Dem Electeds React to Bloomberg's G.O.P. Donation

Yesterday I got the chance to ask a number of Democratic elected officials about the $500,000 Michael Bloomberg quietly donated to the Republican Senate campaign committee recently.

Their reactions, which I gathered at the Riverdale Jewish Community Council legislative breakfast, seemed to be collective shrug of the shoulders (and in some cases, a touch of promotion for the party).

City Comptroller Bill Thompson: “I think I was a little surprised, but then again, Mike has been very supportive of the Republican Party on the state level before, and has had a good working relationship with Joe Bruno. A little surprised, but it wasn’t a huge surprise. He’s been a strong contributor and supporter before, of him [Bruno] and it was kind of a continuation. Mike still has to get things done in New York State and I think that was indicative that he still has a good working relationship with Joe Bruno.”

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn: “Mayor Bloomberg has long supported lots of different candidates in all different parties. This doesn’t seem like any change from anything Mayor Bloomberg has done throughout his whole life. Certainly not at all different from what he’s done since he became the mayor."

State Senator Jeff Klein, co-chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee: “I guess he [Bloomberg] feels that the Republicans were good for the city. I just think Democrats in the majority will be much better for the city of New York, and for the state, because we’ll have a regional approach.”

Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz: "Republicans aren’t good for the city. Look at all the things that don’t get done, like reform of rent laws, for one example. So, I think that he [Bloomberg] is wrong if he thinks if he thinks that it’s been helpful to the city to have a couple of Republican friends."