinking that these people are just outliers among wealthy Republicans but I don’t think they’re atypical at all. I’d even say the reactionaries are over-represented in that group, if not the majority. This doesn’t mean I think Cardin going to beat Flake, who is far better known and sufficiently wingnutty for primary GOP voters (the “moderate” act is for the rest of you suckers in the general election). But I point this stuff out to illustrate why I treat claims that we just need more “business leaders” in politics with deep skepticism. I don’t believe it’s a mere coincidence that some of the biggest kooks in the Arizona Legislature happen to be from some of its wealthiest districts. Fountain Hills, home of Joe Arpaio and a very wealthy enclave in the East Valley, has a population of around 22,000. They also have two active Tea Party groups there. Where I used to live in Ahwatukee I recall there being at least three massive and well-appointed Proserity Gospel megachurches within a five mile radius of my home.

Here’s a video of attendees entering a fundraiser for Ann Romney’s birthday hosted by Donald Trump.

Not only do several of the expensive looking women paying $1000 a plate to get into the luncheon express doubt about Obama’s citizenship but one thinks he’s a Muslim and another calls him a socialist. I suppose there was a time when you could expect wealthy Republicans to be more moderate, or at least rational, but I’m afraid that is definitely not the case today. Cathi Herrod would have been right at home at that fundraiser.