Four years ago Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, did not endorse either of the presidential candidates. Many expected that Bloomberg would act similarly in 2012. That expectation was shot down today when Bloomberg, in a well reasoned statement, endorsed Barack Obama on his political website. What tipped the scales in Bloombergs mind? The fact that one of the presidential candidates, Barack Obama, embraces science and the fact that the earth's climate is changing and the other, Mitt Romney, does not. Adding to the motivation to endorse Obama Bloomberg also notes Romney's embrace of the frightening agenda of the Christofascists and others of the far right. Here are excerpts from Bloomberg's endorsement of Obama:
The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City and much of the Northeast – in lost lives, lost homes and lost business – brought the stakes of Tuesday’s presidential election into sharp relief.
Our climate is changing. And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it might be – given this week's devastation – should compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.
Here in New York, our comprehensive sustainability plan – PlaNYC – has helped allow us to cut our carbon footprint by 16 percent in just five years, which is the equivalent of eliminating the carbon footprint of a city twice the size of Seattle. Through the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group – a partnership among many of the world’s largest cities – local governments are taking action where national governments are not.
But we can't do it alone. We need leadership from the White House – and over the past four years, President Barack Obama has taken major steps to reduce our carbon consumption, including setting higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks. His administration also has adopted tighter controls on mercury emissions, which will help to close the dirtiest coal power plants (an effort I have supported through my philanthropy), which are estimated to kill 13,000 Americans a year.
Mitt Romney, too, has a history of tackling climate change. . . . . But since then, he has reversed course, abandoning the very cap-and-trade program he once supported. This issue is too important. We need determined leadership at the national level to move the nation and the world forward.
In the past he has also taken sensible positions on immigration, illegal guns, abortion rights and health care. But he has reversed course on all of them, and is even running against the health-care model he signed into law in Massachusetts.
His [Obama's] health-care law – for all its flaws - will provide insurance coverage to people who need it most and save lives..
When I step into the voting booth, I think about the world I want to leave my two daughters, and the values that are required to guide us there. The two parties’ nominees for president offer different visions of where they want to lead America.
One believes a woman’s right to choose should be protected for future generations; one does not. That difference, given the likelihood of Supreme Court vacancies, weighs heavily on my decision.
One recognizes marriage equality as consistent with America’s march of freedom; one does not. I want our president to be on the right side of history.
One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics.
Presidnts Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan both found success while their parties were out of power in Congress – and President Obama can, too. If he listens to people on both sides of the aisle, and builds the trust of moderates, he can fulfill the hope he inspired four years ago and lead our country toward a better future for my children and yours. And that's why I will be voting for him.
I agree with Michael Bloomberg. I'd go even further and state that one candidate, Barack Obama, is on the right side of history and morality and the other, Mitt Romney is not. Romney could be the poster boy for why one should walk away from organized religion, the Mormon Church in particular.
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