2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumStunning attack on Sanders
Some people are parsing the Sanders tax returns and trying to make an issue of anything and everything they find. Basically, Bernie's tax returns illustrate that he lives like most middle class Americans, but he's being cast as a "millionaire" and whacked about the head and shoulders for taking a mortgage deduction, and so on, and so on. This is from people who claim to be Democrats people who should recognize what it means to live on a middle class income, people who should know the difference between how rich people live and how the rest of us live. The most significant thing is the way they use these attacks to deflect attention from the fact that one of our candidates is a real, actual multimillionaire, lives the life of a rich person, hobnobs with the rich and famous, has a big foundation as a sideline, does business favors for wealthy friends, all the typical stuff. This is so much like the attacks on John Kerry, where a genuine war hero was portrayed as a phony.
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)It's like King Kong stepped on me like a cigarette butt.
Or the Hulk just flung me into a brick wall.
The kind of stunned you feel when sticking your tongue in a live wall socket.
Queen Elizabeth just told me she's having my baby, Yes, that kind of stunned.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Rovian character assassination? If so, well done!
questionseverything
(9,657 posts)so bernie took a 23,000 mi deduction
and a 15,000 property tax deduction
http://taxhistory.org/thp/presreturns.nsf/a81ffa04b09bf63e85256e4100705e33/07e13291870d475885257e93007b1015/$FILE/HR_Clinton_2014.pdf
page 3 shows what hc took
questionseverything
(9,657 posts)one thing i am curious about
are ny state property taxes that much lower than vermont because
while clintons paid 7 times more pt than the sanders i am pretty sure their home is worth quite a bit more than 7 times as much
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)But I am curious about the "character assassination" thing. Whose character was I assassinating?
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)I rarely if ever attack the character of posters, though I have no problem attacking their ideas with great enthusiasm.
Do you find it ironic that your accusation is a form of character assassination?
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Also, what Bluenorthwest said.
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Also, your transparency page is revealing.
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)HassleCat
(6,409 posts)People who say they are Democrats, but are willing to accept the idea that someone who is a middle class person is gaming the system because he pays a lower effective tax rate than a multi-millionaire. The mental gymnastics required to reach a rationalization seem stunning. To me, at least. I realize many Democrats have adjusted themselves to this, even become enthusiastic participants.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)thank you for your honesty.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)The contents of the transcripts would be too much for some of her fans, those with some shred of integrity remaining.
Stallion
(6,476 posts)middle class my ass. I think I saw he was in the upper 6% or so
jmg257
(11,996 posts)*his averaged net worth
Stallion
(6,476 posts)but throw in free medical care and sweet Congressional Pension, two homes valued over at $1.05 Million he is doing better than I bet 92%+ of Americans
Note Also:
"The personal asset disclosure forms do not list properties held by Bernie and Jane Sanders, which include a home in the Washington D.C. neighborhood of Capitol Hill where the median home price is roughly $726,000 and a home in Vermont that realtor.com values at approximately $320,000."
"The campaign asset disclosure does not include the Sanders household's 2015 after tax income -- which would have been in the neighborhood of $180,000 assuming it were similar to the family's tax filing in 2014."
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/17/what-is-bernie-sanders-net-worth.aspx
jmg257
(11,996 posts)"In August of 2015, Bernie Sanders reported net worth assets at a minimum of $187,026 and a max of $759,004. Sanders also owns a condominium in Vermont valued at about $100,000. He has debts of at least $25,002 and as much as $65,000.
Figuring Sanders maximum possible debt and minimum possible assets gives a minimum possible Bernie Sanders net worth of $222,026. Figuring lowest possible debt and highest possible assets gives a net worth a high as $769,002. Combining average assets with average debt gives an average Bernie Sanders net worth of $528,014."
Stallion
(6,476 posts)plus it looks like he's set up for a retirement pension in the $80,000 per year range due to his tenure in the Senate-I wished I had that coming to me
jmg257
(11,996 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)To banksters.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)What was he supposed to do, turn down the salary of being a Representative and Senator?
Maybe he donates to charity.
Kip Humphrey
(4,753 posts)will make a $1,000,000 in their lifetime. By the logic of the hit piece against Bernie, EVERY WORKING PERSON will be a millionaire! Yeah!!!
msongs
(67,433 posts)CentralCoaster
(1,163 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)onecaliberal
(32,882 posts)pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)I think they only do damage to Hillary. It is obvious how petty and ridiculous they are being. . . let them proceed . . . the public has shown a remarkable ability to know there is a difference between Bernie Sanders and their BS.
Just look at the polls, she keeps going down in likeability, trustworthiness and even the election polls. The more mud they fling the dirtier THEY get.
Lone_Wolf
(1,603 posts)Nowadays, it's difficult for many people to get ahead and build up a nest egg thanks to the Republicans and New "Third Way" Democrats.
MFM008
(19,818 posts)The year hes been running for president, all neat and tidy,
If HRC had done that Sanders supporters would not be contented at ALL.
How about as many years as she has released?
Because he doesnt want to show all those donations to the NRA, or whatever hes hiding.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)This coming from the crew that is getting on Hillary's case today over hot sauce is beyond ironic.
VulgarPoet
(2,872 posts)whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)I will never join them.
achsadu
(41 posts)I have a real problem with Sanders' supporters who seem to accept every syllable he utters without any scrutiny. Yes, he's an "outsider" in the year of the outsiders, even though he's been in Congress (Senate) for almost all of his adult life; yes, he's consistent etc. etc. But why can't we look at what he has to say (and offer) without being bombarded by negative comments? Bernie(to me) is a one trick pony who repeats the message ad nauseam without offering any specifics about how he's going to accomplish any of his ideas. How will he work with a Rep. Congress (I can't see the R's losing their congressional majority any time soon) that impeded Obama's every single step. Is there some magical potion he'll use that will make them change their tactics? And in any case, what exactly is he going to do about foreign policy outside of his opposition to Netanyahu (which I applaud)? It's a big bad world out there and he may have the "instincts" for it all but where are the plans? Going to Rome on a whim? What was that about? I'm tired of all politicians who promise "pie in the sky" and "cleaning up the mess" without telling us exactly how they're going to do it.
achsa.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Good enough for me!
Oh, and he does have plans, they are available - and what I see of Hillary's plans - I figure we would be in for war, fracking, the TPP, the start of Third Way slashing at Social Security - just for a start.
Not with my vote or support.
All in it together
(275 posts)If you haven't had enough info yet.
He went to the Vatican because he was invited and he this this pope is doing a lot of good. He's worked with congress and knows the games really well. By being more objective in Israel instead of backing whatever Netanyahu wants, like Hillary, gives the process a chance.
His secret sauce is that he needs us to get things done and to take the democracy back from moneyed interests.
You knew all this anyway, didn't you?
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)and not why do you think they are all screeching for the transcripts if not for trying to parse words and make an issue of everything they find?
djean111
(14,255 posts)If this is all they got - besides manufactured illogical outrage about what he believes in - then good.
And whinging about Bernie's net worth - next to Hillary's - I don't even see the logic in that. That is as stupid as it gets, folks.
Worshiping someone with such an incredible amount of money, and ragging on Bernie? What is the point? Do they really think that Bernie's supporters hate money?
Also, I have to say I am all out of fucks to give about the ""I have a problem with Bernie because bullshit bullshit bullshit, etc.".
No one really cares. You are just here to do a little and pointless hit job. Doesn't matter one iota.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)Imagine if Bernie is the nominee? It will only get worse.
FlatBaroque
(3,160 posts)is not having to watch the flinging of the poo. Just sayin.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)Everyone knows a multi millionaire with a shady foundation calling out a guy's taxes who makes far less is completely ridiculous.
senz
(11,945 posts)Yeah, Trump/Cruz supporters, yeah ... that's gotta be it ...
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Owns two multi-million dollar homes and I'm quite sure she writes off her mortgage interest deductions just like the rest of us.
Shaking head here...I can't believe this place.