Michael Bloomberg's Surveillance Of Muslims Sets Dangerous Precedent For His Presidential Run

[totodeinhere]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michael-bloomberg-muslim-surveillance-nypd_n_5df40e1de4b03aed50ee4685

Then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg approved and oversaw the program, saying it is what he “expected” the NYPD to do. He staunchly defended the surveillance when it was exposed and widely condemned.

Now that Bloomberg is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, Muslims like Dandia find this old wound reopened. Many are not only skeptical of Bloomberg as a candidate but also fear the possibility that his rise could lead to more policies that target Muslims at the national level. They point to the fact that Donald Trump praised the NYPD program as a presidential candidate, then took office and signed into law a travel ban that targets several Muslim-majority countries.

So it's not just stop and frisk.

[left-of-center2012]

1. Oh my - another attack on Bloomberg

He's scaring the crap out of other candidates.

[redstateblues]

6. The BS folks are very nervous about Bloomberg

[zackymilly]

10. So is trump. nt

[totodeinhere]

9. What about the substance of this article? What do you think of his support for

this surveillance program. Is this a legitimate topic for discussion? Do you support vetting our candidates?

[democrattotheend]

11. Why is he above being vetted?

The other candidates have been in this for months, they've debated each other and done media interviews where they've had to answer questions about their record. I am not in favor of any candidate being able to waltz in at the last minute and skip the vetting process by relying on paid media they control. I think that would be a dangerous precedent. Bloomberg is the newcomer and he hasn't had to do debates or free media (such as interviews) yet, so I think it's perfectly fair to vet him ourselves as potential voters. He deserves scrutiny of his record just like every other candidate.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. It's called vetting.

[Kurt V.]

30. he is scaring the crap out of me. will all future presidents need to be billionaires?

they have significant differences in ideals from the * real existing* which the rest of us live in.

[Happyhippychick]

2. Bloomberg has made a pledge not to say anything disparaging about fellow Democrats, but to attack

Trump instead. it would be great if you could follow suit. Thanks so much.

[totodeinhere]

13. But what if a candidate has done things like this that deserve to be disparaged?

Is it alright to vet our candidates or is it not? Or should we just sweep everything under the rug?

[Happyhippychick]

17. Is it that hard to just say positive things about your candidate without disparaging another?

If you're enthusiastic about your person, great! Tell us all the things that are wonderful about him or her. There's no need to cut anyone else down.

[totodeinhere]

19. No, there is a need. Issues matter. We should not elect just anybody. If a candidate has performed

badly in the past we need to know about it. All candidates need to be vetted. And my candidate, Bernie, has received plenty of vetting here at DU, and I'm fine with that.

[Happyhippychick]

20. So "vetting" is "trashing"?

Got it.

[Kaleva]

21. What stands on issues that Sanders has taken that you disagree with?

Or do you just sweep everything under the rug as far as he is concerned?

[totodeinhere]

23. I disagree with some of his past positions on gun control and I have always said so.

But of course I generally agree with him and that's why I'm supporting him. Plus he isn't racist piece of shit and that helps a lot.

[uponit7771]

45. Truth isn't disparaging, I would like to know this NOW ... Bloomberg has a race issue

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. I heard he tore the tag off a pillow once.

Even if it was purchased from the My Pillow guy, he's doomed now.

Adios, Mike.

[uponit7771]

46. Condemned surveying of Muslim communities is the same as tearing pillow tags ...

... yeah, OK

[George II]

4. I read over the weekend that he left the toilet seat up in a bathroom at Gracie Mansion.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Shhhhh!

Do you want to disrupt an ongoing investigation?

[Lordquinton]

25. Equating operssing minorities to leaving the toilet seat up

You do realize his positions as the Republican mayor of NY destroyed countless lives.

[uponit7771]

47. Religious oppression is the same as leaving the toilet seat up, what next lynching

... is the same as tickling people ?!

Bloomberg isn't worth it

[left-of-center2012]

7. Pssst?

I heard Bloomberg once wore navy blue socks with a black suit.

[George II]

16. At least Bloomberg never stooped to this:

[catbyte]

28. Or asking for Dijon mustard on his burger. The horror!

[Lordquinton]

26. Don't tell anyone...

But I heard he had the NYPD stop young black men and search them with no cause and destroyed their lives so he could look tough on crime.

But you're right, the blue socks with black suit? Much worse.

[sarisataka]

14. I have to disagree with one point

I think he plans to win the nomination outright with his media blitz that no other candidate can match.

Plan B is a brokered convention where either he plays king maker or seeks the nomination with a billion dollar carrot and stick

[katmondoo]

15. You can predict a Sanders voter from what they say in their post.

[George II]

18. Bloomberg has been a Democrat far longer than your candidate has.

He was a Democrat for about 40 years before he switched in 2001. He remained a republican for less than six years, then went independent until 2018 and has been a Democrat ever since.

Plus, there are 57 primaries/caucuses. He's skipping four, and is participating in the remaining 53.

[NurseJackie]

38. I know, right???!!!

At least Bloomberg isn't fickle and he sticks with his commitment. Personally, I can't trust a candidate who plays the peek-a-boo games with their party affiliation. I have higher standards. I demand more.

[ehrnst]

44. +1000.

[melman]

22. Wow what a thread

Some folks are really showing themselves on this one.


Equating mass surveillance of Muslims with trivial things like toilet seats and pillow cases? Wow.

[Lordquinton]

27. Yep.

Wish I could say I was surprised.

[ehrnst]

43. I'm sorry this disturbs you so

much that you are attacking straw men again.

I truly hope you can find a way to deal with it. I wish you luck.

[uponit7771]

48. +1, Looks like the usual defend the cops no matter what crowd too

[Go Vols]

24. Audio of @MikeBloomberg 's 2015 @AspenInstitute speech,

where he explains that “you can just Xerox (copy)” the description of male, minorities 16-25 and hand to cops.

Link to tweet

?s=21

[ForEverGlades]

40. Bloomberg: "Throw'em up against the wall"

Wow--truly unreal.
Open advocacy of racial profiling and harassment of minorities.
What's worse is that some on this thread seem to want to brush this under the rug.
It's outrageous--talk about the need to vet candidates.
Holy Crap!!
Bloomberg's the poster boy for that!
Really thought Democratic candidates would be above this kind of bias.

[Kurt V.]

29. Democracy is being subverted before our very eyes. Bloomberg's an interloper and is not

the antithesis but a continuation of trump.

[Steelrolled]

31. There is not a lot of info in the article.

The one example case given was not good, but that was it. Unless there is a lot more to this I don't think it will hurt him.

[UniteFightBack]

33. Hmmm the guy who did whatever this is saying or the guy with the Muslim ban etc...hmmmm. nt

[tonedevil]

34. How about neither. /nt

[UniteFightBack]

36. You watch it will be Bloomberg vs. dump. Biden wasn't 'good enough' for Democrat loyalty then you

gonna get Bloomberg.

[tonedevil]

37. It's entirely possible...

but at this point far from inevitable. At any point far from desirable.

[totodeinhere]

39. I would not count out Biden just yet.

let’s give him a chance to compete in Nevada and South Carolina and see what happens. I support Bernie but I respect Joe very much and we could do far worse than him as our nominee. and I would take Joe 1 million times over Bloomberg.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. Oh lordy, let the trashing begin.

[HarlanPepper]

41. And FDR put American citizens in cages.

Yet all I hear about him is praise from Sanders supporters. But hey it was 80 years ago so it doesn’t count.

[totodeinhere]

42. If FDR were running for president now I'm sure that would be an issue.

But since we have a racist billionaire in the White House right now we surely don’t need to elect another one, especially since there are alternatives.