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Health & Fitness

Cuomo to Conservatives: Beat It!!

Governor Cuomo Friday proclaimed that there is no place in New York State for Conservatives. 

New York is known around the world as a place of great diversity, tremendous tolerance and peaceful coexistence of races, religions and … political points of view.  No Governor in the state’s history has ever suggested that any group of citizens should pack their bags and leave because there is no place for them in our state.  But that is exactly what Governor Cuomo did Friday.

Cuomo made his breathtaking remarks during a radio interview as he discussed the widening Republican rift between moderates, whose support he is seeking in his re-election campaign, and conservatives, whom he characterized as anti-abortion, anti-gay rights and pro-traditional gun ownership.

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“Who are they?” asked Cuomo of the Republicans.

“Are they these extreme conservatives, who are right to life, pro-assault weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that is who they are and if they are extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York.’’

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Cuomo has been attempting to win endorsements from moderate Republicans in his bid for another term as Governor of New York.  His strategy of attempting to separate and single out Conservatives from moderate Republicans with this type of incendiary rhetoric is terribly misguided.  It has met with fury, not just from conservatives, but from the GOP both state-wide and nation-wide.  Cuomo, like many on the left and like many in the GOP, has significantly misjudged the size and scope of a snow-balling Conservative movement on the right.  This conservative movement is larger and has more support and momentum than most politicians (and left leaning journalists and media outlets) have given it credit for.  In fact, many moderate/establishment Republicans may find their political careers in jeopardy if they do not recalculate the momentum of party Conservatives.  And liberals like Cuomo are absolutely in their cross-hairs as well as we approach the next election cycle.

Cuomo is in for some competition.  Donald Trump has spoken out against Cuomo’s jaw-dropping comments as has Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.  Both have promised announcements shortly on their intention to challenge Mr. Cuomo for the Governorship.  Astorino called Cuomo’s comments “just the kind of intolerance that is directly opposite to what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached.”

“New York already leads the nation in chasing away its own citizens because of extraordinary high taxes, so does Cuomo really want to bully millions more away?’’ Astorino said.

“New York’s greatness comes from accepting people of differing points of view. What Andrew Cuomo has revealed by these statements is his true self, because we see just how angry and radical his views are.’’

NY GOP Chairman, Ed Cox, has demanded an apology for Cuomo’s insensitive, divisive comments.  Many influential GOP leaders nationwide have joined this chorus as well.

Cuomo faces an up-hill battle for re-election.  Recent polls indicate he has lost critical support among his liberal base.  He has made some noise about tacking toward a more moderate political posture.  At the same time, he is making comments like this that may fire up his ultra-Liberal base but have also infuriated the GOP and Conservatives. 

Perhaps there is no place in NY’s future for the floundering Andrew Cuomo.

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