Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was photographed flying first class on Tuesday with fellow Vermont Senator Peter Welch. Many people online are calling the self-described socialist Sanders a hypocrite for flying in a premium class of service, while the working classes suffer coach.
Look who I found. pic.twitter.com/OwPzj6NZRP
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) March 18, 2025
There are (5) reasons why this isn’t actually problematic at all.
- He needs to work. Socialism in our time doesn’t just happen on its own, it’s hard work, and he needs to maximize his labor value to the extent possible.
- Flying first class is consistent with his principles. Even North Korea’s Air Koryo has business class. A Democratic People’s Republic doesn’t, in fact, mean abolishing class. In socialist paradise “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
- He wants first class for all, and for the rich to pay for it. People think he’s being hypocritical because first class is what he’s against but that’s not true, he just wants corporations to give first class away to everyone free.
- Central Committee members travel in luxury, and Sanders wasn’t taxing the poor to do it He was either upgraded, or his first class ticket was paid for by donor dollars (e.g. DSCS or a campaign). It’s either the same upgrades available to all based on elite status, or a matter for donors to decide whether they’re getting value for their investment or not, rather than being an issue of well-spent public funds.
- He was flying domestic first class, not luxury. The product can hardly be considered luxury.
Bernie Sanders has been spotted in American Airlines first class and flew private and insists that his suites have bath tubs. So, no, this isn’t going to undermine his popularity among his base one bit – nor should it.
There’s also nothing wrong, by the way, when AOC flies first class either.
USSR was not socialism. USSR was a dictatorship
USA is a mixed market economy with some degree of socialism as every major democracy
in the world. As every economist knows you need a blend. Some government programs and regulations while the majority of the economy is privity owned
@Sven — No.
@trkq — Yes.
From 1990…“…up to the point of engaging in ad hominem attacks,”
Also from 1990…
“Not (Uncle) Tom Sowell.”
“He’s the token black economist for right-wingers and libertarian chaos agents…”
The hypocrisy and lack of awareness is stunning. Another example of why 1990 is one of the most ignorant commentators on this blog.
Well now.. NYC Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on bribery charges for taking free First Class travel from Turkish Airlines. And he doesn’t have any power over how Turkish Airlines is regulated (FAA laws,etc.). So, did Bernie pay for that First Class seat?? If not..someone needs to explain some things.
It isn’t a hypocrite because he flew first class. He is a hypocrite because he owns three houses and complains about other people’s carbon footprint. If you believe in what you preach – limit your footprint. Be an example for others.
@Mike P — I stand by my positions. Thomas Sowell is not a credible source, as in, his theories are not backed by empirical evidence. He is indeed a propagandist for those ideologies.
That’s not an ‘ad hominem’ against a fellow commenter on this site–you, however, do that frequently. Mike, I don’t call you silly names, like you call me. Yet, if you wish, you can call me whatever you’d like–I can take it. I’ve always said, if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.
You know, or should know, that there is a difference between debating on substance, such as the sources and quotes and ideas that we exchange, verses mere calling a fellow commenter ‘ignorant’ without addressing the substance.
But, hey, you do you. Gary is generous to not micromanage us here. Thank you, sirs.
He’s not flying private like the entire US Cabinet!!
What’s wrong with him for not partaking in the grifting?
@mike apo — First, we have a king, and if he says ‘drop the case,’ then it’s dropped. Wave goodbye to bribery charges, etc., so long as the Mayor assists to roundup anyone deemed ‘undesirable.’
Second, according to Snyder v. United States, 603 U.S. 1, a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held 18 U.S.C. § 666 prohibits bribes to state and local officials but does not make it a crime for those officials to accept ‘gratuities’ for their past acts. So, technically, for a federal bribery charge, Adams can simply argue these were mere ‘gratuities.’ Now, for practical purposes, yeah, he totally engaged in a quid pro quo, like, do us this favor with our consulate, and you can fly anywhere you want in business relatively free. *wink wink nudge nudge*
Conclusion: The rule of law is dying. The obscenely wealthy and powerful are abusing it into submission, and the rest of us are just ‘letting it happen’ because folks like @Mike P hate unions.
Finally, Adams flew ‘Business’ class, not ‘First,’ because Turkish only has ‘Business’ (it’s a lie-flat, so very nice, regardless) on it’s long-haul from NYC-IST. I know, I know… nuance. Sheesh.
@Mary — Good point. It’s almost like the hatred for Bernie is ‘performative’ and the ‘facts’ don’t really matter to a lot of folks, because ‘lies’ are easier and beneficial for them. I can recall several posts recently where Gary was referring to the wealthy elected officials taking their private jets to DCA, just before the midair collision even. Wasn’t it WV Senator Justice that was abusing those privileges? Hmm. Yet, folks on the right don’t seem to ‘bash’ him. Odd. Double-stand, even. Curious. No, no, Bernie’s the hypocrite. If only hypocrisy were an actual crime–it’ ain’t. And if only shame worked–it doesn’t anymore.
I don’t hold your material to journalistic standards, though one could argue I should since you report opinion AND news, but these potshots would be a lot more (or less) effective if you bothered to contact Bernie’s office to find out who paid.
Such a shame that we can’t have discussions and difference of opinions without someone resorting to name calling for not agreeing.
Lots of opinions shared, but maybe we should look at our selves before we throw stones.
@Leeman — And because Bernie is a class act, and because of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal law that grants the public the right to request access to records from federal agencies, with certain exceptions, to ensure transparency and accountability, we probably could actually identify, with relative ease and veracity, who did in-fact pay, and it would likely not be salacious at all, especially compared to other politicians and oligarchs who probably spend tens of millions of dollars on their transportation and security, just to play golf at their own resort each weekend. Hmm.
For example, according to federal campaign finance reports, Friends of Bernie Sanders, the senator’s official 2018 Senate campaign committee, spent $297,685.50 with Apollo Jets, a private charter jet service headquartered in New York. Does this make him a communist? Nope. Will that stop anyone from suggesting that anyway? Of course not. We are living in a 2nd McCarthy era. Bernie can do no right, #45/47 can do no wrong, to some folks. Then there’s the rest of us who can at least root for whoever is President to succeed, because we still live here, and want the country and its people to do well, even if it is not our ‘guy’ or our ‘team’ in charge today.
I would be shocked if any of our politicians did not fly first class. They All feel entitled. They feel they deserve such treatment for the sacrifices they make serving their constituents. Yet ironically they all believe they are better than most Americans. This isn’t shocking or newsworthy.
@Rock — I’m not sure it’s about whether one is ‘entitled’ or not; it’s about relative ‘efficiency’ (air travel) and ‘privacy’ (they will inevitably get ‘approached’ by anyone without a sense of decency). Also, 2-2 seating, as opposed to 3-3, on most regional single-aisle jets, just makes better sense if flying commercial and trying to have any sense of privacy. Sure, ‘man of the people’ Bernie should be slumming it on a Greyhound… not. That’s just impractical. He’s a ‘Democratic Socialist’ not Jesus.
There are few things I find funnier than people defending socialism. Mention the grave failures of Russia, China, Cuba, NK, or Venezuela, they point out these weren’t true socialst government. But, they love to call some European countries socialistic when they aren’t (and are moving to more economically conservative principles in some ways. It’s just so funny, just like Trumpsters arguing he was a successful in business. Why not just argue there are no morebtalented people than the Kardashians.
It IS wrong on so many levels.
@Richard Bonsall — If you don’t like what I’ve said, call me out, specifically. But if what you meant was a tacit support of @Mike P’s false accusation, then I think you’re just pretending to care. We’re relatively respectful here–compared to many message boards. Playful banter is welcome here, so long as Gary allows it. In fact, I think user engagement, more comments, helps VFTW out, so there-there!
Oh, gather ‘round, ye weary souls,
Who read View From The Wing in scrolls.
A menace lurks in every thread
A woke crusader, overfed.
His handle? 1990, beware! beware!
He knows it all, and loves to overshare.
From airline points to climate change,
His drivel spans the widest range.
“Not hypocrisy!” he types with rage,
Then pastes a Marx quote, page by page.
He cites The Nation, quotes Chomsky too—
Then replies to himself. (Yes. That’s true.)
From dawn ‘til dusk, he rants, he types,
Spewing clichés and lefty gripes.
No flight delay, no baggage fee,
Is safe from his woke decree!
“Corporate greed! The system’s flawed!”
He cries, soy latte clutched and awed.
Private jets? The devil’s work!
Yet he’ll take an upgrade—what a perk!
Airline lounges? So elite!
Yet he sips champagne in business seats.
Oh, the irony… its lost on none,
Except, of course, this brilliant one.
I wonder just how many names,
To spam the thread and stake his claim?
A troll? A bot? A bitter bore?
Nah, just 1990 back for more!
Dear 1990, your passion’s grand,
But must your posts fill half the land?
The comment count is 66—
I’ll bet 48 are just from you.
So raise a glass (or roll your eyes),
At every post where reason dies.
For in this land of travel lore,
1990 reigns forevermore.
In defence of airlines,they are practicing their own form of capitalist socialism in their fare structures regardless of the political affiliations of their passengers. Politics aside if you pay to fly first class, you have a perfect right to fly first class. Look at a $110 million Airbus A321neo on a typical airline like JetBlue, seats 160 with 16 in first class (mint), basic economy airfare BOS to LAX of $139. Plane leases for $460,000/month, doing 2 round trips a day that’s $8,000 per flight or $50 per passenger. Allow 35 gals jet fuel per passenger, that’s $70. Don’t forget those 2 guys up front, the captain and first officer, making $400/hr betwen them or $15 per passenger on a 6hr flight. Well that’s $135 already and we haven’t included flight attendants, gate agents, food service, baggage handlers, airport fees, maintenance, reservation systems and other infrastructure. So who is paying for all this? It’s not those basic economy folks in the back of the plane, a lot comes from those seats up front. So don’t begrudge Bernie Sanders his fare choice, after all he’s doing his bit to help out those at the back of the plane. Nothing is quite what it seems at first glance!
Gary — this is just embarrassing. How many hours did you spend in TDS mode trying desperately to somehow concoct a weak-sauce excuse for the hypocrite of hypocrites, Bernie Sanders?
Bernie “I Hate Capitalism” Sanders owns 3 houses, travels in first class, has been sponging off taxpayers for 40 YEARS since he has never held a private sector job in his life, and his wife single-handedly drove a New England college into bankruptcy through her wackjob socialist DEI grifter activities.
Facts matter. Carrying water (why??) for a mean old man who hates America and has done everything in his power to make us a third world socialist hellhole is not your finest hour. As the Millenials say: Do better, Gary.
@ Mike Hunt
You, sir, are a renaissance man. 1990 has met his match, and is left cowering in the fetal position after your brilliant poetic take down. Outstanding.
Mike Hunt’s “AI”-generated poetry? Or a more traditional example of plagiarism with a small search and replace to customize it for a specific target?
Still very entertaining and perhaps comment of the year for style and glibness (over substance).
@Mike Hunt — I think that you do write these yourself, because last time you did not include a few things that you did add this time, some of which do actually ‘cross a line’ for me.
You falsely accused me, explicitly and implicitly of a crime.
“The Communist Control Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 775, 50 U.S.C. §§ 841–844) is an American law signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on August 24, 1954, that outlaws the Communist Party of the United States and criminalizes membership in or support for the party or “Communist-action” organizations and defines evidence to be considered by a jury in determining participation in the activities, planning, actions, objectives, or purposes of such organizations.”
I am not a communist, nor have I ever been a member or even affiliated with those ideologies. Besides, it is not for you to decide that either–such a determination is for a judge, a court, and the law. To falsely accuse some of a crime is defamation, and there is the possibility of liability. I will not pursue that against you, because I will take what you’ve said in jest.
Believe it or not, this absolutely is relevant to the topic at hand. Gary posted about Bernie Sanders, the progressive politician, who has frequently, as on here, from our fellow commenters, been called all sorts of names, including ‘communist,’ which he is not. To coin someone a term like that is designed to silence them or diminish their ideas.
Please note I have never quoted either of the two authors that you included. You can paint me as some radical lunatic, but that does not make it true. Under any reasonable standard, objectively, my comments and ideas are ‘center-left’ by global standards, though, given our country’s (USA, I presume) recent decent into right-wing autocracy, sure, any of us can be deemed ‘criminals’ or ‘enemies’ on a whim, without due process, and could be ‘disappeared’ and ‘sent to El Salvador’ today. Yeah, that’s pretty ‘real’ to me and to those that have actually been paying attention.
So, since you’ve gotten more personal this time, I recall that you publicly identified as ‘gay’ on here (I’m not ‘outing’ you–it was your explicit comment on Gary’s post about the TSA changing policies to remove trans people from searches, published earlier this year). Also in that comment, you ‘punched down’ on trans people (basically, suggesting that you ‘don’t care’ if they are harmed because they aren’t ‘the same’ as the other ‘alphabet’ people). I found that quite upsetting, but again, if that is your opinion, I respect and defend your sharing it. In response, also in that post, I warned, that I fear this regime will not spare ‘the gays’ just because some of them decided to let them ‘have’ the trans people first. Lest we forget, ‘first they came for…’
Consistently, I’ve been a staunch advocate for human and civil rights, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution. So, please do mock and joke, healthy banter is good. I accept whatever criticism you wish to lodge at me. But, also, understand the reasonably limits of our speech (and there are indeed some), and kindly, do not falsely accuse me of crimes on here. I will defend myself. For the rest us, please do take good care of yourself and those that you care for.
@GUWonder — I recall from the other times that Mike Hunt has posted this similar ‘poetry’ that he claimed it was without ‘assistance’ (of artificial intelligence), which, if true, I find quite endearing and thoughtful, personally. Like, if Mike wants to take the time to do that, even if it is mocking me, I’m all for it, so long as it does not cross a line, like false accusations of a crime. When we cannot engage in mockery, humor, satire, etc. then the ‘rule of law’ is truly gone. Mike is actually practicing free speech, and Gary is also allowing it, which is similarly honorable, so I support him or anyone, even if they tries to insult me. In fact, please, do another verse, Mike! Feed me more. I’m still hungry.
@Common Sense Revolution — Have you considered that ‘common’ sense is not ‘better’ sense? Also, where were you for Mike Hunt’s earlier poetry? He does this on occasion. I enjoy it, too.
On substance, Bernie has never said that ‘hates’ capitalism. He has advocated for progressive policies to improve the lives of everyday people in our country, like other such Western countries in Scandinavia (think Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc.)
Whether those policies would work well or not is up for debate. I’m with Bernie–I think a more robust social safety net would be in the best interest for the greatest number of people. Clearly, you disagree. That’s fine. Have your opinion. Share it if you want. But, please, resist the urge to shout ‘communist!’ or ‘idiot!’ at anyone here. I know, it’s hard sometimes. I feel the urge, too.
To all who actually still care about facts, we know that capitalism is the global economic system, and has been for a while, and likely will be moving forward. The only countries with ‘official’ socialist economic systems are China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam, yet in reality, they still worship money and forms of private ownership, just like anywhere else. In fact, some of the cities in China, if you ever visit, are more late-stage capitalist dystopian than anything you’d see in the West.
Gary, if you’re even listening, your commenters are bound to have strongly-held differences of opinion, and I admire that you’ve encouraged us to share our thoughts freely, to respectfully argue our ideas, maybe gain some support from others, maybe be criticized, mocked even, all of which, I hope we can agree, is indeed healthy in a society that’s trying to live freely and do better. If anything I’ve ever said is ‘too far,’ I respect your judgment, and expect you’d remove it. I know some denounce the frequency of my comments–if you have ‘new rules’ on that, too, just let me know–like, if 48/66 comments is too much (as Mike Hunt jokingly suggested), then so be it, I won’t go over 47 *wink*. Anyway, thank you, as always, for hosting us.