Biden Tells Elite Donors He Doesn't Want to 'Demonize' the Rich

[brooklynite]

Bloomberg

Former Vice President Joe Biden told affluent donors Tuesday that he wanted their support and -- perhaps unlike some other Democratic presidential candidates -- wouldn’t be making them political targets because of their wealth.

“Remember, I got in trouble with some of the people on my team, on the Democratic side, because I said, you know, what I’ve found is rich people are just as patriotic as poor people. Not a joke. I mean, we may not want to demonize anybody who’s made money,” Biden told about 100 well-dressed donors at the Carlyle Hotel on New York’s Upper East Side, where the hors d’oeuvres included lobster, chicken satay and crudites.

“Truth of the matter is, you all know, you all know in your gut what has to be done,” Biden said. “We can disagree in the margins. But the truth of the matter is, it’s all within our wheelhouse and nobody has to be punished. No one’s standard of living would change. Nothing would fundamentally change,” he said.

Former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and former Deputy Treasury Secretary Roger Altman, both of whom spent decades on Wall Street, were among the attendees at the event.

[SouthernProgressive]

1. He shouldn't be making Democratic Party supporters targets because of their wealth.

Last edited Wed Jun 19, 2019, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)

It's a get out of jail free card. He needs to hold congressional Republicans responsible for the Tax Scam.

[George II]

7. He's not doing that, other candidates are doing it. He's just pointing out that it's not all bad.

[SouthernProgressive]

18. Poorly worded on my part. That is really what I meant to say.

I see the headline as saying it as if it's bad he isn't demonizing them. I was just saying he shouldn't. And with that, there is actually zero story here. It's damn hear fake news designed to get a certain group all worked up.

[George II]

22. Thanks. Yes, it's a zero story, nothing remarkable about it at all.

[Paladin]

8. Around these parts, it's "Democratic Party" not "Democrat Party."

You're welcome.

[SouthernProgressive]

19. Thank you. NT

[olegramps]

9. Democrat Party ?????

[olegramps]

10. I would remind people that an ultrawealhy man came to the working people's aid. FDR

FDR did more for the working class than any other president.

[Go Vols]

23. +1

[democratisphere]

2. Joe Biden is a uniter, not a divider.

Every single vote counts to beat drumpf. Defeating drumpf is the first and most important issue.

[pazzyanne]

11. Well said!

Uniting is a key for the future of America, and it will be a huge job with the destructive divisiveness of the POS pretending to be the POTUS.

[liskddksil]

3. Beto O'Rourke Live Streams His Fundraising Events

Full transparency and says the same things to all of his audiences!

https://www.facebook.com/betoorourke/videos/2372832373001981/

[BeyondGeography]

4. No, just tax them

Then again, they aren’t writing those checks for free. Wonder how Rubin and Altman feel about the wealth tax.

[LAS14]

14. Some of them are writing the checks out of conviction. But we don't want to depend on checks...

... from "limousine liberals." We want structural change that doesn't pour money into the already moneyed class.

[DownriverDem]

5. I used to work for

a rich lawyer. He was a liberal through and through. He told me once that he was a "limousine liberal". Just because someone is rich, doesn't mean they don't support the issues that are important to the rest of us.

[George II]

6. What else did he say? I'm sure he didn't just say that, put down the microphone, and walk out....

People are dwelling on this one relatively insignificant thing about candidates' fundraisers and contributors.

At least they're upfront about what they contribute.

[Demit]

12. He misses the point when he says "we may not want to demonize anybody who's made money"

It's not the fact that people made money, Joe. It's HOW they made their money—their fabulous, beyond-imagining wealth—and the tax policies that enable it to increase exponentially that's the problem. It's the fact that their money makes money now, not they themselves.

He promises that he won't slap "onerous" taxes on the rich. He'll protect the wealth of his benefactors. They don't have to worry about him.

[LAS14]

13. I don't want to demonize the rich either. I just want them to share their money. nt

But their "standard of living" would "change," I'm afraid.

[Merlot]

15. I have nothing against the rich. I have a problem with republicans

who give them big tax breaks.

The more he talks, the less I like him.

[people]

16. "Nobody's Standard of Living Would Change. Nothing would fundamentally change" ?????"

I thought Democrats wanted to improve the standard of living of most people. Am I wrong???? I thought Democrats wanted to do something about the profound level of income inequality in this country. Am I wrong about that too?

[theaocp]

17. Apparently, the wealthy need to be told there won't be sacrifice needed

with Biden as President. I would hope they understand their wealth enough to not be told this, but here we are. Be afraid of other competitors who want to fundamentally change their standard of living, I guess. I really don't think their support hinges on Biden holding their hands, so this seems unnecessary, at best.

[people]

20. "No one's standard of living would change. Nothing would fundamentally change," he said.

I understand that Biden was telling these wealthy people no one will take your money and nothing will fundamentally change, but remember when Romney said something horrid to a group of wealthy people at a fundraiser? Think of that quote repeated by Trump, and it will be definitely repeated. It will be repeated as if Biden meant he's not going to do anything to improve the lives of the vast majority of Americans. What a STUPID THING TO SAY.

[aidbo]

21. this is why I'm voting for Bernie.

“Truth of the matter is, you all know, you all know in your gut what has to be done,” Biden said. “We can disagree in the margins. But the truth of the matter is, it’s all within our wheelhouse and nobody has to be punished. No one’s standard of living would change. Nothing would fundamentally change,” he said.

[earthshine]

24. "Truth of the matter is, you all know, you all know in your gut what has to be done"

Yes, vote for someone who is not Biden.

Every day, this guy sinks lower on my list.