Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBERN NOTICE: Listen To What Biden Keeps Telling His Big Donors
Last night, Biden drew another contrast with Bernie -- by reassuring his big donors that he won't take them onBern Notice is a production of the Bernie 2020 campaign. Please forward this on to your friends and tell them to subscribe. The views expressed here are solely of the bylined author.
When politicians make promises to their huge donors, we should listen and if you listen to Joe Biden at four separate fundraisers, he is illustrating the fundamental differences between his campaign and Bernies grassroots movement.
1. Biden praises the pharmaceutical industry as Bernie takes on the pharmaceutical industry
Bloomberg reports that Biden last night praised great drug companies out there during an elite fundraiser. Bidens praise comes only weeks after CBS reports that drug companies have been jacking up prices at 5 times the rate of inflation in 2019 which is part of the larger trend of drug companies charging Americans the worlds highest prices for medicine.
Biden has refused to take Bernies pledge to reject campaign cash from health care industry executives instead, the Center for Responsive Politics reports that no Democratic candidate has pulled in more from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries than Biden.
By contrast, Bernie has spent his entire career leading the fight against the pharmaceutical industrys profiteering. That includes his most recent proposal that would slash U.S. medicine prices in half and make sure that no one in America pays more than $200 a year for prescription drugs.
In response to Bidens praise of the pharmaceutical industry that is fleecing Americans, Bernie today said: I disagree with Joe Biden. The pharmaceutical companies are greedy, corrupt and engaged in price fixing. At a time when their behavior is literally killing people every day, America needs a president who isnt going to appease and compliment drug companies we need a president who will take on the pharmaceutical industry whether they like it or not. When we defeat Donald Trump, thats exactly what we are going to do.
2. Biden promises that nothing will change for billionaires Bernie promises the opposite
On June 14th, new Federal Reserve data came out showing that in the last 20 years, the top 1 percent increased its net worth by $21 trillion, while the bottom 50 percent saw its net worth decrease by $900 billion. Four days after that news hit, Biden attended an elite New York fundraiser and promised an audience of Wall Street titans that if he is elected nothing would fundamentally change for them.
By contrast, that same week, Bernie gave a major speech outlining his 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights and he explicitly said of billionaires I welcome their hatred.
3. Biden promises Republicans will stand down Bernie knows thats not true
The New York Times reported that in 2018, Biden did a paid speech to help a politically endangered Republican congressman win reelection. A few months later during Bidens presidential campaign, the Huffington Post reported that Biden told a room of donors and lobbyists on Monday that Republicans know better and suggested that the GOP would be open to cooperation at the end of Donald Trumps presidency.
By contrast, Bernie understands that well before Trump ever began running for president, Republicans in Washington were blocking every popular progressive proposal including major initiatives from President Barack Obama. Thats why Bernie spent 2018 campaigning across the country against Republicans and in support of Democrats and why even during his own presidential campaign, he has gone to Kentucky to help the effort to defeat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
4. Biden raises cash from the fossil fuel industry that is creating the climate crisis Bernie refuses to do that
Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Bidens was having his climate policy shaped by a former natural gas industry official, and also reported that Bidens campaign said it would only seek middle ground climate policies. Amid a backlash, Biden caved to pressure to sign the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge. But this month, Biden made clear that despite belatedly taking that pledge, he has no intention of honoring the thrust of it.
Instead, a day after he appeared at CNNs climate change forum, Biden held a fundraiser with the founder of a fossil fuel corporation. And yet while taking the money, he nonetheless pretended he wasnt raking in money from the fossil fuel industry. Indeed, he claimed to donors at the event: "I just want to be very clear to everyone here: I am committed to not raising money from fossil fuel executives and I am not doing that tonight.
By contrast, Bernie signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, introduced the most comprehensive climate change proposal of any candidate, and this week became the first candidate to sign a pledge to only appoint government officials who will work to end fossil fuel development and aggressively combat climate change.
Bern after reading,
Sirota
https://bernie.substack.com/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to brooklynite (Original post)
Post removed
brooklynite
(93,879 posts)There's a difference between a fundraising speech, and a speech a political celebrity makes at an event they've been personally paid to speak at.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)Link to tweet
1) "We may not want to demonize anybody who has made money"
2) "You all know in your gut what has to be done"
3) "We can disagree in the margins"
4) "No one's standard of living will change"
1) It is not a crime to be rich
2) But the rich must pay their fair share
3) You might disagree with the rates. You might want to keep your tax cuts.
4) But increasing your taxes won't fundamentally change your standard of living
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,929 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)regarding VP Biden, and more I favor him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
empedocles
(15,751 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Thekaspervote
(32,606 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Perseus
(4,341 posts)Its either true, or not. But if its true, why would you not accept it as true? That is doing what ostrich do, they hide their heads in the sand to avoid seeing the machete when it hits them, but that doesn't change the fact the machete WILL hit them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(295,929 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LincolnRossiter
(560 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)I'm aware of Bernie schtick, but if Biden actually used this phrase it makes me a little nauseous.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Great and drug companies dont belong in the same sentence.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beastie boy
(9,066 posts)Bern notices are a pro-Bernie propaganda with more holes in their creative interpretation of factual events and their Trump-worthy rhetorical pirouettes than I care to address.
Enough already!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
murielm99
(30,657 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(93,879 posts)You're welcome to ignore the posts, but if a criticism comes with the endorsement of a candidate, I think that's worth knowing about.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beastie boy
(9,066 posts)The compilation of tiny mercilessly edited snippets taken from what Biden said or, just as likely, didn't say, and using them as the only basis for sweeping conclusive statements that disparage a Democratic candidate, doesn't seem to me worthy of discussion. And if Bernie has, indeed, endorsed this content, shame on him!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(93,879 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beastie boy
(9,066 posts)Regardless, I still don't find sweeping statements that disparage a Democratic candidate worthy of discussion on DU.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onetexan
(12,994 posts)so yes, please - those who post these ridiculous accusations - cut the crap. I'm tired of the bashing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,138 posts)It's a study in propaganda.
All the mentions of "elite fundraisers." The way he makes it seem like Biden praised, appeased, complimented drug companies because they jacked up their prices. He made promises to Wall Street titans four days after it was announced that the top 1% increased its net worth. Appeasing and helping billionaires! Sanders supporters hear "paid speech" as evidence of corruption, repeat the lie that Biden's speech was to help reelect a Republican. Calling Biden a liar, he's "raking in" fossil fuel executive's money.
Trying to turn Biden into a cartoon villain. I find it interesting to keep track of the propaganda and how it affects the general election next year.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,182 posts)it's not even left in terms of liberal ideology.
it's just conspiracy theory .
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
betsuni
(25,138 posts)It's as if there's a new direction other than left or right that wants Democrats destroyed.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMississippi
(776 posts)It is because simple "Bernie good" is not working
He has to go negative and kneecap the eventual nominee.
I've seen this movie before.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,138 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LonePirate
(13,386 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,273 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Response to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #22)
Post removed
George II
(67,782 posts)....,and other bogeymen. Look at his filings, it's all there.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,929 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LonePirate
(13,386 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(295,929 posts)so do a lot of other people.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elocs
(22,476 posts)but I think that actual Democrats and those who are proud to be members of the Democratic Party are too smart to let that happen.
Then the BoBs can go pout again.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)Talk about the proverbial throwing out the baby with the bath water.
Quick question: Who among you have neither yourselves nor someone you love who is alive today because of the breakthroughs of "big pharma"?? I seriously doubt very many.
Yes, much more regulation is needed. Yes, price gouging predators need to be made illegal and prosecuted. Yes, more government spending needs to be enacted with greater focus on cures than treatment. Yes, those who knowingly release treatments knowing about harmful side effects without full disclosure need to be in JAIL.
That said, there ARE great Pharmaceutical companies that HAVE invested in and produce WONDERFUL life saving medications. Some at very reasonable prices.
Just one example keeping several of my best friends alive that came out last year, Gilead Sciences developed Biktarvy. Most powerful HIV treatment to date that also has some of the lowest side effects to date (although admittedly still pretty rough on the system). 1 pill a day. On its own an incredibly expensive drug @ more that $3K for 30 days. Many programs available to acquire for much less, and for low income under insured/non-insured can even get supplied for free through clinic assisted applications.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Eko
(7,170 posts)Someones got to pound on someone else's choice because of,,,,,, I don't really know why.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)EVERY candidate has "big donors".
Which is worse, a donor that makes one donation of $2800 or a donor who makes 835 donations that in aggregate is the SAME $2800?
Remember, no single donor can give more than $2800, no couple can give more than $5600. This "big donor" stuff has been way overblown.
Again, EVERY candidate has "big donors", even those who bash the others for taking money from "big donors".
I just wish everyone would just concentrate on real issues instead of bashing others for untrue reasons.
PS - that whole "Bern Notice" is the handiwork of David Sirota, the disgraced David Sirota who was fired from a campaign for his unethical "dirty tricks" in the past.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
samnsara
(17,572 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden