Michael R. Bloomberg wrote a letter that was posted on his website on March 07, 2016, saying that he wasn’t going to participate in the 2016 elections.
Mr. Bloomberg served as the 108th Mayor of New York City, holding office for three consecutive terms beginning with his first election in 2001. His goal oriented personality has led many people to think that he would be a good president. It’s because of this that Mr. Bloomberg wrote the note, thanking the people that believe he has what it takes to lead the nation.
“Over the last several months, many Americans have urged me to run for president as an independent, and some who don’t like the current candidates have said it is my patriotic duty to do so. I appreciate their appeals, and I have given the question serious consideration” the post reads.
However, he realizes by looking at the data that if he starts running now, his chances of winning are dim at best. In the letter, he joined many Americans in concern about the current candidates. Bloomberg made special emphasis on how radical their proposals are.
He explained that in a three-way race, the candidates won’t have a majority in votes which would leave the decision in the hands of the congress and they would choose one of their parties’ candidates. Bloomberg does not want the decision to be stripped from the American people.
“As the race stands now, with Republicans in charge of both Houses, there is a good chance that my candidacy could lead to the election of Donald Trump or Senator Ted Cruz. That is not a risk I can take in good conscience” the post reads.
He shared his opinion on the campaign of both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. He said that he has nothing personal against both men, but their electoral efforts appeal to the worst impulses of the American people.
He said that no only they are preying on people’s fears and prejudices, but he also explains how flawed and misguided their notions are. Putting barriers to people to enter the country based on religion affects the separation of the state and the church and by attacking immigrants, they divide the country at home. He also said that provoking Japan and China into an economic war is dangerous and wrong.
There is something very interesting mentioned in the letter. For years, many people have talked about the influence of Lobbyist and how they rule the country from the shadows. These people have been called by many names, but the most common are conspiracy theorists. Regarded as little more than crazy, these theorists have been trying to expose how the elite controls the country. In the letter, Bloomberg says that a true president has to work for the American people and not for lobbyist and campaign donors. He also referred to members of the congress as “party loyalists”.
The letter says he is not ready to endorse any candidate, but he encourages them to move towards a centrist proposal and forget partisanship.
Source: Bloomberg View