Bloomberg super PAC supports gun control, gay rights

After three terms in office, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has found a new way to influence American politics: He's using his vast wealth to fund a super PAC.

Bloomberg announced the move on his website today. He indicated that the super PAC will support candidates at various levels of government, including local and state candidates, as well as issue-based campaigns. The super PAC -- called Independence USA PAC, according to the New York Times -- will focus on issues like gun control, education reform and gay rights.

The new organization will launch an eight-figure spending campaign supporting moderates on both sides of the aisle, as well as independents, over the next three weeks before Election Day. The Times reports the PAC will support former Maine Gov. Angus King, an independent running for Senate; Rep. Bob Dold, a Republican from Illinois who backs gun control measures; and California State Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, who is challenging a fellow Democrat, Rep. Joe Baca.

"It's critically important that we have elected officials in Washington, Albany, and around the nation who are willing to work across party lines to achieve real results," Bloomberg said said in a statement. "I've always believed in the need for more independent leadership, and this new effort will support candidates and causes that will help protect Americans from the scourge of gun violence, improve our schools, and advance our freedoms."

Bloomberg has a history of supporting moderate candidates and recently helped bankroll a $500,000 ad campaign to support King in the Maine Senate race.

With a net worth of $25 billion, Bloomberg joins the ranks of billionaires financing super PACs, groups that can spend unlimited amounts of money to support a political campaign so long as they do not coordinate with the campaign.

[wesleym58]

It is not an issue of ethics. It is a question of constitutional law and the Supremacy Clause. Philosophically man has a dual nature, i.e. good and evil. But in truth, and historically, he has been more evil than good. Suggesting that laws do not change human behavior per se. If you take guns away from the people they will eventually find other methods to do evil to their fellow man. This is the way-of-the-world and always has been....

[BigMykul]

Isn't this the same guy who banned sodas over a certain size in his city?

[ModerateRep1]

Who cares? Bloomburg isn't interested in anyone's rights. He only has a narcissistic desire to get his name out there, regardless of what idiotic means it takes.

[SJames6621]

looking around at majy major blogs, there is nothing but absolutely ruthless hate against usually democrats / Obama. Much of itr tinged with deliberate racism

This is a good step in the right direction. As our Methodist pastor said last week in Church, America is beginning to look like what he's read about nazi germany in the 1920s, combined with the racism of eg Gov Faubus who said segregation now, segregation forever.

The tea party is tgtally out of touch with American falues - respect, fairness, sharing etc.

[seabass6251]

You're kidding, right?

[wesleym58]

Mayor Bloomberg is off his rocker. Such political initiatives are oligarchical and dictatorial in nature. It is true money rules Capitol Hill, but not so, at least, in most cases, where the rights of man are threatened, when it comes to the masses. Gun advocates will fight such
out-of-touch political proposals. Moreover, the Second Amendment in constitutional terms and according to the text in the amendment of the U.S. Constitution, "Can't be infringed by anyone," and that includes both the state, under the Tenth Amendment, and federal governments. The former Mayor needs to read the several U.S. Supreme Court cases that covers this issue which I am sure he knows very well.

www.globalbabbler.com

[seabass6251]

Yes