Former New York City Mayor and Democratic presidential newcomer Michael Bloomberg issued a sharp rebuke to the socialist proposals touted by the progressive candidates during Wednesday night’s debate, chastising the senators promoting “communism.”
“I can’t think of a ways that we make it easier for Donald Trump to get re-elected than to listen to this conversation. This is ridiculous,” Bloomberg said when asked whether he supported programs advocated by self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. “We’re not going to throw out capitalism. We tried that. Other countries tried that. It was called communism, and it just didn’t work.”
Michael Bloomberg to Bernie Sanders:
"We're not going to throw out capitalism. We tried that. Other countries tried that. It was called communism and it just didn't work." pic.twitter.com/8hFMPI38MX
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 20, 2020
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders quickly shot back.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” they simultaneously shouted at Bloomberg’s declaration that they were advocating communism.
“We are living in many ways in a socialist society right now,” Sanders said. “The problem is, as Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us, we have socialism for the very rich, rugged individualism for the poor.”
Bloomberg then blasted Sanders as a hypocrite for being worth millions of dollars and owning three homes.
“What a wonderful country we have,” Bloomberg said. “The best-known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses. What did I miss here?”
Sanders explained he has a home in Washington, D.C., one in Burlington, Vermont, and a summer home.
“Which tax haven is your home?” Sanders asked Bloomberg.
The financier said he pays all his taxes in New York.
“I pay all my taxes, and I’m happy to do it because I get something for it,” Bloomberg said.
Wednesday night’s prime-time event at the Las Vegas Paris Theatre is the New York billionaire’s first debate performance since he made a late entrance into the race last fall.
