Mike Bloomberg: Fixing Inequality Is My Priority

[brooklynite]

New York Times

Every Democrat running for president agrees that income inequality is one of the great problems of our time. And we all agree that the wealthy should pay more in taxes.

But only one of us has actually raised taxes on the wealthy by persuading a Republican legislature to vote for them: Me.

When I was elected mayor of New York City, seven weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, we faced a budget crisis and a recession. I had a choice: slash budgets and conduct mass layoffs, which would especially hurt the young, the elderly and low-income communities — or raise taxes.

So I took the politically difficult step of proposing tax increases, including one on those making more than $500,000 a year (about $700,000 in today’s dollars). I persuaded a Republican-led State Senate and a Democratic-led State Assembly to pass the bill, and a Republican governor to sign it. The extra revenue — roughly $400 million per year — allowed us to invest in our future and create jobs and opportunity in the neighborhoods where they were needed most.

[walkingman]

1. Regardless of your feelings about Bloomberg - glad to see him going after Trump!!

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

it is good to see anyone going after The "Esteemed" Mr. Trump and I hope he continues to do so with his deep pockets. I remain very wary of a billionaire buying his way into the Presidency.

[slumcamper]

16. He was the son of a bookkeeper for a diary in Medford, MA.

Laid off at age 39--and used his savings and intelligence to rise from the ashes.

And speaking of ashes, he first became mayor of NYC a mere 11 weeks after 9/11.

After visiting his website this weekend and actually learning about him, I'm now beyond the "billionaire" talking point thing.

He's a very interesting and capable candidate with common sense progressive ideas IMHO.

[luvtheGWN]

18. Dairy? perhaps.

His ads are powerful and making an impact, I believe. He has an answer for everything the GOP and tRump can throw at him. And he definitely has the goods on tRump and can destroy him via the truth -- especially important for those whose support for tRump is based on his so-called abilities as a "billionaire" businessman.

[Raven123]

2. Bloomberg is touting his positions in ads. Hope to hear more details

[brooklynite]

4. https://www.mikebloomberg.com/policies

[Raven123]

15. Put them in ads

[B4 Common Era]

20. Bloomberg Policy Positions

I know Bloomberg is adamantly against the legalization of marijuana. I can think of no more important issue contributing to inequality than the criminalization of marijuana. Statistically it has been proven that people of all races use marijuana at an equal rate, yet people of color are persecuted for it at a dramatically higher rate than white people. The idea that a person’s life, and that of their family, can be upended for marijuana possession is unbelievable. Putting a person into the justice system for A victimless crime is evil. This causes undue burden on them and their family.
Until Bloomberg changes his stance on this issue I will not even begin to entire the thought of voting for him in the primary.
In the meantime, by all means, I hope he continues to spend his money showing trump for what he is.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. He is totally working against Trump

His campaign is deploying issues and resources, I feel he's the anti-Trump, and can do a lot of damage to Trump. Could he win the nomination? Yes, if all the others falter in some way. Would he win the general election if the sole major party candidate against Trump? Yes. Will he run as a third party? I doubt it.

Bloomberg is not very involved in the party's process, so perhaps not very well scrutinized, but he is making no mistakes. No mistakes is good. Especially when you have real stature. Light on foreign policy, but the old joke is New York City has its own foreign policy. He'd be running against the bull in the china shop.

[ripcord]

7. What impresses me the most is his support of down ballot democrats (NT)

[bucolic_frolic]

9. That's true

but he does things quietly in full public sight. An announcement, no rallies. Typical money and ideas man. He, or his PR professionals, have a great understanding of media, message, how to formulate and control those things. I'd like to think it's talent and not just money, but ... they kind of go hand in hand.

[NewJeffCT]

10. he's smart enough to realize

that without Democrats gaining ground and/or control in state legislatures and state level executives, any national Democratic legislation on climate change, gun control, immigration reform, income inequality, etc is going to be jammed up by Republican state AG lawsuits.

[joost5]

19. +1 an important point

thanks for calling attn to it. We need to win up /and down/ the ballot to rid us of trumpism.

[Happyhippychick]

6. In my time on DU, I have never seen someone supporting a candidate and also saying nice things about

An opponent.

And coincidentally, this is what Mike has pledged: he won't trash any Democrat, he will only go after Trump.

Thank you for posting this. I love Pete, he's always been my top choice but I'm considering Mike because I think he can win AND I like the way he is handling his campaign. He's gracious and it's trickling down.

❤️

[Laelth]

14. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[McKim]

8. I Wish We Would All Do as Bloomberg

I wish we would all do as Bloomberg has pledged, and not trash other candidates or their supporters.

[Quixote1818]

11. Okay, he is winning me over. Nt

[Kablooie]

12. He does feel like his attacks on Trump are real.

They aren’t simply vote for me because I’m not Trump.
He’s beginning to hit on specifics that illustrate Trumps weaknesses.
This is essential to show why Trump should not be given any more time as president.

[Lonestarblue]

13. I'm not fully convinced yet, but Bloomberg may be our compromise candidate.

We all have very strong opinions, but at least all of us here (I think) will vote for whoever wins the nomination. I worry more about those voters who are independents. They tend to lean either Democratic or Republican, but they’re also more likely to be the crossover voters. As independents, they tend to be in the middle politically. A candidate like Bloomberg would likely appeal to them whereas a candidate like Warren or Sanders might not. Just food for thought at this point.

[extvbroadcaster]

17. I'll get behind Bloomberg

I think he checks a lot of boxes. Let's be honest, the rest of the field is fading and Trump will run over them. So it is getting down to Bloomberg or 4 more years of Trump. Bloomberg needs to pick a good VP, like Warren. Make a dynamic ticket and run Trump out of Washington.

[saidsimplesimon]

22. This comment tracks with what

I am "hearing" in Arizona. Mr. Bloomberg's ads are saturating the market on local channels. His ad during the Super Bowl got a lot of attention.

My biggest concern is his support amoung people of color. Are there any polls? What do those in the black community think about his "tough on crime" NYC record?

We have no perfect candidate that ticks all the boxes, sooo let's choose wisely.

[Hekate]

21. I'm Hekate & I approve this message!

Go Dems!