The Mayor on the Election: Romney, Obama Economic Plans "Are Not Real"

By John Surico Mon., Oct. 22 2012 at 8:00 AM

Categories: "Politics", #AskObama, 'National' 'News', Bloomberg, John Surico

Since he endorsed then-president Bush in 2004, Mayor Bloomberg has remained relatively mum during the election season. He didn't endorse anyone in 2008 and will not do so this year either. The Republican-turned-independent politician likes to pull strings from the outside instead: Just last week, the billionaire told the press that he would be creating his own SuperPAC to funnel funds to Congressional candidates that shared his political views.

By doing so, the mayor hopes to influence a different level of the national stage. And that makes sense, given that he doesn't seem to like the two presidential candidates too much.

In an interview with The New York Times yesterday, Bloomberg spilled the beans on all his electoral emotions, much to the dismay of the Romney and Obama tents. Needless to say, the criticisms were harsh for both sides, but the icing on the cake of it all was the mayor's overarching referendum on the candidates' policies:

"Their economic plans are not real. I think that's clear. If you listen to what they say, they never get explicit." (For Romney, at least, a whole website has been dedicated to that idea: Ladies and gentlemen, we give you... romneytaxplan.com).

The mayor has spoken.

However, if you read the rest of Bloomberg's comments, he reminds you of the disappointed liberal more so than the centrist mold he has created for himself. On the president's social stances, in terms of gay marriage and gun control (two issues that Bloomberg has prided himself on), the mayor is stumped by inaction:

"I will say that I don't see as much action as I would like, and it's nice to be on the side that I think you should be on, but unless you do something, so what."

Continuing on that liberal fury, the mayor even included an indictment of Romney's business experience, which is strange coming from a man who flew into office on the "I'm a businessman who can run government too" ticket:

"I do think that Romney's business experience would be valuable, but I don't know that running Bain Capital gives you the experience to run the country."

Private equity is not the same as running a multimillion dollar financial information service company, Mitt.

But don't think for a second that Bloomberg sympathizes with Obama on taxing the 1 Percent -- an issue we touched upon two weeks ago with the mayoral race next year. "This business of 'Well, they can afford it; they should pay their fair share?' Well, who are you to say 'Somebody else's fair share'?"

Once again, the mayor has spoken. Sorry, Mitt and Barack. This guy ain't your friend.

[jsurico15@gmail.com/@JSuricz]