BERN NOTICE: Listen To What Biden Keeps Telling His Big Donors

[brooklynite]

Last night, Biden drew another contrast with Bernie -- by reassuring his big donors that he won't take them on

Bern 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 Bernie’s 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. Biden’s 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 world’s highest prices for medicine.

Biden has refused to take Bernie’s 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 industry’s 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 Biden’s 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 isn’t 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, that’s 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 that’s 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 Biden’s 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 Trump’s 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. That’s 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 Biden’s was having his climate policy shaped by a former natural gas industry official, and also reported that Biden’s 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 CNN’s 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 wasn’t 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/

[brooklynite]

2. What is your basis for that allegation?

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.

[Otto Lidenbrock]

3. they're still perpetuating the "nothing will fundamentally change" lie

Link to tweet

“I mean, we may not want to demonize anybody who has made money. The truth of the matter is, you all, you all know, you all know in your gut what has to be done. 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 will change, nothing would fundamentally change.”

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


​

[Cha]

25. Of course they are.. that's all they

have. If they're so great they wouldn't need to do this.

Link to tweet

[Iliyah]

4. The more crap like this being spouted out

regarding VP Biden, and more I favor him.

[empedocles]

5. Sirota? - such a source

[Thekaspervote]

10. Indeed... they will not wear us down as hoped

[Perseus]

15. Why is it crap?

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.

[Cha]

26. Because it is.

Link to tweet

[LincolnRossiter]

6. Ignore the distorted lies and get that money, Joe!

[jcgoldie]

7. "great drug companies out there"

I'm aware of Bernie schtick, but if Biden actually used this phrase it makes me a little nauseous.

[cwydro]

17. Yes, it's a bit disturbing.

“Great” and drug companies don’t belong in the same sentence.

[beastie boy]

8. For God's sake,would you PLEASE keep this crap to your candidate's section?

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!

[murielm99]

9. Amen

[brooklynite]

11. Part of the discussion of the Primary is what one candidate is saying about another...

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.

[beastie boy]

16. Is Sirota a candidate? I see precious little of what one candidate says about another in your post.

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!

[brooklynite]

20. "Bern Notice is a production of the Bernie 2020 campaign."

[beastie boy]

21. Pretty unfortunate for Bernie and his campaign.

Regardless, I still don't find sweeping statements that disparage a Democratic candidate worthy of discussion on DU.

[onetexan]

23. The only BURN NOTICE here is that Bernie & other candidates' poll #s are still way below Joe's

so yes, please - those who post these ridiculous accusations - cut the crap. I'm tired of the bashing.

[emmaverybo]

28. Thank you. I strongly second your emotion.

[betsuni]

33. I'm glad these are being posted.

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.

[JI7]

37. it reminds me so much of what i read from the right wing

it's not even left in terms of liberal ideology.

it's just conspiracy theory .

[betsuni]

38. Yes, it's not left and it's conspiracy theory.

It's as if there's a new direction other than left or right that wants Democrats destroyed.

[Gothmog]

12. I was at one of these fundraisers on Friday

This crap never came up. Joe did use this line

Link to tweet

[BlueMississippi]

13. lol "Bernie good, Biden bad" flyer

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.

[betsuni]

24. When there are minor policy differences, go for the personal attack. Same as last time.

[LonePirate]

14. With all those corporate dollars from health care and pharma companies, no wonder Biden opposes M4A.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. Yep. It's disqualifying.

[George II]

35. Sanders takes money from "big pharma", "Wall Street", even Amazon and Walmart.....

....,and other bogeymen. Look at his filings, it's all there.

[Cha]

29. Biden is FOR Expanding ACA

Link to tweet

[LonePirate]

31. Popular is not the same as better. That spin might work on a low information voter but not at DU.

[Cha]

32. I think it is better and

so do a lot of other people.

[elocs]

18. Here's my Bern Notice: I'll never vote for him unless he is the nominee,

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.

[Amimnoch]

19. yeah! screw big Pharma! I want to go back to Apothecaries!

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.

[Eko]

30. Quit talking sense.

Someones got to pound on someone else's choice because of,,,,,, I don't really know why.

[George II]

34. This is just Biden bashing and most of it is either false or exaggerated. "Big donors", guess what?

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.

[samnsara]

36. hmmmm well my support for joe just went UP!!