At the final debate before the Nevada caucuses, Elizabeth Warren inexplicably but highly effectively eviscerated Michael Bloomberg, the ascendant billionaire who bought his way to third place in the Democratic presidential primary, for his storied record of sexist statements and multiple nondisclosure agreements designed to silence female subordinates. In fact, the majority of the debate’s first hour centered a circular firing squad on Bloomberg rather than the front-runner, Bernie Sanders, lambasting the businessman for everything from his racially charged remarks defending stop and frisk to his tone-deaf defense of NDAs as “consensual.”
And yet, Pete Buttigieg happily conceded that while he rejects Bloomberg’s bid for the Oval Office, he welcomes his power in the Democratic Party.
“Oh, I think he should absolutely be doing everything in his power to defeat Donald Trump,” the former South Bend mayor conceded of Bloomberg. “I just don’t think that has to result in him becoming the president of the United States.”
It’s one thing for Tom Perez or some other top DNC boss to butter up Bloomberg for his millions or billions. But Buttigieg is the former mayor of the 308th largest city in the nation, the only candidate on stage with fewer than seven figures of wealth to his name. He’s a rising star with no need to suck up to the bloviating billionaire.
And yet, Buttigieg gave the game away. Bloomberg’s credibly accused sexual misconduct isn’t beyond the pale for Democratic morality. It’s simply incompatible with the party’s optics. Once again, President Trump has ample reason to smile in the Oval Office and send another ready-made attack ad to campaign manager Brad Parscale.
