Queens residents and community advocates, including Cathy Donohue of the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee, gathered at Queens Borough Hall last week and blasted Gov. Cuomo over what they called divisive remarks about Republicans.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s harsh critique of core Republican values this week left some borough members of the party in complete outrage.
“Who are they?” the governor said in an interview last Friday, referring to Republicans. “Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”
The remarks left Queens Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa in shock, he said, sparking a new partisan feud between his party and the progressive governor.
“That he would actually outline a litmus test for what beliefs he finds acceptable for people in New York to hold, and what beliefs he doesn’t just disagree with, but thinks the people who hold such beliefs should be prohibited from living in the great state of New York, is appalling,” Ragusa said. “Gov. Cuomo must retract these remarks immediately and apologize to every New Yorker, regardless of political party, who holds any of these beliefs in their heart.”
Robert Hornak, Queens GOP executive director, followed Ragua’s lead in suggesting that Cuomo take back his comments, which he said may end up proving fatal to the party in 2014 – an election year
“For the Governor to so brazenly insult people with these deeply held beliefs, including beliefs and principles that were instrumental in the founding of our country, is unconscionable,” Hornak said. “I don’t see how he could stand by those remarks.”
The governor fired back immediately following the media uproar, contesting his words were taken out of context. What he was actually intending to say, the governor’s office said, was that an extreme right-wing candidate could never stand a chance winning an election in New York because of its politically moderate nature.
“In the same response, the Governor went on to say “it is fine” to be anti-gun control, and anti-choice” – as he respects both positions,” Cuomo’s office said in a statement.
A transcript of the governor’s remarks went on to include the following towards the end of his interview: “Well if you are right to life, that is your opinion and that’s your religious belief, that is fine but that is not the opinion of this state, which
70% are pro-choice in this state.”
A crowd of Queens Republicans took to City Hall after hearing the governor’s remarks to call for a formal apology. The press conference was posted to Youtube and included comments from former City Council candidates Joseph Concannon, Dennis Saffran and other northeast Queens members of the party
“Look at the logic of Governor Cuomo. He is actually saying agree with me or get out of here. It’s not right,” said Hank Yeh, a Republican from Northeast Queens Republican Club. “All the silent majorities should stand up and oppose this kind of dictatorship.”
By Phil Corso
