Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez fended off criticism for the inclusion of Michael Bloomberg at the Democratic National Convention and the suggestion that it undermined the DNC’s message of equality for all.
Michael Bloomberg’s net worth is over $54,900,000,000.
Michael Bloomberg told his campaign staff he would pay salaries through 11/03/2020.
Michael Bloomberg broke his promise. He laid-off his campaign staff and gave them $0.
Michael Bloomberg should not be speaking tonight.
— Brianna Westbrook (@BWestbrookAZ8) August 20, 2020
From the choice of Julia Louis–Dreyfus—scion of one of the world’s largest shipping magnates—as emcee of the final night, to the incessant promotion of one of George Soros‘s pet causes—mail-in ballot-driven vote-fraud and the corresponding post-office conspiracy—the specter of Democrats’ billionaire mega-donors loomed large over the convention.
Nowhere was it more jarringly apparent than in the coddling of presidential nominee Joe Biden‘s one-time political rival, Bloomberg.
In years past, Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and billionaire media mogul, has jockeyed with Soros and fellow ex-candidate Tom Steyer for the title of biggest donor, both in individual election seasons and the all-time record.
His diva-like demands on the party included a plum spot in the speaker lineup on Thursday, immediately following a panel that featured his fellow also-rans.
That came in spite of ongoing lawsuits with his own former campaign staff, whom he shockingly short-changed after promising wages and healthcare, regardless of outcome, through the November election.
A group of former staffers sent Perez a letter earlier in the week demanding Bloomberg’s removal from the lineup.
But Perez circuitously confirmed that the party desperately was in need of Bloomberg’s big bucks—hence the reason for his prime placement at an event that often took the air of a telethon fundraiser with inappropriately placed calls for $5 donations.
“Every single candidate who’s run for president has delivered on all of their commitments, ” Perez told ABC News.
“And I think the most important commitment was: If they don’t win the nomination, they will be fully throated behind Joe Biden, he continued. “Our unity is indeed our greatest strength—and I think is Donald Trump’s worst nightmare. And Michael Bloomberg is an important part of our United Democratic front.”
Perez denied knowing anything about the validity of the lawsuit, insisting he had been too busy with the convention-planning to review the claims.
He did note, however, that Bloomberg had cut at least one big check—to the DNC.
“I appreciate what the mayor has done,” Perez said. “He kept his word to us when he said, ‘I’m in it to win it. If I’m not in it, I will be supporting the Biden campaign and the DNC.’ And he has done that. I really appreciate the folks who are on our campaigns right now from his team.”
Perez claimed that the party had interviewed or offered jobs to more than 600 Bloomberg “alumni.”
