Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) became uncomfortable on Sunday when CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan confronted him for selling expensive tickets to events bemoaning capitalism
Brennan confronted Sanders after his interview on “Face the Nation.” He asked about the ticket prices for his book tour. The tour was based on his book, “It’s Okay To Be Angry About Capitalism.” Tickets for Sanders supporters will run as high as $95, which is quite a lot considering the topic of his book. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
Brennan stated that tickets for your tour are being sold for $95 by Ticketmaster. The company is accused of anti-competitive behavior. Brennan then asked, “Are you not benefiting yourself from the system you’re trying to dismantle?”
The self-described “democratic socialist”, however, denied any charges of hypocrisy.
“No, I’m not.”
After Sanders defended his tour, pointing out that some events were cheaper or even free, he claimed that he doesn’t make a penny from these things.
“But, you’re okay doing business with Ticketmaster?” Brennan shot back.
“No, not particularly”. He replied, “That is, if it were a book, it would likely be the same process.” He apparently didn’t see the irony in accepting the benefits of capitalism and railing against it.
Sanders has found publishing to be especially lucrative.
He reportedly secured nearly $800,000. in advance of his 2016 book “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe in.” His gross income was more than $1,000,000 that year.
Sanders’ third book since his first, The Last of the Wild, will be published Tuesday. His subsequent books have likely attracted higher advances, considering his previous sales. Sanders could surely have redistributed some money to cover the cost of his anti-capitalism events.
