Jim Newton

Itasca

What’s that saying, “Never meet your heroes”? I just experienced a minor version of that proverb.

Years ago, I read On top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, and 9/11: A story of loss and renewal, a book by Tom Barbash. I was fascinated by Lutnick’s selflessness and compassion. He was Cantor Fitzgerald’s CEO when 658 of his employees died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. In a tragedy where he also lost his brother and best friend, Lutnick moved forward raising $180 million for families of his coworkers. You can’t take that away from him–and I wouldn’t. It’s understandable why President Trump selected Lutnick as Commerce Secretary.

I’ll always laud Howard Lutnick for what he did for his coworkers’ families. So, imagine my surprise and disappointment when he implied that anyone who complains after not receiving their Social Security check is a fraudster during an “All-In Podcast.”

Howard Lutnick once seemed like a billionaire we commoners could relate to. Now, I’m not so sure.