A wonderful reception greeted U.S. Rep. Phil Hare at Seaford Clothing Tuesday when he returned to the Rock Island plant that launched his political career.

We can't help but cheer, too. And wince a bit.

As congressman, he intervened forcefully to convince Wells Fargo to provide the financing to enable a sale of Seaford's parent company. Hare's actions promise to keep the doors open at this Rock Island plant with 350 workers, and another in Des Plaines, Ill., with 600 workers.

Hare worked 13 years cutting suit liners at the Rock Island plant and rose through the ranks to union steward, which propelled him into Democratic politics and a job as U.S. Rep. Lane Evans' aide. Without his Seaford union activism, he wouldn't be a congressman today.

He exclusively wears Hart, Schaffner & Marx suits cut by Seaford.

Hare was absolutely right to bully Wells Fargo into using the Trouble Asset Relief Program, or TARP, money that Congress authorized specifically for situations like this. In an interview last week with the Times Editorial Board, Hare detailed his intervention.

"I'll be your worst nightmare on the floor of the House," Hare said he told Wells Fargo execs. He cajoled state treasurer Alexi Giannoulis to threaten to pull all state funds from Wells Fargo if it withheld credit from Seaford.

That level of activism - bullying, if you will - indicates the sloppiness of that first TARP authorization bill, a vote of support Hare said he "almost" regrets. Congressional oversight should have been built into the bill and companies that sought and accepted that federal support should expect such scrutiny.

But it makes us wince when we consider the breadth of government bailouts. Bailout funds are propping up automakers, homebuilders and countless other businesses. Does that subject them all to threats from congressmen?

Hare, thankfully, says, "No."

"I know this was heavy-handed, but you're dealing with people's lives here," Hare said. "I would not have done this if it involved a non-TARP recipient."

We'll take the congressman at his word.