One Percent Supporter Doubts That 'Anyone Great' Ever Came Out Of The 99 Percent (VIDEO) [UPDATE]

The man featured in the clip below, who claims to be a part of the 1 percent, seems to have written off the other 99 percent of society as less than excellent.

When confronted by a reporter from Inner City Media, he proceeds to state that he seriously doubts that "anyone great" ever came out of the 99 percent. But when the reporter offers up The Beatles and the Marx Brothers as examples, he does admit there could be a few notable contributions made by the less monied class.

According to the Village Voice, the clip was taken during the National Day of Action, on Nov. 17, as part of the Occupy Los Angeles movement.

While the man's name and location of the interview and have not been clearly identified, he does claim to be part of the one percent. However, without proof of his membership in the exclusive club, there is always the chance that he could have been among the third of one-percenters that joined the 99 percent during the recession.

UPDATE: A tipster has identified the man in the video to be Jim Kruse, Senior Managing Director for CB Richard Ellis’ Los Angeles South Region.

WATCH:

What do one percenters do? Check out the slideshow below:

Comments

[lengvarskyr]

04:51 PM on 12/06/2011

Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver Frederick Douglas, Dr. Charles Drew, Henry Ford, Etc. All came from humblr beginings, all made an impact.

[HopeWFaith]

09:31 AM on 12/25/2011

Jimmy Carter, Barak Obama.

[shawondasse]

02:25 PM on 12/06/2011

I wonder if this guy thinks he's "great", and why......

[madgrrl]

04:37 PM on 12/03/2011

How many of the 1 percent ran INTO the world trade center after it had been attacked? Heroes are the individuals running into a burning builldng while everyone else is running out. I hope this man doesn't consider himself a Christian. He may have earned himself a personal escort to the burning pits of hell.

[dungfacerepub]

10:34 AM on 12/10/2011

very good

[MrBIgp]

10:25 PM on 12/02/2011

Most of the top 1% came from the 99%. Why is the clip newsworthy?

[sojourner314]

11:28 AM on 12/03/2011

This clip is newsworthy because it demonstrates the utter lack of respect that is shown to the contributions of the 99%. My only brother was killed in service of this Nation! He was certainly worth more than all the 1%. He accomplished enough, that he died trying to save a buddy's life--not crush it as would the man in this video! Go figure...

[MrBIgp]

10:46 PM on 12/03/2011

It looks like this crew went around and tried the get the most obnoxious comment they could from a member of the 1%. This guy obviously didn't want to be interviewed and made an off the cuff remark. Is it accurate to portray this remark as a commonly held opinion of the top 1%? Think of the things you have said and how they would sound if they were recorded and broadcast.

[Scurvydog74]

10:12 PM on 12/02/2011

For you Christians and Agnostics alike; will "greatness" have rewards in heaven? Will it mean anything in the great abyss of darkness? If not, it's only value is what it brings you in life. Since most only reach greatness after death has it any value at all?

[MrBIgp]

10:54 PM on 12/02/2011

"Whoever has the most when he dies, wins!" Lawrence Garfield, Other Peoples Money.

[markinmissouri]

02:27 AM on 12/03/2011

that is just stupid and isnt it whomever? what do you win? the chance to not be allowed into the kingdom of heaven?

[madgrrl]

04:40 PM on 12/03/2011

Wins what? sounds like a tongue in cheek argument.

[madgrrl]

04:38 PM on 12/03/2011

oooh, I just posted something similar. Great minds think alike. F&F!

[Alaska Garden Girl]

06:44 PM on 12/02/2011

It's because of those men being interviewed, that those people on the street are able to be a nuisance. Why don't they quit whining and get to WORK. Maybe it's not a job in the field you graduated in, maybe it's not a high paying job, hell, maybe it's not even a job you like. But that is how the vast majority of successful people got where they are today. You can't start big, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. "There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs".

[madgrrl]

04:44 PM on 12/03/2011

Excuse me but many of those people do work. many are unemployed and many are students. No one is expecting a handout. Many from local churches have joined in. Maybe you haven't noticed but on the ladder of success they have sawed off the lower rungs. It used to be you could work your way up in a company but that just isn't true anymore. If you don't have a college degree you are pretty much screwed. If you do have a college degree you get to start off your career thousands of dollars in the hole. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PROTESTING!

[HopeWFaith]

09:33 AM on 12/25/2011

Fanned and Fav'd. Great truthful post!

[Neuron Flash]

05:21 PM on 12/06/2011

That's right. The idiot in the video whining about the 99% should get back to work: Jim Kruse, Senior Managing Director for CB Richard Ellis’ Los Angeles South Region is clearly shown slacking off.

Why isn't he creating jobs?

That's why we give him favorite tax treatment.

[HopeWFaith]

09:35 AM on 12/25/2011

These guys are a huge part of the problem across corporate America. Taking and holding very pricy properties, charging way over the line for the rents on them, making huge profits and not returning the profits back to the workers by giving them good raises and coverages. Just soaking up as much as they can from the bottom rungs of the nation.

[moxie78]

06:30 PM on 12/02/2011

The man laughing in the background is Lew Horne. CBRE's EVP of the greater LA area. Hi profile:
http://www.cbre.com/USA/US/CA/Los+Angeles+DT/pprofile/LewHorne.htm

[ahchand]

09:01 PM on 12/01/2011

I can't think of anyone great in the 1 percent...... really can you ?

[Alaska Garden Girl]

06:36 PM on 12/02/2011

The Beatles

They may have not started there, but that's where they are today. Just like the rest of us who fall into that 1%.

[ahchand]

09:01 PM on 12/02/2011

Do you really think John would think of himself as part of the 1 percent you obviously no nothing about the Beatles

[MrBIgp]

10:47 PM on 12/02/2011

Jane Fonda, Robert Kennedy Jr., Alec Baldwin, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Michael Moore, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry.................

[madgrrl]

04:56 PM on 12/03/2011

yes they are all great and fighting for the 99 percent! Include Sting, Bruce Springstein, Warren Buffet, Anne Hathaway, Richard Rubin.

[Ireene]

05:42 PM on 12/01/2011

Interesting comments from a man who's not too shy to speak his "mind". Too bad he's forgotten that almost all our military are the 99%. (seems that the very wealthy have no interest in patriotism). Apparently he's not enamored of any public workers. Ummm, teachers, firemen, police, a very large part of the backbone of our country. And of course the clergy are in the 99% also.

Condescending and patronizing remarks while insulting anyone with less money. I feel sorry for him, the folks he meets in daily life will certainly have a new perspective on him.

[Craig Koebelin]

08:58 AM on 12/01/2011

The new biography "Van Gogh - The Life" portrays the artist as a leech on his brother Theo, who supported him so he could paint. You know these artists, no respect for money, he should have been out getting a real job, he was just a drag on the job creators. Theo's widow ended up in the 1%.

[Craig Koebelin]

08:26 AM on 12/01/2011

Nobody great comes from the 1%, but some great people end up there, like the Beatles.

[special38x2]

09:52 PM on 12/02/2011

LOL, why do the Beatles keep coming up... They had great music, I'm not so sure I put them up there with great people, but definitely great music.

[MrBIgp]

10:50 PM on 12/02/2011

Charles Darwin, Franklin Roosevelt, John F Kennedy all came from to top 1%

[SKamath]

03:50 AM on 12/01/2011

Which is an argument for increasing the estate tax?

[midwesthousewife]

01:57 AM on 12/01/2011

Love the Beatles song they added to the end of the video. For the commenters here who claim these guys were just joking, boy, I didn't see it in his face, voice, or body language. He seemed genuinely exasperated with the Occupiers.

[Jimmy Goodwiltch]

04:42 AM on 12/02/2011

Dude, are you kidding me. That's sarcasm. You don't have to "see it in his face, voice, or body language." If you make such an outlandish statement, you don't have to show it. Unless this came from a Republican primary candidate, no one is going to believe that this was anything other than a joke.

[special38x2]

09:56 PM on 12/02/2011

Um, I watched it multiple times and don't see how this was anything other than his really stupid opinion, to which his friend thought was pretty funny. The man is vulgar, pathetic, a loser.

[Neuron Flash]

05:23 PM on 12/06/2011

Is that you, Jim Kruse, Senior Managing Director for CB Richard Ellis’ Los Angeles South Region, masquerading as Jimmy Goodwiltch?

[statementOfIncensed]

12:47 AM on 12/01/2011

" But when the reporter offers up The Beatles and the Marx Brothers as examples, he does admit there could be a few notable contributions made by the less monied class."

Are all reporters idiots these days? All these examples are entertainers, whereas there are plenty of technologists and scientists who made epoque defining breakthroughs who at least came from the 99% if not remained there.

Seriously, though, it's a real question: are there reporters who are not idiots? I know of no examples.

[99advocater11]

06:41 PM on 11/30/2011

He was obviously joking. How can anyone take this seriously

[ahchand]

08:06 PM on 11/30/2011

Are you serious

[JFED]

12:14 AM on 12/01/2011

I agree. He was clearly joking around and laughing. Times are tough and people are struggling but let's not lose our sense of humor.

[special38x2]

09:59 PM on 12/02/2011

I didn't get the joke, I didn't like his smurking, his friend had a bit of an uneasy laugh and began to edge away...This is not funny, no sense of humor and stop trying to save the grease ball, he should be fired and returned to the bowels of the 99%.