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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-a-ticket fundraising dinner for Hillary Clinton featuring George and Amal Clooney. | |
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... 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 war chest of around $140m is made up of relatively small donations from approximately 2 million supporters. | |
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 $8m. |