By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Andrew Cuomo, following in his father’s footsteps, is employing bigotry in his mayoral campaign, much like he did in the 1970s. Facing a likely defeat by Zohran Mamdani, Cuomo has resorted to racist and Islamophobic tactics, including insinuating Mamdani would be a threat in the event of another 9/11. His campaign has also disseminated a disturbing, AI-generated video targeting Mamdani’s supporters with racist tropes, even after it was disavowed. These actions are fueled by prominent supporters, including billionaires, who have donated millions to his campaign, and promote Cuomo’s racist strategy.
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Andrew Cuomo is going out the way he went out the first time. It’s almost a perfect loop, isn’t it? He entered the political arena with a certain pedigree, the son of a prominent figure, and now, it appears, he’s leaving it in a similar fashion – surrounded by controversy and, frankly, revulsion from a significant portion of the public. It’s fascinating, and disheartening, to see someone seemingly dismantle their own legacy in such a public and self-inflicted way. The response from New Yorkers, especially, seems to reflect this sentiment of unacceptability. They’re not biting, and they’re making their voices heard, and it’s absolutely the right thing to do.
The elite in New York are a special breed, aren’t they? They often cry foul when they perceive an offense, but then often engage in the same type of behavior they accuse others of. It’s almost as if they think they are above the rules, a special club. The accusations of racism and bigotry that now surround Cuomo, the allegations of sexual misconduct, it’s a stark contrast to the image he once cultivated. And the media in this whole process? They haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory. The mask has fallen off, and the public is seeing the real deal. And he lost, too! Those debate clips are a painful watch for him. It’s incredible to see someone get utterly dismantled like that.
The primary really drove home how unlikeable Cuomo actually is. He came across as a political hack, and a condescending one at that. There’s not much to find endearing, and it’s hard to imagine his team considers this a success. “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!” The arrogance, the entitled behavior, it all makes for a deeply unpleasant package. The election is not over until the vote is counted, so go out and vote! As it currently stands, he’ll be moving somewhere else after all this blows over. But the thought of him running for office in Florida, the sex pest and blowhard label – that’s the reality he has created.
Remember, he had sky-high approval ratings during the pandemic. He was saying the right things, but his actions, particularly in regards to the nursing home deaths, are unforgivable. And the DNC, and Democratic voters, elected him, which has a lot of people scratching their heads. Accountability is needed. It’s hard to ignore the blatant hypocrisy.
There is a disturbing tendency of some in power to cozy up to those they should be condemning. It is a sign of a bad direction in American politics. And what about that “power” handshake? Seriously, it just makes him look like a complete jerk. The comments by people from New York show how that state has split into two very different cultures. One, for the privileged, and the other for everyone else.
He had a good approval rating until the pandemic screwed things up and accusations of sexual harassment emerged. The nursing home deaths are a huge stain on his record. 12,000 dead – an incredible tragedy. The fact that he was so desperate to get back in the race says a lot about his ego. He is not a Democrat anymore. And yet there’s still the sentiment of complaining about Democrats and “The DNC!” It’s important to differentiate the nuances.
Cuomo’s first term didn’t seem to raise the same red flags as his later actions. The anti-Mamdani push, with its history of homophobic ads, is a real concern. Further proof that the divide in this country is up and down not left and right. This all seems to be a case of decorum and political maneuvering. Mamdani didn’t call Cuomo a “vile bigot,” *The Nation* did.
Mamdani understands that you don’t insult voters, so you challenge your opponent by showing respect. It’s a strategic approach to try to win over supporters. Cuomo and Trump’s tactics are about creating a sense of power over their opponents. It’s a sad look. The hand over handshake signals power, or even trust, if done correctly. The Tappan Zee Bridge is a point of contention for many New Yorkers.