NRA vs. Michael Bloomberg Smackdown!

Real Clear Policy ^ | April 16, 2014 | Robert VerBruggen

[neverdem]

The former New York City mayor is dedicating himself to a new group that will organize voters who support gun control; called Everytown for Gun Safety, it will subsume his existing groups (Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense), and it will focus specifically on expanding background checks. His previous approach was to fund ad campaigns in races where gun control was an issue.

Here's how he matches up with his arch-rival.

Money

Bloomberg says he'll be putting at least $50 million into the project this year -- and according to the New York Times, he said this "as if he were describing the tip he left on a restaurant check." He continued: "Certainly a number like that, $50 million. Let's see what happens."

According to the NRA's 2011 990 form, it pulled in more than $240 million that year, but it's difficult to say how much of that money Bloomberg will be fighting against, because the NRA isn't solely dedicated to political activism and not all of its political activism is dedicated to gun rights. (It also involves itself in hunting rights, free speech, etc.)

Only $17 million was spent through the Institute for Legislative Action, the arm of the organization dedicated exclusively to politics, and another $33.5 million was spent on publications, which include legislation-related articles but also hunting tips and whatnot...

[NFHale]

Ya still gots to go door-to-door Mikey...

And that won’t be free...nor easy... nor painless.

[Steely Tom]

Self-declared saint Michael Bloomberg, if you please.

[Joe Brower]

Bloomturd is pi$$ing up a rope.

And it isn't "grassroots" when the whole thing is funded by one statist fat-cat donor.

[Steely Tom]

And it isn't "grassroots" when the whole thing is funded by one statist fat-cat donor.

I bet the NRA raises twice Self-Appointed Saint Boomberg's $50MM by building a fundraising campaign around him.

[conserv8]

Meanwhile . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrxjYfl05ek&feature=share

[GOPJ]

...it isn't "grassroots" when the whole thing is funded by one statist fat-cat donor.

I wish liberal elite billionaires would quit pretending they're 'down with the people'... they should just hire their goons and quit pretending.

[FunkyZero]

Of all the so-called unbelievable things that we see in the world of politics and government today, the one behavior that I consider truly unbelievable is the inability of some of these guys to understand that regarding the NRA and the Tea Party, there is no central monolith that they can attack and destroy. When these aholes say "I hate the NRA", they are actually telling several million US voters that they hate us. These morons actually believe that if they could somehow destroy "the NRA", that it would somehow take with it the undying ideals contained in the hearts of every member... I mean, I don't even LIKE the NRA, but I feed them money every year in the name of the 2nd Amendment. I am, in fact, a single issue voter if it all comes down to that, and I don't think I'm alone.

But hey, I guess we just sit back and let them throw rocks (in the form of millions of dollars) at an autonomous movement that cannot be destroyed with ANY amount of money. Fortunately, even the most vile, left-handed socialist pig of a politician knows the dangers that gun control pose to his pitiful future... well, minus a couple of true nut jobs at least. I know we can't bank on that, and that is why... even if you really don't like the NRA, donating the money to them is one of the few defense mechanisms we have to keep everyone in check.

[basil]

You are absolutely correct!

[Da Coyote]

Heh, Bloom dork will lose his....dork!

[lurk]

Mike’s $50M will blow away into the wind, with nothing to show for it.

Hey Mike, it’s going to take something like $10 Billion to really make a difference. Write that check.

[dennisw]

Will this make Filthy Harry (Reid) give a second thought to his sliming of the Koch Bothers? How about other Dems?

[M Kehoe]

Hey nanny Bloomberg! I hope you get herpes.

5.56mm

[Raycpa]

This isn’t about the NRA or guns. This is about building a base from which to run for office. He is a smart man, smart enough to know his money is not going to change gun laws.

[lavaroise]

Indeed, Jesus said to give it all away. I figure. bloombutt will not. Now Obama might make him in the end because Obama has a death wish like the Dark Knight.

[envisio]

What is that saying about insanity and doing the same thing over and over?

When are politicians going to learn, that unless they represent Berkeley CA or SanFagsisco CA or some other such hippy haven, a campaign for gun control is political suicide.

[SunkenCiv]

> called Everytown for Gun Safety, it will subsume his existing groups (Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense), and it will focus specifically on expanding background checks.

I also have two hands. A fire extinguisher will actually work pretty well. Thanks neverdem.

[Monmouth78]

Bloomberg is one of a host of Wall St. billionaires trying to destroy America. Several of these bad actors are neocons who work inside of the GOP to push amnesty and the gay agenda.

We need a crackdown on Wall St.

[Carry_Okie]

From the article: One study found that an NRA endorsement can boost a candidate's vote share by 3 percent for every 10,000 members in the district. Bloomberg's most recent push for background checks lost to a filibuster in the Senate.

One notes the NRA's past endorsement of Harry Reid in that light.

[TexasRepublic]

We won’t give up our guns and freedom. BloomingIdiot is just farting in the wind.