Joe Biden's Paid Speech Buoyed the G.O.P. in Midwest Battleground

[melman]

Joseph R. Biden Jr. swept into Benton Harbor, Mich., three weeks before the November elections, in the midst of his quest to reclaim the Midwest for Democrats. He took the stage at Lake Michigan College as Representative Fred Upton, a long-serving Republican from the area, faced the toughest race of his career.

But Mr. Biden was not there to denounce Mr. Upton. Instead, he was collecting $200,000 from the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan to address a Republican-leaning audience, according to a speaking contract obtained by The New York Times and interviews with organizers. The group, a business-minded civic organization, is supported in part by an Upton family foundation.

Mr. Biden stunned Democrats and elated Republicans by praising Mr. Upton while the lawmaker looked on from the audience. Alluding to Mr. Upton’s support for a landmark medical-research law, Mr. Biden called him a champion in the fight against cancer — and “one of the finest guys I’ve ever worked with.”

Mr. Biden’s remarks, coming amid a wide-ranging discourse on American politics, quickly appeared in Republican advertising. The local Democratic Party pleaded with Mr. Biden to repair what it saw as a damaging error, to no avail. On Nov. 6, Mr. Upton defeated his Democratic challenger by four and a half percentage points.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html

[Skidmore]

1. Can't read articles

behind paywalls.

[msongs]

2. you forgot to include evidence that this actually made a difference in the vote nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

101. Nope, all that is needed here is BASH BASH BASH any Democrat, especially the one leading

I guess I need to find a place where Democrats are safe to discuss their support for their party.

Any suggestions?

[elleng]

3. Drop it, please.

[Blue_true]

12. COMEON. It is the "Paid Speech, so he sold his soul" trick.

That damaged Hillary in 2016, they are just going back to that old reliable well. Hooefully we are on to it this time.

[elleng]

13. Which is why we should NOT rerun it, GOT IT?

[Blue_true]

18. Yep. nt

[Wabbajack_]

197. He praised the Republican lawmaker in a competitive race?

That's hard to defend.

[mcar]

4. An article from January?

Maybe come up with another smear.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. Talk to The New York Times!!

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

[Eliot Rosewater]

102. BASH BASH BASH BASH , this is the place to come if you want to

BASH BASH BASH democrats. Right!

WHY IS THIS SHIT TOLERATED

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. In the interest of transparency, EVERY candidate should provide a transcript of all public & private

speeches they've given, paid or unpaid, as soon as possible. How is this any different than FAIRLY asking to see what's in every candidates tax returns? Why shouldn't we have this information ahead of time, before the first debate... certainly before the first primary vote is cast.


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

[Tiggeroshii]

6. yep

its only fair. if they want us to drop this, then they sould drop the tax return issue

[Control-Z]

40. I'm confused.

Who is "us"? And who is "they"?

if they want us to drop this, then they sould drop the tax return issue

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

60. No, tax returns are ALSO important in the interest of full transparency.

I'm sure Joe has nothing to hide... so, let's get it all out there and may the best candidate win!!


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

[yardwork]

94. I'm glad to see you post this.

[Tiggeroshii]

142. Agreed. nobodys dropping anything. as it should be

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

156. Yes, as it should be. Let's hope ALL candidates are held to the same "full transparency" standard

that Bernie is rightfully being subjected to. No doubt, when the shoe is on the other foot, it'll be called a "hit job" when asking for basic info that gives Democratic voters a full picture of where a candidate stands financially and politically.


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

[Snotcicles]

163. Equal transparency, equal scrutiny. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

165. Precisely!! Bring it... I have ZERO doubt that fair and equal vetting

will result only in Bernie increasing his considerable lead over the current crop of Democratic candidates.


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

[Blue_true]

14. And Bernie should release ALL his FULL tax returns.

Afterall, it's all about precious transparency.

[Demsrule86]

27. This sort of thing only makes me dislike Sen Sanders more....attacking other

Candidates with old shit ....GOP shit at that reminds me of 16...hope this ends better for us...or four more years of Trump,

[Thekaspervote]

32. Sanders... very divisive

[shanny]

38. Sanders runs the NY Times? It's their article.

Blaming Bernie for everything is also divisive.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

50. We should ALL be in favor of full transparency...we can't take a chance this time...

or we'll lose our country!!


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

[MrsCoffee]

72. Then quit running around making excuses for his taxes.

It’s getting pretty fucking thick.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. No one's making excuses...as I've repeatedly stated, Bernie NEEDS to release his taxes

in the interest of full transparency, which I expect he will do soon. He's ALREADY released his 2014 tax return... Bernie's 2018 tax return isn't due until April 15th - assuming he doesn't need to file for an extension - so, we all just need to be a little more patient and we'll probably get all of his recent returns in one large batch.


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

[MrsCoffee]

77. No you don't have any idea what "we all just need".

You sit tight over there and those of us who care will hold his feet to the fire. You don’t have to do a thing but keep believing.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

78. I have no problem at all with your doing that...but, let's hold ALL politicians' feet to the fire...

not just Bernie's. Putting that aside, I don't see what's wrong with exercising a little patience by giving Bernie adequate time to release all of his recent tax returns, together, in one fell swoop.


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

[MrsCoffee]

80. He has had years.

It’s a little fanatical to keep pretending this is just some outrageous request rather than something he himself promised years ago.

You just keep believing.

[George II]

160. He released PART of his 2014 tax return in 2016. Skipped right over 2015. Anyone know why?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

161. Maybe it's a political hit job on Bernie... perhaps, that explains it!!

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

[George II]

195. .

[sheshe2]

194. ...

[shanny]

131. Absolutely.

Get ALL the info out, on everyone. I'm a big fan of history, and the best starting point is always, ALWAYS know your sources. What their background is, what their beliefs or biases are, what their agenda is...in the case of politicians, do their actions match their words. They ALL claim to be for the American people; how many try to deliver on that promise?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

134. It just makes sense... no exceptions, no double standards.

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

[Uncle Joe]

42. "Old shit" This happened last fall.

(snip)

119,980 votes.[citation needed]

2018 election
Upton won reelection with 50.2% of the vote against Democratic candidate Matt Longjohn (45.75%) and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Stephen Young (4.1%).[24]


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

[Demsrule86]

85. A sanders supporter posted it...scorched earth. Makes me dislike Sanders more.

The New York times wrote this but they didn't post. It... hit piece. It is an old article meant to hurt Biden... missing context too. And this was why it was posted. If supporters think these tactics work,they are wrong. I will vote for anyone in the general, but this sort of thing creates bitterness and dampens enthusiasm - which hurts our chances.

[yardwork]

95. That's what Sanders did in 2016.

[Demsrule86]

96. I know.

[Eliot Rosewater]

104. I saw here a Sanders supporter say he likes how it pisses off us Democrats that he wont

release his tax returns and he wants Sanders NOT to release them.

HERE i read this

[vsrazdem]

201. From what I see in the post, it says they are undecided. Please stop blaming Sandard supporters for

every negative thing that comes up with other candidates. They are all being vetted, and this article is no different.

[vsrazdem]

204. I guess everyone forgot how nasty it was in 2008. This is mild compared to that.

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-2008-democratic-primary-was-far-nastier-than-2016s/

[Demsrule86]

98. Yes old shit... scorched earth tactics.

[George II]

118. Yes. It's a regurgitation of the same story/discussion from a couple of months ago...

...when this was first posted (not necessarily this particular article)

Guess we'd better get used to hit pieces, as old as they are, for the next year or so. Some people are acting mighty nervous!

[Demsrule86]

120. Yes they are.

[namahage]

132. It isn't so much Sanders as his surrogates and supporters

Who push these negative smears, though Bernie could, if he were so inclined, be a bit more involved in stemming it. His current efforts at civility call Melania’s “Be best” campaign to mind.

[Demsrule86]

143. The problem I have is we know that Sirota lied about working for the campaign

dring the Beto smear. No matter what, I do think his supporters even here do Sanders a disservice .

[lapucelle]

79. Every candidate should release at least their 10 most recent tax returns first.

Remember in the 2016 general election campaign when Trump kept insisting that his releasing his "embargoed/under audit" tax returns was contingent on HRC first releasing the text of her speeches?

Let's not fall for the "I'll do the first thing after X does the second thing" ploy again. It helped Trump win the last election.

[njhoneybadger]

108. In the interest of transparency every candidate should release their tax returns

[Uncle Joe]

7. $50,000 for travel allowance, where is Michigan located again?

Is it near Nepal?

The contract for Mr. Biden’s visit shows he was paid $200,000 for his appearance, including a $150,000 speaking fee and a $50,000 travel allowance. It also specifies that the audience would be “primarily older, conservative Republicans and local community members.” The document was disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request made by America Rising, a Republican group that conducts research on Democratic candidates.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html

Thanks for the thread melman.

[namahage]

8. So using documents released by a group hostile to Democrats.

Good to know some things never change.

But quote questions raised by a Republican—which, conceivably, is what Bernie will be responding to this tax day—and you’d think all hell broke loose.

[Uncle Joe]

9. It's not a question of who released any documents, the only questions should be is the information

factual and what are the mitigating circumstances?

This forum has been swamped by "when will Bernie release his taxes?" and much of it has been stoked by the Bezos owned Washington Post.

Bezos is an oligarch and Amazon is a monopoly but few seem to care about what his motives are.

Bernie's tax questions can be nothing but speculation at this point and we haven't even gotten to the first debate, much less Bernie potentially winning and facing the Republicans on this issue, this is just a Democratic Primary issue at this stage.

If you have evidence to the contrary regarding the New York Times story on Biden, I'm all ears.

[betsuni]

30. So the NYT isn't part of the corporate media conglomerate today?

"the only questions should be is the information factual and what are the mitigating circumstances?"

[Uncle Joe]

31. No it's not. Here is the definition of a corporate media conglomerate and the six that control 90%

of U.S. media.

A media conglomerate, media group, or media institution is a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises, such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks, or the Internet. According to the magazine The Nation, "Media conglomerates strive for policies that facilitate their control of the markets around the world."[1]

(snip)

In 1984, fifty independent media companies owned the majority of media interests within the United States. As of 2017, 90% of the United States's media is controlled by six media conglomerates (GE (via NBC Universal), News Corp (via Fox Entertainment Group), Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, & CBS).[6][7]

Between 1941 and 1975, several laws that restricted channel ownership within radio and television were enacted in order to maintain unbiased and diverse media. However under the Reagan administration, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission, then led by FCC Chairman Mark S. Fowler, began a concerted deregulation over the years 1981 and 1985. The number of television stations a single entity can own increased from seven to 12 stations.

The industry continued to deregulate with enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Signed by President Bill Clinton on February 8, 1996, it was considered by the FCC to be the "first major overhaul of telecommunications law in almost 62 years."[8] In the radio industry, the 40-station ownership cap was lifted, leading to an unprecedented amount of consolidation. Since this period, Clear Channel Communications grew from 40 stations to 1200 stations, in all 50 states, while Viacom grew to owning 180 stations across 41 markets.

(snip)

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

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. ZIIIINNNG!! So now the NYT is the ENEMY for reporting facts in the interest of full transparency?!

It's like living in "Opposite World"... just imagine if Bernie had given a $200,000 paid speech in support of a Republican candidate!! Can you imagine the outrage, the nasty comments, the heads exploding?!?!


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

[betsuni]

59. If Bernie gave a paid speech it would be illegal.

As everyone knows.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

63. If Bernie, in the exact same position as Joe, as a private citizen, gave that same paid speech...

oh boy, look out!! You KNOW I'm right...just admit it, it's really okay. There's nothing wrong, just this once, with conceding a point... is it really THAT hard?!?! Think I already know the answer... nevermind.


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

[betsuni]

64. ...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

66. Yeah, didn't think so.

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

[betsuni]

67. Didn't think what?

[MrsCoffee]

73. Yeah I didn't think anyone would buy that strawman either.

Try harder.

[Demsrule86]

86. He is a senator and can't give a paid speech. These tactics will only hurt your candidate.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

89. Nice try... you know EXACTLY what my point was (and made even clearer above in post #63).

But, if you want to deflect and pretend that if you substituted Bernie's name for Biden's, it would make no difference in terms of the reaction Bernie would receive, you go right ahead... I actually find it amusing!!




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

[Demsrule86]

93. I don't see it that way. There are many more Posts attacking other candidates here.

Personally, I don't find assumed victimhood attractive . Sen Sanders will get enough votes to win the primary or he won't just like any other candidate. It would be nice, if he is not the nominee that our eventual nominee has not been fatally injured by what I perceive as scorched earth tactics perpetrated by some Sanders supporters. I say this also to supporters of other candidate...let's not destroy our own. When all is said and done the point is to defeat Trump.

[Demit]

109. The point is to defeat Trump in the general election. This forum concerns the Democratic primaries.

It is a competition, and no one should be afraid of—or try to censor—factual information about any candidate.

[Demsrule86]

112. It should not be a scorched earth debacle that leaves no one

capable of winning the general.

[Demit]

126. Suppressing argument now, in the primaries, won't make any candidate stronger.

The primaries are a crucible, sure. But they are preparation for what is to come. Protecting your candidate from criticism now isn't going to help him or her later. Defend your candidate, sure! But not by closing your ears and pretending he or she has no weakness.

[Demsrule86]

138. Discussing issues is fine but the attacks on Beto and Biden both by Sanders supporters are

scorched earth tactics. We will lose the general if this continues.

[Demsrule86]

144. Go back and look at truly divisive primaries, we lose the general.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

113. I agree with you!! 100%!!

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

[Demsrule86]

125. So hoping that we are not left with a candidate Trump can beat because of attacks

during a divisive primary is censorship? And an anyhing goes primary....is what we strive for in 2020...this helps no one but Trump.

[Demit]

130. Primaries are "divisive" by definition. They exist to examine candidates' strengths AND weaknesses.

And we shouldn't be afraid to do that. We do it when we choose anything from an array of choices. We pick the one we pick because the pluses outweigh the minuses. Shouting down people pointing out the minuses doesn't help the process.

[Demsrule86]

137. Nonsense. That is an excuse. No candidate should attack Democrats in the primary.

[Demit]

149. What I'm saying is not nonsense. It is a different viewpoint from yours.

I'm not a fan of shallow accusation, and you seem to have no ideas beyond that and your repeated "scorched earth" imagery, so I see no point in continuing this exchange.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

172. Unless, of course, that candidate is Bernie... then it's "open season"!!

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

[Demsrule86]

192. Again playing the victim, he isn't attacked.

[vsrazdem]

202. There were plenty of scorched earth tactics in the 2008 primary, people have just forgotten how

nasty it got.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

170. Could.not.agree.more!!

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

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

111. If only what you're saying applied to Bernie, the most bashed of all the Democratic candidates.

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

[Demsrule86]

116. That is simply untrue.

[George II]

162. Do you know anything about that event or what Biden might have done with the money?

First, it wasn't a campaign event, it was a fundraiser for a foundation that supports cancer research. Biden has been a long-time advocate for cancer research (he has his own organization, the Biden Cancer Initiative)

An excerpt from the article (which I doubt many read deeply enough to notice this:

There is no evidence Mr. Biden was motivated to praise the lawmaker by anything other than sincere admiration, stemming from Mr. Upton’s role in crafting the 21st Century Cures Act after the death of Mr. Biden’s elder son, Beau, from cancer in 2015.

Bill Russo, a spokesman for Mr. Biden, said the research-funding legislation was the foundation of Mr. Biden’s relationship with Mr. Upton.

“It was one of the few bipartisan bills passed in an otherwise deeply divided and gridlocked Congress,” Mr. Russo said. “Vice President Biden believes to his core that you can disagree politically on a lot and still work together in good faith on issues of common cause — like funding cancer research.”

I wouldn't doubt that a good chunk of that money was donated to his organization or the American Cancer Society. By the way, the same week as that event Biden was honored by the American Cancer Society:

Five Distinguished Individuals to be Honored with Highest American Cancer Society Award

Oct 17, 2018

Volunteer Leaders to Receive Medal of Honor

ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society will bestow its highest honor – the Medal of Honor – to five individuals during a celebration ceremony at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center on Oct. 18 in Washington DC. The Medal of Honor is awarded to distinguished individuals who have made valuable contributions in the fight against cancer through basic research, clinical research, and cancer control.

The 2018 recipients include the Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr., for Cancer Control; Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD, for Basic Research; Jennifer Doudna, PhD, for Basic Research; Charis Eng, MD, PhD, for Clinical Research; and Michael J. Thun MD, MS, for Cancer Control Science.

http://pressroom.cancer.org/2018-10-17-Five-Distinguished-Individuals-to-be-Honored-with-Highest-American-Cancer-Society-Award

[melman]

168. A tweet like this would live forever

Link to tweet

It would never stop being posted. Ever.

[George II]

174. Want me to pull up everything that Sanders did against Democrats and Democratic candidates?

[melman]

177. You do realize that this proves my point

Don't you?

[George II]

183. What point is that?

[melman]

184. lol

lol

[workinclasszero]

11. $50,000 for travel allowance!?

Damn I've traveled to Michigan for less than a hundred bucks many times.

What was Joe traveling on? A gold plated Lear jet with an entourage of hundreds?

[sheshe2]

28. From the Vermont Newspaper.

Since December, Sanders’ chartered plane spending remained constant throughout his filed financial disclosures, which go through May. In that time, Sanders spent more than $5.2 million on private charters.

The plethora of #SandersOnAPlane Twitter posts diminished, while a new hashtag emerged, #BernForceOne.

Sanders’ most expensive trip over the primary season appears to be one not directly related to his campaign: his April excursion to the Vatican City for a conference hosted by its Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

snip

Sanders spoke at the conference and had a quick exchange with Pope Francis. He then flew nine hours back to America for his final burst of campaigning before the New York primary, which he lost.

Link to tweet

https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/17/as-sanders-campaign-took-off-so-did-spending-on-chartered-jets

[BlueFlorida]

34. IOKIYBS

It's ok if you're Bernie Sanders

[Uncle Joe]

36. From the Vermont Newspaper

(snip)

Every major presidential candidate this cycle has used chartered jets to get around. Candidates justify the cost of renting airliners by pointing to the large number of aides and traveling reporters who accompany them everywhere, as well as the tight schedules they must follow.

In March, for example, the Sanders held rallies in four states in one day, jetting from Ohio to North Carolina before capping off the day in Missouri and Illinois.

In addition, security concerns for presidential candidates can be minimized by avoiding commercial flights.

(snip)

Sanders’ larger travel budget could be indicative of many things, including that his schedule was often more crammed than Clinton’s. When he jumped in, Sanders had much lower name recognition than Clinton did, and he needed to get in front of many people in many states.

(snip)

https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/17/as-sanders-campaign-took-off-so-did-spending-on-chartered-jets/

I don't believe Biden was campaigning when he went to Michigan to give his speech.

[Control-Z]

43. I believe his son had just died

from brain cancer.

[Uncle Joe]

44. Joe's son died in 2015, this speech took place last fall, three weeks before the election.

(snip)

119,980 votes.[citation needed]

2018 election
Upton won reelection with 50.2% of the vote against Democratic candidate Matt Longjohn (45.75%) and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Stephen Young (4.1%).[24]


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

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

57. Wow, close one!!

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

[Demsrule86]

145. It was about sponsoring cancer research.

[Uncle Joe]

147. Yes for $200,000.00

[George II]

180. You don't think he gave a big chunk of that to the American Cancer Society?

[Uncle Joe]

181. Perhaps. It's one of those Schrodinger cat things, but why take any fee?

[namahage]

133. Daddy, can we take the kids along on your "work trip"?

Especially since we can just have the campaign pay for it?

[treestar]

100. Does he still have Secret Service protection?

That would account for a lot.

[lapucelle]

196. We know it wasn't a chartered Delta 767.

That costs $300,000+.

[lapucelle]

186. It's not like he spent $613,451 chartering a Delta 767 for a 24-hour whirlwind publicity tour.

Plus, it was part of Biden's fee package, not the hard-earned money of small-dollar donors.

[workinclasszero]

10. Now just imagine if it was Bernie Sanders instead of Joe Biden

that went to a must win state for the democrats like Michigan and gave a glowing paid speech in favor of a republican for 200,000 dollars cold hard cash in front of a conservative group and helped him get elected and the democrat defeated!

He would be excoriated, insulted, slandered, attacked, libeled, called every name in the book 24/7, all mention of him banned on DU and digitally burned at the stake!

But........it's Joe Biden so...all is well!

[melman]

15. Incredible isn't it?

[workinclasszero]

17. Totally amazing for sure

The cognitive dissonance must be really high, you know?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. Not the less bit surprising though!!

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

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

16. No, question, Bernie would be bashed endlessly!! Look how he's been unfairly treated

over WAY less!!


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

[sheshe2]

29. ...

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/128756040#post28

[namahage]

135. But that's DIFFERENT!

THAT paid speech was paid for by the PEOPLE!

[shanny]

39. +1

[Demsrule86]

88. Sanders the perpetual victim? I don't see it. I see a scorched earth campaign by Sanders

Surrogates which won't really help Sanders in the end and will hurt our 2020 attempt to defeat Trump

[workinclasszero]

106. Oh I'm sorry

I thought you had to win the nomination first.

This isn't a coronation for Joe no matter that his "surrogates" want it to be.

Not to mention the fact that he still has not even entered the race!

[Demsrule86]

110. 2016...words coronation. There is a difference between making your case and scorched earth...

You see when this over, I want a Democrat in the whitehouse. I am not sure some Sanders supporters want anyone but Sen Sanders...not saying you.

[Demsrule86]

115. Oh and you have it wrong. Sanders is not owed the nomination and cheated if he fails

to get it...as some supporters seem to think....not saying you.

[ucrdem]

19. "Biden called him a champion in the fight against cancer"

If that's the case then I don't see a problem. Apparently the Upton foundation was started by two brothers in the 50s who made their money by starting the Whirlpool company and also invented the paid vacation:

The Upton Machine Company invented something even greater than the washing machine: paid vacations. 1917: The owner of Upton Machine Company, Lou Upton, wrote a letter to the employees, who were all female, telling them to take a paid week off of work to spend it with their husbands. Back then companies did not allow vacation time so this was unheard of.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120215111642/http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/02/13/wait-kate-uptons-great-grandfather-invented-the-washing-machine/

[workinclasszero]

20. So you are saying that if Bernie Sanders gave that speech and helped get a republican elected

and a Democrat defeated, it would be no problem here on DU?

Uh...okay, sure.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. .

[ucrdem]

25. Yes, the standard would be different.

Biden was apparently motivated by sincere admiration and I have yet to see Sanders express sincere admiration for anyone:

There is no evidence Mr. Biden was motivated to praise the lawmaker by anything other than sincere admiration, stemming from Mr. Upton’s role in crafting the 21st Century Cures Act after the death of Mr. Biden’s elder son, Beau, from cancer in 2015.

Bill Russo, a spokesman for Mr. Biden, said the research-funding legislation was the foundation of Mr. Biden’s relationship with Mr. Upton.

“It was one of the few bipartisan bills passed in an otherwise deeply divided and gridlocked Congress,” Mr. Russo said. “Vice President Biden believes to his core that you can disagree politically on a lot and still work together in good faith on issues of common cause — like funding cancer research.”

[workinclasszero]

26. "Yes, the standard would be different."

Oh that's all too readily apparent.

Yeah.

[BlueFlorida]

35. If Bernie had a decorated veteran son die of cancer

sure.

Biden takes the fight against cancer seriously and personally.

He didn't praise Upton for trying defeat ACA or the stupid tax cuts for the rich.

He praised him for helping fund the fight against cancer.

Some people are grasping at straws.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. Yeeeahhhhh riiiiiiight!! This is why we need full transparency...

nothing should be hidden from Democratic primary voters. Let's get all the information out there and let the voters make an informed decision.


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

[MrsCoffee]

139. You keep using that word...

And then make excuses for Bernie’s lack thereof.

I don’t think it means what you think it means.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

140. Not at all... transparency and patience are NOT mutually exclusive.

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

[MrsCoffee]

141. Roflmfao.

At least it’s mildly entertaining.

[corbettkroehler]

187. Ditto! K&R (n/t)

[ecstatic]

22. Gee, where have we heard this line of attack before?

Oh that's right. We heard it from Bernie all through 2015 and 2016. But seriously, will this be the strategy again, to attack speeches? Meanwhile, we still have not seen Bernie's tax returns. Unbelievable!

[oasis]

24. Looks as if Biden is getting "Hillary boated" before he enters the race. nt

[Thekaspervote]

33. I think it already is bernie's Strategy...,kinda like his stump speech, it never changes

[dogman]

150. That's a new complaint, He's not a windsock.

You are correct, he has not waffled. That's why many people respect him.

[ismnotwasm]

23. Really?

This is what you’re going with?

[BlueFlorida]

37. Is someone jealous

that he isn't being offered any money for a railing against corporations, millionaires and billionaires speech?

Haven't we all seen this divisive movie before? They need a new script.

[shanny]

41. so corporations, millionaires and billionaires

are our friends and we should be nicer to them? is that the message here? the party of the people should be nice to the 1% so they can trickle on us some more?

do you actually listen to yourself?

[KitSileya]

48. Well, considering Senator Sanders is a millionaire,

there's at least one of them you have absolutely no problems with!

[Skidmore]

103. That's so true.

I think the truth you brought just sadly sailed over some heads.

[sheshe2]

122. Yep.

[shanny]

129. lol

Some millionaires look out for people, and some only look out for themselves. I don't have a problem with FDR either.

p.s. generalities are only true in general, and black-and-white thinking is generally the province of the right

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. FUCK the 1%-ers... that's Bernie's message!!!! Think I'll go with THAT one!!!!

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

[shanny]

75. Not surprising they wouldn't want

to pay to hear that, is it?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

82. It's no longer surprising what some are willing to let their favorite candidate get away with...

For instance, I would never excuse Bernie by saying, "he's already released his 2014 tax return, so he shouldn't have to release his more recent tax returns." No, I think all candidates need to be transparent with primary voters and I expect Bernie to adequately comply and show the amount of taxes he paid.

But, to similarly expect all candidates to release other important information, say, like the transcripts of all speeches they've given, regardless of the audience, private or public, paid or unpaid - to see what political positions they've expressed and, thus know how reliable of a candidate they are - and, whooooaaaa, look out... all hell breaks loose!! Suddenly transparency is no longer REALLY all that important. No, instead, it's "Bernie-boating," full steam ahead... it's only what is BERNIE hiding in his tax returns or some other such wild accusations!!

Meanwhile, Bernie will soon be releasing his boring tax returns and then it'll be time to move on to the next "flavor of the week" to unfairly bash him over.


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

[Eliot Rosewater]

105. Wait , you actually ...never mind

[namahage]

136. Yeah!!!

Fuck the 1%!!!

I can't believe that poster just said that...

[BlueFlorida]

155. wow

Bernie is a 1%er .... imagine THAT!!

[Demsrule86]

146. Others won't. That s the problem.

Last edited Sat Apr 6, 2019, 09:27 PM - Edit history (2)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

153. Who's Tharp?! haha... seriously though, don't care what others think about that.

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

[redstateblues]

152. He's not railing against millionaires anymore. Wonder why?

[BlueFlorida]

154. Great observation nt

[Uncle Joe]

157. Bernie has not altered his message of having the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.

The fact that this includes him speaks highly of his character.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

164. It sure does! Bernie's consistency on this issue is a model for what we should expect

from our politicians and why Bernie will make an excellent nominee of our Party and then President.


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

[betsuni]

45. According to the Herald-Palladium, Biden calls for bipartisanship and civility in the speech.

He says the system only works with consensus. In the last ten years there's been a breakdown in the system due to unlimited campaign spending and loss of transparency with donations, along with gerrymandering, creating political extremes. Many elected officials chose keeping their jobs over sticking up for their principles. Unless you know what you're willing to lose for, don't run. There must be a functioning Congress and court system that is a co-equal branch of government to check growing executive powers. There is half-baked nationalism and phony populism. We need health care, affordable education, a fair tax system, infrastructure. We need to talk to each other to bridge our differences. He mentions Upton, who was in the audience, as an example of bipartisanship.

But it was a PAID speech so:

[melman]

46. You appear to have missed some important details

let me help..

Mr. Biden stunned Democrats and elated Republicans by praising Mr. Upton while the lawmaker looked on from the audience. Alluding to Mr. Upton’s support for a landmark medical-research law, Mr. Biden called him a champion in the fight against cancer — and “one of the finest guys I’ve ever worked with.”

Mr. Biden’s remarks, coming amid a wide-ranging discourse on American politics, quickly appeared in Republican advertising. The local Democratic Party pleaded with Mr. Biden to repair what it saw as a damaging error, to no avail. On Nov. 6, Mr. Upton defeated his Democratic challenger by four and a half percentage points.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html


also this:

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

47. How do you know the Upton remark had anything to do with Upton's win?

It's not as if Biden said something damaging about the Democratic candidate. Saying that bipartisanship gets legislation (cancer research) passed is hardly anything to make Republicans to flock to the polls or Democrats to stay home.

[stonecutter357]

49. lol fail !

[democratisphere]

52. This is another Joe Biden hit job!

The "hits" just keep playing on.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

65. Riiiiiight!! The truth, in the interest of full transparency, is now a "hit job"?! OOOOOKAY!!

Who knew?!?!




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

[democratisphere]

68. So where are Sanders "transparent tax returns".

Hypocrisy at its finest.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

69. Don't worry, they're coming. I have ZERO doubt Bernie will live up to his commitments.

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

[MrsCoffee]

74. Sorry, I put Zero faith in your ZERO doubt.

The longer he hides, the worse it looks. The damage he has done to his own reputation is astounding.

His campaign is already over.

[Hortensis]

83. InA, only in today's sick political climate COULD speaking to

a "Republican-LEANING" audience, i.e., not even a Republican event, and complimenting a Republican for his contributions to beating cancer be turned into an effective slur.

Please stop supporting these contemptible slurs, whether from Republicans or Sanders, just because you prefer another candidate. It's not responsible, it's not decent, but note that it's potentially very dangerous to YOU and those you care about. It risks getting YOU 2000 days of Republican rule initially, during which they will continue their efforts to consolidate their power permanently. Think of this as possibly your last genuine free election. Because it could be.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

87. Did you even read the NYT article?! Maybe you should take your complaint up with THEM!!

As NYT reported: "But Mr. Biden’s appearance in Michigan plainly set his lucrative personal activities at odds with what some Democrats saw as his DUTY TO THE PARTY, linking him with a civic group seen as tilting to the right and undermining Democrats’ effort to defeat Mr. Upton, a powerful lawmaker who in 2017 helped craft a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act."

Indeed, the NYT identified Eric Lester, a retired physician who chaired the Democratic Party in Berrien County, Mich., and here's what the NYT reported about his reaction to Biden's controversial speech: "during the midterms, [he] said he viewed Mr. Biden’s supportive remarks about Mr. Upton as a betrayal. Mr. Lester, who attended the speech, said he had confronted an aide to Mr. Biden in the hallway, telling him the former vice president had badly damaged the Democratic cause." Quoting Mr. Lester: “It just gives Fred Upton cover and makes it possible for him to continue to pretend to be a useful, bipartisan fellow... I entered the hall with positive feelings about Mr. Biden and felt very frustrated.”

So, clearly Biden's speech was NOT taken as merely paying a Republican a compliment, as you have incorrectly represented... but, that's not ME saying that, it's fellow Democrats who were actually THERE... so, feel free to take this issue up with THEM and with the New York Times.


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

[Hortensis]

90. I have a permanent NYT subscription, so I KNOW which

direction that paper leans and will lean every day through these campaign years. The political section averaged about 5 to 7 negative-sounding headlines on articles about our presidential candidate ALONE every day.

It's desperately important to think, note the facts and analyze against whatever theme is being pushed by each article. While it still matters.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

91. Well, since you have a permanent subscription to the NYT, you obviously find its reporting credible.

That only confirms my point... thank you!!


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

[Demit]

119. Then why does this forum exist? Is it not to compare candidates before voting for one?

The primary season doesn't exist for us all to line up behind one person. Or to repress factual information because it doesn't cast a glowing light on our own preferred candidate. Censorship is potentially very dangerous too.

[vsrazdem]

203. Its called vetting.

[still_one]

55. Go with this, and let's see how that works out. He said a nice thing about the work Upton did on

securing cancer research funding”

His son died of cancer, and this is something Biden cares a lot about, so he said something nice about someone who worked on a landmark medical-research law to fight this terrible disease that affect both Democrats and republicans.

It reminds of a comment Rachel Maddow made some time ago. If Hillary found the cure for cancer, the haters would still find a way to criticize her on it

[betsuni]

61. I think it's terribly offensive and cheap to politicize cancer.

Disgusting. Anyone touched by cancer knows this. Even Meghan McCain can be bipartisan when it comes to cancer.

[still_one]

62. I agree, and I think the American public does too

[MrsCoffee]

70. How did that "but her speeches" "but her emails" shit work out last time?

Stupidest fucking repeat of the stupidest fucking attacks in history on our candidates.

And it’s clear who is willing to gleefully pile on. Again......

SMDH.

[betsuni]

71. +1

[yardwork]

97. It worked well last time, as intended. Mission accomplished.

The goal for some was to ensure that Hillary Clinton lost the presidency, so Trump would be elected, and then something something glorious revolution.

We're still waiting on the revolution but steps a and b worked well. They'll attempt the same strategy for 2020. After all, anticipation of the revolution is even better than the revolution itself.

[Snotcicles]

84. Helping a Republican beat a Democrat in a recent election is worth repeating.

Welcome to DU. You've been busy.

[George II]

169. Read the article. He did NOT help a republican beat a Democrat. It wasn't a political event...

....it was a charitable fundraiser for an organization that supports the cause Biden has has advocated for years.

Rather than go through it again, read posts #159 and #162. Now Biden is getting attacked for raising money for cancer research! Where does it end.

On the other hand, we have this:

https://medium.com/the-radical-center/the-uncharitable-bernie-sanders-15b1cd677390

In many ways Bernie Sanders has been given a “Get Out of Jail” card by the media. His views have not received the scrutiny they deserve. While the media has focused on the extremist hate messages from Donald Trump — something deserving exposure — they tend to ignore radical messages from the other side.

This minor article from the New York Times, Sept 19, 1981, illustrates precisely how extreme Sanders can be, and how dangerous his views would be — even from a liberal perspective. By that I mean even by modern liberal perspectives, not just classical liberal ones.

The incident was the launch of the United Way annual fund raising drive for various charities. Sanders, who was the mayor of Burlington, along with Vermont Governor Richard Snelling were invited as guests to speak to the audience. Sanders used his slot to lecture the audience as to why private charity is evil and only charities run by government should exist. The Times reported:

‘’’I don’t believe in charities,’ said Mayor Sanders, bringing a shocked silence to a packed hotel banquet room. The Mayor, who is a Socialist, went on to question the ‘fundamental concepts on which charities are based’ and contended that government, rather than charity organizations, should take over responsibility for social programs.

Governor Snelling sought to counter Mr. Sanders’ remarks, saying: ‘Charity is not a dirty word. We have discovered that you can’t buy caring.’’’

Sanders is going well beyond the concept of a welfare state, or a “safety-net” for those in dire straits. His position is, or at the very least was, private charity should be abolished and replaced with state programs. That is not merely concern for the poor — concern for the poor does not require disdain for charity.

[MineralMan]

99. So, what was the topic of his speech?

I see that he mentioned someone in the audience who he knew, and complimented him for a law that supported medical research. But, what was the speech about? People often recognize people in an audience as part of the introductory matter of a speech. But, what was the primary content of that speech?

I see it was a "wide-ranging discourse on American politics." I wonder what he said. Does anyone know?

"I see Representative Upton is here. His support for the bi-partisan fight against cancer is particularly notable to me, given the loss of my son to that horrible disease. I've worked with Representative Upton - one of the finest guys I've ever worked with..."

And then he went on with his speech. What was it about? Anybody know?

And the oppo research from some continues. Terrific!

[Eliot Rosewater]

107. All that matters to them is Bash BASH BASH

[MineralMan]

127. Yes. That's clear.

I suppose we're going to be dealing with this all through primary season. Uffda!

[Eliot Rosewater]

128. Weird though, I would have thought f there was ONE place on the internet we would

not have to put up with BASHING of our candidates by NON republicans, it would be here.

[MineralMan]

188. Reminds me of times past, it does.

I suppose it is to be expected. I have a long memory.

[melman]

171. The topic of the speech is not relevant

but this certainly is..

__

Mr. Lester, the local Democratic chairman, said he strove to contain the damage. In an email to Mr. Biden’s staff, Mr. Lester implored the former vice president to back Mr. Longjohn: “Surely VP Biden did not intend to endorse Mr. Upton and slight the local Democratic candidate here,” he wrote.

Mr. Longjohn, the former national health officer of the YMCA, said in an interview that he had been disappointed to see Mr. Biden “clap Mr. Upton on the back in an establishment political way.” He said his campaign had reached out to Mr. Biden’s staff through an intermediary, seeking to discuss his involvement in the race.

“There was nothing but silence,” Mr. Longjohn said. “We had just requested a phone call and there was no response.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html

[sfwriter]

114. Yeah, one of seven reasons I won't vote for him.

You should look into his abortion record too.

[Snotcicles]

124. I don't think they know who Fred Upton is or the damage he has done to working people. nt

[George II]

117. Wasn't this discussed ad nauseum back when he made that speech? Will we be seeing this....

...every few months until July 2020?

[R B Garr]

123. Yes it was. It was about the cancer research.

From Biden’s speech yesterday, it looks like he is starting a cancer initiative, which is a very compelling goal. Who is going to mind a bipartisan effort to attack cancer research. These desperate distractions are just pure silliness like we saw against Hillary—very recognizable.

[NBachers]

121. Well, that post worked out quite well, didn't it? Keep trying - better luck next time.

[RandySF]

148. We can get into one 2016 candidates supporters helping Trump by voting for Stein.

Upton was not going to lose.

[George II]

158. Three top members of that candidate's campaign voted for Stein.

The event at which he spoke was a fundraiser for a foundation that sponsors cancer research, it wasn't a campaign event. The nerve of Joe to help cancer research!!!! With his family history, I wouldn't be surprised if much of the money he got for speaking there was donated to the American Cancer Society.

http://pressroom.cancer.org/2018-10-17-Five-Distinguished-Individuals-to-be-Honored-with-Highest-American-Cancer-Society-Award

Five Distinguished Individuals to be Honored with Highest American Cancer Society Award

Oct 17, 2018


Volunteer Leaders to Receive Medal of Honor

ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society will bestow its highest honor – the Medal of Honor – to five individuals during a celebration ceremony at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center on Oct. 18 in Washington DC. The Medal of Honor is awarded to distinguished individuals who have made valuable contributions in the fight against cancer through basic research, clinical research, and cancer control.

The 2018 recipients include the Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr., for Cancer Control; Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD, for Basic Research; Jennifer Doudna, PhD, for Basic Research; Charis Eng, MD, PhD, for Clinical Research; and Michael J. Thun MD, MS, for Cancer Control Science.

Vice President Joe Biden headed the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, and launched a nonprofit called the Biden Cancer Initiative. As the 47th Vice President of the United States, Biden led the White House Cancer Moonshot, which resulted in more than 80 new actions and collaborations from the public and private sectors to speed progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, and worked with Congress to authorize an additional $1.8 billion for investment in cancer research. As Co-Chair of the Biden Cancer Initiative, Vice President Biden has continued to lead a national movement to convene leaders and bring a sense of urgency to the cancer fight to develop and drive implementation of solutions to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, research, and care, and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.

It would behoove people to look past the negative headlines and see what's REALLY going on!

[melman]

167. It would behoove people to realize

that events taking place Oct. 18 in Washington DC, and October 16 in Benton Harbor Mich. are probably not the same event.


And the event in Benton Harbor was not a fundraiser for cancer research

[George II]

173. Then what was the reason for the event? Two things:

1. I didn't say it was a fundraiser for cancer research, read it again.
2. I didn't say they were the same event, read it again.

[melman]

175. I don't need to read it again

I was able to get it all the first time. But thanks just the same.

[George II]

176. Sorry, you missed both points and, if I was in a bad mood I'd say you "lied" about what I said.

"But thanks just the same."

A great thing about this site is that I'm rarely disappointed, and frequently amused.

[melman]

182. No I didn't

Miss the point that is. Or lie.

[R B Garr]

191. LOL, thread win. Having staff that voted third party equals

Trump in the White House. Great reminder.

And none of them have the gravitas and connections to speak about funding cancer research. Thanks Joe.

[pbmus]

151. Joe lost a son to cancer....

Some things will always trump politics...

[George II]

159. Did you bother to actually READ the article to see why Biden spoke at that non-campaign event?

Or did you only read the headline.

[snowybirdie]

189. No

The point is this post has been out in the world for a while, discussed and explained last year. Only reason to post was to try and discredit a Democratic politician. As I remember the speech was for cancer research or something like that. I believe we should post the strengths of our favorite candidate. Not run others down

[George II]

190. Exactly, I'm sure we'll be seeing it three or four more times between now and next February.

[Demsrule86]

193. Just a tool to attack....BIDEN IS WINNING!

[snowybirdie]

178. Isn't this article old news?

From back in January, and the speech was several years ago. And what's the deal with the "paid speech" reiteration? Yet another example of trying to load crap on our democratic candidates. Whoever your candidate might be, why don't you focus your efforts on the positives of that candidate and stop giving the repubs ammunition.

[melman]

179. The speech was not several years ago

It was right before the midterms. That's the whole point.

[EveHammond13]

185. I'm not going to put this on my list of things to worry about

[sheshe2]

198. Needs to be read again.

[sheshe2]

199. Moving this up.

[sheshe2]

200. Read