SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg looks on during the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center on February 25, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
'I Bough...--I, I Got Them': Bloomberg Almost Admits to Buying Members of Congress
"When people show you who they are..."
Feb 25, 2020
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg almost said during the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina Tuesday night that he "bought" the 21 freshman members of Congress he financially supported in the 2018 midterm elections.
"Let's just go on the record. They talk about 40 Democrats," Bloomberg said, referring to the number of House seats Democrats gained in 2018. "Twenty-one of those are people that I spent a hundred million dollars to help elect. All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president, I bough...--I, I got them."
Critics seized upon Bloomberg's "Freudian slip" as evidence of the billionaire's outsized influence on the U.S. political process and belief that he has control over the politicians who take his money. The former New York City mayor has already spent more than $400 million of his personal wealth on advertising thus far in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
"When people show you who they are..." tweeted TIME editor-at-large Anand Giridharadas.
Watch:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who was elected to the House in 2018, wrote in response to Bloomberg's remarks, "Let the record reflect you did not and cannot buy my seat."
"We prefer our politicians unbought," added the youth-led Sunrise Movement, which endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg almost said during the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina Tuesday night that he "bought" the 21 freshman members of Congress he financially supported in the 2018 midterm elections.
"Let's just go on the record. They talk about 40 Democrats," Bloomberg said, referring to the number of House seats Democrats gained in 2018. "Twenty-one of those are people that I spent a hundred million dollars to help elect. All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president, I bough...--I, I got them."
Critics seized upon Bloomberg's "Freudian slip" as evidence of the billionaire's outsized influence on the U.S. political process and belief that he has control over the politicians who take his money. The former New York City mayor has already spent more than $400 million of his personal wealth on advertising thus far in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
"When people show you who they are..." tweeted TIME editor-at-large Anand Giridharadas.
Watch:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who was elected to the House in 2018, wrote in response to Bloomberg's remarks, "Let the record reflect you did not and cannot buy my seat."
"We prefer our politicians unbought," added the youth-led Sunrise Movement, which endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president.
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg almost said during the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina Tuesday night that he "bought" the 21 freshman members of Congress he financially supported in the 2018 midterm elections.
"Let's just go on the record. They talk about 40 Democrats," Bloomberg said, referring to the number of House seats Democrats gained in 2018. "Twenty-one of those are people that I spent a hundred million dollars to help elect. All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president, I bough...--I, I got them."
Critics seized upon Bloomberg's "Freudian slip" as evidence of the billionaire's outsized influence on the U.S. political process and belief that he has control over the politicians who take his money. The former New York City mayor has already spent more than $400 million of his personal wealth on advertising thus far in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
"When people show you who they are..." tweeted TIME editor-at-large Anand Giridharadas.
Watch:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who was elected to the House in 2018, wrote in response to Bloomberg's remarks, "Let the record reflect you did not and cannot buy my seat."
"We prefer our politicians unbought," added the youth-led Sunrise Movement, which endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy