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Bernie Sanders: Hillary Clinton's $353,400-a-ticket fundraiser is part of a 'corrupt, obscene' system Bernie Sanders: Hillary Clinton's $353,400-a-ticket fundraiser with George and Amal Clooney is 'obscene'
(about 2 hours later)
Bernie Sanders has blasted as "corrupt and obscene" a $353,400 per ticket fund-raising dinner for Hillary Clinton featuring George and Amal Clooney. Bernie Sanders has blasted as "corrupt and obscene" a $353,400-a-ticket fundraising dinner for Hillary Clinton featuring George and Amal Clooney.
Amid ongoing allegations that Ms Clinton has too many links to coporate and wealthy single donors, at a San Francisco fundraising event in April, she will charge $400,000 for two seats at the head table. In return, the donors will have the chance to dine with the presidential hopeful, human rights lawyer Amal and her Oscar-winning husband.  Amid ongoing claims that Ms Clinton has too many links to corporate and wealthy single donors, the Democrat hopeful is charging more than a third of a million dollars for two seats at the head table at a San Francisco fundraising event in April.
In return, the donors will have the chance to dine with the presidential hopeful and her guests of honour – the Clooneys. 
The top-table tickets to the event cost eight times the average annual income in America, which was $44,570 last year. The following night, guests are invited to a dinner in the Clooneys'  Los Angeles home. Each ticket to that event will cost $33,400 (£23,580). The top-table tickets to the event cost eight times the average annual income in America, which was $44,570 last year. The following night, guests are invited to a dinner in the Clooneys'  Los Angeles home. Each ticket to that event will cost $33,400 (£23,580). 
Speaking to CNN, Mr Sanders said it was "obscene that Secretary Clinton keeps going to big-money people to fund her campaign".Speaking to CNN, Mr Sanders said it was "obscene that Secretary Clinton keeps going to big-money people to fund her campaign".
Ms Clinton's main rival for the Democratic presidential nomination made it clear his ire was reserved for the super-rich individuals and corporations buying up seats at her fundraising events, rather than the celebrity hosts.Ms Clinton's main rival for the Democratic presidential nomination made it clear his ire was reserved for the super-rich individuals and corporations buying up seats at her fundraising events, rather than the celebrity hosts.
“I have a lot of respect for George Clooney. He’s a great actor. I like him,” Mr Sanders said. “But this is the problem with American politics.“I have a lot of respect for George Clooney. He’s a great actor. I like him,” Mr Sanders said. “But this is the problem with American politics.
"It’s not a criticism of Clooney. It’s a criticism of a corrupt campaign finance system, where big money interests– and it’s not Clooney, it’s the people coming to this event– have undue influence on the political process.” "It’s not a criticism of Clooney. It’s a criticism of a corrupt campaign finance system, where big money interests... have undue influence on the political process.”
Mr Sanders also noted that his own events cost “$15 or $50” to get into. The left-wing candidate's warchest of around $140m is made up of relatively small donations from approximately 2 million supporters.  Mr Sanders also noted that his own events cost “$15 or $50” to get into. The left-wing candidate's war chest of around $140m is made up of relatively small donations from approximately 2 million supporters. 
By contrast, Ms Clinton has amassed over $160m with only half the number of donors. Much of her funding has come in large lump-sum donations from wealthy individuals and corporations.  By contrast, Ms Clinton has amassed more than $160m, but with only half the number of donors. Much of her funding has come in large lump-sum donations from wealthy individuals and corporations. 
An event thrown for the Clintons by the musician Sting last December raised approximately $8,000,000 (around £5,500,000). An event thrown for the Clintons by the musician Sting last December raised approximately $8m.