Parishioners are turning their backs on Bloomberg

[Peacetrain]

in Selma at church.. per MSNBC just now

[Squinch]

1. OK, then. There's that answer.

[PatSeg]

2. Money can't buy everything it would seem

[zackymilly]

43. It's enough people to make the news nationwide. n/t

[Bucky]

66. I don't hate Bloomberg

You shouldn't either. It's bad for you.

I'm pretty sure those 10 brave Congregants don't hate him. What they are doing they do out of love.

I just hate racism and I hope Mike is freed from its clutches and atones for the pain he's caused.

[Hortensis]

67. Good, but I think the word "hate" is very inappropriate. I see none.

Disapproval of a billionaire trying to buy the presidency and possibly endangering the election isn't hate.

[Devil Child]

6. Classy!

[stopbush]

12. Classier than turning one's back.

Classier than Tulsi’s anti-gay past.

[LaurenOlimina]

52. Bloomberg is loathed.

Other candidates may be hated, disliked, unwanted, but none garner the loathing Bloomberg does.

[stopbush]

55. That's what he gets for donating $112-million to D candidates in 2018.

For his sake I hope he doesn’t make that mistake again. Why part with all that cash if all you get for it is being loathed?

And while he’s at it, he can stop funding the climate change and gun control stuff as well. It doesn’t get him any love, so why bother?

[LaurenOlimina]

56. If he's that petty, he should stop.

Stop and frisk was a titanically racist decision that has bodies behind it.

It does not wash away, especially in the black community. That's why he is being shunned in a church.

[stopbush]

57. Maybe he's being shunned in a church because he's Jewish.

You don’t know, neither do I.

The parishioners are Christians. Not exactly the nicest people on earth.

[LaurenOlimina]

58. I do know.

[jberryhill]

62. They aren't holding signs or saying anything

Looks like Christians turning their backs on a Jew.

Wouldn’t be unusual.

Anyone can read into it what they want, since there is no particular message in evidence.

[LaurenOlimina]

63. kneejerk antisemitism

You could stand to read some discussions in the Black Lives Matter movement where Bloomberg is concerned. His actions dropped bodies. He is loathed.

[jberryhill]

73. Did he force his way in?

I guess he just wandered in and planted himself behind a microphone.

[LanternWaste]

85. Except the obvious one..

"since there is no particular message in evidence."

Except the obvious one... of which you are trying gloriously to pretend doesn't exist; which of course, "wouldn't be unusual..."

[Cha]

71. No

[Kaleva]

5. 10 people

[left-of-center2012]

7. How rude !

[Jirel]

28. How honest and effective.

They can hide it. They can choose to avoid him by not going to church. They can pretend to tolerate him, and fume. Instead, they are making a powerful and dignified statement that he is not acceptable in their place of worship.

[left-of-center2012]

29. "a powerful and dignified statement"

[napi21]

8. I know I must be an uninformed voter, but what in th world is he doing speaking in a church?

I don't think that's right. We all complain about mixing church & state, then one of our candidates campaigns in a church!

[jberryhill]

14. A fairly regular hypocrisy

That said, persons of Bloomberg’s particular religious background don’t go over so well in many Christian churches. So it might not be specific to him.

[at140]

18. I am not sure you are right on this

because some of the strongest backers of Israel are evangelist Christians.

[jberryhill]

21. No

They are backers of certain right wing Israeli politicians.

The only reason they “back Israel” is because it is necessary for Jesus to return. The Jews themselves are going to Hell.

[Hortensis]

68. Going where voters are is not hypocrisy, and assuming that

is not flattering to you.

Religion is particularly important for many AA, who lives are often built around their churches, and respecting its importance to them is rightfully critical to obtaining their support.

[jberryhill]

72. I see Christians turning their backs to a Jew in their chirch

Perhaps their signs are more legible to you.

Whatever the intended message, the “you are not welcome here” part is obvious.

Not what some Christians claim about themselves, but the whole idea of Christianity is exclusion. Eventually their god picks who goes to hell and who doesn’t. Some of them pretend Jesus didn’t talk about hell, and they recast it as some kind of mere eternal death.

So for whatever reason, some of them believe their god not to favor this guest invited to their church.

[Hortensis]

83. Well, happily for you you're not a politician and have no

duty to regard your constituents as a public servant should and represent them to the best of your ability.

[LanternWaste]

86. I dig the way you aggressively move the goalposts as you go on...

And permit yourself to see one, and only one thing at the exclusion of the obvious.




(ten bucks says you fail to see the irony in you invoking the word "pretend&quot

[at140]

15. Good point, but

What's wrong with a Jewish candidate speaking at a Christian church?
It would look worse if a Christian candidate was fishing for votes in a church.

[jberryhill]

17. Why are churches involved in promoting politicians?

And why is it only a problem when Republicans do it?

[at140]

22. Because we are democrats?

Why attack our own?

[jberryhill]

23. Why not have some actual principles

Some things matter more than “go team”.

[at140]

24. "Everything is fair in love, war & politics"

where did I read that?

[jberryhill]

26. Which reduces faith to mere bullshit

If people want to demonstrate that their vaunted gods and faiths are bullshit labels of convenience for politicians, that’s fine.

However, as you seem ignorant of the general principle that tax exempt non-profits are forbidden from promoting candidates, then I guess we part ways when it comes to unlawful activity that has been tolerated way too long now.

[at140]

44. That church hosting candidate Bloomberg will retain it's tax-exempt status

I can place a small wager on that. Because in theory the church is not promoting him,
they are simply allowing him to give a speech.

[left-of-center2012]

31. "one of our candidates campaigns in a church"

They all do it,
and have for years.

[Devil Child]

9. Brave parishioners n/t

[Kaleva]

32. How is it brave? They are not risking anything.

It's like saying someone who drank milk that's a day past the expiration date is brave.

[Devil Child]

47. Risking possible social standing within their parish by rejecting Bloomberg's presence is brave IMO

Drinking expired milk sounds just plain foolish to me. Playground for nasty bacteria and such.

[Kaleva]

53. Good we had people like MLK, Mandela & Gandhi who weren't worried about social standing

Even Cindy Sheehan could be considered brave in that she gave up her marriage, friends, her job to fight for what she believed in.


You equate such people with those who worry about getting stink eye from their friends and neighbors.

[cwydro]

10. How Christian of them.

[fleabiscuit]

13. Ironically, that's pretty much spot on. nt

[jberryhill]

16. Maybe they are wondering

...why a Sunday church service has someone who is not a member of their faith lecturing from the pulpit.

Why political campaigns use churches as props often mystifies me.

They should uniformly lose their tax exempt status for this sort of thing.

[cwydro]

20. I agree.

[at140]

25. I agree on the tax-exempt status when

involved in politics. If they wish to be taxable, then they can exercise 1st amendment.
But can't have cake and eat it too.

[stopdiggin]

40. not a fan either

but one has to assume he's there by invitation? So .. apparently you don't have a lot of respect (or faith) in your church leaders either?

[jberryhill]

60. My "church leaders"?

And who might they be, in your imagination?

[stopdiggin]

65. meaning the church leaders in question

maybe my phrasing was a little off.
(I think the disrespect flows over to the leaders .. just as it would if I was at at a house party, and my hosts would have an expectation that I would be, at least moderately, respectful of other guest they had invited.)

[lynintenn]

11. Two words- Doug Jones

Bloomberg can help him

[Skya Rhen]

30. Doug Jones endorsed Biden. Money can buy some people but those with integrity resist being bought.

[tulipsandroses]

19. Good for them!!!!

He is unacceptable to many. They should exercise their right to protest. Especially on this day. In memoriam of Bloody Sunday. Very Fitting.

[jberryhill]

27. Yeah! Christians should show who is unwelcome in church!

[tulipsandroses]

35. What is unwelcome is violation of civil rights

Turning your back is an act of protest. They are free to express their objection and displeasure at policies that he put in place, some of which he still defends.

[emmaverybo]

36. +1

[lynintenn]

34. I am sure this made Stacey Abrams who was sitting next to him very uncomfortable.

[Skya Rhen]

37. She should feel uncomfortable especially if it's true that she's aligning herself with him.

[tulipsandroses]

38. I find it really interesting, that democrats think that exercising your right to

peacefully protest is somehow rude. ESPECIALLY at a service commemorating Selma's Bloody Sunday - where people were beaten for doing just that - peaceful protest.
The irony is not lost.

[Skya Rhen]

39. Some of us are really exposing our true selves. Sad. N/T

[tulipsandroses]

64. I have noticed that. I find myself wondering at times, what site is this again?

Democrats concerned about rudeness over people's rights to peacefully protest. Especially on a day like today. Mind boggling. I will just leave it at that.

[Turin_C3PO]

78. I'm shocked that so many Democrats support

Bloomberg. If, God forbid, it comes down to Sanders and Bloomberg, I’ll vote Sanders. Bloomberg has no place as our party‘s nominee. If he’s serious about booting Trump, he should drop out, support Biden and spend his money targeting Trump.

[stopdiggin]

41. It can't be interpreted in any other way

You can perhaps argue the level of rudeness (vis-a-vis civil rights, police brutality, etc.). And you can certainly question the wisdom of the church leaders for inviting a clearly divisive speaker on this occasion. (What were THEY thinking?)

But turning your back on someone who is speaking is rude .. and is plainly intended to be.
Irony quite intact.

[melman]

46. Well people clearly are interpreting it another way

So I guess it actually can.

[stopdiggin]

48. Nope. It is ALWAYS and INTENDED to be rude. (nt)

[melman]

45. Yeah it's really gross

But just kind of the way it goes here these days.

[Gothmog]

42. Joe Biden got a standing ovation at this church

Link to tweet

[Devil Child]

49. As he should! Biden is no Bloomberg n/t

[Skya Rhen]

50. And rightly so - respect is earned not bought.

[Cha]

74. Thank you Goth!

[Turin_C3PO]

77. Biden deserves the ovation.

Bloomberg deserves the protest.

[showblue22]

51. Did Bernie go?

[lapucelle]

59. BS is having a rally in a park in Birmingham today.

He's going to a church in Montgomery tomorrow.

It looks like BS skipped today's annual Bloody Sunday bridge crossing commemoration.

https://www.wsfa.com/2019/05/15/bernie-sanders-make-campaign-stops-alabama/

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/12/23/1964220/0/en/Salute-Selma-Announces-Ceremonies-Commemorating-the-55th-Anniversary-of-Bloody-Sunday-the-Selma-to-Montgomery-March-Reenactment-and-the-passage-of-the-Voting-Rights-Act.html

[showblue22]

61. Thank you .

I guess he's too busy.

[Cha]

75. I thought he was at a rally in California and of course

he was on tv.. I think he mentioned.. wait for it.. "The establishment".

[PatrickforO]

54. No surprise there. Something about the whole stop and frisk debacle.

Cause you have to admit that WAS really racist. And when Bloomberg said on camera that he's applying the policy more in African American neighborhoods because 'that's where most of the crime is,' it made many people very angry. Something about fairness and level playing fields.

Kind of funny, those parishioners turning their backs.

[tulipsandroses]

69. Interestingly, Bloomberg initially declined attending the commemoration saying he was too busy.

I guess his people told him that would not be a good look so he decided to show up.

[lynintenn]

70. I live near Memphis, my son in Chicago. Guess where the most crime is?

Don't call me a racist. Facts are Facts. A chance at good schools and decent-paying jobs would bring the crime rate down.

[Turin_C3PO]

76. So black people should be targeted by police?

Is that what you’re saying?

[lynintenn]

79. Not at all.

Even in my small town I think black people are targeted. It just seems in areas where crime is the heaviest the targeting is worse.

[PatrickforO]

81. Well, yeah. Unfortunately Rush and the rest of the hate-lizards

won't tell you the OTHER HALF of the story.

To fix the underlying issues that create the crime, we need to address social and economic justice in K-12 and before.

Republicans have fought tooth and nail against:
1. Head Start programs
2. Women, Infants and Children nutrition programs
3. Access to affordable childcare, while at the same time raising the pay for the providers - because right now it is a minimum wage job. Think about that. You're trusting your small children to someone who makes minimum wage and can barely afford to eat.
4. Tax breaks and subsidies for businesses that provide on-site childcare, so when these many times single parents get done getting up at 4 in the morning to get dressed, get them and their kids fed and ready for childcare or school, then go out and wait for the bus to get their kids to where they are going, and then mom to work at 8 it is hellish. In fact most single parents in poverty live hellish lives.
5. Leveling the funding for inner city schools and provide the capital investments that help those schools compete with the more affluent suburbs.
6. After school recreation and summer youth employment programs. They work.

Those would be happy things to begin with, but then there's
1. Employment opportunities in the city for teens. Not much out there. If you like statistics, you might check out the BLS Employment Situation A2 and A3 tables. Many times inner city kids want to work, but there are literally no jobs near where they live. And they don't have cars. And bus passes cost money.
2. According to the National Education Statistics division of the US Dept. of Education, which we DO need, they did two longitudinal studies of two cohorts of students who borrowed money to go to school. What they found was that FOR THE MINORITY STUDENTS, the debt level was OVER 100% OF WHAT THEY HAD BORROWED IN THE FIRST PLACE seven years after enrollment in the education program. The reason: The minority kids often fall prey to fly-by-night schools who locate close to them and provide high interest predatory financing.

So, yeah, there is more crime in inner city areas that tend to higher minority populations, but that is only half the story. Rush and the other hatemongering white supremacists won't tell you the half that I just did.

See, the right wingers always talk about 'personal responsibility' and the choices you make. Leveling the playing field in the ways above would be a really good way to ensure that everyone who is willing to work really hard has a real chance to get ahead.

Check out the GINI coefficient too, and wealth imbalance. Also, check out this VOX article: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/21/17139300/economic-mobility-study-race-black-white-women-men-incarceration-income-chetty-hendren-jones-porter

From this study, you can actually access the studies themselves and get data that can inform policy discussion.

[PatrickforO]

82. Oh, and don't forget food deserts. It is demonstrably harder for people in

inner cities to access healthy, affordable food in supermarkets. Because supermarkets tend to locate in less crime ridden areas, so kind of a vicious circle there.

You know, one time I was watching TV and saw a show with this incredibly smug hipster who actually made a documentary about how HE could eat healthy on the amount of money people receiving SNAP assistance get.

So the asshole gets in his Volvo and drives all over the place shopping, and voila! He succeeds! Well, la-de-da. But, what if he was a single mom with two kids and had to ride the bus. You ever try grocery shopping when you have to ride the bus? With two kids in tow? Pretty hard.

Because of that, of course, you don't get to go to the good markets, just the one that's closest. Many years ago when dinosaurs walked the earth I worked in a 7-11 store for a brief, hellish stint. I actually had a couple of people who came in regularly and GROCERY shopped at my 7-11. Think about that.

It was their choice, Rush would sonorously intone, and then racist libertarian callers would call in and lament with poor Rush on the air about how 'those people' need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and it starts with better choices.

That's the point, isn't it? If they don't HAVE better choices, then they make worse ones.

But, hey, I sure do get a WARM AND FUZZY FEELING about that nice tax cut the Republicans did for disadvantaged billionaires.

[lynintenn]

84. Most of the farmer's markets accept EBT and

we have a couple of community gardens in lower-income areas where I live. Two years ago the man you oversaw one of the gardens gave it up because kids were stealing the produce and selling them for drug money.

You are right about buying the food at 7-11's now it is Dollar Generals that have sprung up on almost block. Not much healthy there but is walkable.

[bluewater]

80. To be fair, some was 10 people.

Link to tweet

And I hate Bloomberg's policies like Stop and Frisk and funding Lindsey Graham's campaign.

Fair is fair.

[Gothmog]

87. From AMJOY

Link to tweet