CNBC is reporting that anti-gun billionaire presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has purchased a 60-second spot during the Super Bowl game that emphasizes gun control as a cornerstone of his campaign, raising a question about super hypocrisy six years after the NFL rejected a Super Bowl advertisement from Daniel Defense.
Back in 2014, it was widely reported by news agencies including the Roanoke Times that the NFL banned the gun manufacturer’s pro-gun-rights 60-second advertisement. That spot can now be seen on YouTube.
Bloomberg has pumped more than $200 million into his presidential campaign, and his gun prohibition lobbying group—Everytown for Gun Safety—has pledged to spend at least $60 million to help influence the 2020 election via its Action Fund.
According to CNBC, the Donald Trump campaign has also bought an ad during the Super Bowl, but the content was not revealed.
This is a story that needs to be told.
This is a crisis that needs to end.
This is why I'm running for president. https://t.co/hlz2jPRFcd pic.twitter.com/Q1umOiNOSR
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 30, 2020
The Bloomberg ad buy is big news. Even the New York Times is giving it some ink.
Bloomberg News said the advertisement features Calandrian Simpson Kemp, mother of George Kemp Jr., who was “shot after an altercation in 2013” at age 20. He did not survive. At the time, the Houston Chronicle reported that Kemp was shot several times when he went to confront a teen over “a personal matter.” One person was reportedly convicted in that slaying.
Politico is reporting that Bloomberg explained the ad in a statement.
“I chose to devote the entire sixty-second ad to gun safety because it matters to communities across the country and it will be a top priority for me as president,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg has, according to the firearms community, “weaponized” his considerable wealth to push gun control over the past several years. That includes Everytown pumping $2.5 million into the Virginia legislative races last fall to swing the state Assembly to Democrats, who are now rushing through several gun control bills. The $60 million pledge noted earlier will be used to support gun control candidates in state and federal elections.
But what has changed? Six years ago, the Super Bowl wouldn’t allow a pro-gun-rights advertisement, but now Bloomberg has bought 60 seconds to preach gun control.
