This is fun. Like we said before, the Democratic candidates for president are all going to pledge unity and goodwill to each other, but eventually, it’s going to end up like “The Dark Knight” with the Joker holding tryouts for a new position by handing out the broken halves of a pool cue.
Bernie Sanders seems to be leading the pack at the moment (Joe Biden’s expected to jump in next week), and he made news Wednesday when he admitted to being a millionaire and telling his audience, “If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too.”
Uber-liberal ThinkProgress on Thursday posted a video about “Bernie’s millionaire problem.” We told you this was fun.
NBC News’ Benjy Sarlin didn’t understand the point of the video, aside from the “general ickiness” about the word “millionaire.”
I honestly don’t get what argument this even fits into. I mean I “get” it, but it’s not a coherent good faith case. https://t.co/DUJn25MAzo
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 11, 2019
Bernie is not proposing to ban millionaires or book deals. There’s also just about no comparison between his finances and the kind of wealth he’s discussing from a policy perspective. There’s nothing to hang it on beyond a general ickiness about the word “millionaire.”
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 11, 2019
“Candidate who railed against business practice, but made money off same thing” is a recurring angle. “Candidate pursues policy that would enrich themselves” is another angle. “Candidate was invested in business affected by their decisions” too. This isn’t any of those.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 11, 2019
Like Elizabeth Warren clarified, it’s just the “tippy-top” of earners who are going to fund all the Democrats’ campaign promises. Wait, did we say earners? We all know no billionaire “earned” that much money.
Most of us don't think it's an icky word. Most of us don't think there's anything wrong with being financially successful.
— Elizabeth (@ImaQzak) April 11, 2019
We agree completely, but the new breed of Democratic Socialists in Congress might not.
I kind of think his explanation matters.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 11, 2019
I’d also note some supporters sound uncomfortable with it (as does he). But I really have trouble pinpointing the hypocrisy angle given where the money comes from and what he’s proposed.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 11, 2019
You don't see the hypocrisy of a guy railing on millionaires for 35 years, most of whom created their own wealth saying "Hey I'm a millionaire, if you want to be one, go write a book."
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 11, 2019
The quote I can see being awkward (which is why I mentioned uncomfortable). But the railing was attached to a pretty specific argument that tied it to a broad mix of political donations, tax rates, legal treatment, and social spending.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 11, 2019
Bigger issues is his constant fair share argument. There is no way he paid what he believes is fair, thus making him a hypocrite.
— Res Ipsa (@TX_lawpony) April 11, 2019
In his attacks, Bernie doesn't grant an exception for people earned their millions. It was the concept he had a problem with. Most incredibly wealthy people earned their money. Bernie chose to demonize them for existing. https://t.co/nqT7RhbquB
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) April 12, 2019
Please. Do you think we didn't hear him in 2016? We're not all making money kissing his ass.
— Hillitant (@anypigslft) April 11, 2019
Wait a minute, he got $695,000 for a book deal. If I wrote my first book, I'd get $40,000, if that.
He got it because he is part of the "Establishment."
He's a fraud.
— Joe Sabín?️?️?️ (@joesabin) April 11, 2019
He’s an old Red kook. And the rules are always different for the Politburo.
— Will Collier (@willcollier) April 11, 2019
Reason he’s taking so much heat is that he wants to redistribute everyone else’s money & demonize the rich…while being rich & not voluntarily re-distributing his own money.
That is literally the same schtick as every 3rd World socialist/communist leader.
Be Rich Mullins.
— Uneasy Civilian (@HercFamily5) April 11, 2019
He screams about the "1%" while he is the 1%.
— Shawn Robinson (@Shawn10Robinson) April 11, 2019
Uh, you have no idea what his finances even are yet for you to comment on so definitively because he has been stalling for 5 years to show us his taxes. How about we see what's in them first before you and NBC give him yet another free pass?
— John James (@musicman495) April 11, 2019
So, there are now degrees of excessive wealth, and the guy who wants to make the rules is, amazingly, safe.
— Steve Wallace (@waldo559) April 11, 2019
Always. Only the tippy-top are going to get soaked, they promise.
Related:
'So capitalism is actually good?' Follow this advice from Bernie Sanders and 'you can be a millionaire, too' https://t.co/RA4ZON7kEe
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2019
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