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Bloomberg: Tea Party Is "Not a Political Movement"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 2, 2010
Modified Oct 2, 2010
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 2, 2010
Modified Oct 2, 2010
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In the midst of all this Paladino love-childing, Post-hating, withdrawn-allegating, Cuomo-childrenating hodgepodge of a gubernatorial race, we've all lost track of what and who really matters. And that would be Mayor Bloomberg, and his opinions about stuff and things. So what is the Mayor pontificating on this week? That silly old Tea Party, and its lack of substance: "That's what the Tea Party is. It's funny, it's not a political movement. They don't, they're not pro-choice or pro-life. They're not pro-gun or anti-gun. They're not pro-gay-rights or anti-gay-rights. They're not with any of the social issues."
Bloomberg was speaking during his WOR-AM radio show with host John Gambling on immigration reform and Washington denying funds for the NYPD, before turning, pretty eloquently, to the existential quandry of the Tea Party. "They are a group of people, and you see this every eight, 10 years...And it's, 'I'm sick of it.' That's what people are saying. 'I don't know what the answer is, your job is to figure it out, Mr. Congressman, Mr. Senator, Miss President, whatever it is. But I'm just telling you, I'm annoyed. I'm not going to do, I don't want to take this anymore.'"
But despite a lack of concrete issues, he thinks there is a potential benefit to their disaffection: "And regardless of which one [Republican or Democrat] gets into office...these people who are disaffected, they would say nothing's changed. Now, there are others that say we've made a lot of progress, and there's some truth on both sides of the aisle. But this, there is this massive country-wide—frustration is a good word—and if that takes place, then maybe it will force the Republicans and Democrats to come to the table and come together."
Tagged
andrew cuomo
carl paladino
crazyfest 2010
election 2010
mayor bloomberg
tea party
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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