Cuomo goes after Bernie: Americans don't want to elect a socialist

[TexasTowelie]

Note: I was lead to this article at the New York Post by a link at the Albany Times Union. I believe that the article is of interest to all DUers since it the opinion of a prominent Democrat regarding Bernie Sanders' campaign.

The audio from WAMC radio is at https://www.wamc.org/post/gov-cuomo-wamcs-roundtable-42319 . The comments that Cuomo made about the Democratic primaries begins at the 15:15 mark.


Gov. Andrew Cuomo tossed Bernie Sanders under the bus Tuesday, saying it would be “very hard” for the Vermont senator to become president because Americans are leery of electing a socialist.

“Let’s not be so New York and so coastal right? I think it’s very hard to get elected president as a socialist in this country. . . when you look at the states that we have to win,” Cuomo said on WAMC radio.

“We’re New York. We understand socialists. We’re diverse and we’re accepting and frankly we’re more resilient and frankly we get less threatened.

“It’s a much harder road to run as a socialist and I think it is essential that we win. If we have another four years of Donald Trump that is the worst-case scenario. Avoid the worst-case scenario. Nominate the best candidate.”

Read more: https://nypost.com/2019/04/23/cuomo-goes-after-bernie-americans-dont-want-to-elect-a-socialist/

[CentralMass]

1. Who care what Cuomo thinks.

[UniteFightBack]

7. A lot of Democrats in NY sure do. Remember them...the folks not on a political message

board and not following the day to day stuff. Remember them? They are the ones who will reject Bernie...sorry.

[UniteFightBack]

14. Well we all have people we wouldn't vote for in a National election so good on you you'd vote

for the Republican then.

This is why the Republicans succeed at every turn. They have loyalty. Their voters stick with them through disgusting missteps but the Dem's just scour for a reason to throw their own members under the bus.

[CentralMass]

17. I've never voted for a republican in my 41 years as a registered Democrat.

Since I will never be a New York rsident, my only chance of voting for Cuomo is if he ran for the presidency and I think that there is little chance that he would ever win the nomination,

[Hortensis]

63. Well, good. This is obviously not the happiest time

to be a Sanders supporter, but stay cool. I don't expect to ever need to vote for Cuomo either, but I liked this:

"We understand socialists. We’re diverse and we’re accepting and frankly we’re more resilient and frankly we get less threatened."

Sorta like West Hollywood, which is apparently the closest I've ever lived to New York.

[at140]

35. The Bush brothers did not vote Republican in 2016

that includes a former president! So the there is no loyalty among republicans and thieves.

[Hortensis]

64. Not Bush admirers, but I took that to mean loyalty

to something other than what has taken over the Republican leadership and purged the old. "It's not your grandma's" party any more.

[lapucelle]

39. Cuomo is responsible for NY's $15 an hour minimum wage,

tuition free state universities, eight weeks of paid family leave, and the codification of Roe v Wade into NYS law.

[Celerity]

49. boom!

[Cha]

59. Yes, Gov Cuomo has made a Lot

of excellent progress for New York!

Thank You, lapucelle!

[emmaverybo]

47. He sure takes on controversial positions

I agree. It is rather insular to think that people who don’t think like people on these boards, and who are not all that worldly about socio-political matters are going to cotton up to Bernie’s bold ideas. He has the guts to put them forward, though, and I think that’s the magic for some followers. He doesn’t seem to be running any popularity contest, which is admirable. On the other hand, outside the choir, he’s got a lot of educating to do to change entrenched mind-sets and a fairly wide and deep aversion to the mere mention of the word “socialism.”

[UniteFightBack]

50. I like Bernies I don't give a shit attitude. I remember seeing is his tax plan to pay

for the Medicaid for all in 2016 and it freaked me out because that would just gut us, no hollow us out in a general election. Maybe I don't remember correctly but out of anything it was Sanders tax plan that I thought would be political suicide in a general.

[Hortensis]

65. Like? What you describe lead directly to his role

in 2016. I would have "liked" him to merely risk personal suicide, not put all our futures on the line in his long-shot pursuit of power.

[NYMinute]

9. He was twice elected as the governor

of a populous state. Please have some respect.

[George II]

31. His father was elected Governor three times, too.

[NYMinute]

32. His father is a legend

not at the level of JFK or John Lewis but certainly at the level of RFK, Clinton and Obama.

[Cha]

10. A lot of People in New York and

elsewhere.

[George II]

36. Apparently a lot of New Yorkers care, he's been elected Governor three times.

[lapucelle]

42. Cuomo accomplished things that others only talk about.

tuition-free state university
$15/hr minimum wage
8 weeks of paid family leave
the codification of Roe v Wade into state law

[George II]

44. What has he been doing the last nine years??????

New York is a liberal state, but it's also a difficult state to Govern by anyone - Democrat or republican. The population is almost evenly split between the liberal/Democratic NYC metropolitan area and the conservative/republican remainder of the state.

Here's how NYS voted in 2016 by county, even though Clinton won NYS by 59-36%.

[Celerity]

51. DEMOCRATS

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. Seriously!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[UniteFightBack]

5. Oh so now liberals use DINO? Why would you want to when you know where that comes

from? I'm a NY Democrat too who elected him by a large margin and he's RIGHT.

[Maven]

8. What are you talking about? Who else would use that term?

And Cuomo fits it to a tee. He enabled the IDC scam that kept Republicans in control of the NY State Senate for years, until we voted out 6 of the 8 phony Democrats and replaced them with real Dems. Now we have the majority and many progressive bills that Republicans held back are being passed. Legislation that Cuomo was more than happy to see in the dustbin so that he could avoid taking positions that might compromise his presidential ambitions.

I voted for him, of course, but I look forward to the day he is replaced with a Democrat who believes in Democratic values and not just self-advancement.

[UniteFightBack]

11. Who else uses that term? It comes from the right wing scum with RINO...they made that up.

Just stop with the purity tests....that ain't me. I cut all my Democrats slack unless it is really bad. PERIOD.

And OMG self advancement in politics???

[NYMinute]

34. lol

It is like complaining about celibacy in the Vatican.

[lapucelle]

40. Cuomo passed a $15 an hour minimum wage, an 8 week paid family leave program,

tuition free state university, and passed a bill that codified Roe v Wade into state law.

[George II]

41. Cuomo didn't "enable" the IDC, in fact it was Cuomo who negotiated the dissolution of the IDC.

[NYMinute]

3. Cuomo is right

His assessment of the American electorate is right on the money.

[comradebillyboy]

4. Well he's right on that.

[BlueFlorida]

6. Cuomo is precise

and has hit the nail on the head.

[Stuart G]

13. I like Bernie's ideas, but he can't win. Now that may be mean to you...

but it is true. It isn't that he is a socialist, it is that he is, "Bernie." Sorry, but that is the truth. Bernie has made a whole lot of enemies out there. While he isn't, he looks more radical than he is. That is the very last things we need. Why? If Bernie looks radical, then Trump could look more moderate..
...Now, you don't like that. Ok, but that is true...This will be one ugly election (if things stay the same..and they probably won't) Bernie will tear us apart if he is our nominee. Again, that is the very last thing we need. Yes, if he is the nominee, I will vote for him. But he will tear us apart. It has already started.

...Oh, one more idea, I worked for McGovern. I attended conferences, put together position papers, and in the end, knocked on doors. Yes, I went door to door for McGovern. McGovern tore us apart. Nixon won by a landslide. McGovern was a very poor candidate. Bernie would be too. Does he seem to you to be someone who would unite us? or tear us apart. What do you think?

Nixon.... .................................McGovern.
...............................................Electoral Votes... 17...Mass.
Electoral vote?: ?520.......................States Carried 1.
Home state?: ?California

States carried?: ?49 .
vote totals 49,000,000......................29,000,000
Nixon 60%.......................................McGovern......37%

You don't like those numbers, neither did it...and I worked hundreds of hours for McGovern...

If Bernie is the nominee, he will not win. I was told that about McGovern..didn't believe it. Bernie divides people. Others who are running ..unite people.. All Bernie will do is insure 4 more years of Trump.

[BlueFlorida]

15. Bernie's ideas are from the 1960's

and have not evolved with time.

The ideas themselves are not bad but the way he wants to execute them would cause a massive disruption in the economic infrastructure and he has a blind spot about it.

Other candidates are adopting Bernie's ideas and have far better workable plans.

[BannonsLiver]

20. And are infinitely more likable.

[NYMinute]

37. We will lose 40-45 states if Bernie is the nominee. n/t

[appalachiablue]

16. CNN Chris Cuomo, Andrew's bro. is who I was thinking. Putz

told Bernie when he handed him a glass of water during a break in a televised Town Hall in 2016, "Here, have some water. It's free."

[BannonsLiver]

19. I LOL'd. It was a great line.

[appalachiablue]

23. For real, where else is ha, ha Chris going to go.

[colsohlibgal]

18. Well FDR Was Elected 4 Times

His New Deal was mostly democratic socialism, taxing the wealthy to aid the non wealthy.

How about Eisenhower? He seriously taxed the rich to build The Interstate Highway System we enjoy today.

People like Cuomo get too hung up on a word. Nothing wrong with democratic socialism.

[appalachiablue]

27. Lest we forget. FDR ran as Gov. of the Empire State as well:

[emulatorloo]

53. Progressive taxation is not "Socialism" in any way, shape, or form.

Liberal policies aren’t socialism. And Eisenhower certainly wasn’t a socialist.

[SidDithers]

68. That's not democratic socialism. That's social democracy...nt

Sid

[zentrum]

21. Cuomo is not like his father,

...the great Mario Cuomo. Mario is rolling in his grave over (again) over Andrew's politics.

The NY Post, BTW, is a Trump supporting, Ilhan Omar-endangering, anti-immigrant, Muslim-baiting rag. It frames every issue to favor Trump and demonize Democrats,

[appalachiablue]

24. Neither of the sons are like Mario, truly!

[zentrum]

66. Truly! I've

...always wondered how that happened.

[TexasTowelie]

25. I agree with your assessment of the New York Post.

That's why I included the link to the WMAC roundtable so that people could hear Gov. Cuomo. The reason I linked to the post is that it was the only source that provided a written article about the interview.

[melman]

29. "it was the only source that provided a written article"

There's probably a reason for that.

[TexasTowelie]

38. Would it have changed anything if a written article came from another source?

You are welcome to listen to the audio to determine whether The Post took anything that Gov. Cuomo said out of context. Enjoy!

[George II]

43. No there isn't.

[zentrum]

67. Gotcha.

Cuomo is a really problematic figure in the city because he's so teamed up with Albany real estate moguls---who make all the deci$$$ions about the five boroughs even though they never have to live with the results.

[NYMinute]

28. It may be so ... but this particular story is not a right wing story

It came from a podcast which you can listen to here:

www.wamc.org/post/gov-cuomo-wamcs-roundtable-42319

[aidbo]

22. says the governor of the state that is home to the beating heart of capitalism

[NYMinute]

26. What do you mean?

The whole United States is the beating heart of capitalism. Everywhere people make a profit by selling goods and services … or working for the ones who sell goods and services.

Are you confusing the US with Venezuela or Cuba?

[aidbo]

45. I was referring (perhaps too obliquely) to the New York Stock Exchange. Maybe you've heard of it?

The New York Stock Exchange NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board"[6] is an American stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York. It is by far[7][8] the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at US$30.1 trillion as of February 2018.[9] The average daily trading value was approximately US$169 billion in 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Stock_Exchange

Of course it is not a literal beating heart, I was using metaphor.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another.[1] It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas. Antithesis, hyperbole, metonymy and simile are all types of metaphor.[2] One of the most commonly cited examples of a metaphor in English literature is the "All the world's a stage" monologue from As You Like It:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor

In case that's not clear enough, I was implying that Cuomo has an ulterior motive for bashing Sanders' chances in the general election.

As for your question about confusing the US with Venezuela or Cuba, I have no idea why you would think that from what I wrote.
So, to answer your question: no.

Edited to add: Perhaps I should have referred to the NYSE as the beating heart of US Capitalism to make it clearer.

[NYMinute]

57. NYSE is not the only exchange

There are several other exchanges in NY

AMEX, NASDAQ, NYMEX etc. Plus, the exchanges are now mostly symbolic -- most of the trading happens in computers around the world.

I know what a metaphor is and there was no need for a condescending post - or is it the socialist norm?

Cuomo is a politician just like Bernie and he also depends upon getting people's votes, most of whom are not rich. So claiming that he has an "ulterior motive" is over the top.

[aidbo]

58. Thank you for your input.

[Chin music]

30. Man, this room.

One stop shop for anyone who wants to see what Ds are fighting about.

[John Fante]

33. I'm getting real tired of these "only so and so can beat Trump" arguments.

It makes that asshole seem like an unstoppable juggernaut, which he clearly isn't.

I'm no Bernie supporter (could do without his divisiveness) but he would smash Trump in a general election. So would any of the 4-5 candidates who have a realistic shot of winning the nomination. Enough of this "our only hope is (insert favorite candidate)" shit.

[Nanjeanne]

46. Well Cuomo endorsed Biden so I guess the unity meme is not for surrogates.

[Prosper]

48. Bernie started 2015 as a Democratic Socialist .

Bernie has been a Democratic Socialist for a long time. He built his campaign and earned support as a Democratic Socialist. The anti Bernie people are not giving credit to the working poor for declaring they have had enough and want to support a man who resonates with their suffering and deprivation. The elitist are sadly mistaken if they think they can socialist shame the poor into submission. Anything less than Bernie is "thank you sir, may I have another" The working poor make up the many thousands of people that suffer more and die early because they can't get healthcare and medicine. They won't be embarrassed into accepting "politically correct miderates" so party powerful and rich Democratics are not embarrassed to sit at the grownups table of the mega rich. The elite are acting like Bernie never happened . He did and the people will not be finessed into apologetically supporting moderates who know not to ask for too much.

This is unforgivable

Study: 45,000 Deaths Per Year Due to Lack of Health Insurance | Ed Brayton
Patheos › blogs › dispatches › 2018/10/15
Oct 15, 2018 · A new study from the Harvard School of Medicine says that 45000 people die every year due to a lack of health

[highplainsdem]

52. Tried to find polls on this. Found one from last year saying 76% won't vote for a socialist.

https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/398580-poll-majority-of-americans-say-the-would-not-vote-for-a


Haven't found any other polls on this so far, but if anyone knows of others, please post them.

Anyway, this is much of the reason why Trump would like to run against Sanders.

And why the GOP is eager to paint all Democrats as socialists.

[David__77]

54. I don't care about anti-socialist purism.

It’s a big tent.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

60. Why does it have to be "throwing under bus"? Why

Can't it be just a political assessment? Bernie announced he was a democratic SOCIALIST. We have allowed people to become scared of that term by not effectively educating them. Can't really blame anyone else.

[comradebillyboy]

61. I'd love to see Andrew Como run for president. What a fine record

of accomplishments he can point to.

[BlueFlorida]

62. kick nt