NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Agrees with Gov. Cuomo; 'Extreme' Conservatives Not Welcome in NY State
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) might disagree with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on a tax hike on wealthy residents of the city to pay for universal pre-kindergarten, but says Cuomo is 'absolutely right' about at least one thing — 'extreme' conservatives are not welcome in New York State.
Cuomo recently came under fire for recent comments declaring 'extreme' pro-life, anti-gay, pro-assault weapons conservatives are unwelcome in the state but Mayor de Blasio defended the comments as 'absolutely right' after delivering a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors Thursday.
""I think he was absolutely right to say what he said … I agree with Gov. Cuomo's remarks," said de Blasio according to the New York Post.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"I interpret his remarks to say that an extremist attitude that continues the reality of violence in our communities or an extremist attitude that denies the rights of women does not represent the views of the people of New York State," he noted.
"We all understand there's a right to free speech. I wouldn't disagree with that right, nor would Gov. Cuomo," he added.
In his controversial comments Cuomo said a "schism" existed in the state Republican Party which reflected a larger split among the party in Washington, D.C., and it was causing a lot of damage. He then declared that: "conservative Republicans … have no place in the state of New York, because that's not who New Yorkers are."
According to a transcript of his comments made to Susan Arbetter on 'The Capitol Pressroom' Cuomo noted:
"You have a schism within the Republican Party. … They're searching to define their soul, that's what's going on. Is the Republican Party in this state a moderate party or is it an extreme conservative party? That's what they're trying to figure out. It's a mirror of what's going on in Washington. The gridlock in Washington is less about Democrats and Republicans. It's more about extreme Republicans versus moderate Republicans.
… You're seeing that play out in New York. … The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act — it was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate! Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? 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 comments prompted FOX News host and New York State resident Sean Hannity to declare that he would leave the state and take all of his money with him.
