CAN BILLIONAIRES STILL BUY BERNIE?

Opinion

CAN BILLIONAIRES STILL BUY BERNIE?

 

In Asheville, NC, a traditionally artsy town that was once home to many citizens of extremely old money, such as George Vanderbilt, a 2016 bumper sticker is still displayed on an SUV that said, “Billionaires Can’t Buy Bernie.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton carried the state in the primary, but Bernie Sanders has a large following as well. He appeals to the young, the alternative life stylers and those who believe Utopia could be achieved if only Conservatives, Capitalists and Republicans would get out of the way.

This bumper sticker raises the question:

Who might possibly pay for Bernie Sanders’ campaign? He is not self-funded, so he must have some backers.

Who is Bernie Sanders and what is he about as a Senator, Congressman and presidential hopeful?

Bernie Sanders is serving his second term in the US senate after winning reelection in 2012 with 71% of the vote. His 16 years in the House of Representatives makes him the longest serving independent in Congressional history.

He graduated from college in 1964, but not much is mentioned about his early career before becoming a politician. His first job was at 40 years old when he became Mayor of Burlington Vermont.

However, he denies being a career politician, even though he has 25 years of service between the terms in the Senate and the House.

Being that donations to campaigns are of public knowledge, it might be that billionaires are the ones supporting Bernie, along with the affiliates of the many, many unions who are contributing money to his campaigns.

The conclusion could be drawn that Sanders has the support of the working person looking at these lists of donors as union members make these donations, not the actual union.

How is that accomplished? Are there funds withheld from paychecks earmarked for political campaigns? Are there fund-raising rallies in which members of the union are invited to and encouraged to donate?

The final question is, who are the heads of these unions, et. al?

One donor on the list for $5000.00 and $10,000 respectively is MoveOn.org.

This is a George Soros backed group. The MoveOn.org organization has been tied to training some of the rioters that shut down Donald Trump’s Chicago rally.

Hmmm, George Soros is a billionaire. Isn’t that is interesting? That’s one billionaire.

Another controversial point is that Sanders swears that his followers didn’t go to disrupt Trump’s rally. Perhaps not directly, maybe these Sanders followers could be guilty by association.

Another donor is Microsoft Corporation. Isn’t Bill Gates a billionaire?

Where is the money and power behind these respective unions, whose “affiliates” have made donations?

For example, the CWA is actively behind Bernie. The Communications Workers of America represent more than 70,000 different companies in different fields. Workers, the Print and Publishing and Media workers, the National Association of Broadcasting Employees and Technicians to name a few.

There is a real possibility that some billionaires own or have interest in some of these companies that provide airline services, and media services, etc.

Rupert Murdoch is a billionaire. He founded Fox News Channel, News Corporation and more. That would encompass media and communications.

Richard Dean Anderson is the CEO of Delta Airlines, but only receives $17.6 million a year from this carrier. He is, however, associated with 251 board members, in 10 different organizations across 11 different industries. His net worth is only $31 million, so he isn’t a billionaire, yet. Delta would have a union of flight attendants and pilots.

So far, at least 3 billionaires, just for examples.

Perhaps this bumper sticker was false advertising, as three examples of individuals whose net worth is over a billion would qualify as Billionaires.

It remains to be seen if the same billionaires will support Bernie in 2020. His recent tax returns show that he is a millionaire in his own right.

Seems rather hypocritical to use the rhetoric that he is only for the working person.

Food for thought!

 

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