Davd Codrea: Bloomberg pressure kills release of video documenting racist remarks

Pressure from Michael Bloomberg has caused the Aspen Institute and Grassroots TV to spike distribution of a video of his speech in which he advocated for cities to bar minority males up to age 25 from having guns, The Aspen Times reported Friday. The decision not to make the footage available for broadcast and distribution was made at the request of Bloomberg “representatives.”

“He did not give a reason nor did we have any reason to ask for one,” Institute
Chief External Affairs Officer” Jim Spiegelman offered by way of explanation. “We often feature speakers who prefer that their presentations not be videotaped.”

That may be the case for some, but in Bloomberg’s case, he had to be aware that the program was being recorded. As this column revealed in an earlier report, the “sold out” venue only accommodated “almost 400” attendees, and Grassroots TV cameras would not have been concealed. The fact is, the presentation was videotaped with Bloomberg’s knowledge, and Spiegelman has not provided any indication that this was a problem before or during the speech, but only afterward, when the former mayor realized his remarks could be used to cause prominent supporters to distance themselves from him.

That Grassroots Executive Director John Masters also offered excuses for Bloomberg, and tried his best to put an “understanding” face on a mandate he acknowledged was “frustrating,” reveals a betrayal of the principles the “nation’s oldest community television station” espouses on its Twitter feed, “Protecting the first amendment by allowing access to everyone.”

They’re denying access to vital information promoting legislation over a fundamental right to the very community they serve, and admittedly doing so in order to allow Bloomberg to cover his tracks.

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