Politics

Bloomberg: ‘Epidemic Of Dishonesty’ Is Greater Threat Than Communism, Terrorism

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took aim at the “epidemic of dishonesty” plaguing government during his commencement address at Rice University in Texas on Saturday.

“The greatest threat to American democracy isn’t communism, jihadism, or any other external force or foreign power,” Bloomberg said, according to the Associated Press. “It’s our own willingness to tolerate dishonesty in service of party, and in pursuit of power.”

Bloomberg also suggested that “extreme partisanship” was to blame for the growing culture of dishonesty. “How did we go from a president who could not tell a lie to politicians who cannot tell the truth?”

The former mayor also briefly mentioned ongoing investigations without naming names, warning against being tolerant of dishonesty, especially from elected officials. “There is now more tolerance for dishonesty in politics than I have seen in my lifetime. The only thing more dangerous than dishonest politicians who have no respect for the law is a chorus of enablers who defend their every lie,” he said.