Bernie Sanders claps back at billionaire’s criticism: ‘Cry me a river’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) responded on Twitter to criticism from billionaire Leon Cooperman who said the idea of a “fair share” was “bullshit.”

“Oh look, another billionaire is mad that he might have to pay more taxes while children in America go hungry and veterans sleep on the street,” Sanders tweeted. “Cry me a river.”

Oh look, another billionaire is mad that he might have to pay more taxes while children in America go hungry and veterans sleep on the street. Cry me a river. Yes. We will make Wall Street billionaires pay their fair share of taxes and create an economy that works for all of us. https://t.co/61lHgQO0Jr

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 29, 2021

Cooperman is a hedge fund manager who has openly criticized investor who have bought GameStop, sending that company’s shares soaring. The effort to buy stock in GameStop, AMC and other companies has been fueled in part by day traders and investors seeking to drive up the stock and force hedge funds who had shorted the stock to pay out.

Cooperman said he does not have GameStop shares or options, but he predicted those buying into GameStop would lose in the end, telling CNBC “this will end in tears.”

In the interview, he also criticized the phrase “fair share” saying it is too vague of a term. “I hate that expression with a passion,” he said. 

“This fair share is a bullshit concept. It’s just a way of attacking wealthy people, and I think it’s inappropriate,” Cooperman told CNBC on Thursday. “We’ve all got to work together and pull together.”  

Cooperman says he voted for President Biden despite disagreeing with him on some economic issues because former President Trump’s “values” do not align with his. 

Cooperman said he would be fine with a marginal tax rate of 50 percent. 

“Yes. We will make Wall Street billionaires pay their fair share of taxes and create an economy that works for all of us,” Sanders tweeted.