Wow.. how rumors spread. So many talking about that "$900 bottle of wine".

I hope he has learned from this experience... I expect so,.given his high intelligence.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Time for all to join the progressive revolution!!

The fact he answered questions at a fund raiser? Last I looked, he's allowed.

Also, if these candidates don't raise money, they can't run. He's the poorest one out there. I'm happy he's doing so well.

We shall see.

Probably one of the most genuine candidates compared to others. These ridiculous claims about him really irritate me, especially false claims coming from someone who has has multiple fundraisers similar to his fundraiser.

As for swearing off "big donors", she has 1300+ who have given her more than $2,000 each, comprising 22% of her itemized contributors.

....about another candidate and the one being attacked is "not a good look"? What's he supposed to learn, to NOT raise funds?

The pathetic thing about this brouhaha is that Warren has held fundraisers just like this. In fact just last year she held a high-end fundraiser at, ironically, a WINERY!

If this is bad for Buttigieg, what is it for the candidate making the false accusation, including the totally false $900 a bottle?

I don't expect a response.

that *********** crap.

After reading the post and the op ed, that slinging untruths is an effective way of campaigning, and that a candidate can repeat any crazy conspiracy and that it’s great if it sticks?

That’s Trump strategy, and it’s appalling that one of our candidates should be using it. An apology is due.

Or, that he is more believable than anyone else with knowledge about the event?


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Come join the progressive revolution!!

Wehrie is probably totally lying! The Oligarch Room is the only place in the cave that isn't No Smoking. I hear they pass out $900 cigars.

I’ve maxed out to candidates; I’ve attended high dollar private fundraisers. I’ve described the things that get discussed. Am I hiding the “truth”?

You’re not usually this unreasonable.

The guy is relating the event. You think there’s something super-secret going on he didn’t know about?

who is getting called out for her "purity tests" and for doing the same thing in 2018.

I hate purity tests.. they've caused us enough grief.

I'm deeply disappointed in EW for this.. and I really hope she learns from it.

Unbelievable a poster thinks this is a “bad look” for Buttigieg.

Or were you using the term instead of the cat being out of the bag?

....to run for president, so there's still hope for Mayor Pete.

Refreshments, if any, will be a few hot water containers with tea bags and instant coffee, day-old discount donuts which a staffer dropped on the floor and put back without telling anyone. The candidate should wear old clothes with spaghetti sauce stains down the front and the pair of shoes they bought on sale that gives them blisters but couldn't return because they were on sale. Donations must be made in coins, old ones.

what might satisfy some people.

candidates happy?

Can't be too careful about what a candidate might be influenced by.

....into hundreds and hundreds of $3 contributions.

Like it or not, plenty of candidates hold fundraisers for rich donors. I'd venture that most Democratic candidates this time around have done so. So why is the "wine cave" mantra being used so much? How is it so much worse than, say, a fundraiser held in the banquet room at the Waldorf Astoria or Ritz Carlton, or at a wealthy backer's home (as Oprah Winfrey did for Obama in 2008, or George Clooney did for Clinton in 2016)? I maintain that those who are spreading this mantra are doing so because they're hoping that, for voters, it adds a subtext of "not really American," as wouldn't be the case if such a fundraiser was held, for example, at a high-end microbrewery. "Wine cave" gives a sense of being European, or, worse French...and, as we learned in the days of "freedom fries" and "cheese-eating surrender monkeys," when John Kerry could be slurred for supposedly "looking French," there are few things Americans love to hate more than France. Americans love to consider ourselves as "plain, unvarnished, manly men," while France is seen as a haven of the snobbish, the elitists...and, most importantly, men who us Amurricans like to ridicule as limp-wristed and effeminate. Given such prejudice, might I detect another subtext at work here? Basically, the notion that "where else would you expect Buttigieg and his kind (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) to hold their fundraisers?"

It's one thing to call out candidates for being potentially in league with the ultra-rich. But this "wine caves" mantra seems to me to be spreading another, uglier message that's right in line with Trump's America.

Wouldn't be a bit surprised if this attack was in hopes the things you mentioned are heard as dog whistles. Ironically, from comments I've seen around the internet, the same people pushing the wine cave story are also the ones who always claim to be European health care system experts when anyone says that improving and expanding the ACA is the most effective plan right now. But they don't know that a European wine cave is where wine is stored? Suddenly American wine caves are more elitist than the Ritz or Waldorf Astoria or penthouses.

Makes me wonder if there's going to be a war on wine to go along with Spanky's tariffs on French wines. Someone pleased pass me some pommes frites!

were on sale. Old, good quality expensive shoes that may have holes in them are still good quality expensive shoes, therefore elitist.

Sarcasm thingie.

would work under a universal health care plan as proposed by some of the candidates?

Correct

But where do these folks work under universal healthcare? California may do it themselves.

I can not believe this “wine cave” bullshit. My guess is that Pete Buttigieg is the poorest candidate on the stage. I give him credit for answering questions for an hour.

TRUMP should be the target.

Life is good, party on.......

....high dollar contributions.

and get butthurt when our preferred doesn't win the primaries?

solutions while sipping wine. A politician's gotta do what a politician's gotta do.

Pete for doing these kind of fundraisers or Warren who did the same.
The truth for all candidates is simple: Money is needed to run a campaign. And you are attacking supporters of Dems who attended these fundraisers. You and me might not be able to afford to attend those but judging from the pictures and how they were dressed, they were far from the so-called elites or 1%.

BTW, who are "we", I'm a Democrat.

Look out... there'd be hell to pay!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Come join the progressive revolution!!

I was leaning her way for a long time, but this line of attack BS makes her look both a bit desperate, and more than a bit hypocritical. If it wasn't for Steyer, she would have been the wealthiest person up there, and by a pretty large margin. Given her career and history, she's almost certainly attended similar events, especially at equivalent points in her career. Using her anti-corruption strategy as a positive factor to gain favor is fine. Playing by her own rules is excellent, and something I have liked about her. But throwing this crap out as an attack tactic against others of her own party, those who are playing by the rules of the actual playing field, like them or not, just turns me off. A lot.

I've said, since the beginning of this whole thing, it's one thing to campaign hard and point out differences in policies, but going negative, using purity tests, making accusations of not being Democrat enough and launching personal attacks against our party ALLIES, will result in losing my support. Does it look good for Buttegieg? Not really, but he's the far underdog, and not likely to be the nominee. This only serves to make her look even weaker.

We're trying to determine who's got the best demeanor and leadership qualities for the President of the United States, someone who is going to be tasked with fixing an ENORMOUS amount of damage, in every facet of our world, thanks to 45. Someone we actually can respect, and can gain the respect of a LOT of messed-up, disillusioned, and otherwise damaged and brain-washed Americans. If this had been the first time, it'd be one thing, but she's done this sort of thing several times now, so clearly this is part of who she is. Quite distressing, since I've been wanting her to run for President since 2015, before Sanders entered the race then.

And Yes, I've sent this sort of input directly to the campaign.

But I agree that it isn't good for us. However, it kinda comes with the territory. If we're gonna be highminded to show what a lowlife the repubs are, then we have to be prepared for the onslaught of those saying we're hypocritical about whatever. Our adversaries are so awful, so wicked and so genuinely corrupt it is laughable that they are finger pointing at us. But there it is and there it will be in our upcoming campaign. We need to develop new strategies to deal with it...

Repeatedly. But since wine is the issue:

On a Saturday evening in June 2018, with temperatures in the 70s and the Red Sox playing at Fenway Park, supporters of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren gathered at the City Winery Boston for a fundraiser.

They were treated to songs by the Grammy-winning artist Melissa Etheridge and heard remarks from Warren, who was months away from announcing her campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. For the top donors, those who could contribute or raise $5,400 per couple or $2,700 a person, there was a VIP photo reception and premium seating.

For them and others who gave at least $1,000, there was also a gift: a souvenir wine bottle.

https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-warren-history-wealthy-profile-donor-events-2019-12

I agree completely

I actually received a response from a volunteer at her campaign, acknowledging receipt of my commentary. That, in itself, is a good sign. I really and truly want to see a positive campaign, and IMO, the majority of voters do. They are sick of toxic politics. No one candidate so far has the consistent support of even 30% of the party, so they need to distinguish themselves, and not try to make themselves look good by making others look bad. I am heartened that the Warren campaign has chosen to respond, that in itself, is a rare and positive thing.

...

On 2nd though no I dont get it. I can not relate to this at all.

The gray background does not mean "do not read this", no matter what you may have heard.

The author, Bill Wehrle, a vice president of a health care company, pushed back against Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) "billionaires in wine caves" comment.

He's a Democrat. Democrats want universal health care.

Which indicated that Wehrle is a Kaiser Permanente VP for health care exchanges.

Some sources indicate average KP executive compensation is a bit above $200K a year.

This is the SF Bay area, so the cost of living is high.

That just because the exec may be making $200K a year, after taxes/housing/etc his net worth may not exceed a million.

But that's a side issue, compared to all those who could use $2800 to help with car repairs, college costs, etc.

Is that the only thing that they can do with their money?

Just wondering

...the top dollar funders at the DSCC "retreat" in oh-so-posh Martha's Vineyard that I attended (my wife and I sat alone at a table with him and Jane). But maybe he was just being polite.,,

is at all my fund raisers". The problem with the FR at the "wine cave" is it was a private affair. All candidates have to be careful when they say "all" of anything. Those running against them will always find an exception.

Good job, people. Really wish we had reporters at that event, if it's not closed off to people who didn't max out to Pete.

I get that. So guys got to do what he's got to do. End of story.

No wonder he supports Buttigieg.

Link to tweet

of why Hillary didn't win (technically) and trump is president.

This argument seems small and petty. And Pete is right... he was the poorest person on that stage.

I lean towards Liz on policy, but this makes her look small, IMO.

Purity tests really are not good move. Warren herself admits that she is only pulling this stunt during the primaries and will have to use high dollar fundraisers for the general election https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/warren-shifts-stance-big-money-fundraisers-general-election/story?id=66168168