This Saturday, raging socialist and $15 minimum wage advocate Bernie Sanders will hold a fundraiser at the Comet Tavern—which is owned in part by David Meinert, one of the most vocal critics of local socialists Kshama Sawant and Jess Spear during Seattle's $15 debate. Political analysts estimate that Meinert may have been responsible for up to 42 percent of Seattle's public rancor that year.
So what gives? Change of heart on the issue? A willingness to work across the aisle? Lost a bet?
His answer, by email:
Well, I am, and always have been for raising the minimum wage. My biggest criticism of it was the final plan being too complex, and taking too long to get to $15 (as we all know, $15 in 3 years isn’t $15). I also thought there should be total comp (counting tips), and some exemption for mom and pop business (not mine) and small non profits. So no change of heart. I suspect Bernie and I might disagree on some of the specifics of how to raise the minimum wage, I think we agree on the overall goal, and on many, many far more important issues. I’ve been a fan of Bernie’s for a long time, and am super excited he’s running for president...
End of the day, Bernie is the only true progressive in the race. I agree with him more than any other candidate. I’m psyched he’d choose to do a fundraiser at an historic bar on Capitol Hill rather than a mansion in Medina.
Tickets for the event, which Meinert estimates will last for around an hour, start at $200.