5:38 pm Jan. 29, 20132
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC is running a television ad opposing a pro-gun candidate in the Illinois race to replace retiring congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Debbie Halvorson, a Democrat who previously served one term in Congress, is currently seen as the front-runner among the 17 Democrats who have officially registered to run in the special election. Halvorson opposes a ban on assault weapons and on high-capacity magazine clips, positions at odds with Bloomberg, and with President Obama, who has proposed bans on both as part of his recent push to enact new gun control measures.
“In the race to replace Jesse Jackson, watch out for Debbie Halvorson," the ad warns. "When she was in Congress before, Halvorson got an A from the NRA. The NRA: against comprehensive background checks, against banning deadly assault weapons, against banning high capacity ammunition clips.
"Halvorson even co-sponsored a bill that would allow some criminals to carry loaded, hidden guns into Chicago. Debbie Halvorson: when it comes to preventing gun violence, she gets an F."
Bloomberg founded the PAC, Independence USA, late in the fall campaign cycle and won four of the seven races in which he invested heavily.
The race bears some similarities to Bloomberg's biggest victory during the fall elections, when he helped defeat California Rep. Joe Baca, a Democratic incumbent with a pro-gun record. Bloomberg backed another Democrat, State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, who had a more progressive record on gun control, in what was widely considered a surprising upset. (That Democrat-versus-Democrat scenario was made possible by California's new nonpartisan election law, which advances the two top vote-getters in an open primary.)
Bloomberg has not yet backed a candidate in the Illinois race.
These ads are absolutely flooding the Chicagoland airwaves. I was curious about the PAC responsible for being so heavy-handed and nasty -- and it's Mr. Righteous Himself behind it. I guess he was tired of fighting against giant pop (soda) drinks!
To date this PAC has spent close to $450,000 opposing Halvorson! There is probably more to come too. While I am opposed to assault weapons, I am also opposed to another lockstep Democrat gaining that seat and shoving an unneeded third regional airport down our throats in addition to all the other things the Democrats are doing to further ruin Illinois. If I lived in this District, I would vote for Halvorson for sure.
Keep your nose in NYC's business, Mr. Bloomberg, and donate the money that's obviously burning a hole in your pocket to a worthy charity and not to creating and running an annoying PAC like this one!
P.S. Whatever happened to YOUR term limit?
What a bunch of intellectual idiots with absolutley no common sense whatsoever. We as the american people are to blam, we allow all of this bullshit to keep happening. I guarntee Illinois will be the first state to burn, then new york....etc. , etc. You can only accuse the innocent for so long untill they snap. These liberal fucks continue to exploit tragedies and blame the tax paying law abiding citzens in this country. Every elected official who continues to play politics for there own personal gain, should be very affraid, because when the peoplr rise, the government will fall. This PAC spawns nothing but lies.