If Bloomberg is a racist why are prominent African Americans who know him best endorsing him?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2020, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)

NEW YORK — Today, Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York endorsed Mike Bloomberg for president, touting his plan to invest in all Americans - especially those that have been abandoned by President Trump. He applauded Bloomberg's vision for improving our nation’s infrastructure and transportation systems, saying America deserves a pragmatic leader who will deliver.

“The most vulnerable communities in America cannot weather another four years of a Donald Trump presidency. Too much is on the line to allow that to happen,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks. “We need someone in the White House who will unite us behind the common purpose of rebuilding our nation's infrastructure and driving our economy forward into the 21st century. Mike Bloomberg will do exactly that. As mayor, he made promises with concrete plans to see them through. As president, he will do the same. I look forward to working with Mike as we revitalize overlooked communities, enable wealth creation for working families, and fight back against Donald Trump who continues to threaten our fundamental American values.”

“Congressman Meeks knows we need to rebuild America, starting with the infrastructure that President Trump has allowed to crumble and the health care system Trump is trying to destroy,” said Mike Bloomberg. “I worked with Congressman Meeks during my time in City Hall, and his efforts in Washington helped New York City rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. He knows the importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure and building on Obamacare to make sure every America has access to affordable health care. I’m excited to welcome him as a Co-Chair for the Mike for Black America National Leadership Council. As President, I'll work with Rep. Meeks to get both done -- after we send the Queens native in the White House on a permanent vacation to Mar-a-Lago."

https://blog.4president.org/2020/2020/02/congressman-gregory-meeks-of-new-york-endorses-mike-bloomberg-for-president.html

If Bloomberg is a racist why are prominent African Americans who know him best endorsing him?
This is not an endorsement, just a question.

[IronLionZion]

1. If Trump is a racist why do Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro endorse him?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Are you comparing Gregory Meeks to Candace Owewns and Ben Shapiro

BTW, Congresswoman Lucy McBath whose son was killed by a white man for playing his car stereo too loud endorsed him. Is Lucy McBath a racist too?

[IronLionZion]

6. Do you think it possible to endorse a candidate while disagreeing on policy?

older black voters have different views on stop and frisk than younger black voters. Guess which generation is disproportionately impacted by that policy?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Policy disagreements

Policy disagreements=/= Racism

BTW, I oppose racial profiling. And crime knows neither race nor age.

[George II]

9. Stop and Frisk was only one policy of Mayor Bloomberg. He was mayor for 12 years and accomplished...

...a LOT more than merely stop and frisk.

In a diverse city like New York, if he was "racist" or had bad policies, do you think he would have been re-elected twice?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Good point.

NY is a minority-majority city. Bloomberg couldn't have been elected without minority support.

[uponit7771]

25. Ummmm, no Bloomberg is stop and frisk NOW and says it was overused vs saying it shouldn't been

... used at all.

And until late last year he supported stop and frisk then said no one told him about stop and frisk until he ran for president ... that's a lie

I want to know where he stands on policing issues overall and right now he's missing the mark

[honest.abe]

34. Bloomberg's plan to address systematic discrimination.

Mike’s plan will address systematic discrimination.

Mike will defend the rights of protected groups by reinvigorating and reorienting the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Dept.

He will also shed light on discriminatory practices by requiring companies to report on hiring, pay and procurement and collecting more complete lending data.

Mike’s plan also ties federal housing funding to progress in reducing segregation, requires implicit bias training for police, teachers and federal contractors, and restores voting rights by addressing practices such as ID requirements, roll purging and gerrymandering

https://www.mikebloomberg.com/policies/economic-justice

[uponit7771]

38. That doesn't answer my question about his stance on stop and frisk now. He says it was overused

... in NY, that doesn't tell me he wont use it all or at least in a way a community can get on board.

[honest.abe]

48. He has apologized repeatedly.

Here is one from Nov last year..

Michael Bloomberg on Sunday apologized for his longstanding support of the controversial “stop-and-frisk” police strategy ahead of a potential Democratic presidential run, a practice that he embraced as New York’s mayor and continued to defend despite its disproportionate impact on people of color.

Addressing a black church in Brooklyn, Bloomberg said he was “sorry” and acknowledged it often led to the detention of blacks and Latinos.

“I can’t change history,” Bloomberg told the congregation. “However today, I want you to know that I realize back then I was wrong.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/bloomberg-apologizes-stop-frisk-police-practice-n1084756

[uponit7771]

50. Saying it was "overused" is not an apology that's an excuse and room to use it in the future and

... that wasn't in November that was this morning.

[honest.abe]

56. "However today, I want you to know that I realize back then I was wrong."

Is that not an apology??

[uponit7771]

60. By itself of maybe but you and I know that statement isn't by itself, it was "overused"

... gives him room to use it in the future.

Fuck that, America deserves a hell fuck naw from Bloomberg on S&F and he needs to tell us where he stands on other policing issues like body cams, over and under policing etc.

The audio and video that is available about Bloomberg is overtly racist and it was 20 years ago

[honest.abe]

63. Well, I understand and appreciate what you are saying..

But I trust this guy that he is being genuine and will be good to his word.

[uponit7771]

65. I have a family, I can't afford to trust Bloomberg on this issue

[honest.abe]

71. Understand.

[emmaverybo]

66. The policy was meant to be used as widely and aggressively as possible. It was an expansion and

escalation of the original policy in place. Bloomberg knew how it was being carried out, and its impact immediately, in real time. Five million were stopped and frisked. Five million had their civil liberties suspended. He heard the outcry. He knew most stopped had no weapons. He knew the legal argument because he fought it.

Until he decided to run he was defending it and claiming it brought crime down. Overuse was intentional. The goal was mass stops of black and Latino males to search them and seize weapons.

It is important to know how the policy was implemented, what it was intended to do, and what it was in contrast to stopping for probable cause, reasonable suspicion. Indiscriminate use was built in.

This is from an apolitical article in a journal about criminal justice:

Snip————————————————

Although SQF predated Bloomberg’s election as mayor, the program ratcheted-up under his leadership far beyond its constitutionally sanctioned contours. Stop-and-frisk has a long history as a policing tactic rooted in particularized, reasonable suspicion that a specific individual is involved in criminal activity.

However, in New York and several other U.S. jurisdictions, this tactic morphed into a widespread, aggressive crime-control strategy. With Bloomberg’s unwavering support, NYPD officers routinely stopped, questioned, and often patted-down hundreds of thousands of people each year—roughly 87 percent of whom were African-American or Latinx—to see if they were carrying weapons or drugs.

The NYPD argued that they applied SQF only when officers had reasonable suspicion that someone was breaking the law, but given their low “hit rates,” such claims seem quite implausible. Only 6 percent of all stops resulted in an arrest and less than 1 percent resulted in the seizure of a firearm.

https://thecrimereport.org/2019/11/26/why-bloombergs-apology-perpetuates-misunderstanding-of-stop-and-frisk/

[uponit7771]

68. +1, looks like Bloomberg also fought restitution to CP5 for some reason. I don't have

... a positive view of Bloomberg and race looking at the facts.

[Demsrule86]

2. He is not a racist.

[George II]

3. Plus, as of this morning Lucy McBath and Gregory Meeks have endorsed him.

[democratisphere]

4. Bloomberg is one our most viable candidates with a proven track record.

Black voters are willing to overlook some of Bloomberg's previous mistakes as long as he can beat drumpf.

[Demsrule86]

12. That is it.

[cherryinpa]

29. Really?

Proven track record with Republicans maybe.

And SOME prominent African Americans are ready to overlook his past mistakes, not all.

You're bedazzled by his billions and feel that somehow provides a security blanket that will guarantee us the Whitehouse.

It won't.

If Joe can't make it all the way, then the next step should be Klobuchar, Warren etc.

We should look internally, before we look externally for a billionairre messiah.

[democratisphere]

39. Progressive socialism and socialists will NOT win THIS fight;

quite the opposite. No candidate is perfect so we must choose the person that will have the greatest number of electoral college votes. THAT is all that matters as our country is on the brink and drumpf must be gone!

[cherryinpa]

51. OK

100% agreed the objective is single; to get Trump out.

But lets take this to the two extremes ... Bernie vs Bloomberg.

IMHO, if it came to it Bernie (and I do NOT at all agree with his platform) is a far better bet than Bloomberg.

Yes, we will take a hit with Bernie for sure, but the hit will be far smaller than the loss we'll take if Bloomberg is nominated and the Bernie Bro's sit-out the election (or worse) with Bloomberg as our nominee.

[Demsrule86]

52. Bloomberg is not racist.

New york is a progressive city and why we win presidential elections every four years there. New york state is not progressive as a whole. But generally New York City makes it possible to win statewide races.

[uponit7771]

69. He just does and says racist shit ?! America deserves more explanation from him

[honest.abe]

8. Because he is a decent guy with good intentions..

and a ton of money which is willing to spend to help defeat Trump and the GOP.

BTW, he is not a racist. He made some negative comments in the past which he has now apologized and is trying to make amends.

[ProfessorPlum]

13. Look, I mean those particular comments were only 5 years ago

and people were telling him the whole time that "stop and frisk" was racist and he never stopped it never curtailed it, only "renounced" it like 3 months ago.

Bloomberg may be a lot of things - he may even have good intentions, but please don't close your mind to the fact that he is one of the most racist candidates the Democrats have had for a long time

[honest.abe]

15. I trust the guy that he is who he says he is now.

His apology seemed genuine and is backed up by the ton of money he is spending to attack Trump and the GOP.. who are clearly the true racists.

[redstateblues]

16. I don't think he is a racist.

[ProfessorPlum]

19. all evidence to the contrary be damned

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. He might not be the most woke candidate but I don't believe he's racist.

[ProfessorPlum]

21. wow

people around here can't get their heads around this.

just because you like a candidate doesn't mean they aren't racist.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Is racism binary or is it like sexuality?

According to Kinsey the latter can be plotted on a scale. I think racism or prejudice can best be plotted on a Bell Curve.

[ForEverGlades]

33. Not sure if he's racist or not, but

Just look at his own words---"throw'em up against the wall" to conduct unconstitutional searches just because they're people of color.
Oh and how about "All crime is in minority areas?"
There's a lot more.
You're right, some here like a candidate and don't care about their horrendous record.
In this case a record that will suppress minority turnout to a huge degree and completely blow away progressive enthusiasm and turnout as well.
Wake up, this guy's toxic to the party!
The only argument for him seems to be, "he's rich!"
Wow, what party is this anyway?

[ProfessorPlum]

11. $$$$ ?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. Are you suggesting Lucy McBath and Gregory Meeks have been bought?

The former's son was killed by a white man because he was playing his car stereo too loud. Are you suggesting she's supporting Mike Bloomberg for fillthy lucre?

[ProfessorPlum]

17. I don't know how fillthy it is

but the guy has life-altering riches. Let's just say it might be beneficial to do such a person a favor.

[George II]

27. If he can dump enough money into the district* to re-elect her, I'm all for it....

*This is the district formerly represented by New Gingrich, Johnny Isakson, and Tom Price. She's the first Democrat to serve that district since 1979 (41 years)

[Quackers]

28. Bloomberg does have a history of paying people for favorable comments about him.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/07/mike-bloomberg-2020-campaign-instagram-influencers

[Skya Rhen]

45. Money talks. n/t

[redstateblues]

22. There is a lot of nervousness about Bloomberg amongst the Sanders/Warren wingers

His groundswell is a threat to them for sure

[customerserviceguy]

47. If we need a billionaire

to beat Trump, why not Steyer? To the best of my knowledge, he's never said anything that he's had to walk back or apologize for, and he has spent a ton of money on fighting climate change, and to get the impeachment that many of us wanted so much. Bloomie's spent money keeping Moscow Mitch in power.

[Demsrule86]

54. He is not as good at winning as Bloomberg .

[customerserviceguy]

64. Bloomberg's got his downsides

He's been derided as a nanny-stater and as a gun grabber. That won't play too well in the blue wall states we lost in 2016.

If it comes down to "our NYC billionaire is better than your NYC billionaire", we just might well lose that argument. Don't get me wrong, I still think that Buttigieg and Klobuchar are viable candidates, but we have to see where they go in Nevada before handicapping their chances in South Carolina.

Steyer's made a play for the farm vote in SC, one of his ads features a white farmer who wants somebody who will beat Trump. If indeed, there are people in rural communities who felt burned by Trump's game of "chicken" on Chinese trade, they may warm up to a man who has worked with California farmers to get nutritious food to schoolchildren there without involving Big Agriculture.

[Demsrule86]

76. Everyone has their downsides...

If it comes to Sanders vs Bloomberg, I go with Bloomberg. He can win. He was a good mayor and would be a good president too IMHO.

[customerserviceguy]

78. I think too many people here

are willing to overlook Bloomie's negatives because they're salivating over the money that he will put into the race. I recall that Hillary Clinton had spent more than the Dotard in 2016, and it didn't put her in the White House.

Yes, Bloomberg has observed Trump at close range for the past few decades, but the opposite is true as well. Trump managed to get a lot of building permits approved during those years, and it wasn't simply by submitting the proper application forms.

[ProfessorPlum]

79. groundswell is a funny word for "huge ad buy"

but ok

[redstateblues]

81. Whistling past the graveyard. You made my point

[uponit7771]

20. Black people endorsed Trump, this isn't saying much

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Because "prominent African Americans" are not the ones directly affected by Bloomberg's racist

stop-and-frisk policies?

[uponit7771]

26. THANK YOU !!!

[wyldwolf]

24. because young, white "progressives" haven't progsplained things to them?

[HarlanPepper]

37. Progsplained

I like that. Will be using it moving forward. It’s so fitting a term.

[wyldwolf]

49. defined:

Progsplaining

When a young, usually white "progressive" attempts to explain politics or public policy to an older, more experienced voter. This is often done in a patronizing tone.

Young Progressive: I can't wait until Bernie Sanders is elected president so he can pass his cool agenda
Voter: Congress may not be on board with some of the more expensive stuff he's proposing.
Young Progressive: Are you new to politics? Bernie doesn't need congress. His agenda is so popular the American people will demand it, then through these things called executive orders, he'll make them law without raising any taxes on anyone. You do know what executive orders are, right?

[CrispyQ]

59. Let me finish that dialog for you.

Voter: How many times have you called your members of Congress this past month?
Young Progressive: ~crickets

Although I will say that too many of my friends also don't call. Never has communication been easier and yet we still don't call or write to Congress on a regular basis. We should be jamming their phone and fax lines and filling their email boxes weekly. Remind them who they work for.

[aikoaiko]

31. Black folks (really all folks) have had to endorse racists for access to power for a long time.

Politics is politics.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

35. Yep. We live in a white supremacy. Candidates are going to reflect that.

[Demsrule86]

57. Yeah, candidates shouldn't celebrate endorsements from Joe Rogan...

[WhiskeyGrinder]

58. Agreed.

[patricia92243]

32. I assume POC want to get rid of Trump as much as white people

do, and we think he is the best one to do the job.

I don't believe there is any chance that Bloomberg will endorse the stop and frisk program now and he has admitted he was wrong. The past is over and I want to move forward.

[hay rick]

36. If it's Bloomberg vs. Trump it's an easy choice for people of any color.

Birther Boy going to have a tough time cleaning up his image for POC.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. "I assume POC want to get rid of Trump as much as white people..."

Probably more. I just want to beat Trump. If Satan was running against Trump I would be hard pressed to vote for the latter.

[patricia92243]

46. lol - I'd have to give that some thought but you are right.

[ForEverGlades]

55. Makes so much sense....

Yep, that's the ticket...we're gonna sell ya Satan!
He doesn't give a crap about your kids...in fact they have no rights and they're responsible for ALL crime!
Oh, and if they dare to walk down the street then, hey,"throw'em up against the wall!"
And by the way--GET OUT AND VOTE!!
Why?
Because he has craploads of cash!!

[Demsrule86]

61. Joe Rogan has proud boys on his show...how many new recruits?

[ForEverGlades]

72. Who's Joe Rogan?

[Demsrule86]

74. A racist homophobic pod caster with a big following who endorsed Sanders and Sanders then

celebrated it...my daugher was on the fence until then and then joined the anyone but Bernie for the primary crowd... She will support whoever can beat Sanders in the primary.

[ForEverGlades]

80. Gotcha, but

What's that mess got to do with all this Bloomie baloney?

[Demsrule86]

86. The point is no candidate will ever be perfect...but all are fine with me if they can get elected...

But Sanders won't get elected you see which is why if it is between him and Bloomberg, I will vote for Bloomberg.

[Demsrule86]

62. Because he will beatTrump.

[Baked Potato]

53. I would say because they want to win.

[brooklynite]

67. Al Sharpton Raised a valid point...

It’s not that Bloomberg doesn’t have a racial issues problem that he has to address for forcefully; it’s that all the other candidates do as well (Biden: Crime Bill; Klobuchar: Hennepin Cty prosecutions, Sanders: BLM relationship, etc.)

[Skya Rhen]

73. Go back and watch that segment on Morning Joe. He never called Joe's name - I listened to the same

show so there is no need for you to add a name that was never called.

It was obvious that his intention was to compare the actions of prosecutors and Mayors - not the former VP who never made local/state decisions.

[brooklynite]

75. Sharpton didn't say that "some" of the others did...

...and the Crime Bill issue has come up previously.

As far as data goes, Quinnipiac indicates that Biden's AA support has dropped from 44 to 27.

[Squinch]

70. Black voters tend to be pragmatic. They know it's probably either Bloomberg or Trump at this point.

[cynatnite]

82. Reverend Al was saying as much on MSNBC. n/t

[Squinch]

83. I am not thrilled about the truth of it, but it is the truth. So if he makes a showing

on Super Tuesday, I'm in.

Unless Amy gets some huge bump. Which would make me happy. But I seriously doubt that will happen.

[cwydro]

77. Michael Nutter endorsed him too.

And in an interview on NPR this morning, he even defended the stop and frisk policy.

[Bradical79]

84. He said racist things, and took very racist actions

I really don't care who endorses him.

[KayF]

85. they don't live in the stop and frisk areas n/t