Steyer also supports reparations and environmental justice. Where is the discussion about that substantial issue?
All the candidates with grassroots campaigns are spending money in communities as they organize campaigns.
Bloomberg is out and out buying volunteers and I imagine will pay for votes as well.
1
Steyer could be a Democratic asset, instead he had chosen to be this years Jill Stein. Every dollar he is currently spending, every vote he is getting is just helping trump. It’s that simple. It’s time to get out and help elect the nominee.
1
As an African-American, I am disgusted by the vote
buying, influence peddling, and predatory philanthropy perpetrated in the black community by Steyer and Bloomberg in their quest for the nomination. Deplorably, they are buying off the black elite at the expense of the black masses, whose financial desperation is exploited to manipulate their political will. Of course this is nothing more than a microcosm of a much larger national issue: big money buying off careerist, opportunistic politicians at the expense of the American masses, a primary cause of our national political crisis, as many experts have demonstrated.
This malfeasance and corruption by the compliant political elite should be criminalized, locally and nationally. It is particularly despicable in the black community, given its status as one of the most socially, economically, and politically vulnerable populations in this country. Certainly well intended philanthropy, with no political strings attached, is valuable, although no substitute for substantive public policy. As for arguing that specific black communities benefit from Steyer's and Bloomberg's largesse, social scientific evidence has shown that financially empowering those at the top does not necessarily empower those below. This reality is exacerbated as communities look to leaders for guidance regarding candidates and policies that will serve their best interests, as a co-founder of Black Lives Matter has provided by endorsing Sanders and Warren.
2
If POTUS were to rent this woman's building – I think it would be seen in worst light.
But so, it goes.
This sentence caught my eye:
"...prompted suggestions that he is trying to wield influence through his spending....”
I think you meant to say ”buy the primaries”
In India where I am for the winter – the nepotism of politicians have come to ruin not just the politics but the country and Indian communities in general.
In India– politics is one of the surest ways to a good job or even great riches.
In 70 years of independence – starting with just one Nehru dynasty that still flourishes, today – there are as many dynasties as there are politicians.
If India's example of ruinous nepotism fed politics is to go by – the black community might want to read MLK one more time.
Especially when he said (I am rephrasing):
”...I want to live to see the day, when my kids are judged not by color of skin but content of character...”
Of course, he was more eloquent, but I dare to wager he would have added :
”...and judged not by who the parents are...”
“But as he tries to forge connections with the black community, some of Mr. Steyer’s transactions have drawn increased scrutiny, and prompted suggestions that he is trying to wield influence through his spending.” Funny how white “liberals” are just fine with Bloomberg’s attempts to buy the presidency but are suddenly indignant when Blacks are directly benefited by another candidate.
2
Clyburn and Steyer paddle through the swamp together.
Not a surprise.
1
We can all commend Tom Steyer for his investments in South Carolina because win, lose, or draw, his resources can certainly be well used! He clearly considers his campaign to be a set of goodwill investments that are earning him new friends who will remember him.
2
I really do not see the point of going after a billionaire right now.
Sanders is a saint but an economic disaster with his trade and lack of veracity re economics. Bloomberg spent 100 million helping getting Dem in the house and Steyer has been spending way before he entered the race. Both especially Steyer agree to tax themselves more. This purity test is what has led to potential candidates being excluded while those unlikely to ever get the numbers have been exalted. In the meantime many of these exalted like Buttigieg accept billionaire and rich donations anyway.
What the ...?
Geez, is it a slow news day? I don’t think so.
What gives?
Hiring black-owned businesses and black people in order to influence black people to vote for the him?
That Steyer is diabolical.
6
This is what "reparations" means for Steyer: buying off Black "leaders." Too bad Bloomberg isn't in South Carolina: there could be competitive bidding. The "leaders" will get a small slice of the pie; whether the "community" will benefit is doubtful. By the way, these kinds of payoffs are one of the things that kept Jim Crow going. I hope REAL Black leaders will denounce them.
5
Steyer’s campaign promises so blatantly pander it’s comical. He complains about the historic abuses of African Americans while literally trying to buy them. Vote for me and I’ll promise you $200 a head in reparations. If Bloomberg offers $300 a head, is it a democratic voter auction? How gross.
1
I don't see how Steyer spending his money in Black communities is any worse than Michael Bloomberg's paid army of Bloomberg Bots. He's hired more than 500 people, whether they support him or not, to text friends and get on social media to post canned, pre-approved messages promoting Bloomberg.
This has raised questions whether Bloomberg's paid posts constitute sponsored content. Both Facebook and Twitter have rules against mass postings by so-called "software bots."
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-02-23/mike-bloomberg-paid-twitter-social-media
6
Between Trump surrogates paying out cash in black communities and Steyer doing the same thing, what does that really say about their true feelings about people of color? That the only way in is to literally buy their vote? Sad and shameful too.
2
Some days you just can't win. If his money with the white community, he'd be dissed for that, too. He has a lot of good ideas and is worth listening to. Let's just be glad he's here....and spending.
3
This reminds me of the end of Pulp Fiction: take my wallet. But I want something for my money. Steyer is having an ego attack. I am glad some Black folks are benefiting. But I hope they won't waste their votes. Steyer spent boatloads of cash in other states and got almost no votes. He has no chance of being the nominee.
3
I'm not sure I understand. What's the problem? What do other candidates use their money for? Do people complain about how much money is spent on the 'white community'? Why get flustered because money is being spent on black causes? Keep quiet and listen to the man. He's not a politician, but he's been walking the walk. Look at what he's accomplished. What are you so afraid of?
25
@Tess Martin
Doesn't trouble you at all that he rents from influential James Clyburn's daughter? Of course, if the rationale is, "they all do it..."
3
@Brown
No, the rationale is, Speyer has to rent from someone - unless you think he should buy a building in every state in which he campaigns. James Clyburn's daughter had a property for him to rent. It is even possible that they know each other.
If he rented from a white or Asian owner, would he be accused of trying to buy white and Asian votes? Should he only rent from people who promise NOT to vote for him?
Look, he's running for office with no record to point to. He has money, no surprise. He wants to attract voters - why wouldn't he? It didn't buy him Clyburn's endorsement. It will probably not buy him any votes.
Of all the things to criticize Speyer for, this is the dumbest. Next, you will be calling for him to rent from Trump or Kuchner.
3
@Tess Martin
I actually like much about Steyer, but...
It's called impropriety. Buying votes.
The fact that this can be raised as an issue, and has often been a problem with politicians; he or his campaign should have thought better of it.
Unless getting endorsements was the desirable outcome of spreading lots of money around.
Then now we would be in the gaslighting/denial stage.
1
Did I read that number correctly? $125 BILLION for historically black colleges and universities? And where would this money come from?
I think that these institutions are tremendously important, and their survival should be a top priority for people who want to see Black lives improve. But surely that number is a misprint.
Were Steyer not spends money in African American neighborhoods, people would complain about that.
My great grandfather had ties to Tammany Hall in NYC over 100 years ago. The promised a chicken in every pot to those whom they registered to vote, and delivered for the holidays.
Kids, wake up: politics requires money. At the end of the day, Steyer will win or lose depending on voters’ secret ballots. If you don’t like him, vote for someone else. And be glad he’s spending money instate, instead of ordering everything from Amazon.
4
I have no problem with Tom Steyer making community hires for his South Carolina campaign and spending money in the black community. That’s good politics and a reasonable way to build support for Mr. Steyer.
It would be interesting to know, however, how much space Mr. Steyer rents from Representative James Clyburn’s daughter and whether he is paying a below- , above- or at-market rental rate.
As Mr. Steyer’s monthly payments are known (approximately $8,000/month plus utility expenses), it should be possible to research and report on the other lease terms.
2
Steyer's only contribution will be to clip Biden's South Carolina vote enough for either Sanders to win outright or clam victory by coming close.
3
It appears most “educated” Americans paid little attention in their Civics, Social Studies and American Government classes.
We are behaving like a corrupt third world kleptocracy from every facet of an increasingly rotten society.
Keep it up. Once you lose rule of law, freedom and civility, it may take hundreds of years to get it back.
2
Apparently, none of these folks know the definition of "Conflict of Interest." It's not about whether there is an actual conflict (although there probably is here) but the APPEARANCE of conflict of interest.
1
We are regressing to an age where candidates buy favorable editorials and endorsements for cash.
Why not take the final step and go directly to the voter? Urge voters to apply for early voting by mail, Mark the ballot to vote for the billionaire, return the ballot to the billionaire's campaign, which will mail it in for you.
As a reward, you will receive a $1000 Visa gift card if the ballot casts a vote for the billionaire.
Black southern voter would do well to really grill Mr. Steyer on his plans to help communities who will be most impacted by climate change. We’ll see then just how much money he’s really willing to invest in black communities to improve infrastructure AND increase energy efficiency. This is a man who has made a lot of money off of massive inefficiencies across many sectors that largely the poor and people of color have paid for with out realizing.
1
Face it, it's over and Sanders has it. All Steyer will do, maybe, is drain votes from Biden.
I also don't want to hear about the influential Clyburn, Biden's main strength is older Black voters, and Clyburn's last minute endorsement won't help. Biden is weak with all youth, including younger Black voters. Do writers at the Times seriously think an endorsement from an 80 year old is going to help a candidate who waited until he was too old to run.
Talk about widening your base, Biden hasn't done one thing to appeal to younger voters, and plenty to alienate them.
We heard for months that Biden would be strong in South Caroline, and if he wins by 3 points that isn't good enough. I think he may lose. What Steyer is doing is a momentary distraction until he turns into a trivia question, and I doubt even that.
Elected officials on the payroll of candidates seems like a clear violation of conflict of interest. Why aren’t policies or ethics rules in place to prevent this sort of thing at all levels of government? And why would candidates put them in this position? It’s unethical. Finally, why hasn’t NYT printed an article about Bernie’s similar practices? Is NYT contributing to his Teflon coating?
3
I’m not certain about Tom Steyer’s future as a presidential candidate. He is extremely wealthy, as is Trump. He has absolutely no experience in politics and government, again just like Trump. His contributions to the Democratic debates have been minimal, as were Trump’s to the Republican debates in 2016. So, the chances are very good that, if elected, Steyer could be a Trump reincarnate. Spoiled, ignorant of the ways of diplomacy, used to buying influence, and with no standing within the international community. His candidacy actually divides the electorate in the primaries, and he should just get out of the way. If the Democrats are serious about defeating Trump in November, then they need professional, experienced leadership and not a wannabe.
5
Steyer acknowledges that corporations are in control and he credibly wants to Chang that. Note during debates he has supported many Bernie talking points.
If you believe Sanders is the only anti establishment candidate consider Warren and Steyer.
Biden Mayor Pete and Amy are establishment just what the public opposes as the primaries will reveal.
1
Tom Steyer may as well get a tattoo of the MAGA logo on his forehead. His eg0-based campaign will do nothing but hurt Biden and others and help Bernie which in turn will help trump
Steyer, like Bloomberg, is a life long Republican. These are people who always are looking for something in return for their actions. What does he want in return for running as a Democrat? No one believes he suddenly discovered helping your neighbor or asking the government to help your neighbor instead of helping corporations which are supposed to be private, capitalist organization - is a good thing. Oh, Farm Corporations are not capitalist organizations. They are chrony capitalists using “socialism “ to fill their private pockets. Why do most Republicans come from the most socialist states in the country?
5
@DSD
I am by no means a Steyer supporter, but let’s be fair and accurate when discussing him. To begin with, just a bit — not much, just a smidgeon — of research will tell you that Steyer has never been a Republican. He has always been an active supporter of the Democratic Party. My god, the man was a speaker at the 2012 Democratic convention! To call him a “life long Republican” is absurd... He is in fact well left of center politically... And, though he may be a venture capitalist, his philanthropy is far beyond the norm...
5
Bloomberg is not a lifetime Republican. Look it up.
2
Wow! A politician tries to influence re spending. Unheard of!
4
Vote with your heads people! Do your homework. Be an informed voter! Don't let the opposition split the democratic vote like they did in 2016.
You need to look at what the billionaire candidates have done in their adult lives to change the balance of power in the country so that we, the 99% can really have some influence.
You also should also learn how they made their billions. Did they work for it? Are they equity partners who pay NO taxes and are able to conceal their identity through the influence they can exert on how the laws we have to live with?
Or - did they inherit their wealth, like the current president? Did they hire people who had the skills needed in their businesses? or did they hire people who can destroy everything that we value the way Trump's appointments are doing?
All billionaires are not the same. But you have to look at their records to make the distinction. Don't make it easy for the Trump camp to split our vote by staying home on election day if you don't get the candidate you like. Be a responsible voter.
7
Strange Article.
For me, I believe that the responsibility belongs to the Supreme Court and its Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310, ruling on January 21, 2010 as well as all the Senators who voted for these Supreme Court judges.
2
@Urbe capta sapientia dormit
Citizens United has nothing to do with this. That court decision had to do with political communication by corporations including non-profits, unions and other associations. Candidates have always been able to spend as much of their own funds as they wish.
4
This race is wide open now and in November with the country in a fey mood too I wouldn't count anybody out.
1
What? ‘money is a mother’s milk of politics’? Really?
3
I can’t of course speak for Black folks. I can only tell you what it looks like from the perspective of one white dude when a white billionaire who has blithely ignored the concerns of African-Americans for his entire life suddenly opens his wallet in a single, southern state. What next? Why doesn’t the Steyer campaign rip a page from the Trump playbook and stage a cash raffle in impoverished neighborhoods? But first, perhaps the residents would be so kind as to put on a little show. Nothing fancy, just a few entertaining skits to show their appreciation...
1
Steyer and Bloomberg are helping Bernie by buying votes with their money. I salute them for using their money for good purposes as private citizens, and I hope they continue. However they should get out of the race to be the Democratic nominee before they assist in giving Trump four more years to ruin our democracy.
2
He must have been willing to pay more than Biden and Warren.
I'm sure he's not the only one to think of that strategy. He just beat them to it.
3
If this really turned out to be a nefarious scheme by Steyer to buy votes, the difference between this and aid to Iowa corn farmers is......?
At least Steyer is giving away his own money and not the taxpayers.
12
We need him on the debate stage again so Warren and Sanders can attack both him and Bloomberg.
2
It's sleazy for sure. And no better when we do it than when the Republicans do it.
2
@Sparky
It’s been the way with politicians of every stripe for at least three millennia...
2
Get out Mr. Steyer. You are helping take the democrat party down.
2
Office space that was occupied by squatters to a 10k a month rental in sleepy Columbia SC. Clyburne’s kid is an adult alright. Phony gig at USC and all.
1
The comments up to this time have ignored the gorilla in the room: Who is Tom Steyer?
1
@Bikebrains
Check Wikipedia. He’s been active in Democratic Party politics for years...
1
Oh, please. The black communities everywhere, for decades, have been red-lined, cut off from capital and been left with too many poor educational prospects. Thank you, Mr. Steyer, for investing in these areas — and I don’t care what your motive is as long as the money benefits the community.
C’mon fellow Dems, quit whining. Of course, Mr. Steyer is not going to win, but I thank him for leaving a wake of benefits in a community. Now, on to vote for my second choice, Mr. Sanders, who is taking over this race and can win the White House, much to my surprise!
92
@Lauren Really? How long are those benefits going to last once he pulls out of the race and/or South Carolina no longer benefits him?
13
@Lauren
If you fell for Sanders, I would expect that you would fall for Steyers as well.
We need more integrity in politics not less.
We also need voters who can tell the difference.
3
@Lauren I suppose then that your principles are for sale as well. It's just a matter of price.
2
Steyer is totally unqualified to be president. He’s taking up debate stage space and draining votes from actual candidates.
He needs to end this vanity tour.
66
John, agreed. I saw an interview with Tom Steyer a while ago in which he insisted that if he did not have a path to the nomination he would quit. He then said that he still thinks he is going to win. The man is clueless.
13
The 2016 election demonstrated that this line of thinking is faulty. How many people said the exact same thing about president trump ?
4
@James
Trump was winning primaries by now. Steyer isn't even a blip on the radar. He's taking up oxygen in the Democratic Party.
14
Most billionaires on the GOP side advance their cause by funding viable candidates and dirty-tricks efforts to suppress the vote and confuse or overwhelm voters with lies. Why do billionaires on the Dem side think the only solution is for them to run things? The ego is astounding!
34
Mr. Clyburn's statement (or inadvertent confession) about money and politics is a disturbing truth: "I’ve always said, money is a mother’s milk of politics."
But "mother's milk"? Kind of ruins that metaphor forever while revealing the state of the mind of entrenched professional politicians of all stripes
If South Carolina wants to raise the standards of living of its poor and middle class, the largess of billionaires will never do it. Never. They need to find a candidate who is going to bring equity and access to education, childcare and health care right across the board. Steyer doesn't have a prayer to get the nomination.
All you see here is ward politics, old style. And a desperate populace being offered sizable band aids.
Want to influence national politics. South Carolina, you're home to Lindsey Graham, Trump's stooge who helped pass the tax handout to other billionaires at the future expense of all of us. He's up for re election. Put your energy there. He knows that you won't vote for him and he is systematically trying to keep you from voting for anyone.
9
@Bill Cullen, Author
Sincerely hoping Jaime Harrison can pull it off.
It would do wonders for the democrats running for the nomination to bring him up as much as possible.
3
The history of the US in politics and everything else is "money talks." This is an unfair attack on Tom Steyer because he is not a traditional politician. Whether we like it or not, money buys influence. Unless the action represents direct buying of votes, every candidate in both parties uses money to buy influence.
6
The one big thing I hate about Steyer's and Bloomberg's candidacies is that they are taking support away from moderates that can be nominated and helping Sanders. If they really care more about the Country than their own gigantic egos, they need to get out and get out QUICK in order to stop him.
1
The moderates have had months on the debate stage to make an impression. One has been worse than the next. They’re all hanging around hoping for a contested convention.
@Paul Really?...it depends on what you call worse. I call worse when a candidate is ranting about stuff he can't deliver. Buttigieg, for instance, debates about reality. Sanders debates about a fairy tale world where he can be elected with the policies no moderate State will ever vote for.
One other thing...Caucuses are an insult to Democracy and don't show anywhere nearly where all the voters in a State stand.
1
A this point Steyer is Quitoxic in his quest.
At one point he stated that if denied the nomination he would run as an independent.
As if Nader and Stein left any lessons to be learned.
Please bow out gracefully, Mr. Steyer and swing your support to a viable candidate.
2
So Tom Steyer should rent space from a Republican? Because he has to rent space for his campaign from someone, and apparently renting from anyone other than a Republican would be unseemly? It's become more and more clear that the corporate media is no longer neutral.
6
I think it's wonderful that Tom Steyer is hiring black vendors in South Carolina and helping black churches in South Carolina and all that.
I just wonder where he's been all his life and why this is now a priority for him.
And I question if this will be a priority of his if he loses the election ... or even if he wins.
6
Looking at the headquarters, it seems to be a wise and economical move.
7
In Iowa Steyer’s state Director Patrick Murphy (a former Speaker of the Iowa House) was accused of telling Democratic lawmakers that Steyer would donate to their campaign for an endorsement. When the news of the allegation came out (because his former colleagues found the offer offensive and probably illegal) Murphy apologized that his words were misunderstood and stepped down. It hurt Steyer in Iowa, if he was donating to charities and causes it would have killed him.
What's wrong with what Steyer does, his chances are so slim of what consequences will that be? The blacks of South Carolina are capable of making choices, they are not merely passive recipients, they can decline to respond positively if they choose. Politicians are known to influence voters by spending money. What he's doing is no more condemnable than those who spend huge sums on media ads to gain favor as well.
Of those who have not a chance among the Democrats' candidates, he's actually more qualified to be a candidate than some others.
6
And Bloomberg is the one trying to buy the election?
At a time when Donald Trump holds the highest elected office in the land, it would really be wonderful if the ninety-nine percent of the electorate — a majority which I belong to, for better or worse — would come to terms with our nation’s wealth disparity, in a manner which involves fewer torches and pitchforks.
4
Why is there no scrutiny of this corrupt political process in South Carolina? The entire Clyburn family is split across candidates, getting money from each. There is something very not cool about the raw money grab. It's very thinly veiled and all of these high minded Democrats refuse to acknowledge it for what it is - cash for votes. It's disgusting, but I guess those politicians and preachers all know it's about getting that money. Civil rights for sale I guess.
1
Donals trump is raking in millions/ year from shady players who can buy real political favors by booking trump hotels. You Americans are so naive it’s laughable.
4
As previously reported in the pages of this very newspaper, there is no one who can beat Michael Bloomberg for using his money to buy influence. If only these two men could just have settled for being kingmakers instead of feeding their bloated egos with presidential runs. Better yet, just pick one big problem each that the US Congress is refusing to solve and fund a solution. Liz and Bernie are right: it’s time to tax these jamokes down to size and get their pernicious influence out of OUR political system.
7
There seems to be an awful lot of "pro Bernie" comments attempting to paint Bloomberg and Steyer with the same stroke. Are they concern that Sanders will lose big in SC?
2
Clearly, Sanders voters are disturbed that their man is being crowded by Steyer who with Biden is leading in SC. Him being an billionaire makes the affront more painful. Yet, he doing what politicians have always done and he's winning friends there. He's also done good deeds for those disadvantaged in CA. The class warfare mentality of the Sanders voters, of Sanders himself, is a turnoff for those of us seeing that it will not end well regardless who becomes president.
7
Why has Steyer not dropped out yet? He has wasted close to 20% of his total net worth on this campaign and has zero delegates to show for it. Imagine how much good that money could have done if put to other uses...
7
@mike Yes, I agree. Steyer and Bloomberg are only crowding the field for other, actually competive candidates, especially Sanders and Biden. I wish Steyer and Bloomberg were instead spending their money to support either or both of those candidates, or some of the lower-tier candidates. Well, after Super Tuesday, this is probably what they'll decide to do.
1
@mike
Mike you you be a Democratic Congressman or Senator. You're expert at doing good - always with others' money.
Exactly how is this different from Trump?
I hate trump, but exactly how is this different?
And even Saint bernie has hired "...consultants..."
in Philadelphia, this is known as walking around money-- money to get people to bring out voters. Clinton campaign refused to pay. Looked what happened.
4
DJT and Mitt Romney set the example for this kind of behavior. “Businesses are people”. And it’s people who made DJT our President. There’s no higher ground anymore.
1
What this article reveals in stark contrast is that there is little difference between what Steyer, a billionaire, is doing to enhance his candidacy and what Bernie Sanders is doing to enhance his: strategically hiring people who can improve their odds of victory. The only difference is the source of the funds.
If one is worried about the corrupting affect money has on politics, it seems those who self-fund are less susceptible to corruption than someone wholly dependent on contributions.
I am not intimidating that Bernie is corrupt, but the endless drumbeat that billionaires are buying the election is rubbish.
3
Isn’t it ironic...Liberals seem to have completely forgotten Citizens United—and their dire warnings of Billionaires corrupting the American political process. I guess if you have the “RIGHT” billionaires corrupting the process, ala Bloomberg or Steyer, its all good.
1
@Jesse
Gotta fight fire with fire right? No moral victories in politics or life. Win at all costs.
Biden should immediately pledge himself to be a one-term restoration president.
That would clarify his intent and soothe many people who worry about his age and suitability to serve in the oval office.
Either Stacy Abrams or Corey Booker would be a great choice as Biden's running mate, and Biden should also announce at the convention or earlier a proposed cabinet who will join him on a crusade to turn out Trump and flip the Senate. (Both are required for the Democrats to succeed this time.)
Consider a Biden candidacy that brings together Buttigieg as Secretary of Defense, Kamala Harris as AG, Susan Rice at State, Andrew Yang at Commerce, and Julian Castro at Homeland Security.
Giving minorities and the LGBTQ community more chips in the game of governing the nation is a great way to show the nation that Democrats are serious about delivering the promise that "all men are created equal."
This would reinvigorate the big tent coalition that elected Obama twice, and gives these Democrats a chance to gain more experience in governing and makes for a much better slate of Democratic candidates in 2024.
Clyburn's endorsement will help. but it's not enough to bring California out of Bernie's column on Super Tuesday. It is time for Obama to speak out. Now is the time he needs to endorse his former wing man.
Winning debates is not the most important thing we need now. The nation needs Biden's steady judgment, his hand on the button, and his voice when people are hurting.
6
@Dennis : This is a GREAT recommendation!! Let's hope the right person/people read it!
2
Tom Steyer has always said that if he had no path to the nomination he would drop out. He lied.
We've had three elections so far. Tom Steyer's best performance was fifth. He won no delegates. People don't like him. They don't vote for him.
Tom Steyer is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in a vanity project that warps democracy instead of promoting it. It's his money. He can spend it how he wants to.
But that he chooses to spend his money quixotically instead of productively tells us how qualified he is for any political office, let alone the presidency. He isn't qualified at all.
44
I like him a lot, so saying “people don’t like him” is just good, old-fashioned hogwash. I’m an old white lady who has received no money from Mr. Steyer. It’s amazing to me that people are making a big deal of Steyer’s open appeal to black voters while not caring a peep about monies given by other candidates to all kinds of campaign-related, white-owned election machinery. I think, after my long, white life in this nation, that Steyer could easily win a head-to-head run against Trump and Fox in ways that no other democrat could.
4
@John Smithson, apparently a super-yacht is not big enough for some of California’s billionaires. SS USA is totally obscene however.
1
Sick thing is you still feel it’s sane to compare Steyer with Trump when it comes to fitness for office.
That's the problem with billionaires running for office. They say they can't be influence with contributions - maybe true - but they sure can influence others with their cash.
That's why Bloomberg doesn't belong on the Dems debate stage. He should have run as a Republican.
22
The voters have made plain that Tom Steyer is not viable. It is time for his to suspend
his campaign and throw his support to the candidate of his choice. In so doing, he would retain his right to lead on climate change issues from a platform other than the White House. He will not preserve that authority if he contributes to the re-election of Trump.
12
@Rosemary Kuropat He entered the race late and he has only been on one ballot, in Nevada. No, he is not going to win either the nomination or more, but he has raised important issues
3
Poetic justice is watching the two billionaire egotists and Republican refugees dilute each others support, siphon off votes from the moderates and leaving the progressive wing with an open lane.
Billionaires should not be telling Democrats how to vote.
Any Functioning Adult | 2020
Bernie Sanders. Because he qualifies.
11
@Billy
Disagree. Billionaires have a right to tell Americans how to vote. Free speech applies to billionaires too. I doubt that Sanders will change that.
1
No one should be surprised at the actions of this other billionaire Steyer who, like Bloomberg, is originally from New York City.
Of course he's buying votes and influence. His money is the very thing that defines him.
And Clyburn ought to be ashamed of himself comparing money in politics to "mother's milk".
7
Tom Steyer apparently hasn’t learned from history so now he will have to repeat it. In 1980 John Connaly former governor of Texas and a formidable politician spent 11 million dollars to get one (1) delegate in the Republican primaries.
It must be hard for those billionaires to live with the label of loser.
8
If Mr. Clyburn endorses Mr. Steyer we will have a whole lot of questions about why.
3
Birds of a feather certainly flock together . . .
Seems like both billionaires are using their money the old fashioned way. Should anyone be crying "Foul!?!" Please show me the politician that has clean hands. Doesn't exist.
Keep up the great work shining a light on this obvious malfeasance.
3
Tom Steyer is a good man. All that money he is spending would be put to better use if he used it to electing democratic senators to put a check on this corrupt president and his children.
16
Digging really deep here trying to find a scandal!
3
Rick, there's no scandal, in the sense of a crime being covered up. But it's like Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Should people get money based on their political pull rather than merit?
1
"Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman running for president, has lavished money on the black community — employing black-owned businesses, hiring African-Americans for his staff and buying ads with black-owned news organizations."
If Steyer had done any of those actions listed above long ago rather than after deciding to run for president, he might be worthy of consideration.
But such obvious and insulting gestures aren't worth the paper his ballot will be printed on.
Shameless and disgraceful don't even begin to cover how his actions are being viewed.
10
@Marge Keller, Tom Steyer and his wife have been supporting minority businesses for many years already. They are two of the most generous philanthropists in this country.
3
@Kathy Watterson
Well then, it appears as if a different story is trying to be manufactured that is deeply misleading.
I'm kind of surprised and deeply disappointed by the NYT.
Thanks for correcting my attitude and thinking.
1
Lol, not sure how the writer was able to name so many Dems down heah in MAGAland. If Steyer is playing fast+loose with his money, I see nothing in the article that seems different from what all politicians do. He is not my first choice to replace Tweetybird, but if it were to come to that I would vote for him in spite of what this article details. Fwiw, my wife and I tend to vote Dem, neither of us is registered as such, but he has nevertheless found our mailbox about 3xWeek for weeks now. All the other Dems have sent us a grand total of 2 mailings. We are both White, we don't let the mailbox help us choose, we don't let local Black or White Dem "names" help either, but this article seems to be skewing what Steyer is doing in SC a bit.
11
Another free campaign commercial for Bernie Sanders. What can be a finer contrast with Sanders' youth oriented support and agenda than Representative James E. Clyburn, a personification of DNC rigidity and status quo who naturally backs Biden even at this point. While Sanders continues to reep the support of the future, Biden, Steyer, Bloomberg, Buttigeig, Warren, Klobuchar scramble for the status quo. Sanders can only lose through DNC cheating with the assent of the likes of Clyburn.
@Edwin
I think the point that Sanders is also getting endorsements from two SC politicians who are his paid "consultants" is missed.
Maybe Sanders will win the nomination but if he doesn't, there doesn't have to be malfeasance on the part of the "establishment" because Sanders is turning out to be a really good politician.
9
Two nights ago on CNN, Andrew Yang remarked that someone needs to pull an Andrew Yang and drop out of the race. It’s hard to imagine he wasn’t referring to Tom Steyer,.
As one might expect, math makes Yang’s point. A month ago NPR reported that the Steyer campaign had spent 124 million dollars. Through three primaries Steyer has received a total of 22,709 votes (8928 in Nevada, 10,727 in New Hampshire and 3054 in Iowa). This means that the Steyer campaign has spent at least $5,460.39 for each vote it has received so far.
Surely this is the worst return on investment in the history of electoral politics. From a billionaire hedge fund manager no less.
A more cost-effective approach might be to cut out the middleman and simply offer $5,000 to anyone willing to vote for Steyer. It wouldn’t be any more objectionable than what is described in this article.
15
@Noell Tin And since the sole rationale for his candidacy is to get Trump out of office, if he was honest with himself he would see that he is hurting that cause in SC. He may come is the top three but will go on to remain insignificant . But by then the damage will have been done
5
@Noell Tin From reports I've heard and read, Steyer and Bloomberg are skirting close to the line of doing just that.
Why people would perpetuate the power of billionaires in our politics is abhorrent to me. There are other very good candidates running for president--- you don't have to support a billionaire.
1
I can see the two billionaires using their money this way but I'm a little bit surprised by Sanders and his spokesperson's response.
2
Trying to “wield influence through his spending?” Doing so is, according to Anthony Kennedy’s Citizens United decision, a constitutionally protected act of free speech which no one would ever interpret as bribery or corruption.
2
Martin, the Citizens United decision did not cover spending political money as much as raising the money. No matter how you got the money, buying votes with it is not good.
6
@Martin It's not about free speech--- it's about these under-taxed billionaires wielding more power in our political system. How is that good for our tax system and nation?
@John Smithson
I believe you are wrong about the decision; it even substituted the word "speech" when it mean "expenditure." I thought it would have been obvious that I disagree strongly with the decision, but perhaps I should have more more clear.
That just means he made his money too easily. Easy come, easy go.
Tom Steyer positions himself as this champion for justice. However, it would be interesting to see how much Tom Steyer supported under represented minorities in his own organization. How many of them became investment professionals and partners? Has this always been a focus for him or is justice a convenient new discovery?
6
If we want a nominee who can buy votes let’s choose Bloomberg.
He can buy a whole lot more!
5
Bloomberg and Steyer should spend their money on Dems running for Senate. Neither has a chance of winning, and taking the Senate is possible but not likely without a massive effort. They could make a huge difference. Or they could fluff their egos.
21
@Rich Taking the Senate and holding the House is also our best and only insurance policy should Trump be re-elected
5
@Rich, Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer have been the No. 1 and No. 2 individual contributors to the Democratic Party Congressional races for many years. Did you know that? Without them we wouldn't have a blue House of Representatives because their contributions, along with the national get-out-the vote drive by NextGenAmerica that Tom finances, were crucial.
1
@Rich Don't be so sure that Bloomberg can't win. They are a lot Democratic voters out there who are not thinking through the ramifications of their vote for a billionaire and what it does to our representative system.
Identifying corruption in political spending like Steyer's is much like putting a label on pornography; hard to define, but you know it when you see it.
2
Tom Steyer needs to get out now. He is barely polling and zero appeal. If we are going to elect a billionaire -- at least Bloomberg has run the largest city in the country. What the H has Tom Steyer ever done, and why does he think anyone wants him in this race. He is a total nuisance.
11
I didn't know he was still in the race!
3
A church is hosting a campaign event? Anybody else out there angered to hear this?
9
@Deb S.
Why are so many people so angry, rude, assaultive verbally, bitterly opinionated, not to mention uninformed & unable to spell ?
No.
quid pro quo?
Nothing wrong with what Steyer is doing. Dems need to focus on down ballot Dems who are being shafted. They need money to keep the House and take the Senate. Voter disenfranchisement is rampant.
4
All pols try to wield influence via their spending.
The difference is that a traditional candidate has money proportional to their support in the population. Self funded people don't.
This is why the republicans have worked so hard to corrupt the election funding system. They want to make it seem normal for someone that has little support in proportion to their funding to run and win.
4
Who knew that billionaires were as common as muck? Every time you turn around, there's another one.
And they are not especially special, are they? Rather they are mediocre men who lucked out while maybe also working hard, as Bloomberg says. He worked hard for his oceanic fortune, so, implied, you didn't, if you're not a billionaire.
In Steyer's case, he's a poor speaker with fine ideas, but spending his money inefficiently and ineffectively on annoying, monotonously repetitive ads, worse than Liberty Mutual. Clueless.
7
What's the big deal? At least half of all USA presidents have been (in today's terms) multi-millionaires. George Washington would be worth about $500,000,000. Filthy rich white men have nothing better to do than to mess with everyone else's lives.
3
Voter cynicism should remain high, in all cases. It’s politics! Steyer is so passionate about race, he becomes a racist! He’s so passionate about corruption he becomes corrupt.
6
Another diversion on a stage filled with distractions, none of whom have any business being there and taking up needed air space, as Democrats fumble and bumble their way toward boarding a socialist train bound for nowhere at all.
November's looking really good right now. Is Canada still accepting Americans willing to homestead in Nova Scotia?
2
Steyer and private prisons? Can't be good for African Americans.
3
How is it that an article on white candidates giving money in some form to African-American people of influence does not include Bloomberg's reported half-million contribution to Stacey Abrams' campaign for governor, and the $5 MILLION he reportedly gave to her Fair Fight PAC? Or Michael Tubbs, African-American mayor of Stockton, when Bloomberg gave an education reform group in Stockton half a million? Both Abrams and Tubbs have endorsed Bloomberg.
There are lots more. All the author had to do was to reference the Dec 14, 2019 article on "Mayors for Mike" to see how Bloomberg has seeded his endorsements. Why she included a mention of Bernie--who's employing people, not giving them handouts--is hard to understand. Likewise, Steyer is renting commercial space. The omission of Bloomberg in an article about suspect influence in endorsements that ropes in Bernie is truly puzzling.
24
@Penn - If Abrams has endorsed anyone, it’s a pretty well kept secret. While I very much dislike Bloomberg, donating to Fair Fight is pretty much the least nefarious thing he’s done.
6
@Penn
Not just the two ultra rich men, Bernie Sanders is also getting endorsements from current elected officials in SC who are paid by his campaign.
Of course any one of these three men would be better than the man in the white house now but this is not right.
Just a reminder that every other group more or less votes based solely in its own self-interest, why shouldn't you?
And it's nothing new, but don't sit here and tell me people don't spread money around in return for influence and support, and that's exactly what's being done here. Just like Bloomberg silencing critics and cutting the budget by paying them from his back pocket.
4
Looking forward to the final math on Tom Steyer's cost per vote for the South Carolina primary.
I will be disappointed if the finally tally is anything less than $100,000 per vote.
18
Is Steyer really running? What's his shtick?
I assumed his candidacy was to get famous, a popular option for those who are already rich.
13
The Democratic Party has ignored black people for decades but now it and the media are up in arms because Steyer is spending money with black voters? Really? Nevertheless Steyer should be questioned publicly on his views so voters can make an informed decision. He claims to support reparations but only supports HR 40 and “truth and reconciliation.” A read of the one page HR 40 bill reveals that it is filled with contingencies and is actually a vehicle that allows politicians to offer support for reparations while knowing that will never happen under HR 40. Shrewd. As for “truth and reconciliation,” how has that worked for black South Africans?
7
@Lynn in DC The Truth and Reconciliation Commission averted a feared blood bath in South Africa when the apartheid government left office in favor of majority rule. What it didn't resolve was the endemic corruption of the ruling ANC party and the negative impact that has had on foreign investors.
2
Is Tom Steyer bored?
I can think of no other rationale for his campaign.
7
As a proud South Carolinian of Native-African ancestry let me say that my vote can never be bought. Likewise my mental sensibilities can never succumb to pandering politrik-inspired gibberish. I vote how I like.
10
Sort of.
I get the hint, you are implying he is trying to buy votes.
But as Elizabeth Warren proved in Texas, you can talk loud and then fail miserably, again.
Let tom spend his cash, it won't prop him up form the basement. He and Warren can complain together from the bottom of the pile.
4
@AutumnLeaf
I guess it's just a smart political move Sanders can make with other people's money. And doesn't he brag about Walmart associates sending him money from their minimum wage jobs? How many years would it take for one of the Walmart workers to make the money Sanders's SC "consultant" is getting?
2
Back in the day, when I covered politics in the South, what Steyer is doing in South Carolina was known far and wide as “ walking around money.”
6
@PaulB67 I remember when Obama, in '08, made some negative waves in the Philly area because he refused to fund the usual "walking around money." Somehow he won.
I think the outcome for Mr. Steyer will be a little different.
3
Why is he in this race? Does he seriously believe he has a chance? Is it an ego thing? At least Bloomberg has a record in government. Steyer is driving me nuts.
8
What a strange article. You have a guy like Bloomberg spending ten times the money of Steyer, or more, trying to influence voters. Steyer spends money in South Carolina on his democratic primary; no kidding a lot of it will go to African-Americans, since they're 60% of the voters. What is the problem exactly? I think the whole insinuation that there is a problem is, itself, racist.
32
Steyer has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to garner the support of very few--his massive spending in Nevada got him a whopping 4.6% of the vote.
A far more fascinating story would be to examine the expensive delusion bubble this guy lives in. He's been buying TV commercial time to run ads in California for years to little if any effect. His besties may be ad agencies and political consultants who are making a mint feeding his ego--now that would be a story.
9
I don't like Mr. Steyer, and I don't like how money and influence far outweigh we voters, especially after the election cycle, but how is this different than what every other candidate does, and many even do worse? This is the direct result of Buckley v. Valeo, when it was decided that "money = free speech" (and we'll pause for a moment for all to reflect on the irony of that equation).
And again, who are the "villains" in this piece? Tom Steyer, and of course the NYT favorite, Bernie Sanders. Of course we have Joe Biden (or his delegate) wearing the "white hat" and exposing the whole "sordid" mess, even though he's just as guilty as anyone.
If anything can be drawn from this, is yet more proof that we need to go to fully funded public campaign spending, where no candidate gets an advantage because of their wealth, and the playing field is level. Until then we're going to continue to have money corrupting the process.
18
Preferable to spending on the usual consultants in DC, by the way.
And no, I am not a Steyer fan, but would vote for him over Trump in a second.
13
"But as he tries to forge connections with the black community, some of Mr. Steyer’s transactions have drawn increased scrutiny, and prompted suggestions that he is trying to wield influence through his spending."
And Bloomberg is trying to buy votes by giving money to every progressive organization he can find.
Shocked, just shocked.
14
And why is Tom Steyer still running? Ditto for Amy Klobuchar? And, perhaps also Pete Buttigieg who will now fade as he faces African-American voters? For those more worried about Bernie Sanders than Donald Trump, it's time for these moderates to drop out so the public can have a true contest between the Sanders-Elizabeth Warren progressive wing and the moderate Joe Biden-Michael Bloomberg wing of the party.
9
@Paul Wortman
All ego. Amy, Pete, and Tom need to get out now. They don't have a snowball's chance and are giving the election To Bernie.
3
"As he courts voters across South Carolina, Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman running for president, has lavished money on the black community — employing black-owned businesses, hiring African-Americans for his staff and buying ads with black-owned news organizations."
So what is the problem with these actions - Spending money in the African American community? Hiring Africaan Americans?
This just sounds like more Bernie bots and disinformation, and the press just gobbles this up without considering the source and the motivation behind these sudden, pre-primary "revelations", driven by Bernie boy's concern that the steamroller Bernie train might get derailed or slowed by a loss in South Carolina just before Super Tuesday. Bernie is the least likely to succeed in a Trump matchup. Regardless of a couple of polls showing him statistically neck and neck with Trump, this is long before Trump gets to attack him on his policies, on "Medicare for All", on higher taxes on the middle class, etc, all dear to independent suburbanites.
This race is about the Supreme Court, which just today agreed to take up gay rights again, and has taken away the voter protections designed to ensure voter equity for minorities, which is so terribly under attack. I want someone who can win, not someone who twenty-somethings, who have not lived through five or ten elections, believe can win. Anyone who can stop this Pied Piper and beat Trump is okay with me.
3
How much rent was the office space collecting prior to the Steyer lease? If Steyer is paying market value, it is much less of an issue. Surely the NYT could figure that out.
3
@Joe Average
It was a foreclosed building inhabited by squatters.
So, zero 'rent'. The $40,000 seems a bit steep for
several months rent, but the building needed instant
renovation to make it a headquarters, so perhaps the
rent amount reflects more than just square footage.
It's definitely not the poshest digs !
@Joe Average
it sounds like the place was vacant, and had to be remodeled so they are likely the first tenet.
I have no idea what office space rents for but it's in a highly visible location where he can just let it double for a billboard if need be.
How about that?
Mr. Steyers is trying to buy votes, just like the lobbyists who control so many of our senators and representatives.
Democracy for sale much?
I, for one, am sick of it.
8
@Panthiest
What Sanders did is also bothering me. Holding political office should preclude the office holder from being a paid consultant to his campaign. This seems wrong to me and I expected more from the senator from Vermont.
2
Steyer is getting Clyburn’s endorsement.
We don’t have to wait till Wednesday to find out.
2
Trying to wield influence through his spending .... uh ... isn’t that what all politicians do?
2
Time for Steyer to get out. He doesn't stand a chance. It will never cease to amaze me how many entered this race and ignored the fact that their Poll numbers were low and people simply didn't want them.
53
@Philip W Poll numbers with less than 5% at this stage should quit now. Gabbard? Is she still running?
2
@Philip W - or didn't know them. Give him a look. See what he has done. Shouldn't bother you if he wants to stay in and talk.
As a long-time grant writing consultant who works for many African American nonprofits and cities across the US, nothing new here. In the community, this is called "walkin' around money" and lots of grants are made on this basis. Actually, the whole War on Poverty era network of 800 Community Action Agencies has been funded for 60 years by the the feds as more or less walkin' around money.
5
One could argue that exactly this financial assistance that has been paid out for decades with no expectation of return qualifies as “reparations”.
3
@writerinbh And that's partly why universal basic income may have advantages over all the layers of middleman that stand between who gives the money and who needs it (whether for education, medical care, nutrition, etc.). At every level, various people ask for their "taste" or share of the money such that a much smaller % eventually reaches those who need it. It is why despite billions the US has spent on African (not African-American) aid for example, Africa remains mired in problems: too many people getting their taste. That's probably also true of many nonprofits in the US, whether oriented towards Blacks or not. Mind you, I help lead 2 nonprofits and we work hard for every $ but there are also wealthy nonprofits that don't really help anyone.
Years ago, I heard that a local politician in Italy would hand out left shoes to everyone before the election; if he won he would hand out the right shoes.
Whether it’s done explicitly or implicitly, all politicians pay for votes.
4
That’s $8000 a month rent for a small one story commercial on Gervais Street in Columbia with buildings in the area selling for between $300,000 to $400,000. Forget about Tom Steyer, Jim Clyburn should know better...
20
"trying to wield influence through his spending." So what? If it's not in violation of any laws then what's the big deal. Money creates an uneven playing field, is it Mr. Steyer's responsibility to correct that?
3
It is worth noting that there are two billionaires running on their money, and rather than use that giant advantage to conduct a straight forward campaign, this article and others show them using their money in very shady ways even in a PRIMARY.
This strongly suggests that their efforts are all about them personally and not their party,
theeir policy views or anyone else.
People even a tiny fraction as wealthy as have no pressure to behave unethically, unfairly or even tarnish their reputation, but many of them seem to anyway even as they run a very public campaign for a position of tremendous public trust. This suggests that their only gear is to operate as ruthless competitor. This is simply not presidential.
6
It appears Mr. Steyer has discovered the tried and true method of obtaining minority votes. It is not done by delivering and following through on campaign promises to voters of color, but buying their favor for political gain. The practice of “walking around money” has long been known to be the most effective way to ensure minority voter turnout on election day. Chicago politics at its best!
12
@Tyler Barkley
how can he deliver and follow through on a campaign promise if he's never been elected before?
I mean I could see what you were saying if this was a reelection campaign, but you can't hold someone to account for stuff they haven't yet even had a chance to try.
For the first time in American history, a politician is spending his campaign money where it might prove politically beneficial. Next Steyer will be lodging and feeding campaign supporters at Clyburn Hotels.
1
I'm no Steyer supporter, but this is a bit of a hit job. Supporting minority owned business is a good thing to do. If it has political benefit, so be it. It is not even in the same universe with Trump sycophants spending millions at his properties. In none of what is described has Steyer gained a nickel. Nor have I heard him ever mention any of it.
So much political patronage benefits privileged white people. Has anyone ever, ever, investigated the white recipients of rental income from other candidates?
Candidates spend tens of millions of dollars on ad purchases, travel, accommodation and support of local organizations. Suddenly, when the recipients are folks of color, it is portrayed as some sort of "scandal."
39
@Barking Doggerel
This is a primary.
Shady spending or tactics hurts people you are pretending to be aligned with and the legitimacy of the process.
If you want to turn an election into a personal experiment in pushing the boundaries of election law, do it as an independent instead of going Tonya Harding on people you will depend on if you do get the nomination.
2
Thank you for pointing out what isn’t apparent to the NYT and others who think that the Black Community should not get any patronage while white business soak up the gains. White privilege rearing it’s head - again.
If white progressives want more passionate support from the African American community, this is the way to do it.
It’s no different than how the President and GOP operate. They restrict immigration, which benefits their white working class voters. Then they give tax breaks, farm aid, and other benefits to this same group, even going so far as to talk tough on law and order, as if white people are more likely to be victimized by people of color than the other way around. Even if this is statistically true, it is a hateful fact and should never be shared.
What is the result of all of these handouts? Strong support from the white working and middle class.
So why again is Mr. Steyer wrong to engage African Americans?
53
Ben- because it is short term pandering. Not long term subsidies.
17
@Ben
1. Restriction of immigration, particularly low-skilled labor benefits American minorities and black communities most, as they are the ones who work those jobs.
2. There's a huge difference between giving tax incentives to a sector versus cherry-picking certain business owners and giving them money.
The latter has transparent criteria for what you need to qualify, and doesn't rely on immutable characteristics.
3. If you're going to buy votes, why not let African American voters name their price in an open, transparent way. Open up an auction.
11
@Ben This is also specifically where Pete is going to have some explaining to do, since under his administration, the dollar value of contracts awarded by South Bend to African-American-owned businesses went from about $250K to zip, while the city's budget increased to $10M. Not good.
6
If Steyer and company were serious about reparations he's suggest giving them for segregation. Some of those that experienced that are still alive along with their children. It might actually get broad support vs paying people for something that happened to an ancestor no one even remembers. It begs the question why only them and who is them?
3
$ 40’000 rental payments. What, is he supposed to rent a Trump-owned property? Paying for African-American advisors; uh, who pays all those media advisors I hear every morning. Is James Carville appearing for free?
The loan/investment in the bank- made...over 2 years ago. Wow- Steyers was planning a campaign even then? Come on.
As for the other instances of community requests for money, is he looking to buy votes, or are they....looking to sell them? Big difference.
I liked Steyers, still do. But I wish he would drop the term limits idea as a campaign reform. I want to see finance reform, and (heads up Dem Party) no forced support for incumbents. Equalize the financing- then let voters decide if more terms are desired.
Steyers has a long history of putting his money where his ideals are- and as he said, why aren’t more people doing that- especially a bank making....micro loans, maybe rejecting the stranglehold three credit reporting companies seem to now hold on every aspect of our lives. Remember when you could go into a local bank, talk with a local loan officer, and get a car loan..based on something other than a, score from a distant company? I do.
What is he really running for, goes the thinking. Same question for many of the other candidates showing low polling numbers. They should all have a place in any Dem administration. At least they have good ideas- something Repubs haven’t had for decades.
26
Hiring black advisors and setting up shop in black neighborhoods to hear black voices is just good politics not some sort of crime. This article reads like a rumor mill trying to drum up drama.
This is exactly what America needs, candidates who listen and get involved in all communities. The only reason this is note worthy is because people haven’t done this before, which is depressing.
117
"I'm shocked. Shocked to find there's gambling going on here."
Here's a little reality check, "former" Republican Mike Bloomberg has hired hundreds of people to flood Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with positive messages about the former mayor and his campaign. By posting these messages, people can earn $2,500 a month. Bloomberg is spending over $1 million-a-day on Facebook alone. A 60 Minutes report from 2017 estimated that Bloomberg charities have given about $5 billion to “causes that often dovetail with his political interests.” As of last week, Bloomberg had already spent $50 million on digital ads and an estimated $400 million on campaign ads overall.
And the Times is obsessing about a $40,000 real estate transaction? Am I the only one who sees the disconnect here?
174
@Reality Checker The context also matters. It’s a $40,000 real estate deal with an important politicians daughter. If this influences the politicians decision to endorse Tom, then it is very problematic.
14
@Reality Checker
Bloomberg have always donated large sums of money. He donated billions to issue concerning climate change and gun control and to small and medium size cities all across the US long before he declare his candidacy.
The fact the some people donate money to causes important to them, and other ask you to donate money to help them run should not be a reason to exclude a candidate.
5
Steyer is anti establishment despite his wealth. NYT is a profit driven corporate entity and part of the establishment.
1
Steyer, Bloomberg and Klobuchar should drop out today. They have zero chance of becoming the nominee. By doing so they solidify the centrist portion of the party. Only Joe or Pete have any chance of beating Sanders, who is the perfect Republican foil.
17
@Fascist-Fighter Why do you think they do not? Is it some calculus wherein more delegates delivers more leverage to shape the platform and better potential for a role in the administration? Or simply grandiosity? If the former, I wonder if the party could actively reverse that by telegraphing those who throw their support earlier will get more. Not much hope for the latter.
@Fascist-Fighter
If any moderate should drop out it is Buttigieg who has zero chance of appealing to African-American voters after his many racially insensitive actions.
1
Pete has zero chance given the diversity of the rest of the country. Even if nominated, he has no chance of beating Trump. What a farce!
As a South Carolina resident, I have received more mailings from the Steyer campaign than from all other campaigns combined - literally several mailings a week for months on end. It's ironic that a campaign that wants to take on climate change produces so much glossy paper and waste.
Plus the airwaves have been saturated with Steyer's commercials for months as well. I also attend a protest during a visit by President Trump last fall in which a dozen or so young African-American men were carrying large Steyer signs and wearing Steyer t-shirts. I should have talked to them, but it wasn't clear to me whether they were paid workers or campaign volunteers. Does Steyer have a lot of support among young African-American men in the state?
Whatever the case, it's clear that Steyer has spent an enormous amount of money in South Carolina and views this state as central to his campaign. And the strategy seems to have worked to some degree with his uptick in the polls here. We'll see what happens at next Saturday's primary.
10
@jrinsc If he is since in his stated goal, which is to defeat Trump, then he (and Bloomberg) should see that they are only helping Trump. These are vanity projects
8
@jrinsc
I agree, I sometimes get worried if I go 2-3 days without my large glossy Steyer 2020 flyer. The part about wasting paper is spot on, but I guess it's on me to recycle it instead of putting them straight in the garbage can.
I think most South Carolinians have an average to below average engagement with national politics. It takes a year of constant campaigning to get your name known. I think that in large part explains why Biden, Sanders, and Steyer are in the 1-3 spots, and in that order.
That's not to say we don't have well informed voters, but just that the majority of them don't follow it very closely 12 months out of the year.
3
It’s time for Tom Steyer to drop out.
There’s no rationale for him to be in this race, if this is the kind of campaign he’s running and if his strategy is to directly pay for votes.
For shame.
60
Okay, tell that to Bloomberg and his supporters.
15
@Carter Cohn
No. I’m sick of what-about-ism.
It’s the refuge of the scoundrel.
4
I realize The Times did a separate article on Bloomberg but how can you write about Steyer's alleged buying of African American politicians in one state without mentioning Bloomberg doing it for over a decade with a LOT more money and getting not merely support but also getting them to stay silent on issues like Stop and Frisk, illegal spying on the Muslim community etc. Bloomberg's 'success" with endorsements by establishment African American politicans he has heavily donated to for years makes Mr. Steyer look the amateur he is.
88
@Jessica Throwing money into a state days before a primary is not even close to the same as a decade plus long campaign of charitable giving, and of course one that will also go on long after this campaign ends. At some point the help Bloomberg has provided should earn him some credit beyond the influence he obviously gains.
If anything the credit people would give him for being some Machiavellian genius seems more than a little excessive.
6
@trudds you are half right. As shown in The NY Times article Bloomberg used his giving over the years to silence and intimidate groups he gave money to perhaps the scariest was a civil rights group that did a report on abuses with a whole section on Bloomberg’s illegal spying on the Muslim community (as determined by the court which of course bloomberg attacked) the entire section was removed because bloomberg was a major donor
5
Well Steyer could be labeled as an amateur corrupter vs Bloomberg but instead he is a genuine reformer. He wants to dismember corporate control of America.
3
All these bribes need a congressional investigation of the congress itself
3
I am very disappointed to read this. I really thought that my democrat party was above these shenanigans. I guess I was just naive. These people will cut every ethical corner possible to gain power.
8
@Ryan Don't blame the Democratic Party establishment. Tom Steyer is an outsider and billionaire using any means to win at all cost.
17
@Ryan
Get over it. These "shenanigans" have been going on since the dawn of time.
1
Your “Democrat” Party? Spoken like a true Republican.
With Super Tuesday only a little over a week away, can't we focus on the real issues: climate change, inadequate heath care, soaring student debt, growing social discord and a president who has utter contempt for the rule of law.
Jesse Unruh, the late California Democrat, knew the score when he observed that "money is the mother's milk of politics." This is the way the game is played. No one is suggesting that Steyer is violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution. He's playing politics, just like all the other candidates.
As near as I can tell, there are still a lot of establishment Democrats running the party who don't want someone as smart and principled (and, forgive me, professionally successful) as Steyer messing with their comfortable annuity.
I'm not even supporting Steyer at this point: I'm a Bernie guy. But I'm smart enough to know that those same establishment powers are going to do everything short of endorsing the president to crush Bernie no matter how many primaries he wins.
So how about letting the Democrats actually talk about the issues instead of pretending that politics isn't politics. Steyer is spot on when it comes to some of those issues. Why not talk about the relative merits of his positions?
Unless your secret goal is to re-elect the president, keep the focus on the real issues.
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@Laocoön I would love Bernie to address his health issue, but he refuses, principled as he is.
Tom Steyer has no more chance of being the Democratic nominee than I do. But he sure is sowing mischief.
His ego is going to give us a losing Bernie Sanders candidacy.
55
@Will. Steyer's got barely any support anywhere. He's not affecting much of anything except his own checking account.
If you want to blame someone for Bernie, Biden's lackluster, half-hearted disorganized, uninspired campaign, and the DNC's refusal to eliminate even the most marginal candidates from any debates after the first couple, would be the places to start.
15
@Will. My guess is that he wants to be recognized and treated like a VIP everywhere. A presidential run might accomplish that for the cost of a few supercars.
1
@The Poet McTeagle Steyer currently has 18% support in the most recent poll in SC. It got him on the debate stage tomorrow night.
2
Trump and Bernie must love this guy. One has to wonder if his money was put to defeating Trump and uniting the party?
15
I truly can’t believe that an educated,adult writer for the NYT no less,
Would write an article based on:
It looks like a politician is trying to wield power by spending money.
That is the sad essence of our entire election system
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@Angel B Torres
Exactly correct. Democrats probably want to get Steyer and few others out of the race, but this is laughable.
7
@Angel B Torres Is Bernie Sanders paying people to post positive reviews? Maybe people want a president who doesn't do that.
2
@Rose Anne While I am not part of the Sanders campaign, I can tell you personally I post because of my support for Sanders, not because I'm being paid or otherwise being compensated.
On the other hand Bloomberg DOES pay people to generate memes and posts. This is not a rumor. It has been reported:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/style/michael-bloomberg-memes-jerry-media.html