Being poor is overall a choice (save for some with mental issues that they were born with).
God forbid you learn more than blue collar and retail skills in life. Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
The introduction was familiar: “I’m Joe Biden from Scranton, by way of Claymont and Wilmington. …”
It was classic Biden, who for years has presented himself as “Middle Class Joe,” a champion of working-class folks like those in northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s central to his argument for why he can win the presidency.
But hours after launching his campaign Thursday, Biden’s first formal event wasn’t at a union hall or factory. It was a Philadelphia fund-raiser with prominent executives from Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and powerhouse law firms, all hosted in the West Mount Airy home of Comcast Executive Vice President David L. Cohen.
Guests were asked to contribute as much as $2,800, and snacked on Mediterranean charcuterie with sliced steak and other hors d’oeuvres as they assembled on Cohen’s back patio for Biden’s 14-minute speech. More than 100 showed up.
Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who helped organize the event, said he expected it to ultimately bring in $700,000 to $750,000. That would account for more than 10 percent of the $6.3 million the campaign said it had raised in donations in the first 24 hours since Biden’s announcement — the most of any 2020 Democratic candidate’s opening-day haul.
The event, however, set up a sharp contrast with the blue-collar image the former vice president hopes to burnish — his first campaign stop with workers will come Monday at a Pittsburgh union hall. It also created an immediate flashpoint with the faction of his party’s voters that want to diminish the influence of the rich and powerful — and with some of his Democratic rivals.
‘Not for sale’
Hours after his campaign announcement Thursday morning, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) emailed an appeal to her supporters with the subject line, “Elizabeth’s time is not for sale.”
“Even though the pressure is high, you won’t see Elizabeth resort to hopping around big cities to host swanky fund-raisers with wealthy donors,” the email said.
Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas congressman who has broken fund-raising records with viral, grassroots appeal, sent out an email the same day asking supporters to chip in $3 apiece.
“Today is an important day to show the strength of our grassroots campaign, especially given the fact that the former vice president has already been collecting checks from major donors for a week leading up to this launch,” his campaign wrote in the message.
Biden also put out his own email appeals asking for smaller amounts Thursday.
“What we raise today will determine the number of rallies we can host, the staff we can hire, and the number of voters we can contact,” one message said. “So we really need all of Joe’s top supporters to chip in.”
READ MORE: Joe Biden is running for president, launches his 2020 campaign
To be sure, Biden needs to raise money to compete.
Before he even officially entered the race, his competitors already had millions in their campaign accounts. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) had $16 million in his coffers as of March 31, and, as he did in 2016, was touting his lead among small-dollar donors. President Donald Trump had nearly $41 million — giving him a potentially daunting advantage over any Democrat who wants the nomination.
“You’ve got to take the money. There’s too much overthink about that,” said Mike Murphy, a Republican political consultant who led Jeb Bush’s Super PAC in 2016. He said the perceived downside of such big fund-raising events is overrated. “No money, no campaign.”
Alan Kessler, a Philadelphia-based law partner who helped organize Thursday’s gathering, said big donors are “not expecting they’re going to get something for it, other than supporting the person they think is best capable of taking the White House away from the current occupant.”
Rendell noted that most of the donors had known Biden for decades.
“The folks on this patio out here, you’re part of the folks that brung me to the dance, as they say, long time ago, from ‘72 on,” Biden told the crowd. “You’ve been the people that have helped me.”
Still, liberals such as Warren and Sanders have cast fund-raising as not just a “process” issue, but one that speaks to how a politician governs, and whom they look out for.
Progressives have long been wary of Cohen — one of Philadelphia’s most enduring political power brokers — given Comcast’s influence. Another top organizer for Thursday’s fund-raiser was Daniel J. Hilferty, a registered Republican and CEO of the health insurer Independence Blue Cross.
(Sanders has called for abolishing private health insurance companies like Independence in favor of a single-payer, government-run system.)
Being poor is overall a choice (save for some with mental issues that they were born with).
God forbid you learn more than blue collar and retail skills in life. Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
Beto is listening to the 10% of the libearls that are batshit crazy that tweet on Twatter. He just lost himself the election. Who is next in the 22 footlong line-up of stupid democrat candidates?
At least Buttigege hasn't said something this stupid yet.
Have I ever attacked you? Hmm. Let me see here? Nope. So, why so you attack me? Maybe it's because my statement hits a little too close to home? Put in or shut up. Where is your money? Lets go. 20% of your income to help out African Americans in need. BTW, wealthy people do give. My uncle was a multi millionaire. He had a mess hall built for the firefighters in his area. He donated $50k to Parkinson's foundation. The rich do give back. So sad to be so angry. Why are you so angry? Sad, really to have no control over your emotions.
I know a whole bunch of blue collar workers that pull down well over 100k a year. It's not a bad living.Being poor is overall a choice (save for some with mental issues that they were born with).
God forbid you learn more than blue collar and retail skills in life. Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
Beto is listening to the 10% of the libearls that are batshit crazy that tweet on Twatter. He just lost himself the election. Who is next in the 22 footlong line-up of stupid democrat candidates?
At least Buttigege hasn't said something this stupid yet.
Rarely has anyone offered a more honest and succinct summation of modern conservatism. I congratulate you, sir.Being poor is overall a choice
50k a year is substance level survival around here.
Being poor is overall a choice (save for some with mental issues that they were born with).
God forbid you learn more than blue collar and retail skills in life. Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
Beto is listening to the 10% of the libearls that are batshit crazy that tweet on Twatter. He just lost himself the election. Who is next in the 22 footlong line-up of stupid democrat candidates?
At least Buttigege hasn't said something this stupid yet.
Medical bills is someone's choice? The vast number of bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical bills. This literally doesn't exist in other OECD countries.
Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
Christ I could learn to become an auto-worker overnight with YouTube for fucks sake.
False. The bottom 50% of those that file an income tax return pay 0$ or get money back from the government in regards to Federal Income Tax. This is a fact, regardless of how much it hurts your feelings.#fuckofftroll
Not surprising that a Russian POS doesn't know how our tax code works. Sort of missed the EARNED part if the credit that isnt given if you dont have a job/income. If you have income you pay taxes. The credit increases depending on how much you make up to a point.
We know why you hate America and Americans but why do you hate the WORKING poor so much comrade....
See, no question mark...
He's not a Russian, he's the real American conservative. Thinks he understands, doesn't. Thinks he's brilliant, isn't. Thinks he isn't easily duped, he is. Then, when challenged, he lashes out like a cornered animal because he doesn't know better. Unfortunately, he's also not open to reduction. There is little left for him but pity.Not surprising that another Russian POS who wants to be a real American but doesn't have a clue how American laws and tax codes work
Again, in order to get the Earned Income Credit you have to have income. People who have paychecks don't get to skip out on taxes no matter how badly you wish it were true to suit your bullshit lies.
No matter what account you log into the opetator is still a feckess fucktard... No matter how hard you try to move the goalposts and no matter which yes man sock you log into...
He's not a Russian, he's the real American conservative. Thinks he understands, doesn't. Thinks he's brilliant, isn't. Thinks he isn't easily duped, he is. Then, when challenged, he lashes out like a cornered animal because he doesn't know better. Unfortunately, he's also not open to reduction. There is little left for him but pity.
It's so tiring when people like you ignore all the other taxes people pay. Your wallet doesn't give a shit if the tax is called an income tax or a sales tax or an excise tax.False. The bottom 50% of those that file an income tax return pay 0$ or get money back from the government in regards to Federal Income Tax. This is a fact, regardless of how much it hurts your feelings.
That's too complicated for him. Just wait until he comes back foaming at the mouth, and calling us idiots, though.It's so tiring when people like you ignore all the other taxes people pay. Your wallet doesn't give a shit if the tax is called an income tax or a sales tax or an excise tax.
It's so tiring when people like you ignore all the other taxes people pay. Your wallet doesn't give a shit if the tax is called an income tax or a sales tax or an excise tax.