I don’t consider it any better (really) when Michael Bloomberg spends his money on something I support than when Sheldon Adelson or the Koch Brothers spend money on things I don’t support. So, reading Kos’s crowing about Robin Kelly’s magnificent victory in today’s special election made me feel somewhat ambivalent. Kos has a right to take credit. His community was a real difference maker in that primary, at one point making up 85% of Kelly’s donors. But when he says “I can’t wait to see what we, our progressive allies, and Bloomberg’s Super PAC can accomplish next year,” it makes me cringe.
This special election was held to fill the seat vacated by the disgraced Jesse Jackson Jr., and it turned on the candidates’ records on gun violence. I support stronger restrictions on gun ownership and ammunition, so I am 100% behind Robin Kelly and am excited about her victory. I am very happy that the NRA got smoked tonight. As far as I am concerned, that organization has transformed itself into some kind of Hale-Bopp death cult. In fact, I am considering sending Wayne LaPierre (at my own expense) one five-dollar bill with three 25 cent pieces, a black shirt and sweat pants, and one pair of vintage black-and-white Nike athletic shoes. He can secure his own arsenic and cyanide.
But I don’t like making common cause with Bloomberg even if he is right on this issue. There are a lot of things that Bloomberg is wrong about, and there is an important principle involved here. Billionaires shouldn’t be able to throw their money around our political system and decide who wins and loses elections. So, fuck Bloomberg’s Super PAC. I hope Kos understands what I am saying here. You want to fight on the same side with Bloomberg on this issue? Fine. But please don’t forget to point out that what Bloomberg is doing should be highly illegal and carry a long prison term.
