Howard Dean Joins High-Profile Democrats Backing Bloomberg's Challenger.

[madfloridian]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1164848&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312


NEW YORK Sep 27, 2005 — The national leader of the Democratic party threw his weight behind the underdog candidate hoping to oust Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Howard Dean and Fernando Ferrer campaigned together Tuesday in Manhattan, greeting passersby during evening rush hour.

The one-time presidential candidate is the latest prominent Democrat to back Ferrer's attempt to unseat Bloomberg, whose $5 billion personal fortune funds his re-election bid. Others include former presidential candidate John Kerry, his running mate John Edwards, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and Rep. Charles Rangel, one of the city's most influential black politicians.

Dean said the Democratic National Committee will do "whatever we have to do" to help Ferrer win.

"Mayor Bloomberg is fortunate enough to be a billionaire, which puts him well out of touch with New Yorkers," Dean said. "Freddy's going to do this the old-fashioned way."

(I think a lot of Democrats, even some of the DNC staff were supporting Bloomberg. I don't think it went over very well.)

[Carolab]

1. Good on Howard. I was reading about Bloomberg the other day.

He's apparently a DINO. We have one of those running our city and our city is out to get him, but good.

[NoodleBoy]

2. actually, Bloomberg was supposedly a Dem, but then changed parties to

sidestep a contentious Democratic primary and pretty much buy the not-very-well-contested Republican primary.

to me, that's just the mark of someone who's hungry for power, and I'm glad he's out. I just wonder if this challenger will be able to get the WFP ballot line endorsement... I don't remember if Bloomberg got it the last time around, but it's practically a requirement for winning candidates in NY. On second thought, maybe fusion voting doesn't extend to city elections. Or maybe I'm babbling now.

[madfloridian]

7. Do you know which Dems are supporting Bloomberg?

I heard one was the husband of one of the DNC staff. Bet that did not go over well with the chairman. I will see if I can find it.

[Carolab]

9. Yeah, that's what I meant. He WAS a DINO.

The mark of a DINO is claiming to be a Dem and then switching to Repukes. Bloomberg got a lot of support from Dems even as a Repub, but no more.

Just like Norm Coleman, "used to be a Dem", HAH. And our mayor in St. Paul Randy Kelly--ran as a Dem, got elected as a Dem and then endorsed Bush. Buggers should just switch parties and then run, see how they do.

[autorank]

3. Take back my beloved adopted home!!!!! NYC is THE BEST! Deserves

the best. Out Bloomberg, out now!

They should toss him, no problem. Seriously, no problem. Kick some major ass.

Rock on Howard and the rest of you. Show some muscle.

[Joyce]

4. But that's a Republican line! Ouch!

Dean said the Democratic National Committee will do "whatever we have to do" to help Ferrer win. "Mayor Bloomberg is fortunate enough to be a billionaire, which puts him well out of touch with New Yorkers," Dean said. "Freddy's going to do this the old-fashioned way."

I'm a "long-marcher" for Dean, but I regret his saying that the DNC would do whatever necessary to win. We must not stoop to Republican, Roveian standards. (Rove has made exactly that statement, in fact.) I am confident that Howard was not thinking about the many unscrupulous activities that the Rs engage in (stealing elections, disenfranchising unsupportive voters, leaking names to destroy people, dropping lies just prior to voting day, conducting "push polls," and so on.) However, we ought not to be using Republican language.

[autorank]

5. Welcome to DU!!!

I agree with you. However, we have to talk tough to these clowns.

Look at what we're up against.


The Swamp Rat

[bklyncowgirl]

6. The Republicans do anything necessary to win. Democrats play nice.

Guess who's been winning elections lately?

New York is a tough town with tough politics. It loves tough talking mayors like Guiliani and Koch and spits out soft spoken gentlemenly types like Dinkins.

Now if he can just light a fire under Ferrer who I've always seen (perhaps unfairly) as an Hispanic David Dinkins, the Democrats might have a chance.

[madfloridian]

8. Aha, I found the ones who are supporting Bloomberg.

Democrats for Bloomberg? I do not like this.

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2005/09/your-deeds-and-words-should-match.html

"Hoping to sock Democratic challenger Fernando Ferrer right where it hurts - in the checkbook - Mayor Bloomberg moved swiftly yesterday to trumpet his backing by some of the city's biggest Democratic givers.

The group, dubbed Democrats For Bloomberg, was supposed to convey a sense of broad, cross-party support for the Republican mayor as he heads toward November's election.

But these weren't just any Democrats: There was Steven Rattner, the financier who was a fund-raiser and adviser to presidential candidate John Kerry.

There was Roger Altman, deputy treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, and Alan Patricof, big giver to Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley Clark.
.................

"While we honor and love our party," said Rattner, "we recognize our higher obligation to our city. That's why we are here today - to say to our fellow Democrats, you can be true blue and still be true Bloomberg."

The event was the culmination of efforts by Bloomberg to choke off funds to the eventual Democratic nominee by locking up the party's most stalwart givers. Bloomberg, a billionaire and former Democrat, is financing his own big-money campaign.

Rattner, whose wife, Maureen White, is finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said the message was clear.

"I think we are basically saying to Democrats, 'Do whatever you think is right,'" he said. "But ... if you support the mayor, then presumably you are not going to be giving to other candidates."

So why is she head of the DNC finance committee if she and her husband give to Republicans."

[madfloridian]

10. More Dems for Bloomberg, plus union support, even SEIU. Why?

http://www.mikebloomberg.com/pressroom/detail.cfm?content_id=234

Claire Shulman and Steven Rattner to serve as Co-Chairs of group coordinating outreach to Democratic voters this fall

Roger Altman, Hugh Carey, Earl Graves Sr., Alan Patricof, Felix Rohatyn, Jane Rosenthal, Harvey Weinstein to serve as Vice-Chairs of Democrats for Bloomberg

Group joins previous Democratic Bloomberg backers including Mayor Ed Koch, Reverend Floyd Flake, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Councilwoman Madeline Provenzano, and former-Democratic candidate and Grammy Award Recording Artist Willie Colón

Then it lists all his union endorsements. Why he is getting so much Democratic support and union support? Is that really that good? Is it like it is in Florida where if you go with the party in power you get more things you want.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. They figure he's going to win anyway so why piss him off.

Their first loyalty is to their members not to the Democratic Party.

It's defeatist but practical.