This dog pointed out that Democrats aren’t inclined to embrace a rich guy for President…
Mike Bloomberg has more money then Trump , Steyer and most of us combined…
He has a reported 800 campaign staffers…
He won’t be in the debates….
He was a Republican mayor of New York City for 12 years….
Folks?
Some Democrats are afraid of ‘Money Mike’ buying the Democratic nomination ….
Mike Bloomberg is starting to take heat from Democratic rivals for running an imperial campaign: Using his personal fortune to finance an infinite stream of TV ads while refusing to engage his opponents and defend his record on a live debate stage.
To that he says: Too bad.
At a campaign stop here, the former New York mayor said he has no intention of trying to qualify for upcoming debates — even though he almost certainly could participate if he wanted to. It was his most definitive statement to date on a stance that has rankled his opponents, who chafe at his limitless war chest and feel he should have to endure the rigors of campaigning they do.
Bloomberg insisted he’d like to debate if the rules allowed. But the billionaire, a latecomer to the Democratic primary, reasoned it is inappropriate for someone of his wealth to ask supporters for cash.
“It’s up to the Democratic Party. They have a rule that you cannot participate in the debates unless you have a few hundred thousand donors,” he told POLITICO after the campaign event Tuesday. “I don’t take any money from anybody else. I fund my campaign myself.”
Accepting money, he added, would undermine his independence. “I listen to people, but I don’t let people buy me,” he said.
The Democratic National Committee has gradually increased its debate thresholds, with the goal of removing candidates with little or no chance of winning the nomination. To get into next week’s faceoff in Iowa, candidates need 225,000 donors and at least 5 percent support in four DNC-approved polls.
Bloomberg has satisfied the polling requirement but not the donor one. He could likely get there by spending millions on Facebook ads seeking $1 or $2 donations — a tack fellow billionaire Tom Steyer has taken.
But Bloomberg won’t do it — and his Democratic competitors are calling him out.
“When you have that much money, you have incredible power that comes with it. With that power, you’re able to shape the outcomes to tilt to your advantage,” Faiz Shakir, campaign manager for Bernie Sanders, said in an interview.
“And that’s what he’s trying to do with this election, is say: ‘I’m going to swoop in late. I’m not going to do grassroots campaigning. I’m not going to come to these debates. I’m not going to do town halls. I’m not going to answer questions. What I am going to do is try to buy this damn thing,’” Shakir added….
image…People.Com
He declared himself an “Independent” long before he finished his time as Mayor.
If Sanders is “not a Democrat”, despite being elected under the party label, then Bloomberg was “not a Republican” during all his time as Mayor.
No Joy CG….
Mike Bloomberg rode with the Republicans…
Gave money.…
Was a REPUBLICAN….
He isn’t one now….
THAT is true…
He declared himself an Independent while holding office. You aren’t treating him with the same standard you set for Sanders.
Both Bloomberg and Sanders are Democrats. Both are liberals. One is far more mainstream than the other though.
The DNC debate rule is stupid as possible.
If someone has decided to self-fund and they meet the polling requirements, they ought to be allowed to debate.
DNC is doing fine in getting the race down to something reasonable ….
Ya plays the game?
Ya play by their rules….