The media love Warren Buffett and CNN's "American Morning" was no exception on May 20. Buffett's interviewer, CNN's Becky Anderson, absolutely gushed over him.
"[S]o a fascinating guy, great to meet. And he makes it all seem so simple," Anderson said to "American Morning" fill-in host Kyra Phillips, who concurred and noted Buffett's political affiliation.
"Oh, he's so down to earth," Phillips said. "He just seems like a very genuine, real person you could have a great time with. And he's a Democrat, right? I'm curious. Did he talk to you about who he is backing?"
Buffett told CNN the same thing he said at a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany on May 19 when he proclaimed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) "my choice" for president.
That's no surprise, as the Nebraska billionaire has adopted a populist tone in recent years. Buffett chronically campaigns for higher taxes for the wealthy, including himself.
"The taxation system has tilted toward the rich and away from the middle class in the last 10 years," Buffett said in an interview with former "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw on Oct. 30, 2007. "It's dramatic and I don't think it's appreciated. And I think it should be addressed."
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I don't think this is media bias
May 20, 2008 - 14:27 ET by sarcasmoThe media always fawns over rich people, and Warren has never hidden his partisan outlook. And guess what? The richest man on the planet is fascinating by definition, whether or not you like the party he chooses. Dud, IMO.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Agreed.
May 20, 2008 - 15:03 ET by SyriusGood point.
Syrius
IMO I have to do this once a week or so...
May 20, 2008 - 15:12 ET by sarcasmoKeeps the NB masthead on their toes, so it's actually a good thing when I say "dud." ;)
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Curius Sarc and Syrius - Which rich billionaires are endorsing
May 20, 2008 - 15:15 ET by Dee BunkMcCain? Are there any or do they just not get press? Do all rich billionaires back Dems now? It wouldn't surprise me if the answer were yes. I'm sure there are many Rich elitists who are fine with the fact that they have made their money and don't think everyone else deserves the same opportunities that they had.
It's an easy position to be a socialist once you are already rich.
I don't know for sure, for 2 reasons.
May 20, 2008 - 15:27 ET by sarcasmo1. A billion is 1000 million, and there aren't many billionaires for that reason (yet!). As with the words "fission" and "fusion," it's a pity that "million" and "billion" sound and look so much alike. This fact, among others, makes it makes it very hard for the eventual victims to imagine the extent of fiscal irresponsibility in their government these days.
2. Most rich people, especially billionaires, keep their politics to themselves, so Warren's an exception, but if I had to hazzard a guess involving another exception, Donald Trump will probably vote McCain. I agree that there are plenty of rich socialists out there, but it's also easy to be a RINO/statist if you're rich.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Sarc - Trump has spoken out against Bush and the War
May 20, 2008 - 15:48 ET by Dee Bunkmany times so I can't imagine he'd be for McCain.
Bill Gates blogs on the Huff Po so I wouldn't think he is for one of the Dems.
Oprah - she's a billionaire and has endorsed Obama.
Speilberg is a billionaire and he endorsed Hillary
Soros - Clearly a Democrat
There are not many billionaires but all the ones I can think of endorse Dems.
Guess what? He might vote statist anyway.
May 20, 2008 - 15:55 ET by sarcasmoWhat Republican candidate do you think got the majority of Florida Republican primary voters who said they wanted an immediate withdrawal from Iraq? Think about it for a second...
You guessed 'Ron Paul,' right? Well, I did too, but we're both wrong. Believe it or not, John McCain got the majority of those antiwar voters (I'm sure of this, but I have to leave so I can't dig up the stats, but trust me -- we lost!).
Now, that factoid may be amazing to political junkies like us, but people don't always vote for very rational reasons (that should be obvious to everyone here, by now!). While you're right that there seem to be more socialist billionaires than there are statist billionaires, I can easily imagine "The Donald" voting statist instead of socialist. (Hey, this terminology is kinda fun! I think I'll keep using it!!) :)
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Your terminology is
May 20, 2008 - 16:02 ET by NL207Your terminology is redundant. A Socialist IS a Statist, by definition. A Statist is not necessarily a Socialist. For example: A Monarchist is most certainly a Statist, beut is also most certainly NOT a Socialist.
It's not perfect, but it's fun.
May 20, 2008 - 16:09 ET by sarcasmoAnd it might drive the curious to a better definition/map of politics than the mind-numbing left-right lie...oops, I mean line...we're constantly fed by a biased media.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Sorry, Dee.
May 20, 2008 - 16:15 ET by SyriusDee,
Buffett thinks McCain is "first class".
As for Republican John McCain, Buffett described him as a "first-class
human being. I think he's admirable. I don't agree with him as much as
I agree with Barack. I think the U.S. will do well over time whether
the president becomes Barack or John McCain." - Warren Buffett
Here's the link...
http://www.startribu...
As for McCain, it looked like he was indirectly supported by a russian billionaire that was linked to one of his aides. Of course, it was an introduction. As for American Billionaires...here's a list, maybe if someone would just call them and ask for a McCain endorsement...(sarc on)! He needs the cash.
http://en.wikipedia....
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Sorry for what Syrius - backing me up?
May 20, 2008 - 16:47 ET by Dee BunkYou are backing me up again. Buffet likes McCain better than Bush and Obama better than McCain. That makes him far left. Thanks for the back up.
this is cool
September 25, 2009 - 20:40 ET by jonny8775This is very hot news and I like this very much. This is related to the sports league website because its related to the sports. But any way thanks for the news.
Were they "fawning" over
May 20, 2008 - 15:18 ET by balboaWere they "fawning" over him because he's a Democrat?
same question to you balboa - as I have above
May 20, 2008 - 15:25 ET by Dee BunkIf you can answer mine - it will probably answer yours.
Dee,from M.Malkin...
May 20, 2008 - 16:26 ET by SyriusDee,
Billionaire endorsement for McCain?
http://michellemalki...
They just keep popping up!
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Oh Syrius - Is that the kind of fluff piece that the media gives
May 20, 2008 - 16:44 ET by Dee Bunkto billionaires? Oh - looks like there is a difference between how Republican billionaires are treated after all. Thanks for the proof.
Warren has Money, Now he Needs Attention
May 20, 2008 - 15:20 ET by allanfIf you are a billionare, and you crave attention, then espousing Democrat Party ideals will get you on television. Warren's television time would be much more limited if he were a Republican. No one would be going "Bravo Warren" if he were conservative.
I don't understand the man. If he is concerned about tax rates, he is free to write a multi-billion dollar check to the IRS. Somehow, he'd rather gripe on television than act.
Rich People!
May 20, 2008 - 19:37 ET by jefflebowskiI hate when super rich people start bitching about how taxes need to increase and how they aren't made to pay enough.
They're like the skinny girl that always complains to her overweight friends how much weight she's gained.
Two words for all of them---Shut the #$%^ UP!
I agree. He's old and
May 20, 2008 - 19:42 ET by MidAmericaI agree. He's old and he's probably bored with making money. Now maybe he wants to be a george soros type power player.
warren buffet
May 20, 2008 - 20:56 ET by WR JonasI am about the same age as Jimmys dad and hes about 199 billion dollars wealthier than I am. But I wouldn't trade places with the old goat even if he is "funny and fascinating."
Cause where we're goin, he is going to be at the back of the line trying to squeeze his butt through that needle.