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Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A.
nyt ^ | April 15, 2014 | Jeremy W. Peters

Posted on 04/15/2014 7:48:01 PM PDT by re_tail20

Michael R. Bloomberg, making his first major political investment since leaving office, plans to spend $50 million this year building a nationwide grass-roots network to motivate voters who feel strongly about curbing gun violence, an organization he hopes can eventually outmuscle the National Rifle Association.

Mr. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, said gun control advocates need to learn from the N.R.A. and punish those politicians who fail to support their agenda — even Democrats whose positions otherwise align with his own.

“They say, ‘We don’t care. We’re going to go after you,’ ” he said of the N.R.A. “ ‘If you don’t vote with us we’re going to go after your kids and your grandkids and your great-grandkids. And we’re never going to stop.’ ”

He added: “We’ve got to make them afraid of us.”

The considerable advantages that gun rights advocates enjoy — in intensity, organization and political clout — will not be easy to overcome. Indeed, Mr. Bloomberg has already spent millions of dollars trying to persuade members of Congress to support enhanced background check laws with virtually nothing to show for it.

What is more, for many gun owners, the issue is a deeply personal one that energizes them politically, said Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, who dismissed the mayor’s plans.

“He’s got the money to waste,” Mr. Pratt said. “So I guess he’s free to do so. But frankly, I think he’s going to find out why his side keeps losing.”

The N.R.A. had no comment.

Mr. Bloomberg’s blueprint reimagines the way gun control advocates have traditionally confronted the issue. Rather than relying so heavily on television ad campaigns, Mr. Bloomberg will put a large portion of his resources into the often-unseen field operations that have been effective for groups...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bloomberg
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1 posted on 04/15/2014 7:48:01 PM PDT by re_tail20
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To: re_tail20

End Paragraph

But if he senses that he may not have as much time left as he would like, he has little doubt about what would await him at a Judgment Day. Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin: “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.”


2 posted on 04/15/2014 7:49:09 PM PDT by re_tail20
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To: re_tail20

Disarming people will cause more violence


3 posted on 04/15/2014 7:50:31 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: re_tail20

50 million of Bloomberg’s dollars won’t come close to countering a few minutes of video of armed BLM thugs threatening to gun down American citizens on behalf of Harry Reid last weekend.

Go ahead pal, waste all the money you want. Your side has already lost the PR war.


4 posted on 04/15/2014 7:52:24 PM PDT by Junk Silver
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To: re_tail20

Wow, no arrogance there, (sarcasm)

So, if there is a God, IF, then Bloomberg knows he’s going right in.

Why didn’t he mention his support of homosexual marriage as one of the keys to his admittance to heaven? Why only mention smoking and guns and obesity?

Will God give him a pass because he wanted to ban big gulps? Really????


5 posted on 04/15/2014 7:53:30 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego (Im)
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To: re_tail20

Bump


6 posted on 04/15/2014 7:54:00 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Resist in place.)
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To: re_tail20
Gee, when people gathered together to create the Tea Party Movement, it was called "astroturf."

When Bloomberg spends $50 million, it's "grass roots."

Go figure.

7 posted on 04/15/2014 7:54:26 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: re_tail20

What a joke Bloombutt is. $50 million wouldn’t be a pimple on the NRA ....face.


8 posted on 04/15/2014 7:55:46 PM PDT by SADMILLIE
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To: re_tail20
What an arrogant statement!!! IF there is a God, I'M NOT stopping. I've EARNED my place....

Just WOW. I guess he never heard the one about the rich man going through the eye of the needle before he'd get into heaven.

9 posted on 04/15/2014 7:56:46 PM PDT by Aria ( 2008 & 2012 weren't elections - they were coup d'etats.)
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To: re_tail20

I remember reading something about rich men, camels and needles once.


10 posted on 04/15/2014 7:59:40 PM PDT by jospehm20
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To: re_tail20

Is he going to give up his security and home defense? HUH???


11 posted on 04/15/2014 8:00:05 PM PDT by goodnesswins (R.I.P. Doherty, Smith, Stevens, Woods.)
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To: re_tail20

NRA members feel more strongly about stopping violence than most of the gun grabber types.


12 posted on 04/15/2014 8:00:14 PM PDT by ObamahatesPACoal
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To: re_tail20

Good. Maybe he should start in Chi-Congo.


13 posted on 04/15/2014 8:02:50 PM PDT by SkyDancer (I Believe In The Law Until It Intereferes With Justice. And Pay Your Liberty Tax Citizen.)
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To: re_tail20

Bloomberg’s giving $50 million to the NRA?


14 posted on 04/15/2014 8:02:58 PM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: re_tail20

Maybe Bloomie could get the Brady Bunch to kick in some cash.


15 posted on 04/15/2014 8:06:28 PM PDT by umgud
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To: re_tail20

Good news. He does not have to wait to be interviewed. He won’t be going to heaven.


16 posted on 04/15/2014 8:06:30 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: GeronL

I think that most of the law abiding citizens in Americas largest inner city communities would agree.


17 posted on 04/15/2014 8:06:48 PM PDT by doc1019
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To: re_tail20

A fool and his money


18 posted on 04/15/2014 8:09:24 PM PDT by Rome2000
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To: re_tail20

where are the libtards decrying evil billionaires using their wealth to influence politics?

/sarc /hypocrites


19 posted on 04/15/2014 8:10:16 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Junk Silver

After recent events I wouldn’t place my bets if I were you, Mr. Bloomberg. I think people were awakened as to the very reason we need our weapons.


20 posted on 04/15/2014 8:10:20 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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