Bloomberg Finances Gun-Control Ad in Virginia Race

[jody]

Source: New York Times

Hoping to make a splash in the Virginia governor’s race, Mr. Bloomberg showed up here Monday to unveil a new commercial criticizing former Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, the presumptive Republican nominee, who is a strong gun-rights supporter.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Even though Mr. Bloomberg’s name is not mentioned, he is clearly the driving force. The ad is being financed by a group called Americans United for Safe Streets, a political action committee based in Washington that received $502,335 in contributions in 2008. Of that amount, $500,000 came from Mr. Bloomberg, and of the group’s 12 contributors, 9 are from New York City, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

But Mr. Bloomberg has also never been shy when it comes to endorsing politicians around the country who share similar anti-gun views. He did it last year in New Jersey, to take just one example, when he supported Dennis Shulman, a Democrat from Bergen County, against Representative Scott Garrett. (Mr. Shulman lost.) He did it in Virginia in 2007, too, when he supported State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, a moderate Republican, against J. Chapman Petersen, a gun-rights Democrat. (She lost, too.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“If national gun control groups are waiting for Virginia to lead the way in their cause, they are going to have a long wait,” said Larry J. Sabato, a professor of political science at the University of Virginia. “The state has moderated on many issues, but not guns, and there is a near-consensus in both parties against any kind of major, or even minor, gun control.”

Read more: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/bloomberg-finances-gun-control-ad-in-virginia-race/

---

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is a Republican

[walkaway]

1. Bloomberg=Brave

A successful politician who stands up to "Big Gun" . Too bad the people who need to own guns don't have that kind of balls. Maybe they wouldn't have to hide behind their automatic weapons.

[Pavulon]

3. You guys just get dumber...

if you own an automatic weapon you paid between 7000 and 100,000 for it. People who have money for NFA (legal machine guns) weapons dont generally fuck up their lives by shooting people in criminal acts.


Looks like he has a nice streak of losers there.

[walkaway]

8. Anyone who would pay $100,000.00 for a gun must be terrified...

of his neighbors!

[Pavulon]

13. afraid of their golf handicap.

people with that cash don't live in the ghetto or trailer parks. They see the ocean and or golf courses from their expensive homes.

20k for machine guns or 80k lotus race cars, not the threat to humanity.

NFA weapons dont show up in crime.

[walkaway]

15. Are you actually trying to make me believe that....

assault weapon owners just buy them because they like to look at them while they are sitting in their nuevo rich living rooms? People who need big guns are frightened. People who own big expensive guns are rich and frightened. They are living in trailer parks in their minds.

[Pavulon]

20. Purchased in 1988

you would make up to ten times you initial investment with NFA weapons. Your Freudian commentary, while entertaining, is dog shit stupid. There are a limited number of legal machine guns, so purchasing them and reselling them to people who have passed an FBI background check through a dealer is a legal and profitable investment.

And to stop your next bout of stupidity, one NFA weapon has been used in a crime, by a police officer. ONE. dildos probably kill more people. (more Freud)

People need very little. You dont need a computer or AC in you house. But you have them. I guess that makes you a wimp because you dont live in a box in the park with the bugs..

Assault weapon is an Orwellian term to confuse stupid people. You have semi automatic rifles and machine guns. Machine guns are regulated, heavily. semi automatics that are black and skurry or commie looking and skurry are called assault weapons for the usa today crowd.

[TheWraith]

23. You're confusing "assault weapons" and automatic weapons.

"Assault weapons" are not automatic. Never have been. They're regular semi-automatic rifles.

[TheWraith]

14. They're collectors items.

Like expensive sportscars, or fine crystal.

[walkaway]

17. Anything to make an insecure person feel powerful I guess.

Ak47s and Baccarat Crystal. Sounds like some hillbilly dream!

[TheWraith]

19. Anything. Including mocking people on the internet to feel superior about yourself. nt

[Pavulon]

22. ThanksDr Phil..without your insight

we would all be left with the unanswered motivation behind the purchase of millions of legal firearms in the US. I have seen a very nice collection of english shotguns in Greenwich ct. Owner was not what you would classify as a hillbilly..

but your illuminating post has changed how i think of that person.

[walkaway]

26. Oh gee! so sorry! How could anyone mistake a big gun for a replacement

for some traditional sort of inadequacy. We non-gun owners are so dim. We think people buy guns to use them. Choosing a gun as your collectible of choice says a lot about a person.

Anyway, Michael Bloomberg has more money than the both of you put together ten times. If money is your criteria for worth then he far surpasses you.

[doctor jazz]

31. Just a heads up...you forgot the obligatory penis reference.

:eyes:

[FudaFuda]

25. Or planning on selling it later for $200,000

guns make for not bad investments, if you pick the right collectable pieces to buy

[slackmaster]

36. Exactly right - Collectable firearms make excellent investments

My gun collection is one of the few bright spots in my portfolio.

[Alexander]

2. Bloomberg is not a Republican any more. He left the party and is now Independent.

[jody]

4. "Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run as Republican in bid for third term"

"Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run as Republican in bid for third term" (Daily News)

"Mayor Bloomberg will run for reelection as a Republican this fall, the Daily News has learned, after successfully courting the party to let him back on its ballot line two years after he left it."

[spag68]

10. Bloomberg

You and the headline are wrong. Bloomberg will run as a registered Independent. Here in NY you can also be placed on other lines in the election.The Daily News is not the reputable paper it once was.

[jody]

12. OK but other papers report Bloomberg running or wanting to run as Republican.

"NYC Republicans warming to Bloomberg" (Reuters)

"Bloomberg opted against a run for the White House, and now that he will seek a third term as mayor in November, Bloomberg wants to run as the Republican Party candidate. He would maintain independent status by not registering with any party."

[Alexander]

27. Your own source says Bloomberg won't register with any party.

Perhaps you should try reading what you link to.

"Bloomberg opted against a run for the White House, and now that he will seek a third term as mayor in November, Bloomberg wants to run as the Republican Party candidate. He would maintain independent status by not registering with any party."

[jody]

28. Whatever. Have a great day. n/t

[Alexander]

32. Try reading the articles you link to before you embarrass yourself again.

A difficult concept, I know.

[jody]

34. Thanks for your interest in me but I'm not worried. If Bloomberg does run as the Rep. candidate, he

will become an official member of the Republican Party and the first article I used as source material will indeed be true.

Have a great day. :hi:

[Alexander]

38. What source? None of your credible sources say what you claimed.

The source in your OP calls Bloomberg an "independent".

The second source, the Daily News, is not reputable.

And your third source, Reuters, said he would "maintain his Independent status" and "not register with any Party".

I was trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself any more than you already have, but you aren't making it easy.

[jody]

40. See "Mayor Bloomberg will run for reelection as a Republican"

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run as Republican in bid for third term

"Mayor Bloomberg will run for reelection as a Republican this fall, the Daily News has learned, after successfully courting the party to let him back on its ballot line two years after he left it."

Thanks for your persistence. :hi:

[Alexander]

41. The credibility of the NY Daily News has already been discussed.

Do you really have such a short memory?

"You and the headline are wrong. Bloomberg will run as a registered Independent. Here in NY you can also be placed on other lines in the election.The Daily News is not the reputable paper it once was."

[jody]

42. So in your opinion the source is not credible, tough! n/t

[Alexander]

44. So you don't know how ballots work in New York.

Namely, that candidates can and often do run under several party names.

For example, Obama ran as a Democratic Party and a Liberal Party candidate.

McCain ran as a Republican Party and a Conservative Party candidate.

And Bloomberg can run under any party he wants; he's still an Independent unless and until he changes his party affiliation again. He can run under every party, theoretically - doesn't change the fact that he's an Independent.

Like I said, you should really read up on these sorts of things because you're only making yourself look foolish.

[michreject]

29. He wasn't a Republican to start with

He was a life long Democrat who changed parties to run for Mayor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg

A lifelong Democrat before seeking elective office, Bloomberg switched his registration in 2001 and ran for mayor as a Republican, winning the election that year and a second term in 2005. He was frequently mentioned as a possible independent candidate for the 2008 presidential election and fueled that speculation when he left the Republican Party in June 2007 to become an independent.<5> There was also speculation that he would run as a vice-presidential candidate.<6> Bloomberg did not, however, seek the presidency nor was he selected as a running mate by any of the presidential candidates.

[Alexander]

33. True. He was not.

[iandhr]

5. There are many things you can say about

Bloomberg,

However he stands up to the NRA and the gun nuts. I have to give him props.

[X_Digger]

6. Forgive the vulgarity, but..

..he's pissing up a rope if he thinks he can make private sales illegal in Virginia.

[NikolaC]

30. It Will Be A Tough Sell Here

Considering the fact that the NRA has home offices here. I agree with him on this issue and wish him luck with the ads, but it's gonna be tough.

[Stump]

7. Not in VA...

What a waste of time and money...

[walkaway]

9. Maybe not today but someday. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

11. Firearms from VA are the weapons of choice for crime in NY and Ontario. nt

[SkyDaddy7]

16. I am one of those so-called gun nuts

However, I think the gun show loophole should be closed. Other than that there should be enfocement of the laws already out there. I just hope Obama stays out of the gun mess until his second term or at least until he gets healthcare energy and education reform done.

Did anyone see 60minutes Sunday night?

Even Dianne Feinstein said the timing is not now. I was so happy to hear her say that!

[SkyDaddy7]

18. Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zOUoQpeVk

[TheWraith]

21. The "gun show loophole."

The complaints is that private sellers at gun shows aren't required to perform background checks. But the fact is that private sellers aren't required to perform background checks anywhere, because they don't have access to the NICS system. Gun dealers are required to perform background checks no matter where they are, at a gun show or not. And if you're acting as a dealer at a gun show without a Federal Firearms License, you're begging for a world of hurt.

The "gun show loophole" is largely a myth. Studies have shown only around 1% of all firearms used in crimes are obtained through gun shows.

[Captain Hilts]

24. I have a rifle. Handguns are nothing but trouble. nt

[slackmaster]

37. Regulating private sales at gun shows would have two perfectly predictable unintended consequences

1. An increase in private sales that happen in private (through newspaper ads, etc.)

2. A proliferation of public events that don't quite fit whatever definition of "gun show" the law uses.

[w4rma]

35. Bloomburg is trying to help the Republican win. (nt)

[Zorra]

39. Bingo. Good call. n/t

[Gin]

43. New Logo.......Virginia is for "GUN" lovers

[virginia mountainman]

45. What an asshole...

He is the kiss of death, to the candidates he supports because of Gun Control...

[Blue_Tires]

46. DUMB

i truly wonder which side he's on...