Bloomberg buffeted by recording of him discussing crime, minorities

[webfact]

Bloomberg buffeted by recording of him discussing crime, minorities

By Jason Lange

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg visits the Dollarhide Community Center for a campaign event in Compton, California, U.S. February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, rising in public opinion polls in recent weeks, found himself on the defensive on Tuesday over newly surfaced remarks from 2015 in which he said 95% of murderers and murder victims were minorities.

 

The remarks ricocheted across social media after U.S. President Donald Trump posted an audio recording on Twitter, a sign Bloomberg faces greater scrutiny as he seeks the Democratic nomination for November's election.

 

Bloomberg has long struggled with the legacy of the "stop-and-frisk" policing policy he used as mayor of New York, which encouraged police to stop and search pedestrians and ensnared disproportionate numbers of blacks and Latinos.

 

For years after his 2002-2013 mayorship, Bloomberg defended the tactic as an effective way to save lives, only to apologise for it a few days before announcing his candidacy in November.

 

The recording that circulated on Tuesday included especially blunt language. Bloomberg is heard saying police need to be where the crime is, "which means in minority neighbourhoods."

 

"95% of your murders - murderers and murder victims - fit one M.O.," Bloomberg said. "You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male; minorities 16 to 25."

 

"The way you get the guns out of the kids' hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them," Bloomberg said in the recording.

 

New York police data shows close to 95% of victims and suspects in murder cases were minorities in 2015.

 

'I HAVE APOLOGISED'

"WOW, BLOOMBERG IS A TOTAL RACIST!" Trump wrote in a later-deleted tweet despite having endorsed the stop-and-frisk policy himself.

 

Tom Steyer, another Democratic presidential hopeful, said Bloomberg's comments were "deeply disturbing" and Symone Sanders, an adviser to Joe Biden's campaign, told Fox News the remarks were "sad and despicable."

 

African-American voters are expected to make up about a quarter of Democratic voters in the race to represent the party in the 2020 vote.

 

Bloomberg has gone to great pains to court the black vote, including a proposal unveiled last month to narrow the wealth gap between black and white Americans.

 

On Tuesday, he restated his apology over stop-and-frisk, saying he had reduced its use by 95% by the time he left office.

 

"I should have done it faster and sooner. I regret that and I have apologised," Bloomberg said. "I have taken responsibility for taking too long to understand the impact it had on black and Latino communities."

 

Bloomberg is not competing in the first four Democratic nomination contests but is mounting an expensive nationwide campaign ahead of the March primaries. He has risen in public opinion polls while spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television advertisements.

 

Some Trump advisers have privately expressed concern about Bloomberg as a potential threat to Trump's re-election because of his ability to spend massively from his personal fortune.

 

A spokesman for Trump's election campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the president's support for stop-and-frisk and why Trump deleted the tweet. The White House declined comment on why Trump deleted the tweet.

 

Trump caused controversy in 2017 when he said there were "fine people" on both sides of a deadly conflict at a white nationalist rally in Virginia that was disrupted by counter-protesters.

 

(Reporting by Jason Lange in Washington; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Howard Goller)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-12

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[simon43]

"95% of your murders - murderers and murder victims - fit one M.O.," Bloomberg said. "You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male; minorities 16 to 25."

 

Well, if that records show that the 95% is correct, then what's wrong with stating a fact?  Oh wait, it might offend the snowflakes.....

[Cryingdick]

"New York police data shows close to 95% of victims and suspects in murder cases were minorities in 2015."

 

[bkk6060]

35 minutes ago, simon43 said:

 

 

 

Well, if that records show that the 95% is correct, then what's wrong with stating a fact?  Oh wait, it might offend the snowflakes.....

Your comment makes no sense if in fact you have a clue as to who you are talking about.

 

 Snowflake as a politicized insult is typically used by those on the political right to insult those on the political left. 

 

You do realize Bloomberg is a liberal?

[Cryingdick]

11 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Your comment makes no sense if in fact you have a clue as to who you are talking about.

 

 Snowflake as a politicized insult is typically used by those on the political right to insult those on the political left. 

 

You do realize Bloomberg is a liberal?

 

The fact that a liberal said these things is why the snowflakes are outraged. Of course if a republican said it they would also be outraged but in this case Bloomberg is pretending to be woke. He might do well to check his white privilege and figure out what flavor Kool Aid he is dabbling in.

 

Do you get it?

Edited February 12, 2020 by Cryingdick

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

he said 95% of murderers and murder victims were minorities.

Sounds about right to me.

[Chomper Higgot]

There’s only one thing you need to know about Bloomberg.

 

Regardless of how his candidacy goes, he’s putting his money into getting rid of Trump.

 

 

[Matzzon]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, rising in public opinion polls in recent weeks, found himself on the defensive on Tuesday over newly surfaced remarks from 2015 in which he said 95% of murderers and murder victims were minorities.

And what´s wrong with delivering the facts? Oh yes! I forgot. The people in US want a lying piece of 5hit for the next president too. Hard to not follow tradition, I guess.

[Ramen087]

46 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

And what´s wrong with delivering the facts? Oh yes! I forgot. The people in US want a lying piece of 5hit for the next president too. Hard to not follow tradition, I guess.

Yet another Thai visa forum member who knows what three hundred million plus people in a country of 3.75 million square miles wants... mind boggling.

[Nyezhov]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Sounds about right to me.

The inability to call life as it is kills more folks than all the AR-15s in the USA. Im sure the decent hardworking folks in crappy neighborhoods would love some stop and frisk to make their communties safe.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

The inability to call life as it is kills more folks than all the AR-15s in the USA. Im sure the decent hardworking folks in crappy neighborhoods would love some stop and frisk to make their communties safe.

Decent hard working people would probably like small-time criminals all shot in the head.

Petty crime is a huge, life altering problem in the western world, but almost non-existent in Thailand.

[Nyezhov]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Decent hard working people would probably like small-time criminals all shot in the head.

Petty crime is a huge, life altering problem in the western world, but almost non-existent in Thailand.

Not much here in Siem either. I guess the locals dont like petty theiving, nothing like a community beat down to keep the streets safe.

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, Ramen087 said:

Yet another Thai visa forum member who knows what three hundred million plus people in a country of 3.75 million square miles wants... mind boggling.

Hmmm. Not 100% sure. However, if you look back in the near history the last 10-15 years, it surely od look like I am not far from the truth. 

[Nyezhov]

2 hours ago, Matzzon said:

And what´s wrong with delivering the facts? Oh yes! I forgot. The people in US want a lying piece of 5hit for the next president too. Hard to not follow tradition, I guess.

If by tradition you mean the old adage...How do you know when a politician isnt lying? He isnt talking....then you are spot on.

 

Show me the politician and I will show you the lie!

[blazes]

There you have a neat summing-up of our present civilization: you tell the truth and the Twitterati will tumble out in their hundreds of thousands to condemn you.

You, having told the truth, now say "sorry, I was a very bad boy for saying that, please forgive me and try to forget I ever said it when you go out to vote.  Sorry, sorry, sorry."  Hypocrisy reigns.  Lies dominate our culture.  Politicians have no shame.

 

Did I say "civilization"?  Sorry, I meant to say "$hitilization". 

Edited February 12, 2020 by blazes

[Jingthing]

Well, Bloomberg faces a very tough road to the democratic nomination but a much easier road to beat 45 if nominated. He is a politician. A very skilled and successful one at that. His stop and frisk thing from the past especially hurts him in his hopes to be nominated. So he did go on an apology tour about that. It's not great but from a purely political pov it's arguable that it made the most sense. If Bloomberg manages to be nominated, a big if, I have very little doubt that Bloomberg like any democrat will do very well against "birther" "wall" "Latino child separation" 45 among traditional democratic party minority group demographics. People can say that 45 wasn't a politician in 2016 and that was part of his appeal to many, but you can't say that about him anymore. 

[tomazbodner]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

"95% of your murders - murderers and murder victims - fit one M.O.," Bloomberg said. "You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male; minorities 16 to 25."

 

New York police data shows close to 95% of victims and suspects in murder cases were minorities in 2015.

So he stated the fact - that 95% of suspects and victims in murders were minorities, which is actual data from police. What's racist about stating the facts? It might have been racist had it not been true and just made up, like the tweets coming from a certain house that has white walls. Like "muslims celebrating in NYC when WTC collapsed"...

[jesimps]

If it is true and provable that 95 percent of murderers and victims are minorities, why apologise for saying so? Rhetorical question.

Edited February 12, 2020 by jesimps

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, jesimps said:

If it is true and provable that 95 percent of murderers and victims are minorities, why apologise for saying so? Rhetorical question.

True or not, Bloomberg is trying to get nominated in the democratic party where strong support from blacks and Latinos is required. No point in being naïve. 

 

This recording and probably others to come is damaging to Bloomberg but hardly fatal. People already knew his long record with stop and frisk so though rough and raw, it really shouldn't shock anyone. So worst case he might need to spend an extra billion to smooth things over.

Edited February 12, 2020 by Jingthing

[Tug]

Sorry trump supporters much ado about nothing especially compared to the devider troll in chief and here’s something to think about mikes gig is information it’s how he got were he is today what better person to expose all the lies smears and disinformation put out by trump the republicans and their foreign allies?hummm get her done mike!

[Jingthing]

Yeah but keep in mind whoever is nominated this is going to be the dirtiest campaign in history. If 45 loses and he leaves he's subject to indictment and prison. Talk about motivation! 

[ratcatcher]

10 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s only one thing you need to know about Bloomberg.

 

Regardless of how his candidacy goes, he’s putting his money into getting rid of Trump.

Good for Mr Bloomberg. If you've got it, use it.  

[Scott]

Numerous off-topic, inflammatory and derogatory posts removed.

 

[Jingthing]

Bloomberg is a very serious candidate. He wants to beat 45 more than anything in his life and this is a man that truly does get what he wants, again and again. He is massively more wealthy than 45 (I recently heard at least 100 times more) and unlike 45, he is a self made man (who worked as a parking attendant in his youth). 

Sure he has some political baggage from his past. What politician in his 70's doesn't? But as a successful three term mayor of the USA's largest and greatest city not to mention his legitimate business empire (as opposed to gaming bankruptcies, not paying contractors, fake universities, and branding instead of building). The contrast is amazingly stark and no wonder the person that 45 is most afraid to run against is -- MIKE BLOOMBERG.

 

To those who say African Americans won't vote for him -- phooey. Based on polling his support among African Americans is already strong and growing. 

 

 

[JHolmesJr]

On 2/12/2020 at 3:50 PM, Jingthing said:

Well, Bloomberg faces a very tough road to the democratic nomination but a much easier road to beat 45 if nominated. He is a politician. A very skilled and successful one at that.

 

Stop making pie in the sky.....skilled and successful...says who.

Yesterday some guy took a selfie with him and said "hey mike 

say stop and frisk"...and he ACTUALLY DID.

 

What a loser! He's finished now.

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

Stop making pie in the sky.....skilled and successful...says who.

Yesterday some guy took a selfie with him and said "hey mike 

say stop and frisk"...and he ACTUALLY DID.

 

What a loser! He's finished now.

He's not finished. That is your fantasy. Calling Bloomberg a loser is very low grade gaslighting. Bloomberg is as REAL a winner as is possible in REAL life. The current impeached president is "real" in the sense of reality t.v.

 

I understand. 45 and fans of 45 get it. Bloomberg is the biggest threat they face to a second term. For 45, losing this election likely means prison that is if he agrees to leave even after losing. The stakes couldn't be higher for the country and the future of American democracy. 

Edited February 14, 2020 by Jingthing

[Tug]

31 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

Stop making pie in the sky.....skilled and successful...says who.

Yesterday some guy took a selfie with him and said "hey mike 

say stop and frisk"...and he ACTUALLY DID.

 

What a loser! He's finished now.

True desperation lol imo mike is the perfect anti trump candidate mike is the real deal not a bilko artist like trump

[Jingthing]

On the question of who is best to win against 45 in a landslide, my heart says Amy and my head says Mike. It would be nice to have a choice that touches both, but either one will do nicely, thank you very much. Yes, Mike matches against 45 perfectly. The stark direct contrasts between decency and indecency can be made, again and again in the context of two New Yorkers. 

 

I really think it would be self destructive for the democrats to nominate anyone other Amy or Mike. Mayor Pete might be a third tier choice but significantly riskier with his super thin experience.

Edited February 14, 2020 by Jingthing

[JHolmesJr]

For all Bloombergs wealth he has the personality of a dishrag.

No vision to run on...just managed to not screw up after Giuliani cleaned up NYC.

No achievement platform like Trump...no support from critical swing groups.

Just a bunch of people who are desperately clinging to him so Bernie doesnt 

get elected. Wouldn't it be funny if Berne bros stayed home come nov 2020.

Or better still, voted for Trump. 4 more years easy.

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, JHolmesJr said:

For all Bloombergs wealth he has the personality of a dishrag.

No vision to run on...just managed to not screw up after Giuliani cleaned up NYC.

No achievement platform like Trump...no support from critical swing groups.

Just a bunch of people who are desperately clinging to him so Bernie doesnt 

get elected. Wouldn't it be funny if Berne bros stayed home come nov 2020.

Or better still, voted for Trump. 4 more years easy.

I think Bloomberg is broadcasting an excellent vision in his ad campaign. It's not about not wanting Bernie to be elected. It's about not wanting him to be nominated because that's who 45 wants to run against as it will be so easy to run "Venezuela" ads 24/7 against him and cream him.

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2020 by Jingthing