Bloomberg Calls Reporter "A Disgrace" For Questioning Why He's Running For Third Term (VIDEO)

UPDATE: Azi Paybarah, the reporter scolded by Mayor Bloomberg, writes that mayoral spokesman Stu Loeser called "to relay an apology" from Bloomberg.

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is known for sometimes having a short temper with pesky reporters.

On Thursday, the mayor lost his cool when asked about his rationale for running for a third term as mayor, calling the inquiring reporter "a disgrace."

Since Bloomberg has been recently claiming that the city had turned the corner on the recession after citing the economic slump as his rationale for running again, the New York Observer's Azi Paybarah wanted to know how the mayor could justify his current campaign.

Bloomberg interrupted Paybarah: "Why don't you just get serious questions here?"

Then, he interrupted once more to add, "The rationale for extending term limits is the City Council voted it and the public's going to have a chance on Nov. 3 to say what they want."

"I don't think we have to keep coming back to that... If you have a serious question about the economy, I will be happy to answer it."

After ending the news conference, Bloomberg thanked everyone and stared at Paybarah, saying "You're a disgrace."

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Watch the video:

Paybarah's editor at the Observer, Josh Benson, told the NY Daily News:

"It was a reasonable question," Benson said.

"We're comfortable leaving it to everyone else to judge the quality of the response."

Earlier in the year, Bloomberg made headlines at another news conference when he lost his temper with a wheelchair-bound reporter whose tape recorder accidentally started playing after he was bumped by a photographer.

The mayor halted his speech, refusing to continue for 1 minute and 36 seconds, until the reporter, Michael Harris, fixed his recorder.

When legally-blind New York Governor David Paterson told a joke and New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn told the mayor, "He's disabled," Bloomberg snapped: "OK, I understand that - he can still turn it off."

The mayor later apologized to Harris.

Watch the video of the earlier encounter:

Comments

[force fed up]

I like how Bloomberg thinks that the people will have a chance of voting him out. He spends how many billions every election to guarantee a win?

[getcaption]

so rude. the thought of this guy for president is frightening.

[spiritpony1]

well, unfort. Mayor B. has gotten on his big power binge----which is toooo bad; he did some good work;, now, perhaps, he should entertain the idea of MOVING ON--------

[Mikeeee]

bloomberg is a disgrace. I'd like him to explain why the taxpayer is on the hook for building a new Yankee stadium for the richest sports franchise on the planet?

[z78pb45]

Little Napoleon has been getting his way behind the scenes forever. He's used his billionaires to pay off untold victims of his abuse and now he wants to steam roll the rules regarding mayoral race by basically saying "if you guys vote to let me have a third term, you're sweet ass jobs are guaranteed". The best thing Bloomie could do is give the city $2 billion out of his $20 billion as a parting gift for allowing this overrated blowhard to be mayor of NYC. He should tithe 10% of his wealth to the city and help it out in some real, concrete, way.

[InLosAngeles]

Another "Bloomberg Moment", like when he went off on the handicapped reporter. He is a wealthy bully, nothing more, nothing less.

[nomoredead]

Ahh..New Yorkers,
After many, many trips to New York, you couldn't pay me to go back to that rude and obnoxious city.

[Goefel]

That might sound funny, if it wasn't so cliche. :o

[cheflette]

He's not a New Yorker and I hate having him as my mayor. That said, we don't need more obnoxious tourists here, so maybe you should stay home.

[springsm]

Children, enough!

[jonnienohands]

THAT WILL HELP NY? Tourists stay home!

[jl4141]

Your post speaks volumes -- about yourself. As for me, I've never been to a more friendly and welcoming place in my life than NYC. What can I say, suit yourself, and enjoy your next vacation . . . wherever.

[Clavis]

So you've been to NYC "many, many" times, and you had -- what? -- one bad experience? And now you label 3 million people with the epithet "rude and obnoxious"?

If there are any stereotypes on display, it's the stereotype of the small-town rube who doesn't like NYC because it has strangers and brown people in it.

[nomoredead]

I love jerking New Yorkers chain and watch their responses. Now wipe the spittle off your screens.

[NYLady646]

We wouldn't want you back anyway! It's obviously you with the problem.

[DenaSilver]

I agree with Mayor Bloomberg, and I think he was right to confront the repoter. Aren't we sick of these
silly questions? The reporter was resorting to "gotcha" journalism which is boring and low. The mayor was answering questions, discussing substantive issues. If the reporter can't deal with that, let the reporter deal with gossip columns.

[suigeneris]

So now term limits are not a substantive issue? Who decides what's substantive -- Bloomberg? You?

[mamased]

This has been asked and answered so many times it's ridiculous. He wanted to run for a third term, he got the okay, he's running.

Is it a serious question to ask "Now that the economy may be turning around, will you drop out of the race?"

That is a gotcha question and the reporter may well be a "disgrace" to the profession. Bloomberg has every right to voice his opinion strongly, because he has power doesn't mean he has to wear kid gloves.

[DDA]

Typical repukulan, we push the letter of the law how Dare you question me when I bend it. Hope that reporter starts DIGGING real DEEP. Find out the real reason he TWISTED arms of the council to run a third term.

[springsm]

Starts digging and deep? How many times do you think this question has been asked, answered and printed. I am not defending Bloomberg but I do think this was a question past its prime. And yes, I do think that Bloomberg pulled shenigans to get the council to okay it Something like "we are in a recession and I need to help get us out of it" or something to that tune. He is protecting his job, holding it for someone else or trying to keep someone else from running. You betcha.

[cobraxus]

well he's a republican again what did you expect.that overweening sense of entitlement comes with the (R) after his name.

[redkim]

Newsflash:

His attitude didn't change when he put the R after his name. He was also a D and an I. Still the same guy.

[hip dibler]

that's what happens when reporters do thier job. the subject gets pissed off.


your not supposed to be buddy buddy with them like the entire msm.

[Goefel]

Don't question the Viceroy Bloomberg
when he works so hard to buy-off the media.
Send this reporter to the Gulag!

[vippy]

So Bloomberg is running again and all the money backing him will win this election unless the people come out in droves and vote for someone beneficial to them.

[NYLady646]

I saw this on the news last night and Bloomberg's response to the reporter's question was so unnecessary.

[Dekan]

Sounds like he did some reporting to me.....Props to Azi Paybarah

[DubyaGump]

D@mn those reports, is he going to put through a bill banning them as well?