1st the US presidency
than the Reform party in the UK

Elon Musk Considers Backing Nigel Farage's UK Reform Party, $127M Donation

What's New
Elon Musk is in talks to fund Nigel Farage's Reform U.K. Party, potentially making a historic donation that could reshape British politics.

Reports indicate that Musk could contribute up to £100 million ($127 million), a sum that would far exceed any previous political donation in the U.K.

Why It Matters
The discussions took place during a meeting at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and included Farage and a wealthy backer. If the deal goes through, it could significantly influence the political landscape in Britain, especially as Musk continues to make waves in global politics.

https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-cons ... rm-2003588

More here as well:

Both the Labour government and the right-of-center opposition Conservatives are trying to figure out how to deal with Musk, who has taken a keen interest in the U.K. – and seemingly formed a strong dislike for Starmer.

Musk often posts on X about the U.K., retweeting criticism of Starmer and the hashtag TwoTierKeir – shorthand for an unsubstantiated claim that Britain has “two-tier policing,” with far-right protesters treated more harshly than pro-Palestinian or Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Musk has compared British attempts to weed out online misinformation to the Soviet Union, and during summer anti-immigrant violence across the U.K. tweeted that “civil war is inevitable.”

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/elon ... gel-farage

He's interfering in German politics too.

Elon Musk is backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), triggering an outcry in Berlin in the run-up to a critical snap election.

“Only the AfD can save Germany,” the billionaire X owner wrote on the platform on Friday in the latest of a series of endorsements of European far-right parties.

Musk has recently supported European populist-right politicians in increasingly clear terms, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Earlier this week, Farage boasted that Musk is “right behind” him — and raised the prospect that the tech tycoon would financially back his Reform UK party.

https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-mu ... far-right/

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 2:43 pm He's interfering in German politics too.

Elon Musk is backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), triggering an outcry in Berlin in the run-up to a critical snap election.

“Only the AfD can save Germany,” the billionaire X owner wrote on the platform on Friday in the latest of a series of endorsements of European far-right parties.

Musk has recently supported European populist-right politicians in increasingly clear terms, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Earlier this week, Farage boasted that Musk is “right behind” him — and raised the prospect that the tech tycoon would financially back his Reform UK party.

https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-mu ... far-right/

Now do George Soros. You know... for balance

IraHayes wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:28 pm Now do George Soros. You know... for balance

No, I am not indulging in your whataboutism.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:34 pm

IraHayes wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:28 pm Now do George Soros. You know... for balance

No, I am not indulging in your whataboutism.

Technically, I am attempting to show that having a go at Musk for getting into politics while ignoring some who have been at it for years is a double standard and labeling this as a "whataboutism" argument seems like a weak attempt to shut down a legitimate avenue of discussion.

So let's explore this double standard a little.

Soros has been donating to political groups for way longer and in far larger amounts (see The Open Society Foundation) than Musk. But yeah... The darling of the left (pre-Twitter purchase) is now their arch enemy and anything he touches must be denounced.

When uber rich elites back left wing parties/groups/people etc and push for open borders and mass immigration there's barely a murmur in disagreement. When Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg get involved in politics (or vaccines), again, hardly a murmur and anyone criticizing them for their philanthropy is shouted down and sidelined as the opinions of a minority.

But Musk is now being denounced for daring to follow in the footsteps of those I have mentioned above.
How dare he !!

IraHayes wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:55 pm When Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg get involved in politics (or vaccines), again, hardly a murmur and anyone criticizing them for their philanthropy is shouted down and sidelined as the opinions of a minority.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta donates $1m to Trump fund

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j9e1x9z2xo

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:03 pm

IraHayes wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:55 pm When Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg get involved in politics (or vaccines), again, hardly a murmur and anyone criticizing them for their philanthropy is shouted down and sidelined as the opinions of a minority.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta donates $1m to Trump fund

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j9e1x9z2xo

Not bad. A little thin though don't you think given Zuckerberg's history of donating to left wing causes.

Let's recap this for clarity.

JB: Musk is interfering in German Politics
Ira: Soros has been doing this for years.
JB: That's whataboutism
Ira: No, I am pointing out a double standard.
JB: OK, Zuckerberg made a 1m donation to Trump.

So you are refuting my claim of a double standard by taking a left leaning Billionaire who has almost never donated to a right leaning group or candidate. Well he did donate to the Center for Technology Innovation but that was only because he wanted to deregulate silicon valley. He did pick up some flak from the left over this donation since the CTI is a right leaning group.

To refute my point that
"Musk donating to a right wing European political group is bad but Soros donating to left leaning groups in Europe is fine"
you need to at least show how Gates, Soros or Zuckerberg have donated to rightwing groups in Europe.

Now, I haven't actually checked if these 3 have donated to the right in Europe or not ... so have a look.. find some cases where they have and in significant amounts and I will accept my position as being refuted.


If nothing else this may show some on this forum how a debate or discussion should be conducted.
So over to you JB.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:03 pm

IraHayes wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:55 pm When Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg get involved in politics (or vaccines), again, hardly a murmur and anyone criticizing them for their philanthropy is shouted down and sidelined as the opinions of a minority.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta donates $1m to Trump fund

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j9e1x9z2xo

A pittance compared to what he and his co-founder, Dustin Moskovitz, donated to Hillary's campaign fund. slimy opportunists looking to ingratiate themselves with anybody in power.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inn ... y-clinton/