Billionaire Tom Steyer clears hurdle to join U.S. Democratic debate in October
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Source: Reuters
SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 / 3:02 PM
U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer, a billionaire environmentalist and political donor, said on Sunday he has qualified to participate in the fourth Democratic debate in October, putting him on stage alongside the leading contenders for the first time.
The 62-year-old former hedge fund manager from San Francisco, who is not well-known beyond political circles, will be one of 11 candidates who has met the Democratic National Committees minimum requirements to participate in the Ohio debate on Oct. 15-16.
Its now more clear than ever that Toms message is resonating with Americans across the country that it is time to break the corporate stranglehold on Washington and bring democracy back to the American people, Steyer campaign manager Heather Hargreaves said.
Steyer launched his self-funded campaign to win the White House in November 2020 on July 9 after saying earlier this year that he would not run and focus on efforts to impeach President Donald Trump. His campaign is focusing on getting corporate money out of U.S. politics.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-steyer/billionaire-tom-steyer-clears-hurdle-to-join-u-s-democratic-debate-in-october-idUSKCN1VT0O3?il=0
"...getting corporate money out of U.S. politics."
dalton99a
(81,386 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)lapfog_1
(29,189 posts)to get him the number of individual donors he needed.
I have no problem with rich people running for office. Not every rich person is an asshole. John F Kennedy (and Ted and Bobby) all came from a wealthy family.
What I care about is their policies and their empathy to those less fortunate.
If Steyer gets traction... I would support him.
question everything
(47,425 posts)The current occupant is rich who never held office. A business owner with no experience of consulting cabinet members, or working with Congress and with allies. Of accepting opposing views. But with the habit of issuing orders and expect them to be filled or be fired.
lapfog_1
(29,189 posts)every good business person wants people around them to voice opposing views.
Trump is NOT an example of either a self made billionaire or a good business person (how many things went bankrupt under his leadership?).
Yes, Steyer has not held elected office.
Andrew Yang is a wealthy entrepreneur and lawyer that has never held office, but I seldom hear this complaint about him... why is that?
question everything
(47,425 posts)and, yes, from personal experience though not necessarily bad.
Business owners do not even have to be accountable to their boards or shareholders. They just make a decision, not necessarily a major one, and it gets done.
And, yes, Yang is in the same boat but people tolerate him because they like his promise of $1,000 a person a month. Never mind the vagueness on how he will pay for it.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287238750
A post that enough DUers found it of interest.
And sadly, both Yang and Steyer poll higher on these pages than candidates with government experience: Bennett and Bullock.
lapfog_1
(29,189 posts)I think global climate change is the top priority... over health care, the economy, etc.
And I hope that whoever wins they put this as their top priority as well.
Opel_Justwax
(230 posts)riversedge
(70,047 posts)msongs
(67,347 posts)virgogal
(10,178 posts)demmiblue
(36,816 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Let's hear what he has to say.
Betting he has no need to sling around cuss words to get attention.
PSPS
(13,577 posts)lapfog_1
(29,189 posts)have you ever listened to him?
Being mayor of a small town makes you qualified? How about as member of Congress? What exactly are the qualifications needed to be President?
We had a President who was in the US Senate for a little over 3.5 years... was he qualified?
Is Andrew Yang qualified? What about Marianne Williamson?
Are they also "unqualified jerks"?
Steyer isn't my first choice... but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be listened to.
Opel_Justwax
(230 posts)Opel_Justwax
(230 posts)Screw him.
JI7
(89,239 posts)Yonnie3
(17,419 posts)Please discuss Democratic Primary Candidates in the Democratic Primaries Forum
Per the announcement on Feb 20, 2019 by site administrators, all discussion of the Democratic Primaries and candidates belongs in the Democratic Primaries Forum. Please re-post there if you like.