A reality television star who has made a career out of cutting deals with average citizens decried the “insanity” of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign.
Pawn Stars host Rick Harrison defended capitalism and backed hard work as the key to success during his second appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.
“Bernie Sanders wants to tax me at 90%,” Harrison said during a question-and-answer session after his 10-minute speech at the event in National Harbor, Maryland. “Why would I want to open up a business if I’m not going to make any money?”
Sanders, a socialist, is the front-runner in the 2020 Democratic primary field after the first three contests.
Harrison also decried the public education system and teachers unions for creating a new generation of young people who believe happiness “should just be delivered to you.”
“It is very difficult to explain to a younger person because they do not teach anything about economics or capitalism or anything that made this country great in high school and in college anymore,” Harrison said. “They come out of college, they come out of college, all they know is that a corporation is evil and capitalism is evil, and I should get free medical care, I should get free school, I should get free everything for the rest of my life.”
Harrison, who said he was a “Trump guy” in 2018, defended the CEOs of major U.S. companies who he says are treated like “dicks.”
“When you talk to these young people, you have to teach them the reason why CEOs make big money is because they are the Lebron James of business,” Harrison added. “They have a skill set that other people do not have, and that’s why they get paid that money. It’s the hypocrisy that drives me crazy.”
Harrison cut his speech short to take questions from the audience, and one man asked if Harrison was considering a bid for Nevada governor.
“Everyone wants me to run for governor of Nevada, but no decision yet,” Harrison said.
