Posted on 11/17/2001 8:35:50 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Former Clinton Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo has been caught on audiotape warning that the black and Hispanic coalition that dominated New York City's Democratic mayoral contest this year "can't happen" again in New York's gubernatorial race next year.
Cuomo, son of New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, told fellow Democrats on election night that nominating his gubernatorial rival, State Comptroller Carl McCall, would be "the second installment in that contract, that racial contract, and that can't happen."
McCall, an African-American, called Cuomo's comments "divisive."
"It's a shame that the former secretary is running this type of crass campaign for his own political gain," said McCall on Friday. McCall has consistently trailed Cuomo in polls on the 2002 governor's race.
Cuomo spokesman Peter Ragone first denied Cuomo used the term "racial contract," arguing that the recording of the controversial comments, made by Jewish Week reporter Adam Dickter, was too muddled to be understood.
But a reporter for the New York Times, who heard the tape Friday, reported in Saturday's editions that the recording "makes clear that the quote was accurate."
Playing the race card as avidly as any 1960's Dixiecrat, Cuomo's warning that blacks and Hispanics could scuttle the Democratic Party's chances next year seems certain to further exacerbate tensions in a party already split along racial fault lines.
Add to that the fact that Cuomo's comment isn't the first time New York's leading Democratic family has appealed to racial fears in a bid for high office.
During the 1994 campaign that ousted then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, the state's first lady Matilda Cuomo twice warned that blacks would riot unless her husband was reelected.
"I think we could have race riots" if he is Pataki elected, she warned, in an interview with New York's Daily News.
Mrs. Cuomo had earlier told the New York Times that without her husband's leadership, New York would "have rebellions worse than L.A." and "people killing each other."
All the news we're forced to print that doesn't suit our agenda gets printed on Saturday...way in the back...
So characteristic of current times. Liberals and media are forced to reject obvious unbelievable; success, national support, and foreign accomplishments. They refuse to do their job, help the nation, and table bills before they can be presented to Congress. And now they "eat their own" to exist.
Andy Cuomo doesn't seem to have gotten the message
I hope for no racial and gay rights contracts in America! This is not Nazi Germany.
McCall, an African-American, called Cuomo's comments "divisive."
Yeah right!
I honestly don't understand them or their legions of blind followers!
Yep - this way they can claim "fairness" in reporting and nobody gets the information. Nice tactic, except that an increasing number of people are wise to the NY Slimes and are getting their news elsewhere.
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