Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who is considering a run for governor as the Republican candidate against New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, told Breitbart News on Saturday he finds it “disappointing” that Cuomo is telling 85 percent of New Yorkers they are not welcomed in the Empire State.
“That kind of intolerance is directly opposite to what Dr. Martin Luther King preached. New York already leads the nation in chasing away its own citizens, because of its extraordinarily high taxes. Does he really want to bully more away?” Astorino asked.
During an interview with Public Radio’s Capitol Press Room on Friday, Governor Cuomo made remarks disparaging conservatives in New York state who were pro-life, second amendment advocates, and unsupportive of same-sex marriage. According to the New York Post:
Cuomo said Friday that members of the GOP with “extreme” views are creating an identity crisis for their party and represent a bigger worry than Democrats such as himself.
“Their problem isn’t me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves,” the governor said on Albany’s The Capitol Pressroom radio show.
“Who are they? Right to life, pro-assault weapons, anti-gay — if that’s who they are, they have no place in the state of New York because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”
“People need to understand what Cuomo’s position on abortion is. His abortion bill lost frighteningly by one vote,” Astorino said. “It’ll be put up for a vote again this year, because he’s pushing it. It will expand abortion on demand through nine months and can be performed by non-doctors. It is so radical and repulsive and 85 percent of New Yorkers think it is insane, but this is his point of view. So, is he trying to throw 85 percent of New Yorkers out?”
Cuomo’s administration posted an open letter on Sunday regarding the The New York Post’s story claiming Cuomo’s remarks were “distorted” and taken out of context.
“I think when he reveals his true self, you see how angry and radical his views are and the governor certainly owes the people in our state an apology” Astorino said. “New York’s greatness comes from accepting people with different points of view. Just so everyone around the country and world knows, we would still love you to visit our state, despite our intolerant governor.”
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