UConn Howler on Those Blumenthal Seats.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says he’ll fight for the public, but University of Connecticut officials thinks he needs protection from the good people of the state who attended Tuesday record-busting women’s basketball game.  Blumenthal, who was elected to the United States Senate in November, was in a highly-prized court-side seat at Tuesday’s game.

As has been his custom for decades, the five term attorney general managed to get himself into many photos of the event.  People took note, especially since public officials snagging prime seats at sporting events that are not available to the public is a sure sign of the virus of entitlement that infects much of the governing class.  New York Governor David Paterson, for example, was recently tagged with a fine of more than $62,000 from New York ethics officials for finagling tickets to opening game of the 2009 World Series.

The statement a UConn spokesman provided in response to my inquiry about the provenance of Blumenthal’s prime seats:

Richard Blumenthal purchased his seats to the UConn vs. Florida State women’s basketball game on December 21, 2010.  The seats he purchased were in a small block of tickets that the Division of Athletics holds for people who are participating in special recognitions, potential and current major donors to the University and others who require seating within close proximately to security personnel. Mr. Blumenthal’s ticket location was based on his position as United States Senator-elect and the University’s decision to keep him within close proximately to security personnel.

No explanation on why a United States Senator-elect requires security, which individual members of the Senate are not provided in Washington or at home.