By Eoin Higgins/Common Dreams
Just hours after appearing at Monday’s Poor Peoples Campaign event in Washington, D.C. and promising to work for the less fortunate, 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden went straight to a Wall Street fundraiser in New York City where he solicited donations from, among others, a pro-Trump billionaire.
The fundraiser was held at the Manhattan penthouse apartment of investor Jim Chanos. Biden told wealthy attendees “You guys are great” and “You guys are incredibly important” before singing the praises of working class Americans, according to CNBC.
Joe Biden addresses the Moral Action Congress of the Poor People’s Campaign on Monday/Alex Wong, Getty Images
Biden also “suggested” to the crowd that he had raised nearly $20 million already for his campaign, citing 360,000 donors that have contributed an average of $55, approximately $19.2 million.
At one point during the evening, CNBC reported, the former vice president asked supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis for help, but the plea didn’t result in any benefit for the Democratic frontrunner. Catsimatidis told Biden he was set on Trump and, on Tuesday, tweeted that he and his family – major figures in New York Republican circles – were all in for the president.
Biden’s appearance at Chanos’s apartment came on the same day the former vice president took the stage in Washington to wax on his strategies to end poverty. But the former vice president’s remarks concentrated mainly on his relationship with former President Barack Obama, the Washington Post reported, and his desire to work with the GOP – at one point leaning over moderator Joy Ann Reid to tell her that it was possible to “shame” Republicans into working with Democrats.
“Joy Ann, I know you’re one of the ones who thinks it’s naive to think we have to work together,” said Biden. “The fact of the matter is, if we can’t get a consensus, nothing happens except the abuse of power by the executive branch. Zero.”
Biden also used his time onstage to take issue with those calling for real change rather than incrementalism.
“Folks, look, if you start off with the notion there’s nothing you can do, well, might you all go home then, man?” Biden said. “Or let’s start a real, physical revolution if you’re talking about it.”
Biden continued to attend fundraisers in New York on Tuesday, though it was unclear if he courted any additional deep-pocketed Trump backers.
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At NYC fundraisers, @JoeBiden alternated between assuring Wall Street billionaires they’d see no changes in their lifestyle under his presidency to praising segregationist Senators for their “civility.” Can’t make this stuff up. https://t.co/LJSHkm0zek
— Jordan (@JordanChariton) June 19, 2019
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In 24 hours @JoeBiden:
1. Begged a billionaire Trump donor for money and was publicly rejected.
2. Got nostalgic about how a virulent white supremacist called him “son.”
3. Pledged to billionaires that he would not impact their lifestyle in any way.
He’s problematic.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) June 19, 2019
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It’s 2019 & @JoeBiden is longing for the good old days of “civility” typified by James Eastland. Eastland thought my multiracial family should be illegal & that whites were entitled to “the pursuit of dead n*ggers.” (1/2) pic.twitter.com/yoOOkpaTX2
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) June 19, 2019
Posted on June 19, 2019