Cuomo the cute: Andrew wrongly refuses to rule out Working Families Party nod
EDITORIALS

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo waffled in his first major campaign decision when he declined yesterday to reject outright the endorsement of the Working Families Party.

By skipping the party convention this weekend, but keeping his options open down the road, Cuomo fell far short of the clear statement he should have made – that the WFP agenda is incompatible with his promise to fundamentally reform state government.

His campaign explained the straddle in legalistic terms: “There are several open issues that need to be considered, including but not limited to an ongoing federal investigation as well as policy and procedural issues. We will revisit the question in September, at which time there will be more information available.”

Cuomo should simply have said: “No.”

No to the WFP’s water-carrying for labor unions and other special interests in Albany.

No to its lobbying for spending and taxes.

No to its heavy-handed manipulation of state lawmakers in back-room deals.

No to its internal financial shenanigans that sparked the aforementioned federal probe.

By referencing September, Cuomo invites the party to pick a placeholder candidate who could be bumped aside if he decides he needs the WFP ballot line to win. The party issued a statement suggesting openness to such a bait-and-switch.

Instead of engaging in political calculation, Cuomo should have followed the example of Long Island Sen. Craig Johnson – who has run with WFP support in the past but has taken a pivotal position blocking the party from achieving a scheme to rig election laws for its benefit.

Johnson took a principled stand. Cuomo must do the same.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/06/04/2010-06-04_cuomo_the_cute.html#ixzz0qKAGS6ti