How Kamala Harris is playing woman of the people on key issue to win votes… then behaving VERY differently in private
She launched her presidential campaign with the goal of tackling corporate abuses and taking on billionaires.
But in practice, Kamala Harris seeks advice from the same big business leaders she says she’s furious with.
The vice president tries to seduce the world’s great and good by inviting them to lunches and personally giving them tours of the White House.
Among those who have heard Harris lately is billionaire Mark Cuban, who has been involved in text messages, phone calls and email chains offering his advice on pharmaceutical issues, the Wall Street Journal defeated.
The Shark Tank investor has spoken out loud and clear against “pharmacy middlemen,” a statement Harris has subsequently echoed.
Kamala Harris has publicly criticized tax breaks for billionaires and vowed to crack down on corporate greed, but privately she’s been trying to appease business leaders
Cuban was among those attending a roundtable discussion on the topic hosted by the vice president in March.
Unlike Joe Biden, the vice president has made every effort to build a relationship with America’s business community, and he has done so through more than just formal meetings.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that she had lunch with JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
According to insiders, the two have kept in touch since then. Dimon is said to have told her acquaintances that she was “reasonable” and open to dialogue.
Dimon’s wife, Judy, also attended a dinner with Harris hosted by JPMorgan Chase Vice Chairman Peter Scher at his Maryland home. The dinner came just hours after Biden left office.
Harris himself has also hosted executives at the vice president’s residence.
Attendees included Visa CEO and Democrat Ryan McInerney, Greg Brown of Motorola Solutions, who is a Republican, and Karen Lynch of CVS Health.
The tactic has already paid off in terms of donations: Harris’ campaign raised nearly $2 million from 5,000 CEO donors.
Those who have the vice president’s ear include Shark Tank investor and billionaire Mark Cuban
By comparison, Biden received just $91,000 from about 990 CEOs in the final 10 days before dropping out of the race.
Harris criticized rival Donald Trump for promising to give tax breaks to billionaires.
But she recently voiced support for a smaller increase in the top capital gains tax rate, which runs counter to Biden’s plans.
An adviser to Harris indicated that while she supports a minimum income tax on billionaires, she is open to overhauling tax structures in a different way than the president.
Her approach has reassured some business leaders, including Roger Hochschild, former CEO of Discover, who was one of 100 CEOs who wrote a letter supporting Harris.
But Harris’ charm offensive wasn’t enough to allay fears among some billionaires.
John Paulson, known for his lucrative bet against subprime mortgages in 2007, said Tuesday he would divest all of his assets if the Democratic nominee wins.
“If Harris were elected, I would take my money out of the market,” he said on Fox Business’ The Claman Countdown.
JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is said to have been in touch with Harris since the two had lunch earlier this year. His wife Judy (pictured) is a Harris supporter
“I would move into cash and gold because I think the uncertainty around the plans they have outlined would create a lot of uncertainty in the markets and probably push markets lower.”
The founder of Paulson & Co., whose net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion, went on to explain that he believes Harris’ tax policies will scare off investors, resulting in a “pretty quick recession.”
The vice president also raised eyebrows earlier this year when she claimed to have given up a life of wealth in favor of a job in the public sector, despite having a net worth of $8 million with her husband Doug Emhoff.
The couple owns a $4.4 million home in Los Angeles and, in addition to enjoying an annual salary of $235,100 as vice president, she also sold her San Francisco apartment for $860,000 and the couple’s Washington, DC apartment for $1.85 million.
They currently live in the Vice President’s Residence at the Naval Observatory, an 80-acre campus. The 9,150-square-foot home has 33 rooms and a large swimming pool.