Classic Liberal Backpedaling

[GBFan]

People misunderstood New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he said conservatives “have no place in the state of New York,” the Democratic governor explained Wednesday.

“I was not saying anyone should leave the state, right? And anyone who heard the comments knows that’s not what I was saying,” Cuomo said when asked about his comments at a press conference. “To the extent people want to have a political dialogue, that’s what it is.”

Cuomo came under fire from conservatives last month when he said “extreme conservatives, who are right-to-life, pro-assault weapon, anti-gay … have no place in the state of New York.”

Conservative talker Sean Hannity even threatened to leave the state over the comments.

“Gov. Cuomo, I’m going to leave and I’m taking all of my money with me – every single solitary penny,” Hannity said on his radio show in January. “And by the way governor, because I work here – there’s a whole bunch of people that work for me and benefit because I do two shows. And I guess maybe some of them will be out of work, governor. I’m sure you’ll take care of them.”

At the time, aides argued that Cuomo was taken out of context, and was simply saying that conservatives could not win a statewide election.

“I wasn’t saying anyone should leave the state,” Cuomo explained Wednesday. “My position is the exact opposite, right? We have all sorts of opinions in this state. We have people all along the spectrum, and it’s one of the things that makes New York special.”

Cuomo is up for reelection this year.

 

[Lagboltz]

As the Republican Party agonizes over its ideological future and the Democratic Party wrangles over its commitment to progressivism, two exemplary Mid-Atlantic governors have emerged to set the tone for a possible consensus mode of governance.

Those trailblazers are Republican Chris Christie of New Jersey and Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York. Both have attracted a considerable amount of presidential chatter, and both sport approval ratings in the 70s. Although they are from opposing parties, their actions while in office have been uncannily similar -- and quite attractive to partisans from the opposition. Christie has governed in such a way that progressive former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has declared him her "new favorite Republican." Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has praised Cuomo's leadership and has called him "courageous." Both Christie and Cuomo -- both before and after their successful handling of Superstorm Sandy -- have regularly earned healthy approval ratings from the rank and file of the other party.

That these two men's fortunes have been so linked is no accident. What they stand for is an emerging bipartisan American consensus: fiscal prudence and social tolerance. In effect, their approach to governance is one of pragmatic libertarianism.

Both men immediately recognized the need to reform their states' bloated, unsustainable public-sector pension programs -- and both took action, which will lead to billions of dollars in savings over the years to come. Both enacted long-overdue property-tax caps in their respective states, and both -- Cuomo especially -- have taken important strides toward balancing their states' budgets.

Both have run to the left on social issues. Cuomo successfully championed same-sex marriage in New York, while Christie has tacked to the left of his party by declaring that New Jerseyans should make the decision for their own state in a referendum -- which, as Christie himself pointed out, would almost certainly be resolved in favor of marriage equality. Christie is personally pro-life, but has been explicit in his desire to not use the governorship to "force his views down people's throats." Intriguingly, both men have been unusually outspoken about their skepticism toward the "war on drugs": Christie has declared the decades-long effort a "failure" and has called for a new, rehabilitation-based model, while Cuomo has pushed for the decriminalization of marijuana in New York.

Both have defied party politics: Christie slammed populist right-wingers who attacked his appointment of a Muslim to the New Jersey Supreme Court by declaring that he is "tired of dealing with the crazies." Cuomo stood up to endorse the reelections of Republican state senators who had bucked their party to support same-sex marriage.

Their leadership style served them well during crisis, too: Both men won universal praise from their constituents for their handling of Superstorm Sandy.

 

[GBFan]

You want a leader who actively disenfranchises a substantial minority in his state, telling them they are not welcome there?

You hit it on the button --- "Both have run to the left on social issues." Makes them unacceptable ... no more, no less.

It is no accident that Christie should be called a progressive's 'favorite new Republican'. What she really meant was that Christie is the only Republican who has espoused progressive views.

Nice try.

Oh, by the way ... no comment on Cuomo's backpedaling?? Are we just supposed to forget his moment of candid comment?

 

[Lagboltz]

Oh? You read it? I guess we are playing a different game now. I'm sorry I didn't read my own post yet. I thought we were still on the plagiarism game.

 

[GBFan]

Oh? You read it? I guess we are playing a different game now. I'm sorry I didn't read my own post yet. I thought we were still on the plagiarism game.

Neither of which surprises me ...

 

[Texas_tea]

It is no surprise to me that Cuomo is now back pedaling. Wacko liberals like Cuomo often make statements and policies that have unintended and surprising to them, consequences.

It is not that they don't mean what they say. It is that they truly are that stupid!

 

[pocketfullofshells]

Why is that Prick not moving yet? Also Why the fuck Is Rush Still in the US...Put up or shut up