LOS ANGELES (AP) – Hillary Clinton detoured Saturday from a weekend of big-dollar fundraising in California to pitch her plans to raise the federal minimum wage and refresh her criticism of rival Bernie Sanders in advance of Tuesday’s NY primary.
Advertisement
Still, Sanders has called fundraisers like the one in San Francisco Friday night “political bribery”, so the newfound camaraderie between the Democratic hopeful and Clooney is intriguing.
Showing the same appetite for self-deprecation, Clooney said of the pro-Sanders protesters in San Francisco: “Their T-shirts said, you know, “You sucked as Batman”. The number refers to the average dollar donation to Sanders’ campaign, something he regularly touts on the campaign trail.
A group of Sanders supporters were holding their own fundraising event at a home nearby the Clooneys.
But a loss wouldn’t diminish the fact that Mr. Sanders’ message – with a focus on how money is hurting the American political system – is having a real impact. But over the cacophony of protesters, she had a message for them that seemed to be ever-present on this West Coast swing: “We don’t need another diagnosis of the problem, we need solutions!” she said.
Individuals contributing and raising a total of $353,400 get two seats at the head table with Clinton and Clooney, the Oscar-winning actor and producer, and his wife Amal, an attorney.
Bernie Sanders released his full 2014 federal tax return Friday, revealing that he mostly lives off a six-figure government salary and donated about 4 percent of his family’s income to charitable causes. The higher amount is permissible because it is a joint fundraising committee, benefiting her presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee and 33 state Democratic Parties. Although Clooney publicly supports Clinton he still praised Sanders and expressed “hope he stays in for the entire election”. “I don’t even think politicians do”, Clooney said.
Clooney told NBC that they were right to protest.
The disparity between a Clinton fundraiser and a Sanders one is striking. He also wanted to clarify that the “overwhelming” amount of money that he has raised is not going directly to Clinton. But he said the money is necessary to get Democrats elected.
Sanders also talked guns on Sunday.
Advertisement
“I met him once”, he said.
