Sanders Schools Kudlow: ‘You’ve Become A Socialist — Your Version Of Socialism Is To Bail Out The Rich’
Sanders Schools Kudlow: ‘You’ve Become A Socialist — Your Version Of Socialism Is To Bail Out The Rich’
Appearing on CNBC’s Kudlow and Company on Tuesday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) dismantled host Larry Kudlow’s proclaimed support for unfettered free market enterprise.
Sanders told Kudlow that after all the “ranting and raving” he had done “against government intervention and [extolling] the virtues of the free market,” he must surely be against the bailout. “No, I’m in favor of the bailout,” Kudlow said. “You’ve become a socialist overight!” Sanders responded, telling Kudlow, “Your version of socialism is to bail out the rich.”
Kudlow said that he’s in favor of government intervention “every 20 or 30 or 50 years.” Sanders responded:
Larry, if I ask you that the government should intervene like every other industrialized country does and provide health care for all people, you’d say ‘oh no!’ And if I ask you to support government intervention so that we don’t have the highest rate of childhood poverty in the world, you’d say ‘oh no!’ But when Wall Street screws up because of their greed, you say, ‘oh yes, it’s a great idea!’
Proving the Senator’s point, Kudlow ended the segment by stating: “You’re quite right, Mr. Sanders. Do we want a government-run health care system? I say no.” Watch it:
Sanders explained, “My own view is that it would be an obscenity for the middle class of this country – whose standard of living has gone down since Bush has been in office – to bail out Wall Street and the richest people in this country, who have seen a huge increase in their income and wealth.”
Sanders told ThinkProgress earlier this week that the “fiscally responsible way” to pay for the bailout is “through a progressive tax.” Sanders is proposing a “five-year, 10 percent surtax on income over $1 million a year for couples and over $500,000 for single taxpayers,” which he says he would “yield more than $300 billion in revenue.”
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52 Responses to “Sanders Schools Kudlow: ‘You’ve Become A Socialist — Your Version Of Socialism Is To Bail Out The Rich’”
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Bernie Sanders -- most accessible senator and one of the best.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pmLL - Senator Sanders makes me proud to live in Vermont!
September 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pmRepublican Socialism
Privatize the Profit, Nationalize the Debt
September 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pmOne of the few making any kind of $ense at all these days too.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pmSo, let me get this straight.
The job of American government is not to provide for its people, but to provide for the corporations.
Just how wrong is this?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:37 pmNo surprise Kudlow is fine with a system where the government (i.e. taxpayers like us) has to step in every generation to save the greedheads from themselves. That is a pretty good definition of corporate socialism and it works great for the fat cats like Kudlow at the expense of everyone else. I can't believe this smug prick had the nerve to call a requirement that the bailout be dependent on equity stakes in the companies "confiscation of private property." Kudlow is truly the Bill Kristol of the business set.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:38 pmSanders is thinking about.....the American people, not just the rich like the Repukian Fascist do.
Good for him.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pmI thought that the 'fundamentals' was the American worker! Shouldn't we invest in the fundamentals to make them strong?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pmGo Sanders....smoke em out and hunt them down.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:40 pmKnown fact for many years. When republicans talk about America they are talking about corporations, not American people.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:40 pmBANG, ZOOOM, Bernie is the MAN he slapped Kudrow around pretty good on that one and it couldnt have been put simpler or more accuratly.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pm"Known fact for many years. When republicans talk about America they are talking about corporations, not American people."
Exactly! In the foreign policy arena, they are typically referred to as "American Interests" to make it sound more appealing to the masses.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:47 pmHail to Sen. Sanders, the most courageous member of the upper house.
Whenever there is any mention of government providing basic services necessary for a civilized, functional society (i.e. healthcare, education, welfare), a conservative blasts it as socialism, without denying its merits. When did socialism become such a demon...and why are those on the right so ignorant to confuse socialism with Communism?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:47 pmWell one just has to understand that if it is my stocks and bonds being affected, YES WE NEED A BAILOUT. Now if it is your mortgage you are just a lazy welfare cheat.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pmmary Says:
I thought that the ‘fundamentals’ was the American worker! Shouldn’t we invest in the fundamentals to make them strong?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
______
No - they're already strong. John McCain said so...
September 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pmNot wrong at all, raynman-- if you're a fascist:
The Fourteen Features of Fascism
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pmBernie Sanders, American patriot!!
Thank you, sir!!
September 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmWatching Kudlow always results in my wanting to heave the first heavy object that comes to hand at my television. Watching or listening to Sanders makes me wish I lived in Vermont.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmI just wonder who paid for all of Kudrows' repeated treatments for cocaine addiction?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmtony and lido
I'd put Russ Feingold up against him any day of the week.
But your point is well taken.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmBecause they can't seperate conservatism from facism and they expect others to do what comes natural for them......take it to the limit. Ergo our near/facist state.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:55 pmoops. kudlow.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:56 pmWe are left arguing good naturedly about who the best leaders we have to offer......I like it. They are more visible now than they have been in the past too.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:59 pmouch! give 'em hell bernie!
kudlow only made one good point: that if indeed the government does take control of these assets, a socialist, like bernie, should theoretically support it.
however, the reason we got into this mess is because of guys like kudlow.
plain and simple.
and bernie whooped his ass!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:00 pmI’m getting really worried about this whole scenario with McBush. I’m worried that he is going to vote “no” at the last minute telling the public that he is with them and looking like a “maverick”. I hope the Democrats tell him that they will not send a bill to the Whitehouse without his publically stated approval. Otherwise, he’s going to pull a fast one on them the same way he did on Obama yesterday.
The public is not happy with this bailout, so if McCain votes “no” and Obama votes “yes”, there’s going to be hell to pay.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:01 pmRather nice to hear mccain supporters sputtering about this bailout and how much it is going to cost them. Before it was just Obama was going to raise my taxes and give it to the lazy poor. But now who is whining, the rich need help NOW !
September 25th, 2008 at 5:02 pmraynman Says:
So, let me get this straight.
The job of American government is not to provide for its people, but to provide for the corporations.
Just how wrong is this?
I guess you missed the transition from the United States of America to the United Corporations of America.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:04 pmHooray for Senator Sanders!
Kudlow was really outside his comfort zone but that is a narrow band at best. He doesn't do well in a debate with someone of higher intelligence who isn't immediately disarmed when Larry starts his argument with "Individual liberty and economic freedom".
September 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pmSure, if "theoretically" means "according to a simplistic, up or down/black or white view of the universe".
Here's a tip, darladooner: a "socialist" is not in favor of privatizing profits and socializing losses, nor of extending socialistic benefits only to the well-heeled.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pmThis is a red hot issue...people are talking about it on the street, in the stores, while pumping gas....never heard so much conversation on a subject before. One thing there had better be some limits on cost, there had better be, heavy oversight on every company being helped. And all buying should be totally transparent to the public.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:07 pmdarladooner Says:
ouch! give ‘em hell bernie!
kudlow only made one good point: that if indeed the government does take control of these assets, a socialist, like bernie, should theoretically support it.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Actually even THAT wasnt such a good point when you look closer. A true socialist would NOT support it unless the government took COMPLETE control and when it began to make profits again they flowed into the public coffers instead of turning private profit. Since we all KNOW that is never going to happen it was a nice try, no more
September 25th, 2008 at 5:10 pmSo, I just read about the bailout "deal" they have come out with. It doesn't look like the homeowners are going to get a break. Just great, we bail out the companies who committed fraud and we stick it to the victims of the fraud.
I know that the Democrats are in a tough position here. If they don't act now and the market melts down and we go into a depression, they will be blamed for making it happen.
Now, what are they going to do to make sure that McBush doesn't cold cock them by voting No on the bill?
September 25th, 2008 at 5:12 pmMight as well get with the program looner, America is swinging to the left, with you or without you. Your point is well off the mark however.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:13 pmSo Kudlow is happy that Americans are paying more than twice as much for a healthcare system than the rest of the democratic world when it doesn't even offer longer life expectancy or better infant mortality rates for all that extra money.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:15 pmLabels are just clubs to beat up the other guy. When your ox is gored, you want the veterinarian right away.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:18 pmA $120 Billion infusion into consumer's pockets did not fix the mess, now a $700 Billion infusion into banker's pockets will? Why not swap the transfers? With about $7,100, I and my spouse could really prop up the economy!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pmAgain, why is it so imperative to do this Bill so fast ? It is like throwing lighter fluid on a slow burning fire. Dems and Repubs better take some time and get some input from experienced financiers. Why take everything Paulson and Bernanke give at face value. Isn't anyone else wondering why the rush ? Been there before didn't we learn anything ?
September 25th, 2008 at 5:23 pmtacitus Says:
So Kudlow is happy that Americans are paying more than twice as much for a healthcare system than the rest of the democratic world when it doesn’t even offer longer life expectancy or better infant mortality rates for all that extra money.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Of course he is. It doesnt matter in the least to him if Americans are getting good health care or health care at all for that matter only that the money is flowing into the rich pockets.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:27 pmBernie Sanders - an honest politician.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:31 pmLarry Kudlow - an elite opportunist.
Sen. Sanders called right: Socialism for the rich and capitalism for everyone else.
Kudlow's probably hitting the pipe after that beatdown/truth telling session!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pmKudlow asserts helping Wall Street is helping Main Street. The capitalist class and their spokespeople like Kudlow always present their interests as synonymous with the rest of society.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:40 pmKudlow is just plain stupid.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:48 pmThe Republican way: Help the top 5% and to hell with the other 95%.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:12 pmU.S.A.
Usurpers
Suckers
Apathy
They will get what they want.....
America has been Asleep.....
Keep Your Pants on When you Sleep
September 25th, 2008 at 7:25 pm&
Keep Your Powder Dry
Insist that the legislation include EXCLUSIONS of Bush's signing statements! Otherwise all the concessions about oversight etc. will be wiped out when Bush signs.
Of course Bush can do it no matter is written into the law, because he has asserted those powers before and gotten away with it, but at least this can be a teachable moment!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:04 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
How is China's Socialism different from American Socialism...?
... In China, the Government looks out for the little people while in America, the elites are looked after.
.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pmSanders is right, but tack on an extra tax to fatten the fund: a 0.25% tax on all stock trades.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:51 pm"Might as well get with the program looner, America is swinging to the left, with you or without you."
That just great so we can all have economic misery spread equally.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:01 am"… In China, the Government looks out for the little people while in America..."
But they aren't a free people.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:09 amMax-1 With the air pollution so bad it is like a fog every day, with 12,500 babies sickened by melamine in baby formula produced by China companies. Uhmmmm don't think China has people's best interests at heart. No, they aren't any different than here. Kudlow only cares because he has investments that would fall, fall fall. It is all about me or the witfm theory.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pmQuestion - Strange isn't it that we trade and borrow from China, a communist country, but prevented because they are communist, from trading with Cuba, 90 miles offshore. Couldn't be administration's love for the Cuban vote now could it ?
September 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pmKudlow is not " stupid" pls, if you can CON the American people into bailing out your Wall Street , WHY NOT . He's a con man that represents GREEDY wall street investors , that's his job and that's what we should expect from a double talking, hypocrite, banking on the idea that the American people won't stand up and say HELL NO . Reminds me of what Henry Ford said, that if the American people really knew how the economic system worked , there would rioting in the street .
September 26th, 2008 at 3:02 pm