The list of moderate Republicans and independents who are refusing to support Donald trump and the now neo-Nazi Republican Party continues to grow. Some are even beginning to endorse Hillary Clinton given their dismay and fear for the nation should Donald Trump gain the White House. One such individual is billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg who, in my view, understand economic matters far, far better than carnival barker, con-artist Donald Trump. The New York Times has details of Bloomberg's endorsement of Clinton and upcoming prime time speech at the Democrat National Convention. Here are excerpts:
Michael R. Bloomberg, who bypassed his own run for the presidency this election cycle, will endorse Hillary Clinton in a prime-time address at the Democratic convention and make the case for Mrs. Clinton as the best choice for moderate voters in 2016, an adviser to Mr. Bloomberg said.
The news is an unexpected move from Mr. Bloomberg, who has not been a member of the Democratic Party since 2000; was elected the mayor of New York City as a Republican; and later became an independent.
But it reflects Mr. Bloomberg’s increasing dismay about the rise of Donald J. Trump and a determination to see that the Republican nominee is defeated.
Mrs. Clinton is seeking to reach out to middle-of-the-road swing voters and even moderate Republicans uneasy about Mr. Trump. Polls show that significant numbers of Republicans remain wary of Mr. Trump, and question his fitness for the presidency.
Mr. Bloomberg will vouch for Mrs. Clinton “from the perspective of a business leader and an independent,” said Howard Wolfson, a senior adviser to Mr. Bloomberg.
“As the nation’s leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle,” Mr. Wolfson said. “This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton.”
[W]ith the Republican nominee basing his campaign on his background as a businessman, Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire media executive and philanthropist, may help counter the Trump sales pitch.
It is unusual, but not unheard of, for a speaker who is not a member of a political party to address that party’s convention. Mr. Bloomberg is expected to speak on Wednesday, the same evening as President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Mr. Bloomberg and Mrs. Clinton are not personally close, but had a positive working relationship when he served as mayor and she as a senator from New York.
Mr. Bloomberg was pleased by the selection of Senator Tim Kaine, a former mayor of Richmond, Va., and a strong supporter of gun control, as Mrs. Clinton’s running mate.
Mr. Bloomberg is not an entirely natural fit for the Democratic Party of 2016: Though he has been an energetic advocate on issues related to guns, immigration and climate change, he has also been a vocal ally of the financial services industry and has defended the strict policing tactics his administration employed in New York.
Mr. Bloomberg has been quiet about the presidential race in recent months. But in the past he has criticized Mr. Trump in stark terms, describing him as a threat to American security.
When he decided late last winter not to run for the White House, Mr. Bloomberg explained that he could not take the risk of running an independent campaign that might inadvertently ease Mr. Trump’s path to power.
Michael Nutter, the former Philadelphia mayor, said he expected Mr. Bloomberg to receive a “warm and positive welcome” from delegates, even thought he is not a Democrat. Mr. Nutter said it made political sense to go after voters outside the party: Mr. Bloomberg, he said, could help persuade other business leaders to back Mrs. Clinton, “in some cases Republican business people.”
“I think Mike Bloomberg gives validation to Hillary Clinton and the campaign,” said Mr. Nutter, a Democrat. “We want to win, and everybody has a role to play.”
Donald Trump and his supporters pose an existential threat to America and democracy. Trump must be defeated to protect the nation and hopefully, more and more independents - and moderate Republicans willing to put the best interests of America ahead of partisan politics - will realize this and support the Democratic ticket.
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