Dear Washington Post,

[Uncle Joe]

When will you be covering your owner's; "Bezos" aka; richest man in the world, corporation that being Amazon not paying a penny in income taxes despite making over a 11 billion dollars?

Does this seem rational to you?

(snip)

Bezos added to his business interests when he founded aerospace company Blue Origin in 2000. A Blue Origin test flight successfully first reached space in 2015, and Blue has plans to begin commercial suborbital human spaceflight in 2019. He purchased The Washington Post in 2013 for US$250 million in cash. Bezos manages other business investments through his venture capital fund, Bezos Expeditions.

On July 27, 2017, he became the world's wealthiest person when his estimated net worth increased to just over $90 billion. Bezos's wealth surpassed $100 billion for the first time on November 24, 2017, and he was formally designated the wealthiest person in the world by Forbes on March 6, 2018, with a net worth of $112 billion. The first centi-billionaire on the Forbes wealth index, he was named the "richest man in modern history" after his net worth increased to $150 billion in July 2018.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bezos

Amazon Will Pay a Whopping $0 in Federal Taxes on $11.2 Billion Profits

Those wondering how many zeros Amazon, which is valued at nearly $800 billion, has to pay in federal taxes might be surprised to learn that its check to the IRS will read exactly $0.00.

According to a report published by the Institute on Taxation and Economic (ITEP) policy Wednesday, the e-tail/retail/tech/entertainment/everything giant won’t have to pay a cent in federal taxes for the second year in a row.

This tax-free break comes even though Amazon almost doubled its U.S. profits from $5.6 billion to $11.2 billion between 2017 and 2018.

To top it off, Amazon actually reported a $129 million 2018 federal income tax rebate—making its tax rate -1%.

(snip)


http://fortune.com/2019/02/14/amazon-doesnt-pay-federal-taxes-2019/

I know that Bernie's taxes are a major concern to you, what do you expect to find, that he didn't pay any?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Whatabout whatabout whatabout....

What, exactly, do the alleged transgressions of Jeff Bezos, who is not a candidate for president, have to do with the failure of Bernie, who is a candidate for president, to produce his tax returns? Even if Bezos takes advantage of all the loopholes rich people avail themselves of with the result that he didn't pay any tax, he still has to file tax returns, and if he were running for president, which he is not, he would be asked to produce them, too.

[Gothmog]

3. It seems that the Washington Post is pissing off the sanders supporters

I really enjoy my subscription to the Washington Post

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Me, too. I think they've been doing some outstanding reporting lately.

Trump doesn't like Bezos either; the Post has been bugging him to release his tax returns, too. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-democrats-request-10-years-of-trump-financial-records/2019/03/27/4a9b67d0-50ba-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html?utm_term=.12c973415a27

[Thekaspervote]

18. Me three!!

[ehrnst]

73. Fact checking can sting sometimes.

But that's what everyone who has their eyes on the most powerful position in the world gets.

No exceptions.

When one equates the free press doing fact checks on a politician's own words with "attacking" them, that's just sad.

In the case of POTUS doing it, it's dangerous.

[dubyadiprecession]

77. God bless the work of the Washington Post!

Piss on those assholes!

[Uncle Joe]

4. The Washington Post under the ownership of Bezos talking about anybody's taxes is..

excuse the expression "rich."

I'm not asking for Bezos to produce his income tax returns.

I'm asking why the Washington Post isn't covering why one of the biggest corporations in America with over 11 billion dollars in profits pays no taxes?

If Bernie had never filed his income taxes, (which I highly doubt) the IRS would be after him just as they would with any other American.

The first debates haven't even taken place yet and for WAPO to be chirping about taxes from one of the poorer members of the Senate is at best disingenuous while ignoring the forest fire taking place across America.

[LongtimeAZDem]

12. Not that it has anything to do with Sanders' integrity problems, but it's not exactly a secret:

Amazon reported last month that it did not owe federal tax on its US income for 2017 and 2018 -- and in fact was due rebates from the federal government for those years.

And its US pre-tax income jumped 100 percent to $11.2 billion, the company said in regulatory filings. Its tax burden was lighter because of deductions for stock-based compensation and assets that are depreciating in value.

As a result of the 2017 Republican tax cuts, which slashed US corporate tax rates to 21 percent from 35 percent, Amazon also calculated it would receive a $789 million benefit.

But that is not to say it paid no taxes at all.

For 2018, it reported owing $322 million in taxes to US state governments and another $563 million in the rest of the world.

Fact-check: Does Amazon pay no US federal income tax?

[Uncle Joe]

19. That's precisely what Bernie is running against, corporate tax loopholes and

having the 1% pay their fair share of federal taxes.

Bezos knows it and the WAPO editorial board know it.

[BlueFlorida]

22. Amazon is not doing anything illegal.

Stop smearing a publicly held company that is accountable to the SEC and external auditors under severe criminal penalties.

Why don't you stay on the phone to Bernie's campaign HQ insisting that they release his tax returns instead? Once he releases the tax returns, all this goes away.

What has Bernie got to hide that he won't release his tax returns? I can release 30 years of my tax returns in 15 minutes. Trust me, my tax returns are far more complex than average.

[Uncle Joe]

30. I never said Amazon was doing anything illegal.

Frankly I'm not worried about Bernie's taxes, I expect that we will find out that he is still one of the economically poorer members of the Senate with the last couple of years being his most profitable but still ranked low in terms of a Senator's wealth.

With Bernie being all too happy to raise taxes on himself as he is wealthier in order to help the nation, that's the person I see.

[BlueFlorida]

33. I am worried about Bernie's taxes

IMHO they are hiding some dark secrets that would torpedo his bid which is why he is not releasing them.

I can release 30 years of my tax returns in 15 minutes. What is taking so long? He had 3 years.

Don't you ever examine your candidate critically?

[LongtimeAZDem]

35. When Sanders releases his own taxes, he can point fingers at someone else. Not before.

Seriously, these misdirections are getting pathetic.

[Uncle Joe]

37. That's simply not true, he's doing it today and as for me, more power to him.

I believe Bernie will release his taxes as every Presidential Candidate should but that's the tree not the forest.

[LongtimeAZDem]

38. What you belive is irrelevant; he has dishonestly stalled for years now

What is he hiding, and why are you covering for him?

[Uncle Joe]

39. The same holds true for you, what you believe is irrelevant.

[LongtimeAZDem]

40. Where are Sanders' taxes? What is he hiding, and why are you covering for him?

[Uncle Joe]

41. Sorry your questions are irrelevant, but stay tuned for answers.

[LongtimeAZDem]

42. And there we have it

[Eliot Rosewater]

45. surely by NOW Bernie has released many years of his returns?

He aint gonna do it, ever.

I was a HUGE Obama and Hillary supporter at different times, had either refused I would NEVER have supported them

NOT releasing them MEANS they are hiding something
PERIOD

When will people wake up? when it is too late

[Dazbog]

78. Even those folks wont take

Bernies required Senate financial disclosure form that he must file annually. I did happen to take a look at one from 2017. It included royalties from his book, and other works. It looked perfectly normal for a Senator and a writer as well.

It is more detailed than a tax return in terms of income. And it is public info. Some other person used a .com to point out the 1 tax return from 2014.

[Gothmog]

81. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

?s=20

[WeekiWater]

71. BS isn't the only one running on those grounds.

Not even close.

[Persondem]

17. Corporations are allowed to apply losses from previous year against future profits.

Amazon lost money for many years and so is now applying those losses against recent profits. This has been a part of the corporate tax code for years. Yeah, it stinks, but that may be why WAPO isn't making a big deal out of it.

[Uncle Joe]

32. Why is that?

Corporations are allowed to apply losses from previous year against future profits.

[Persondem]

47. I suppose it's to encourage small to mid level start ups to stick around.

Many businesses fail as it is in the first few years. Allowing losses to be a credit against future profits keeps companies going until they can become established. And it allows some basic stability in the corporate world - from small players to the big boys.

It just really looks bad when an outfit like Amazon gets away with not paying taxes on billions in profit. If there's silver lining, it's that eventually Amazon will lose the credit, assuming it stays profitable.

[Uncle Joe]

51. Yes, that would be fine for small to mid size corporations but at some point there

needs to be a cutoff.

It just really looks bad when an outfit like Amazon gets away with not paying taxes on billions in profit. If there's silver lining, it's that eventually Amazon will lose the credit, assuming it stays profitable.

I believe Amazon will still find a way to accumulate losses to offset any or most all of their tax burden, actually now that I think about it their expansion should have major write-offs.

[TexasTowelie]

64. Actually, individuals are also allowed to apply losses from previous years on their income taxes.

It isn't a nefarious plot and it is used by many people when they are forced to sale a home at a loss like many did at the end of the end of the last decade.

[WeekiWater]

70. The answer to your question is so simple and basic that it shows your motives.

"I'm asking why the Washington Post isn't covering why one of the biggest corporations in America with over 11 billion dollars in profits pays no taxes? "

The article would go like this.

"Current Tax Law"

End of article.

This is nothing more than deflection from Sanders being shady about his taxes.

[mcar]

87. +1000!

[sheshe2]

10. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[guillaumeb]

2. Bezos exemplifies the toxic business model that does so much harm

to US workers.

The supposed convenience of Amazon comes at a huge cost to the country.

Recommended.

[BlueFlorida]

25. Bezos is not doing anything illegal

and there is nothing "toxic" about Amazon.

If you don't like Amazon, don't buy from them. Go to a local store and buy it. It is THAT simple.

[guillaumeb]

88. I did not say it was illegal.

But it is destroying small businesses, ferociously anti-worker, and, in my view, toxic for the long term health lof the working cxlass in the US.

[BlueFlorida]

90. On the other side of the argument

He is making it easier for elderly and disabled people to get the stuff they need.

Shopping at Amazon also has a smaller carbon footprint. Instead of thousands of cars driving to the stores to buy one or two items, Amazon uses fewer trucks to deliver thousands of items. Many of those trucks are powered by natural gas.

If one is against Amazon, it is quite simple. Don't shop at Amazon.

[guillaumeb]

94. Please read post #62.

Bezos' goal is to enrich himself, not to help anyone else. He could easily pay a living wage, and make warehouse jobs full time and with benefits.

That was the Henry Ford model.

But like the Walton family, he is enriching himself and also driving small businesses into bankruptcy so he can make Amazon the "ONE BIG STORE FOR EVERYTHING".

The company store, updated.

[workinclasszero]

62. Bezos is one of the big reasons why this country is going to hell

The richest man in the world could take a couple of billion and give all of his employees a big raise and great benefits, totally covered healthcare, pensions, everything!

The whole nine yards and he would not even notice his pile of money decreasing even a little bit.

But will he do that? Nope. He would rather sit back and watch the world burn.

[guillaumeb]

89. 100% in agreement.

There is a book about WalMart called "the high cost of low prices".

[Historic NY]

103. Well he does give...perhaps not enough to your liking.

[link:https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2018/09/13/jeff-bezos-amazon-philanthropy-giving-billion-dollar-fund/#27d733f51570|]


Check out Amazon Foundation.

[cwydro]

5. Lol.

Good try.

[Uncle Joe]

6. No doubt Bezos is laughing as well.

[cwydro]

8. I would be.

And why hasn’t Bernie released his returns?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Bezos doesn't control the Post's editorial or news content.

We were happy when they were busting on Trump for not producing his tax returns, and nobody complained about Jeff Bezos then.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Of course he doesn't, he just owns the paper.

No doubt they will be tearing into corporate tax loopholes and highly profitable mega-conglomerates in general and Amazon specifically paying no taxes while making hundreds of millions or billions in profit, just any minute now.

What does WAPO's editorial board have to worry about, Bezo's could never pull strings to get them fired..right?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Were you worried about any of this when the Post was writing news stories

and editorials critical of Trump, including his tax returns - which they do almost every day - like this?

The Democrats' big rollout begins now. It must include a real bid for Trump's tax returns.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/04/democrats-big-rollout-begins-now-it-must-include-real-bid-trumps-tax-returns/

Friendly reminder: We still haven’t seen Trump’s tax returns
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/friendly-reminder-we-still-havent-seen-trumps-tax-returns/2019/04/01/a6b4e340-54b9-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html

The silly ways Republicans will defend keeping Trump’s tax returns secret
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/05/silly-ways-republicans-will-defend-keeping-trumps-tax-returns-secret/

The case for getting Trump’s tax returns just got stronger — and more urgent
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/28/case-getting-trumps-tax-returns-just-got-stronger-more-urgent/

Democrats plan to request President Trump's tax returns in 2019. Here's how they'll do it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/18/when-how-we-might-see-president-trumps-tax-returns/

Pelosi says she expects a House committee will 'take the first steps' toward obtaining Trump's tax returns
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-says-she-expects-a-house-committee-will-take-the-first-steps-toward-obtaining-trumps-tax-returns/2018/12/13/fbc02660-feec-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html

How Trump’s Tax Returns Could Become Public
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/how-trumpstax-returns-could-become-public/2019/02/06/aafdc8a6-2a78-11e9-906e-9d55b6451eb4_story.html


And why hasn't Bernie released his tax returns?

[Uncle Joe]

24. This is all well and good but where was WAPO when Trump was running for the Presidency?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. The Post, like just about everybody else, thought he was going to lose.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/14/the-2016-electoral-map-is-collapsing-around-donald-trump/?utm_term=.01fca2f37279

But what does that have to do with Bernie or Jeff Bezos?

And why hasn't Bernie released his tax returns?

[BlueFlorida]

26. Amazon is not using any "loopholes"

It is only offsetting the losses from prior years to current income.

Every sole proprietor, partnership or a corporation can do that.

IT IS NOT A LOOPHOLE.

[BlueTsunami2018]

14. I don't see what one thing has to do with the other.

We know what Amazon is paying. The real problem is that because of the laws being as they are, they don’t have to pay any federal taxes. They aren’t scamming anyone, those are the laws.

Why would the Post do a story on something that everyone already knows about?

Are you saying Bernie shouldn’t release his taxes or that it doesn’t matter? One of the big issues with Тяцмр is that he’s hiding his. It’s awfully hard to use that against him if you’re doing the same thing. I don’t think anyone thinks Bernie isn’t paying any taxes, I think the Sanders camp is concerned that he’s worth a lot more than he portrays and it will make him look bad railing against the 1% when he’s a millionaire himself. That may not be the case but we don’t know and that’s a problem.

Every candidate should show their taxes. That’s the bottom line.

[Uncle Joe]

21. And Bernie is running most aggressively to change those laws

We know what Amazon is paying. The real problem is that because of the laws being as they are, they don’t have to pay any federal taxes. They aren’t scamming anyone, those are the laws.

Bezos knows it, the 1% know it and the former's editorial board at the Washington Post know it.

I'm not suggesting that Bernie shouldn't release his tax returns at all, any candidate for the highest office in the land should.

What I am suggesting is that the Washington Post along with other members of the corporate media are making a mountain out of a mole hill because Bernie most threatens our dysfunctional status quo.

Bernie said he will release his taxes and if he doesn't, he will start paying for it at the debates if not before but the Washington Post is acting like a small child before Christmas wanting to open his/her presents early, while all but ignoring the big picture that being a middle class being hollowed out and the numbers of Americans living on the margin continue to expand.

[BlueFlorida]

27. Bernie cannot single-handedly change diddly

Amazon is not afraid of Bernie. Bernie will not win the nomination. The handwriting is on the wall.

[Farmer-Rick]

79. Yeah, the US Oligarchs don't want to pay their fair share of anything

Trump is their handpicked monster. They don't want to put him back into his crazy cage. Even Bezos (that is a really strange name, I always think of Bozo when I type it.) knows Trump is lining their pockets and beating down those nasty socialist and people of color who want their fair share.

Bezos is trying to ensure that the gravey train keeps coming and that one of the most socialist of all candidates is squashed. And in the process he maybe ensuring the monster gets reelected.

[Uncle Joe]

85. I agree with your analysis Farmer-Rick

[namahage]

15. Dear Jeff Bezos, aka the Washington Post,

I have been concerned about the slant of articles you posted since you bought the Post in 2013.

Specifically, that you would ensure your newspaper would not post anything detrimental to Amazon, particularly regarding taxes.

I submit that your quality control has been slipping of late. Specifically, articles such as these:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/02/16/amazon-paid-no-federal-taxes-billion-profits-last-year/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/09/05/bernie-sanders-introduces-stop-bezos-act-senate/

If you could ensure that you won't post any more articles critical of Amazon or Bezos (but I repeat myself, amirite?) it would mean so much to me being able to claim "fake news" but from the left.

[JI7]

16. Sanders is running for president. is he going to do things based on whether some private

individuals did it?

[BlueFlorida]

20. This is a deflection

It doesn't matter who owns WaPo or any of the news outlets.

The bottom line is

WHERE ARE BERNIE'S TAX RETURNS? WHAT IS HE HIDING?

[Cha]

23. Awwww

[BlueFlorida]

28. Poor poor Bernie Sanders

always the victim.

[The Genealogist]

29. Cool story

Where are Bernie's tax returns?

[David__77]

31. The issue is a campfire around which some people can gather.

...

[revmclaren]

43. A lot of people are gathering around this particular campfire.

A huge number are current and future voters and they are NOT happy campers!

Where are the tax returns Sanders (I-VT)???

ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[David__77]

44. Got it.

Thanks.

[yardwork]

36. This approach isn't going to work.

[Socal31]

46. Something we should all agree on...

WaPo and Vox are garbage and causing us to fight amongst ourselves.

Link to tweet

?s=19

[Uncle Joe]

50. Thanks Socal, just for the record I'm not suggesting that Bernie shouldn't release his tax returns.

Having said that I agree with you, I smell Bezos' and his ilk's influence from here.

Too many of Bernie's proposed policies threaten the 1% whether it be higher taxes particularly on the wealthiest, Medicare for All, the military industrial complex, the prison for profit industry, stronger unions, livable wages etc. etc.

Peace to you.

[Snotcicles]

53. Bernie Sanders getting those Amazon

employees a fair wage couldn't have set well with the papers owner.

[namahage]

58. Just because one candidate's surrogates and supporters say so

Does not mean the rest of us are in disarray.

[Socal31]

59. You aren't in disarray, because your candidate isn't threatening enough currently.

The current smearing is a continuation of 2016, between the Bernie camp and the DNC (Biden).

The third faction, which favors a diversity nominee, is currently able to do opposition research without much being flung back their way. But that will change.

My point isn't to put down one candidate or lift up another. They are strong candidates and I will enthusiastically support whoever the nominee is. But having the blogs and news outlets actively targeting candidates does not sit well with me.

The oppo-negativity machine can and will be used against any candidate that endangers the nomination of their primary or secondary candidate preference.

[namahage]

60. "My candidates" are Democrats.

And that includes Biden and Buttigieg.

Or are you somehow under the impression that just because I might prefer Kamala now, that I hate the others and will not back whoever ultimately represents the Democratic Party's nominee for President?

I'm sure you understand this, using a Sander's surrogate's tweet even though you proclaim to be for Mayor Pete.

Oh, and nice dig with the "diversity nominee."

[Socal31]

61. I don't know what you think im saying....

But your response reads as if you are taking it the opposite way.

The in-party negativity that tore us apart in 2016 contributed to our current nightmare. I will continue to point out entities or individuals that I believe are intentionally causing unnecessary division.

I'll ignore your implication suggested by pointing out that I used the word "diversity". Why assume the tone and motivation of a poster you disagree with instead of just asking for clarification?

[namahage]

92. "Why assume....tone and motivation"?

Like you did by "ignoring your implication suggested"?

But OK, I'll bite. Why was it necessary at all to bring "diversity nominee" into the argument?

[MrsCoffee]

48. Is this another attempt to pretend that Bernie is the only one out to tax the rich?

I almost miss Tad Devine.

SMH.

[George II]

52. And THAT is why we really want to see those tax returns!

[George II]

49. To answer your question, we don't know.

[MadDAsHell]

54. what is the reason they don't pay federal income taxes? Offsetting higher losses elsewhere?

[Uncle Joe]

55. I believe in Amazon's case they're carrying forward losses from previous years.

[WheelWalker]

56. Well, at least you're transparent, even if

your chosen one is not.

[LongtimeAZDem]

57. ROTFL

[PDittie]

67. Tacky.

Really, really tacky.

[ehrnst]

74. Or witty. (nt)

[WheelWalker]

76. Perhaps tending toward snark - I can see that, I suppose...

but really, definitely not tacky.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

63. Doesn't this belong in the General Discussion Forum?

Though he owns the paper Bezos doesn't wrote for the Washington Post.

I get that you don't like the criticism of Bernie Sanders not releasing his taxes but that criticism is not limited to the Washington Post.

[WeekiWater]

72. It belongs here.

It's a direct deflection related to the concern of Sanders not releasing his tax returns.

[SidDithers]

65. Leave Bernie alone!!...nt

Sid

[MyNameGoesHere]

66. The Independent Senator from Vermont can keep

his tax returns private. That's his right, just as the orange asshole has chosen to do. The fascist seem to love him for it, maybe it's a untapped voter demographic the Independent Senator from Vermont is trying to appeal to. Who knows?

[namahage]

95. The Independent Bernie Sanders,

or IBS if you like three-letter acronyms, is going to Fox for a townhall, where he expects to be treated better than he was by Democrats at a CNN one.

[betsuni]

68. "I know that Bernie's taxes are a major concern to you, what do you expect to find ... ?"

What did Bernie expect to find here:

"It must be a fantastic speech, a brilliant speech which you would want to share with the American people. It must be Shakespearean!"

"If you ask me about the Clinton Foundation, do I have a problem with a sitting Secretary of State and a foundation run by her husband collecting many millions of dollars from foreign governments, many governments which are dictatorships. Yeah, I do."

"I don't want to see the American people voting for the lesser fo two evils."

The many insinuations that Democrats are beholden to Wall Street and corporations without evidence.

What did he expect to find?

[MrsCoffee]

80. Exactly.

I’m sick of the hypocritical double standard from him and everyone supporting him.

[OBrien]

69. Where's Bernies taxes?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

101. Same place as Beto's... on file, or to be filed, with the IRS.

Except Bernie has the lead in releasing his 2014 tax return.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Skidmore]

75. Ah, yes.

The weeping and gnashing of teeth commences as clay feet are noticed.

[stonecutter357]

82. Bernie's taxes are a major concern to Me ...

[comradebillyboy]

83. Bernie's Taxes...Oh look a squirrel!

[Firestorm49]

84. Having been in business, I understand the goal.

When you make that much money, not considering charitable contributions that he may have made, there is or should be a social responsibility to pay taxes into a system dependent on revenue to improve infrastructure, provide for the common defense, help those in need, etc. ( democratic socialism.) The goal in business has always been to pay none or as little in taxes as you can legally get away with.

We all aspire to have that amount of money, but there should be a mandatory price for success. I guarantee you, Bezos wont go broke if he had a mandatory percentage of taxes to pay. When JFK raised to top rate to 70%, corporations, rather than paying the tax to the government, used it to raise wages and add manufacturing capacity which put more people to work at a decent wage. People had more discretionary income to spend, which was put back into the economy, factories grew rather than collapsed as we are seeing now, and there was upward mobility.

This country desperately needs the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes just like the rest of us. I know this is an arguable premise, but the underlying point is valid. The system is rigged by a corrupt political party whose mission statement is “I want the money, so fuck you”. And, we have indeed, been screwed by them. Society has been screwed by them. Economic growth has been screwed by them. Upward mobility has been screwed by them.

[Uncle Joe]

86. Thank you Firestorm.

[Tarheel_Dem]

91. It's called "vetting", which didn't happen last time. Get used to it.

[Gothmog]

93. Washington Post-Opinion: After his video, Biden may come out even stronger

Link to tweet

By late Wednesday afternoon, his video tweet had received more than 66,000 likes.

It’s not clear this was even necessary. Other than journalists, it was hard to find anyone who honestly thought “Biden is a hugger” was news; it surely wasn’t new. Even Republicans had come to his rescue. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), in a reminder of the old Lindsey Graham, remarked, “I just want to say Joe Biden is my friend, and I know him very well, and whatever he did it may have been inappropriate but it was not driven by malice or misconduct.” Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also vouched for him, as has Meghan McCain.

Biden conveyed in his message why he touches people — to soothe, empathize and encourage. In saying that he would resist the notion that politics has to be “antiseptic,” he showed that he’s in public service not for glory but to help others. In short, he helped voters remember the positive qualities he’s well known for, which even political opponents attest to.

[Gothmog]

96. Does this make you happy

Link to tweet

[Uncle Joe]

97. I don't care one way or the other about it. On my list of priorities or national concerns,

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2019, 04:19 PM - Edit history (1)

this is below the totem poll.

[Gothmog]

98. Joe Biden is a honestly decent human being

Link to tweet

Decorum seemed far from Biden’s mind when he went off-schedule to stop by the Cabinet Room on June 10, 2013. He slung an arm around my husband, who was about to be nominated by President Barack Obama as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; he hugged my in-laws, whom he had never met; and then he homed in on my kindergartner. The vice president sat down and whispered to my anxious kid about the small Schleich knight he was clutching. My son relaxed, and slumped back into Biden’s lap. At that point, an aide interrupted to say that Biden was overdue for a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. Still, he refused to rush. He called over my daughter and his photographer for this photo:

Why am I telling another “Biden being Biden” story? Because I believe that the character of the person who occupies the Oval Office is of the utmost importance, and because I believe that Biden, far from a bad man, is an unusually good one.....

Biden’s disregard of this protocol is telling. He enters a room, just as he enters a debate about union rights or domestic violence, with a predisposition to lend an ear to the least powerful.

Judging from the reaction to the recent spate of Biden stories, time is up on avuncular attention, now interpreted as at best pernicious paternalism and at worst septuagenarian sexual harassment. In the cultural revolution under way in America, men like Biden are invited to offer their head if their prior actions deviated from the new norms.

No doubt, character counts. I, for one, admire Biden’s deviant decency.

[Uncle Joe]

99. I believe that as well Gothmog but his policy proposals will be devastating

for the middle class and poor.

Biden Defends the Ruling Class
USER-CREATED CLIP
MAY 8, 2018 "I don't think 500 billionaires are...why we're in trouble," says the ex-VP, who acknowledges the unsustainability of the gap in wealth but adds he would shrink Social Security and Medicare.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4728533/biden-defends-ruling-class

There is a video on C-Span's link if you care to view it.

[Gothmog]

100. trump would destroy a weak candidate like sanders

trump will use socialism to attack our nominee if we are not careful https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/21/trumps-economic-team-pushes-socialism-theme/

Politico: “President Trump has enlisted his senior economic advisers to flesh out one of his early 2020 presidential campaign themes: Socialism is coming. In recent months, traditionally staid official White House economic reports and briefings have begun to emphasize the potentially massive costs of an ambitious socialist agenda and warn that America could transform into a Cold War dystopia.”

[Gothmog]

102. In Defense of Joe Biden: A Hug When I Needed One

Link to tweet

At age 33, I had been a life-long Republican. I worked for, what many might describe as the “dark side and/or Darth Vaders of politics”, including George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Sarah Palin. I was conservative in my upbringing, values, and beliefs. I stayed true to those feelings yet still found myself drawn to Joe Biden. Our affable, blunder-prone, yet seemingly oh-so-real Vice President.....

I was anxious, sad, and seriously swollen with emotion but was able to get a chance to meet the Vice President. Many of the local Democrats remarked “what are YOU doing here?” when I showed up in line at his photo opportunity. I explained my affection for VP Biden because of what I had been through, and no one blinked an eye, everyone understood. He was a good man. No matter your party.

When my turn came up to have my brief meet-and-greet and photo taken with Vice President Biden, I was nervous. Why AM I here?? But immediately, he knew my story (his staff had briefed him) and he brought me in for a long, big hug. It was exactly what I needed. We discussed Beau and my father. We talked about the recent loss of my mother — he understood family tragedy. He was close, nose to nose at times and hand in hand, but it was in that personal touch that I KNEW he was a human. Not a Vice President, or a politician, or someone that was giving a speech later that night. He was a real person, who had been through real things. Just like me. We must’ve talked for five minutes — far more than the paying Democrat contributors got! — but it was so genuine, no one would complain. Especially Mr. Biden, communicating and comparing stories with me was clearly a highlight for him amidst his political duties. I left with a giant smile on my face, the first in days, and was uplifted for a long time after. I met my hero, and he was exactly what I had expected him to be.

My point in telling this story is that, while Vice President Biden has a very personal and affectionate way about him, it is only because he loves people. He loves people’s stories. Man, woman, child. Father, mother, son, daughter, spouse. He knows people are hurting and can relate and offer genuine support. And human touch is the most basic form of relaying that. There is no ulterior motive — he just wants to get close to everyone. Because he cares about their stories. And is human. And THAT is what matters most and crosses all party lines.