Eyes across the nation rolled into the backs of their heads when news broke that billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would file paperwork to be on the ballot in the Alabama Democratic primary, signaling a possible entry into the already crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), one of the race's frontrunners, didn't waste a second taking to Twitter to troll him.
Warren, who's running on a platform of expanded taxes and greater accountability of billionaires, targeted Bloomberg's own billionaire status with a feature on her campaign website: a calculator for billionaires.
Welcome to the race, @MikeBloomberg! If you're looking for policy plans that will make a huge difference for workin… https://t.co/Ejjkxgr348— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren)1573168429.0
The calculator starts with a simple question: Are you a billionaire?
If "Yes" is selected, it then asks for your net worth. There's now a handy link on the page that says "If you're Michael Bloomberg, click here," which automatically enters Bloomberg's net worth: $52 billion.
It then reveals that Bloomberg would pay $3.079 billion in taxes:
"This amount, which you likely won't even feel, will help us invest in education from birth through college and help finance health care for everyone."
"Good news - you'll still be extraordinarily rich! And if history is any guide, if you do nothing other than invest your wealth in the stock market, it's likely that your wealth will continue to grow."
Some believe that Bloomberg's possible candidacy is a sign of Warren's electability and the threat she poses to the wealthiest in the nation.
Mike Bloomberg isn't thinking about running because he thinks progressives like Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren a… https://t.co/96FJvSfzAN— Ron Asher (@Ron Asher)1573227204.0
Michael Bloomberg getting in the race is proof-positive the wealth class is legitimately terrified of Elizabeth War… https://t.co/GkfWF598d9— Jared Yates Sexton (@Jared Yates Sexton)1573166787.0
I am very confused about what Mike Bloomberg thinks he is accomplishing besides providing Elizabeth Warren a convenient billionaire foil.— Jordan Weissmann (@Jordan Weissmann)1573167705.0
Warren's response only helped her case.
Elizabeth Warren upon hearing the Bloomberg news https://t.co/IKeMpX42Jj— Zerlina Maxwell (@Zerlina Maxwell)1573166295.0
@ewarren @MikeBloomberg This is like when two boxers touch gloves and then one of them just immediately hits the other with a haymaker.— Adam Parkhomenko (@Adam Parkhomenko)1573169068.0
@ewarren @MikeBloomberg I've realized, I don't say this enough, but it's all the little things that make you my ca… https://t.co/Yix99c3zHF— Wendee Crofoot (@Wendee Crofoot)1573197921.0
@ewarren @MikeBloomberg That noise you hear is Warren uniting the Democrats and hoovering up disaffected nonvoters.— Erin Conroy #SaveOurState #CloseTheCamps (@Erin Conroy #SaveOurState #CloseTheCamps)1573169823.0
@ewarren @MikeBloomberg Thank you Senator Warren. I admire your courage to stand up to Wall Street and other billio… https://t.co/vrUiW04w66— Shell_zipi (@Shell_zipi)1573185798.0
Maybe Bloomberg should rethink his run.
The dunking will only get worse.
Elizabeth Warren's book This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class is available here.