Bernie Sanders was “caught” this week flying first class. So what if Bernie Sanders flies first class? Is it really a complete rescission of his moral imperatives?
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Bernie “Caught” In First Class
Last week, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate was captured on another’s passenger’s phone sitting in a first-class seat. His “crime” was sitting in a “luxury” seat on a commercial plane. In defense of headlines suggesting he was caught, Senator Sanders does look caught in the act of doing something wrong but to be fair, I probably don’t look very much like a headshot when captured candidly.
Why This Appeared Controversial
Senator Sanders has railed against the top 1% of income earners, embraced the concept that there should be no billionaires and called himself a Democratic Socialist. He states that corporate excess and greed is the cause of the healthcare industry’s $100 bn annual profit at the expense of people who can’t afford to pay for their medicine.
He has also been pictured flying the middle seat in coach in the past and has eschewed expensive campaign fundraising dinners proudly stating that no billionaires have contributed to his campaign. While first-class on a domestic flight is not the same as flying private, it’s also not akin to the “Basic Economy” lifestyle he has otherwise embraced.
Why It Actually Supports His Ideology
Environmentally-friendly
The Sanders campaign has both the resources and necessities to hire a chartered private aircraft. Many campaigns have done this in the past, including past Democratic candidates. He flew commercial, and though he was not in steerage, he did fly like many of us do. Flying commercial in any seat is also far better for the environment than flying private due to carbon emissions on a per passenger basis.
Bumps, Free upgrades
We don’t actually know what ticket he bought. He might have bought a first-class ticket, maybe. But passengers are bumped from coach to first-class on oversold domestic flights all the time – and it’s a good bet that New Hampshire had plenty of busy flights this week. A sympathetic gate agent might have offered the upgrade as a courtesy or from a passenger supporter – many people I know have offered their upgrade up for someone else.
Miles, points, co-pays
He could have used miles, co-pay or upgrade instruments to move to the front, Bernie seems like the kind of guy that collects such things, but maybe not. Assuming he used one of these instruments to purchase his upgrade, would that not be reasonable? What about a status-based upgrade? He is likely earning plenty of elite qualifying miles these days.
Value for money, convenience
There are value-based benefits that suit someone with his schedule right now. Depending on the length of the flight there will be a meal or at least a snack, early boarding and quicker disembarkation, more privacy (he may be reviewing sensitive campaign or senate business), space to work, more recline to take a much-needed nap. He also can’t really afford to lose his luggage, so securing space on board is very important.
If he’s elected president, he’d be flying a much more expensive, much less environmentally-friendly 747 instead, this seems about as common as it gets.
Conclusion
This isn’t exactly champagne and caviar, it’s a domestic flight with a slightly larger seat for someone who is constantly on the road working very long days with a heart condition. He is a multi-millionaire and while he likely didn’t pay for his flight (the campaign would have) he’s earned the difference between coach and first-class, sometimes as little as $90.
What do you think? Does it matter if Senator Bernie Sanders sits in first-class or in coach? Does it clash with his ideals or is it a practical solution for a busy candidate?
Bernie is actually the largest spender on corporate jets of any presidential candidate. Just in the last quarter he spent $1.2M. Hypocrite central.
Proof?
Here ya go.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/481691-2020-democrats-ramped-up-private-flight-spending-in-final-months-of-2019
https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5e47f5dda854780006b1715a/960×0.jpg?fit=scale
The NYTimes also did an article about this and gave the $1.2M value.
and he paid carbon offsets for all his flights, The only reason Trump doesn’t spend $$ on private jets is because he has air force one genius.
Ha. “Carbon offsets”…gotta love virtue signaling.
I’m not remotely concerned that he flies first class. I am concerned that he is a communist whose plans would radically transform our country for the worse.
How is he a communist?
Class warfare, wage/rent/price controls and government takeover of vast sectors of the economy (healthcare, energy, etc) are textbook Marx. They always end with death and poverty.
With his schedule of appearances and criss-crossing the country, it seems like getting a little downtime and perhaps even catching a nap would be easier in first class than basic economy. Good for him taking care of himself!
That isn’t quite what he is doing, but if you’re going to keep repeating talking points, try to go for something more accurate.
Granted, considering how much of a bust capitalism has been all over the world lately, maybe it’s time for something different.
Capitalism lifted half of the world out of poverty in the 20th century while communism killed almost 100 million people. In most instances where capitalism isn’t working it has more to do with governmental interference/regulation than it does with the lack thereof.
Liberals haven’t meditated on half this country was willing to vote for my trump even given his personality.
Republicans are not willing to meditate on why a more than half the country is willing to vote for Bernie.
Both sides are smug about how right they are. The reaction to an extreme is another extreme. Until someone grows a spine this country will squint like a pendulum
@Doug
Great! Except he isn’t a communist, and while capitalism has worked well at establishing middle classes world wide, it seems to be doing the opposite now.
@Aaron
Do you know how many have been lifted out of poverty worldwide due to capitalism? The figure is staggeringly high. Hundreds of millions.
In the US, we can blame big government for crushing student loan debt and spiraling healthcare costs.
Democratic Socialism is not Communism. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and most European countries are nominally DS countries and do much better for the majority of their citizens than does the US. Bernie’s not calling for the government to take over ownership of any sector of the economy…other than health care insurance. The government would not run hospitals or employ doctors…though it already does both with the VA, one of the world’s largest government run medical services. He is not “getting rid of billionaires” or millionaires, just that they pay taxes at levels equivalent to what you and I pay (and supported by the likes of Warren Buffett). And the tax rates he is suggesting are much lower than existed under Republican presidents (and Congresses) Eisenhower, Nixon and even Reagan.
@David….
False. Denmark is not a socialist country. Neither is Sweden. These are lies the left loves to tell to convince us of the benefits of big government managed economies.
Even if those countries were socialist, the US is an entirely different country with unique characteristics and demographics.
So what? Bernie flying first class (and private) is just another data point in assessing his massive personal hypocrisy. He demands that society be levelled and is prepared to use the force of government to impose this equality, but claims the privileges and trappings of government for himself and his family. He is a person who screams about the importance of fairness, but became a multimillionaire with three homes and great privilege while spending his entire career working in “public service” and never holding a real job. The fact that Bernie flies First Class is just another indication that he’s a fraud, like every tin-pot dictator around the world who has beggared their own country by preaching government enforced equality – and this awaits the USA if they are foolish enough to elect him.
His point isn’t that millionaires shouldn’t exist, just that they should contribute a much larger share to the financial well-being of society by paying more in takes. Given how inequality has increased in the US, and unfairly too, is course correcting by leveling the playing field that bad of an idea?
Also, who says he flies first class only? There has been plenty of documented pics of him flying in economy.
No, Bernie has made the decision that once one reaches a certain point in income, the US government should confiscate all (or materially all) of their income above that amount — a 100% tax on income above some marginal amount.
In other words, Bernie Sanders thinks that nobody deserves first class . . . except for him and his family. A hypocrite of the first order.
Um, he’d probably be the first to tax himself, and pay his taxes.
Also, we all know you don’t need to be a millionaire to fly first class…and if you were someone who regularly visited this website, unless you’re a troll following Bernie Sanders articles wherever they appear?
He’d probably be the first to tax himself? Sure, just like Stalin, Fidel Castro, his buddy Daniel Ortega, Nicolás Maduro, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, José Eduardo dos Santos, etc., etc., etc. Equality for thee, but not for me.
There is a sucker born every minute.
Yeah, no, Bernie isn’t quite in the same league as those people you mentioned. Why, that would be like saying Trump is on his way to becoming a fascist!
Oh boy. Incoming. I could care less where this clown sits. However, it’s about optics. He said a self-avowed socialist. Sitting up front is poor form given his pathetic, self-righteous rantings. He’s the other side of the same coin as Trump. All rhetoric and lies.
*democratic socialist. there’s a difference. i know its such a horrible thing to want people not to live in poverty and have free healthcare. what a monster he is.
A “democratic socialist” who saw fit to honeymoon in the USSR — ignoring massive human rights abuses and gulags full of dissidents — to come back to the USA and preach about the miracles of communism he witnessed. Everybody in the USSR had free health care and education, you know.
Don’t forget the miracles of the DPRK, Venezuela, and China to name a few!
Is he still preaching about the miracles of communism? Also, many capitalist countries are also full of massive human rights abuses as well. One could say it isn’t the system, but how the system is run and who runs it.
And didn’t he win the NH primary just the day before?!? Lol give him a break! I know a lot of his supporters who normally don’t fly coach but if they won a big competition or something, a nice reward like flying in first class is fine! I see more photos of Bernie flying in coach than in F.
I will vote for Bernie only if he promises to shoot a few republicans on live TV at his inauguration.
America is a banana republic. We need a leader that acts like it.
Some would argue the current president already acts as if it is a banana republic.
Yes. That’s why we need to uphold the tradition.
But Not the current president. It has always been WYSWYG with him. The current Congress. That doesnt uphold is duty of oversight. If one thing is clear from this impeachment saga and my personal experiences that independence of Americans and a stiff spine is a myth created by Hollywood. Americans are as likely to bend and kiss someones [redacted by admin] just to keep getting a paycheck. Very pathetic to see really.
Why are you responding to this troll, especially when he is calling for violence against people who disagree with him?
The banana republic aspects of the USA have nothing to do with the POTUS, and everything to do with liberals and their penchant for picking and choosing the laws that they want to follow, and who they want to prosecute.
lol, he has called the current president the same things he is now calling for, I found some irony in that. Simply calling attention to that. No writers of this blog has called for the death of anyone or supported such and never will.
Why are you responding to a known mass murderer.
He wants to take away health care from people and them die. Just because he hides his crimes behind an economic theory doesn’t make him any less criminal.
Nazis had their final solution, republicans have their capitalism.
The US was established to be a small and decentralized government, not a big and oppressive socialist country.
Go start your own country and don’t ruin ours if you want socialism. Now.
The story sounds fun and ironic but the true story remains unknown.
If he bought the seat, fine.
If he used points/miles, shame on him. He is rich and should have been taxed more.
If he got a free upgrade because of elite status, really shame on him. The rich get richer because they earn more with elite status when they should be taxed more and earn fewer miles. If you are Silver, tax your miles 33% or get 33% fewer miles. 50% if Gold, 75% if Platinum and also if you spread you miles over many airlines, you shouldn’t game the system that way so you should be taxed at the Gold rate for all programs if you are Gold in one.
Free Medicare And Vacations for All Paid for by the Rich.
I’m curious, are comments such as those by Debit advocating murder normally allowed on this website?
@Doug,
Apparently yes, but only when directed at the “correct” political party.
@Doug @wes , Sadly the same goes for “free speech”, “tolerance”, and much more. It seems that these days, only certain ideas are allowed to be discussed, words and criticisms are banned(unless “only when directed at the ‘correct’ political party”), and “open-mindedness” sees one way and is blind to the other
Other Aaron, that simply isn’t true.
Trump said he could shoot someone on 5th avenue. Can you share your outrage when he said that?
Talk about hypocrisy. So easy to hate you republicans.
Really. Why are you here. Your such a d-bag without an original thought.
“Shoot republicans”. How articulate and well thought out. All of your inane comments scream “look at me look at me! I’m the smartest guy in the room!”. And you’re so not…. you’re a tool
Free speech is free speech… If you can talk about having people from a certain group shot to death on live television, I am sure Trump is free to talk about people being shot on 5th Ave.
@debit
Apparently you have no sense of humor. Shocking.
Well, if POTUS can make comments about being able to shoot anyone in the middle of NYC and get away with it, is what Debit said really that much worse?
I think Doug is evaluating whether as a republican he can vote for debit as potus.
I just need to commit larceny, rape, cheat on spouses, and become a fake christian, try to kill poor people and i will be ready for support from doug, his republican friends and his evangelical friends.
Republicans and the Iranian mullahs are the same. Use religion to control people and stay in power while hiding their hypocrisy behind theology. Evil people.
@debit
Calling you delusional and a fool is too generous.
I doubt this is a one-off. I moved my seat from the bulkhead to a row further back (both in F) when checking in to a flight some time ago. When it was time to board, the first folks on board were BS and at least 1 assistant. I then get called to the gate desk to get a new boarding pass–back to the bulkhead seat. I get on and he’s sitting in the seat I hoped to have. It ended up being my first Oasis flight; the whirling sound beside the bulkhead seat was horrible and the flight sucked overall (painful seat and non-working power outlet). He was polite on the flight and it was clear crew were catering to him, so there’s that.
Proof he was on your flight?
Actually, I’m an atheist. Just an FYI.
Actually, I’m an atheist. Just an FYI.
Debit was banned from OMAAT for being a tool. Might be time to do that here.
Quite understandable, if his comments here are typical.
Don’t all the airlines give top tier status (e.g., GS on UA) to lots of politician? That bribery should be a scandal, but apparently it is okay.
Georgia brought this to light a few of years ago. http://bitly.com/2HrLAES
He can fly whatever he wants,,,wherever he wants to go,,I could care less,,,,,as long as common sense stops him from being elected!!!
No judgment on his policies…
But if he uses his “photo-ops” in economy to his benefit then he needs to be ready when those same “photo-ops” in first class brings criticisms, rightly or wrongly.
He could have refused any “upgrade” to make a point.
While I encounter plenty of examples of Democrat/liberal hypocrisy during my daily life, I’m reserving judgment on Bernie without more facts. (While I disagree with his politics, I give him credit as one of the few consistently principled pols of any stripe.) However, it is a classic example of P=R. You have a candidate who unapologetically demonizes the “rich”, then chooses to sit with the fat cats up front. It’s not a good look. As Pete said, if he’s going to take photo ops in deep coach to burnish his “working class warrior” cred, then he shouldn’t act surprised when he gets criticized for sitting up front.
“I give him credit as one of the few consistently principled pols of any stripe.”
Did he get so rich by being consistently principled? How did he amass 3 homes and a personal fortune on a civil servant’s salary? How much money was he able to siphon to his wife and family by allowing them to skim commissions from his massive media buys? Consistently principled my eye! Just another snake oil salesman.
Do you have any inside information about how exactly he amassed his fortune, or do you just regurgitate FAUX News talking points memos?
He was clear in the past that he wrote a book and it did well. https://cnn.it/2HyIajM and for those who would prefer Forbes: http://bitly.com/2UZRq8M
Bernie Sanders made his fortune by allowing his wife and family to pocket commissions from his massive advertising spend. The firm placing these ads gets a 10% commission, and his political advertising is massive. He has been notably not transparent about this.
The Sander’s family has also gotten rich by providing cushy jobs for his wife, such as President of Burlington College, which she ran into the ground by arranging for suspicious financing. She was criminally investigated for this, but was not indicted (good to know people in high places. She had the bad taste to take a several hundred thousand dollar golden parachute after the bankruptcy of the college which no longer exists. Google it.
And Bernie wrote a book and got a massive advance against royalties for it. The book doesn’t seem to have earned out his advance, but I doubt the publisher ever asked for its money back.
What a sad state of affairs when their is some outrage about this matter: an elderly politician, probably exhausted, certainly not in the best of health, chooses to fly in what is laughably described as First Class: shock, horror from the nutty fringe, ie the same people who forgive the orange blob every transgression. It’s insane.
*there* is some outrage..
Fine that he flies First Class be he shouldn’t have been on AA.
Doug is spot on. Debit is off his meds. Bernie is a hypocrite but you all already knew that .
Over and out!
Stupid MAGA trolls. The E75 is just about the easiest upgrade on any carrier. Probably Vermont to DCA or something on AA. Probably $150 one way. SMH.
So what? He is not a communist. He believes everybody should be able to male money and enjoy. He only believes that billionares that make enough money to live 10000 lives and earn per minute 10.000 dollars deserve to pay taxes like evrybody else. The guy in the airplane doesnt get it and is pathetic.
I wonder if AA gave him Exec Plat or ConciergeKey as a “free gift”.
Mike Bloomberg is paying for himself. With Bernie, he expects donors to pay for him. Bernie is not using any of his own money. I realize that Bernie cannot afford to run a campaign solely with his money but then he should be more frugal with other people’s money. After all, he is running for the job to spend trillions of dollars of other people’s money.
Why? His manure doesn’t permeate odorous aromas? Is he so special? He should be on a mule the ass he is.