Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp had some tough words for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the wake of him giving $50 million to push his gun control agenda.
Appearing as a guest on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, the CNN Crossfire co-host mocked Bloomberg’s efforts: “Well, he's the best, and by that, I mean the worst face for gun control. And believe me, my friends at NRA high-fived when they heard about this. [See video below.]
Prior to the segment on Bloomberg’s gun control agenda, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos hosted former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens to lobby for gun control. Stevens proposed a constitutional amendment in which the Second Amendment would read “The right of the people to keep and bear arms when serving in the militia should not be infringed."
Following the Stevens promotional segment, ABC’s Jeff Zeleny proclaimed that Michael Bloomberg was “absolutely not” the right face for gun control before arguing “That's the exact question because during the Senate debate on this, in the months after Sandy Hook, everybody thought that some sort of background checks would pass the Senate. But it’s too easy for politicians out there to say that's the New York City Mayor."
After Zeleny’s repudiation of Bloomberg’s efforts, Cupp continued to dismantle Bloomberg:
Going after the NRA is a very odd thing. The NRA represents law-abiding gun owners, like myself, they don't represent criminals. They don't event represent gun manufacturers. So why Mayor Bloomberg is turning his figurative guns on people like me when there are criminals out there seems a very strange way to go about reducing gun crime. His efforts on this issue have been measurable failures.
Donna Brazile, campaign manager to Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, did her best to support Bloomberg and argued that he should:
Be praised for what he's doing with his money. He's trying to stop gun violence in America, 70% of domestic abusers now can get firearms, because there's no serious background checks. He's trying to save lives, and if saving lives is a bad thing, well, God knows we're in serious trouble.
Despite Brazile’s attempts, Cupp concluded the segment with one final takedown of the liberal mayor:
Mayors Against Illegal Guns has crumbled because he duped mayors into thinking they were actually going to fight illegal guns. And when they all found out actually they were going after law-abiding gun owners, they said that's not what I want to be apart of. His efforts are duplicitous and they’re measurably failing.
See relevant transcript below.
ABC
This Week w/ George Stephanopoulos
April 20, 2014
10:46 a.m. Eastern
MARTHA RADDATZ: And we're back now with the roundtable. Justice Stevens' comments on the Second Amendment, take us right to the big announcement by new York -- former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he's giving $50 million for gun control, is that significant? I mean, when you compare that to the NRA, raising $256 million in 2012. Bill?
BILL KRISTOL: The NRA has 3 to 4 million members, actual people, Americans who care a lot about this issue. The idea that Mike Bloomberg is going to buy gun control measures by throwing by money, I think, is ridiculous.
RADDATZ: Will money get members, Donna?
DONNA BRAZILE: But the focus here is on getting ordinary Americans who support strong background checks to become actively involved. He's got moms, he’s got mayors. There are millions of Americans who I believe will be part of this grassroots campaign for common sense gun safety laws.
RADDATZ: Is he the right face for this, Jeff Zeleny?
JEFF ZELENY: Absolutely not. In fact, that's the exact question because during the Senate debate on this, in the months after Sandy Hook, everybody thought that some sort of background checks would pass the Senate. But it’s too easy for politicians out there to say that's the New York City Mayor.
RADDATZ: The soda ban mayor.
ZELENY: Perhaps he should give his money and somebody else should be the front of this. But look I think that the NRA, the real people, you’re right on that.&
S.E. CUPP: Well, he's the best, and by that, I mean the worst face for gun control. And believe me, my friends at NRA high-fived when they heard about this. Going after the NRA is a very odd thing. The NRA represents law-abiding gun owners, like myself, they don't represent criminals. They don't event represent gun manufacturers. So why Mayor Bloomberg is turning his figurative guns on people like me when there are criminals out there seems a very strange way to go about reducing gun crime. His efforts on this issue have been measurable failures. They have been failures, Donna.
BRAZILE: Look, I don't care what his face looks like. First of all, I think he should be praised for what he's doing with his money. He's trying to stop gun violence in America, 70% of domestic abusers now can get firearms, because there's no serious background checks. He's trying to save lives, and if saving lives is a bad thing, well, God knows we're in serious trouble.
CUPP: But Donna, look at his efforts. Mayors Against Illegal Guns has crumbled because he duped mayors into thinking they were actually going to fight illegal guns. And when they all found out actually they were going after law-abiding gun owners, they said that's not what I want to be apart of. His efforts are duplicitous and they’re measurably failing.
