As I understand it, it's not the venture capital aspect of Bain Newt aimed at, but the abuses (all perfectly legal, of course . . . maybe) of the private equity aspect.
To take for granted that anything that can have the "capitalism" label slapped on it is good is just as stupid and knee-jerk an assumption as the popular media theme that business = bad and profit (unless taken by a Dem) is pure greed.
Good points. And while i have not problem with turning ethical dilemmas into political debates, i fear that unless it is done carefully, it opens the door into turning both into government dictates. And I would much rather try to fend off private sector greed than public sector tyranny.
And exactly what “abuses” of Bain Capital's PE business line did Newt have in mind? Please don't trot out the GSI Steel case. That company was failing under the weight of high-wage union contracts and bad management. Those jobs were going away in any case; Bain Capital was just the messenger of the bad news, not the cause of it.