‘That’s a lie’: Bernie denies he is worth $8M in fiery exchange with congressman who accused him of vendetta against the wealthy
- Former Starbucks CEO appeared before senators on Wednesday
- But the hearing was disrupted by a spat between Sens Mullin and Sanders
- Democratic socialist Sanders accused the Republican of lying about his wealth
A Senate hearing into Starbucks’ labor practices descended into a bad-tempered ding dong between senators, when a Republican asked why democratic socialist and millionaire Bernie Sanders was giving the company’s former chief executive such a hard time for being wealthy.
The hearing was meant to focus on Starbucks and allegations that it illegally fired pro-union baristas or spied on workers during a labor mobilization push.
‘Over the past 18 months, Starbucks has waged the most aggressive and illegal union busting campaign in the modern history of our country,’ said Sanders, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, as the session got under way.
He accused the company’s former chief executive Howard Schultz of leading the anti-union effort.
And he said the ‘people on top have never ever had it so good’ with keeping the working class in its place.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican, on Wednesday asked why democratic socialist and millionaire Bernie Sanders was giving Starbuck’s former chief executive such a hard time for being wealthy during a committee hearing
That was all too much for Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin who cried hypocrisy.
‘Mr. Chairman, you yourself have been very successful. Rightfully so,’ he said, with the sort of agreeable tone that comes before a self-righteous battering.
‘Glad you have. You’ve been in office for 28 years and you and your wife have amassed a wealth of over $8 million.’
Sanders is on record discussing his wealth, saying that anyone can be a millionaire if they write a successful book, as he did after the 2016 election campaign.
‘If you can be a millionaire, why can’t Mr. Schultz and other CEOs be millionaires and be honest too?’ asked Mullin.
‘If that’s the case, then why is it that Mr. Schultz, who actually creates jobs and [is] the best seller of a book, isn’t creating any jobs? Why is it that he’s corrupt, and you’re not?
He went on to say that the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee should not be biased against wealth.
Sanders pushed back.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Wednesday
‘Well, let me respond to this. The senator did mention my name, I think,’ he said to laughter from the public gallery.
‘And I think you got an all time record here. You’ve made more misstatements in a shorter period of time than I have ever heard….’
‘Please correct me… ‘ said Mullin, before Sanders demanded that he be allowed to finish his point.
‘If I’m worth $8 million that’s good news to me,’ he said. ‘I’m not aware of it. That’s a lie.
‘All right. Number two …’
Mullin interrupted again claiming that Sanders’ wealth was a matter of public record.
Not so, added Sanders. ‘You’re probably looking at some phony right wing internet stuff,’ he said to more laughter. ‘It ain’t true.’
