Pro-impeachment billionaire Tom Steyer makes late entry into Democratic race

[DonViejo]

Source: NBC News



The California hedge funder, who considered running earlier this year but pulled back, now joins a crowded field of over 20 candidates.

July 9, 2019, 9:00 AM EDT
By Alex Seitz-Wald

WASHINGTON — Billionaire activist Tom Steyer declared his candidacy for the presidency on Tuesday in a video, reversing an earlier announcement several months ago that he intended to sit out the 2020 Democratic primary race.

"The other Democratic candidates for president have many great ideas that will absolutely move our country forward, but we won’t be able to get any of those done until we end the hostile corporate takeover of our democracy," Steyer said in a statement released alongside his announcement video. "As an outsider, I’ve led grassroots efforts that have taken on big corporations and won results for people. That’s not something you see a lot of from Washington these days. That’s why I’m running for president."

While he is not well known and the candidate field is already overstuffed with two dozen candidates, Steyer's money could give him an edge, as could the extensive email list of 8.3 million names compiled by a group he founded to push for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/pro-impeachment-billionaire-tom-steyer-makes-late-entry-democratic-race-n1027626

[PoliticAverse]

1. Associated Press story on his entry...

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/billionaire-tom-steyer-announces-he-is-running-for-president

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Steyer, the billionaire investor and activist, said Tuesday he’s joining the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, reversing course after deciding earlier this year that he would forgo a run.

Steyer, 62, is one of the most visible and deep-pocketed liberals advocating for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. He surprised many Democrats in January when he traveled to Iowa, home to the nation’s first presidential caucus, to declare that he would focus entirely on the impeachment effort instead of seeking the White House.

Since then, Steyer, of California, has said he’s grown frustrated at the pace at which the Democratic-controlled House is approaching Trump. Roughly half of the Democratic presidential contenders, seeking to appeal to the party’s progressive base, have called on House Democrats to start an impeachment inquiry. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi has resisted, warning that Democrats need to collect the facts and that a rush to impeachment could ultimately help Trump politically.

[hlthe2b]

2. So much for winnowing the field... Here we go

[brooklynite]

3. His 4 minute intro says absolutely nothing about HOW he would "fight the corporations"...

[MBS]

5. ridiculous and self-indulgent.

Please make this stop.

[Maeve]

6. And I just unsubscribed to his e-mails

Sorry, don't need another billionaire turned politician.

[dhill926]

7. after he doesn't get the nomination...

I sure hope he continues to pump his money into Democratic coffers...

[Thekaspervote]

10. I don't support a presidential run by him, but he has given a lot of money to Dems and I think

IMHO he will continue.

[StevieM]

11. Congratulations on 3,000 posts!! (eom)

[BlueIdaho]

8. Oh good, another self important multi-millionaire

That thinks he alone can fix things...

Go home Tom.

[Igel]

9. That describes many.

Most?

And if you're not wealthy before you run for office, it only takes a few years of public service for either you to rake in millions, or for the prestige and assumed access to allow your spouse to rake in millions.

[StevieM]

12. It isn't fair to lash out at Tom for the things Donald Trump said and did.

He should be judged on his own merits.

Being wealthy should not entitle him to the nomination--nor should it disqualify him. FDR and JFK both had money too, and they were great presidents IMO.

Tom Steyer does not think that he alone can fix things. He thinks that he has something to offer that the voters might be looking for. Entering the race will give them an opportunity to assess him as a candidate.

He should not go home. He should campaign for president and let the American people decide which candidate they want to nominate.

[IronLionZion]

13. Good that he didn't run as an independent like the Starbucks dude

Can't help notice the irony of a billionaire fighting against the "hostile corporate takeover of our democracy". But Steyer is better than most billionaires and has done some good stuff.

He'll of course get hit on conflict of interest since he profits from investments in industries that he wants policy and regulatory action on.

[stuffmatters]

15. My initial reaction too. A Third Party candidate could really screw Dems' pooch in Nov 2020..

[PSPS]

14. Geesh. Haven't we had enough of these morons? Run for & win a lesser office first to learn something

I guess it's the "in" thing for under-taxed billionaires to do these days. Truly the parasite class.

[BigmanPigman]

16. I am undecided about this.

I really respect him for putting so much time and money i to impeaching the moron. I want him to keep that up. If he thinks running for POTUS will speed up the impeachment process somehow I will wait and see.

[norman_tonne]

17. Not the last

Am pretty sure he won't be the last billionaire to join in the race - am sure the Bloombergs, Cubans and Schultzes are observing and checking the water temperature before dipping in.