Nina Turner just called Mike Bloomberg an oligarch on MSNBC

[highplainsdem]

So I guess the Sanders campaign feels threatened by him?

[SunSeeker]

1. You're not helping us Dems, Nina.

[W_HAMILTON]

14. That's a feature -- not a bug.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

28. Sad but true

[DanTex]

2. And the problem is?

[sheshe2]

4. I believe you were calling for unity the other day?

Perhaps I am thinking of another poster.

[Cha]

17. lol.. nah

[sheshe2]

19. ;)

[SharonClark]

7. Not all rich people are evil oligarchs.

Turner is adept at name calling and divisiveness.

[DanTex]

8. She didn't say "evil." And Bloomberg is way beyond "rich."

[TwilightZone]

16. The evil is assumed.

The usage of the word in modern context is almost always negative (and quite certainly is here) and the presumption is that "evil" is part of the equation.

Let's not pretend she meant it in a positive way. That would be ridiculous.

[DanTex]

24. She meant it in a "billionaire trying to buy an election" way.

If that's not oligarch, then what is?

[TomSlick]

35. Oligarchy (noun)

Definition: A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Blowing one's money on campaign adds does not make one an oligarch.

For what it's worth, it is unclear that someone can "buy an election" by buying ad time. It is unquestionably true that ad time can buy you name recognition. It is unclear how that translates into votes.

[Doremus]

59. Definition

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/oligarch

oligarch
Pronunciation /ˈäləˌɡärk/ /ˈɑləˌɡɑrk/
noun

1A ruler in an oligarchy.

2(especially in Russia) a very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence.

Sounds like she used the term accurately, especially given Bloomberg's recent large donation to the DNC and their recent rule change in his favor.

[lapucelle]

45. Everyone is using money. Bloomberg is using his own money

to fund his campaign.

BS is using other people's money. Last week he used it to charter a private jet.

[DanTex]

46. Yeah, it's totally the same thing.

[lapucelle]

48. Actually it isn't. There are dark money allegations against Our Revolution

for several six figure donations from undisclosed donors.

Shadow group provides Sanders super PAC support he scorns

https://apnews.com/345bbd1af529cfb1e41305fa3ab1e604

Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders nonprofit

https://apnews.com/cd7a58676b6fc8cbe2f9783f469d0bee

[lapucelle]

54. ...

[lapucelle]

36. He isn't one. Senator Nina needs to buy a dictionary.

Dog whistle scare tactics are Trump's domain.

[JoeOtterbein]

3. Quick! Get out the fainting couches!

(little laughing emoji guy rolling on the floor)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. Lol.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. LMFAO!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[wyldwolf]

5. that's so 2004! LOL

I thought 'progressives' had matured a little.

At least she didn't say the DU favorite 'corporate whore.'

[Zolorp]

6. That just makes me more angry at Sanders

She is a BIG part of the problem because she voted for Stein.

[sheshe2]

11. Yep, in Ohio.

A state we lost to Trump in 2016.

[House of Roberts]

9. $60 BILLION effing dollars, and he's NOT an oligarch?

What is he then?

[DanTex]

20. And he's not just sitting on the money, he's spending it to try and be president!

I don't get how anyone can argue with the "oligarch" term.

[LakeArenal]

30. Oligarchy: (please read the last sentence)

, an oligarch is a "member of an oligarchy; a person who is part of a small group holding power in a state". Aristotle gave the concept of oligarchy some negative connotations, but the term does not necessarily imply wealth.

[lapucelle]

37. A very successful self made businessman. N/T

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. Working class... obviously!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[EveHammond13]

10. attacking other Dems - great plan for unity

[Mike 03]

12. I hope the Bernie people don't piss Bloomberg off so much that he reneges on his

pledge to give his campaign machinery to the nominee if it's Bernie. I mean, how much abuse is he supposed to gracefully swallow?

[Devil Child]

13. Sounds like an appropriate description to me n/t

[Aaron Pereira]

15. Bloomberg is the dictionary definition of an oligarch.

Not sure what the problem is there.

[LakeArenal]

31. Not so much (please note last sentence)

, an oligarch is a "member of an oligarchy; a person who is part of a small group holding power in a state". Aristotle gave the concept of oligarchy some negative connotations, but the term does not necessarily imply wealth.

[lapucelle]

38. No he's not.

The problem is that Nina is using an evil-sounding buzzword without knowing what it really means.

[Cha]

40. Yeah, that's a big problem for nina

[lapucelle]

44. The BS campaign seems really scared about Bloomberg's entrance.

Bloomberg's going to call BS out for his record of voting with Republicans against sane gun legislation. And the "people in my state hunt/mom and pop gun shops" excuses are not going to work.

[Aaron Pereira]

47. Bloomberg is America's 8th richest man spending 100's of Millions on political influence.

That is the very definition of the oligarch. It's a dictionary word with a known meaning, there is no reason to be offended by it or call it a made up buzzword of some kind. He is an oligarch.

[spooky3]

52. If you read the definitions others have provided in this

Thread, I don’t think you’d say this. If he had controlling power, he’d appoint himself as the nominee.

[Aaron Pereira]

60. OK. I'll bookmark and review again in the third week of July.

[lapucelle]

53. Poor Nina doesn't realize that "oligarch" (like "socialism") is a real word

with a real meaning. Her mistake even has a name: the fallacy of equivocation.

Nina know a lot about the topic. That's why she insists on being introduced as "senator".

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. There truth hurts obviously!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[phleshdef]

18. I don't like Nina Turner very much but she isn't wrong.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

57. Nice to see some intellectual honesty... RESPECT!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[Mike Nelson]

21. This is strange, because...

... Bloomberg is seen as a rival for moderates, especially Biden. He is not seen as someone getting any significant number of Bernie voters - unless I'm missing something? Could it be positioning Bernie as less a part of the wealthy class, relative to Bloomberg?

[highplainsdem]

25. See this:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287466179

[Mike Nelson]

29. Got it...

... a secondary concern Bernie and staff may be thinking about...

[lapucelle]

39. BS voted with the Republicans 5 times against the Brady Bill

and he voted with the Republicans for one of the NRA's pet projects: The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

And Bloomberg's going to call him out for it, over, and over, and over.

That's why Nina and the BS campaign are running scared.

[BadGimp]

22. I used to be Rich!

I'm not anymore.

But I'm still an asshole.

[Jake Stern]

23. Hmmmm. . . . .

Trump is viciously lashing out at Bloomberg but he has defended Sanders.

Wonder who he fears more?

[msongs]

27. so is multi millionaire bernie. b ig deal nt

[evertonfc]

32. Turner

is nuts. Really. Bernie hurts himself by the company he keeps.

[badhair77]

33. Not impressed by Turner. Makes me question Bernie's judgement

in choosing his team.

[PatSeg]

34. Very poor judgement

when it comes to his campaign staff. They reflect on him.

[OneMoreCupOfCoffee]

42. Again. And again. And again.

[PatSeg]

61. Yes

They all make mistakes, but Bernie makes the same mistakes and brought back some of the questionable staff from 2016.

[sueunderh]

41. Nina Turner: Shit Stirrer

Nina Turner is emblematic of the shit stirrers, trouble makers and grievance assholes surrounding Bernie Sanders. Bernie and his supporters are always complaining, are always the victims and fight dirty. I don't like Bernie. Never have, but if he's the nominee I will vote for him.

[Cha]

43. yeah, sounds like nina is desperate.

[Gothmog]

49. Prof. Jason Johnson does a good job on this silly claim

Link to tweet

[jalan48]

50. I'd say Plutocrat for those offended with the term Oligarch.

plu·to·crat
/ˈplo͞odəˌkrat/
Learn to pronounce
nounDEROGATORY
a person whose power derives from their wealth.
"champagne-swilling plutocrats"

[spooky3]

51. As Nicolle Wallace said, a Republican would gladly take

Bloomberg’s money.

[JonLP24]

62. I'm sorry but he is

He is trying to buy his way into the Presidency. There is a lot he can spend his money on except on yourself. Stick to gun control & climate change the only issues he'll find real agreement on.