Everything about Michael Bloomberg’s run for the presidency annoyed me, including the incredible amount of money he was willing to burn in the process. When he dropped out and promised to spend a gajillion dollars to help defeat Trump, I took him at his word even if I’d prefer that billionaires be restricted from translating their fortunes into naked exercises of political power. As long as Sheldon Adelson can spend as much as he wants on Trump, Bloomberg can feel free to do the same for Biden. Yet, the money never materialized and I began to wonder if Bloomberg had welshed on his promise just like he welshed on the workers he hired for his candidacy.
Now I feel a little stupid because it turns out that Bloomberg has been focusing his efforts on the COVID-19 problem rather than the presidential campaign, and that’s certainly a worthy and justifiable change of plans.
About two weeks after his concession speech, Bloomberg abruptly dropped plans to create his own Super PAC and laid off hundreds of staffers who’d been promised jobs through November. Several of them filed lawsuits.
Instead, Bloomberg donated $18 million and office space to the Democratic National Committee. He’s also given more than $11 million to the House Majority PAC in support of House Democrats. And his gun reform group, Everytown for Gun Safety, announced last week it was spending $15 million in eight key states, but mostly on legislative races.
Mostly, Bloomberg has been spending his energy — and money — on the COVID-19 response. Bloomberg Philanthropies has spent $331 million on the effort. Bloomberg’s support of New York’s contact tracing program earned him praise from local officials, even longtime antagonist Mayor de Blasio.
“Really appreciate that my predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, is stepping up in such a big way for New York City and New York State,” de Blasio said in April.
Ideally, our government would adequately fund contact tracing without the need for billionaire charity, but I’m glad Bloomberg stepped up to fill the void. Still, I wonder if he’ll ever get around to keeping his promise to spend heavily on beating Trump.
This is like paying for a turbocharger on a car without guaranteeing the engine functions. Seems to me that it is worth minimizing the risk of the latter to guarantee the benefits of the former.
Not sure the term “welshed” is a great one to use anymore. Seems in the realm of “gypped,” since it’s based on an old stereotype too.
Glad to hear he’s helping my state.
Wish he’d unleash some ads in swing states. Early voting starts soon.
Let’s be clear. Covid is here, and it isn’t going anywhere. Wear a mask, social distance, take care of yourself.
If Bloomberg wants to get the best bang for his buck, he needs to be dumping a billion dollars into getting the electorate out to vote. Voter contact to ensure everyone is registered. Voter contact to determine early voting dates and times. Transportation to early voting sites. Transportation to election day sites.
Trump has made clear that he intends to use all of his power to interfere with the election. The only counter we have is to dump money into getting voters registered and their votes turned in to be counted.