2008 SelectSmart.com Presidential Candidate Selector Candidate Positions Mayor Michael Bloomberg - Independent Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born 14 February 1942) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P., currently serving as the Mayor of New York City.

War authorization: He was not in position to vote for or against it, nor did he comment on it at the time. Speaking of Hillary Clinton, he said, "Meanwhile, she refuses to see anything wrong with her war authorization vote. Of course, that's a sign of poor [judgment], but it's compounded by George Bush-like refusal to acknowledge mistakes. We've had plenty of that with Bush. I'm not eager for more of the same.". Source

Security/liberties: "There are lots of threats to you in the world. There’s the threat of a heart attack for genetic reasons. You can’t sit there and worry about everything. Get a life." The mayor added, “You have a much greater danger of being hit by lightning than being struck by a terrorist.” Source Preparing for the 2004 GOP Convention in NYC, Bloomberg received general praise from the NYCLU: "We're encouraged that the city's administration has taken positive measures to address concerns about demonstration permits and march routes," said Robert Perry, Legislative Director of the NYCLU. "But we believe affirmative steps are still necessary to ensure the city strikes the proper balance between security and freedom of speech and expression." Source

Social Security: Among problems Bloomberg says Washington is ducking is Social Security. "What would Bloomberg do as President? If the New York experience teaches anything, he will attack problems by spending more money and raising taxes. He has argued that he is really a conservative because he believes people want services and that to give them, you have to pay for them. By that measure, fixing Social Security - tax hikes. Health care, immigration, global warming - tax hikes." Source

Stem cell research: He supports stem cell research. Source

Same sex issues: He supports gay marriage Source

Trade issues: Favors free trade. Source

Budget issues: He raised property taxes to help solve a fiscal crisis after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Source

Business & labor issues: Bloomberg, who is a highly successful businessman, garnered strong support from labor unions in re-election bid for mayor. Source

Abortion issues: He is pro-choice. Source

Capital punishment: "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg reiterated his opposition to capital punishment yesterday, after Staten Island prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing two police officers." Source

Illegal street drugs: "You bet I did. And I enjoyed it," said then Mayoral candidate Bloomberg just before the elections last year when a New York magazine reporter asked about his pot use. However, he enforced NYC's drug laws and has not advocated decriminalization of marijuana. Source

Gun control: He favors gun control. Source

Minimum Wage: Source

Health care: "We've got a health care system that's not only breaking the bank, and not only leaving one out of six Americans uninsured, but which also provides decidedly ineffective care," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We have the most expensive and most advanced health care system in the world, yet we lag on such basic measures as life expectancy, and we fail to prevent death and disability for millions of Americans with common conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes." The Mayor told conference participants that universal health insurance alone won't automatically lead to the health improvements unless we start paying for prevention as well as treatment, saying that, "We're paying for a disease care system, not a health care system. We must fundamentally reorder our priorities –and start rewarding the primary and preventive care that keeps people out of hospitals in the first place." Source

Prescription drugs: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Randi Weingarten, Chair of the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), today announced a tentative agreement modifying the New York City Health Benefits Program affecting over 500,000 covered employees and retirees. The agreement will maintain vital prescription drug benefits while containing costs. Joining the Mayor at the announcement was Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37. "City employees deserve the best possible health care available," said Mayor Bloomberg. "But the rising costs of prescription drugs threaten the well-being of an important component of the health benefits program. Today, I am pleased to announce that by working together, the MLC, the unions that it represents and the City are preserving the level of benefits to City employees and their dependents while controlling costs. Building on the success of last year's agreement with the MLC that averted dramatic reductions in benefits, we will continue a level of coverage that our employees rely upon." Source

Environmental issues: "'Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Doctoroff today announced GreeNYC, an integrated marketing and advertising campaign that is the consumer education component of PlaNYC. The initiative, consisting of television, radio, print, online and outdoor advertisements supported by Bank of America, is designed to educate, engage and mobilize all New Yorkers on the simple steps they can take to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, and to create a greener, greater New York City." Source

Immigration issues: "In an editorial for The Wall Street Journal and two nationally televised interviews, the mayor reiterated his long-standing belief that the 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States should be given the opportunity for citizenship, saying that deporting them is impossible and would devastate the economy." Source

Link to voting records and special interest group ratings. (If available).

Campaign website & other sources