Readers weigh in on Cuomo's "extreme conservatives" comments (Your letters)

The Syracuse Post-Standard ^ | January 21, 2014 | Various

[2ndDivisionVet]

Cuomo's beliefs have no place in future of state

To the Editor;

This is an open letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

After hearing about your recent comments concerning who is not welcome in New York, I decided to check to see if you really said it. After hearing the actual audio of the interview, it took my breath away. Your arrogance and ignorance of your own family history are amazing.

Fortunately for you and your ancestors, my ancestors did not share your bigoted views of who "belongs" in New York. People have come here for many reasons, many of whom have held in high regard the values you claim don't belong.

Your attitude and stated beliefs, along with others who hold them, have no place in the future of this state or the United States. One positive thing you have done, along with Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, is to shed light on what kind of president you might be. Maybe you two can get together and restrict the freedom of your citizens even better than you currently are. Neither of you will be getting my vote for president should you choose to run.

Brad Putnam Baldwinsville

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A Catholic's perspective To the Editor;

It's rare that a Democrat is as honest as our governor recently was. His statement about who is welcome to live in New York, and, more importantly, who is not, was refreshing. In a nutshell, he basically said serious Catholics have no place in New York. Along with most Evangelicals, many strict Jews and all Muslims.

Since I'm Catholic, I'll address it from that point of view.

He stated that those unwelcome "extreme" conservatives are people who believe in traditional marriage (Catholic doctrine), do not believe in abortion (Catholic doctrine), and that pesky second amendment (not directly Catholic doctrine, but doctrine completely teaches in the right of self defense, up to, and including, lethal force). Catholic doctrine also allows for the death penalty when properly applied by competent civil authorities.

So if one actually knows what the Catholic Church teaches, and agrees with those teachings, that person is now an extremist.

The real problem here is not our governor and his views. He can think whatever he wants -- at least he is honest about what he thinks. The real problem would be him taking communion at a Catholic Mass, as material support of abortion carries with it self-excommunication. Ask any priest: it is right there in the catechism. People like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and our governor are expected to know enough about their faith to keep themselves away from communion. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was correctly denied communion back in her home state of Kansas.

If our Bishops spent a little less time on social issues that are prudential judgments (immigration, nuclear arms, etc.), and little more time on firm doctrines, perhaps people like our governor could add to their honesty a statement like "I guess I'm not really Catholic after all."

Bryan A. Roberts Baldwinsville

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Resident of 71 years now feels unwelcome To the Editor;

An open letter to Gov. Cuomo:

I've lived in the state of New York for 71 years -- several more than you. And now you tell me I have no place in the New York. You have the gall to say because I'm an "extreme conservative" (according to your definition: one who values life whether or not yet born, the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States so I can defend myself and family, and who is not ready to give my sign of approval to gay marriage) that I have no place in New York.

After working diligently for 45 years to provide for a growing family, to save for my retirement years and to contribute to the state through taxes that have traditionally been at the highest level in the U.S., you now say I have no place in New York.

I guess it's too bad that I have ideas and values that differ from yours since now I find, at least according to you, they make me an unwelcome resident of the state.

Now I wonder: Is New York actually to become a progressive oasis that has no place for citizens who have ideas and values that differ from the governor? What ever happened to the progressive mantra, "Our strength is in our diversity"? Surely you don't favor diversity. Apparently it's "your way or the highway." A highway that I hope to soon use to emigrate to a state of freedom--a state where differing ideas and values are listened to and considered if not necessarily adopted. A state where everyone feels welcome no matter if he has ideas that differ from those of its governor.

What shame you bring upon the state of New York.

Larry Barnett Baldwinsville

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Governor's comments go against new businesses campaign To the Editor;

Notice to business executives considering a move to New York: Don't you dare come, says Andrew Cuomo, unless you support unlimited abortion, own no guns, adore homosexuals and love to live with the highest taxes in the U.S. Oh, and you better hate conservatives.

Cuomo's "Godfather" persona burst out loud and clear in a tirade on "The Capitol Pressroom" when he said people with such leanings "have no place in the state of New York, because that's not who New Yorkers are."

Conservative Fox talk show figure Sean Hannity accepted Cuomo's invitation to leave, saying he's putting his high-tax, Long Island mansion up for sale and heading for the low-tax prairies of Texas or the taxless glades of Florida.

Cuomo's Leninist lather is probably understandable if you consider the unbearable frustration of a relatively young man with voracious presidential ambitions who is not even being mentioned for the presidency in 2016.

Also, he knows that the Democrats who will pick the next nominee will be the far-left crazies who dominate primary voting and bring with them far, far left positions. "Abortion-after-birth" laws may be only thing that satisfies this crucial group, so maybe even Cuomo's extremist pro-abortion views may not go far enough.

But if consistency is a virtue, it certainly doesn't get much use from Cuomo. He cast out all conservatives and anti-abortion or pro-gun citizens from the borders of New York even while we are besieged by a TV ad campaign literally begging entrepreneurs to bring their business here.

King Andrew's ads promise to forgive business people their taxes, but obviously not, we now learn, their conservative sins.

John Omicinski Syracuse

[Former Proud Canadian]

I'm shocked, shocked to hear about the voter fraud.

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Obama was elected twice by a majority of the voters. Are you saying his margin of victory was due entirely to voter fraud? If this is your contention, my answer is that a majority have allowed it to happen and, seemingly, don't have a problem with it.

I have been a keen observer of US politics for over 50 years. As a foreigner, I still don't understand it. I live in a putative democratic country and the process just does not leave a lot of room for fraud. Federal elections are by paper ballot, there are no machines. You go to the poll, present your ID and your name is crossed off the voter list to denote that you have voted. You make an "x" next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for. One candidate, one position, member of parliament. Scrutineers from the various parties are present and observe the process. When the polls close, they count the ballots in front of the various party reps.

Now, the US is the biggest democracy and the bigger you are, the more complicated things become. However, the US process has multiple offices to be filled and voting machines and no ID needed to vote. In many states the fraud artists (you might call them democrats) are in charge of the entire process, basically making up their own rules. This is a system that has been designed for fraud. When fraud results you should not be surprised.

[JimRed]

The downside: Coo-mo* will never read any of these responses to his ignorance. Staff will shield him from all unpleasant truths.

*Coo-mo: per Rush, since that’s the way the Rev-uh-rund Jackson pronounces it, it would be racist not to do the same!

[Biggirl]

Sadly, it was a conbination of BOTH “stupid voters” and “massive voter fraud”, for this I am VERY MUCH CORRECT.

[Biggirl]

With these electronic machines that are now part of the voting process, it does not surprise me that the likelyhood of voter fraud has gone up.

[GOPJ]

Without ‘daddy’ this guy wouldn’t be much...

[MSF BU]

I agree and would add that Bob Grant had it about right regarding the Cuomo family. It still amazes me though, 3/4 generations and not one family member had the stones to serve? Disgusting.