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During a recent television appearance on NY1, I was asked why I supported Carl McCall for governor of New York. I indicated that Carl McCall had earned my support in a long career of public service. Before becoming state comptroller he had served as a New York State Senator, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, president of the New York City Board of Education and as a member of the New York and New Jersey Port Authority. In 1998, running for reelection as comptroller, he garnered 2.9 million votes, more than any other candidate, including Governor Pataki.
By contrast, Andrew Cuomo has never served in public office in New York city or state. President Clinton appointed him at my urging to his only position in government, Secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Despite my unflinching preference for McCall, I would vote for Cuomo in the general election if he convinced the voters of his fitness and won the Democratic primary. It may be provocative but I’ve also said that, at this juncture, I would support Governor Pataki over Cuomo because, up to now, the former governor’s son hasn’t done or said anything to persuade me that he would make a good governor.
Had I known that Cuomo was interested in elective office, I would have encouraged him to run for mayor against Giuliani, for U.S. Senate against Alphonse D’Amato, for the Senate seat vacated by the Patrick Moynihan. But Cuomo showed no interest in seeking office until he heard that McCall was running for governor.
In New York politics, if it were the background and qualifications of the candidates alone that counted—if race were not an issue—I doubt that anyone would have taken pause or even considered my statements on this matter newsworthy. Unfortunately, race is always an issue. The fact is no matter how many white candidates I support, the minute I endorse a minority, I am called upon to convince people that there were good reasons for my choice that were not based on race. It happened when I endorsed Fernando Ferrer for mayor, and now McCall.
But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I cannot encourage anyone to vote for a candidate that I have no reason to support myself. Andrew Cuomo has nothing going for him except that he is the son of a former governor and served in President Clinton’s cabinet. Carl McCall, on the other hand, has paid his dues, proved his mettle and earned the right to serve as governor.
Former Governor Mario Cuomo took offense at my opinion and called me about it. I told the Governor what I’ve said all along, that I will vote for his son if he wins the Democratic primary election. Someone very close to Andrew Cuomo, instead of calling me, berated Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, the new state Democratic party leader, complaining that I should be silenced for disloyalty to the party.
The only Republican I have ever supported was Mayor John Lindsay, whose policies were as liberal as the most progressive New York Democrat. Hugh Carey and Ed Koch, two Democrats who crossed party lines to support conservative Republicans George Pataki and Sen. Al D’Amato, respectively (Koch also worked on behalf of Mayor elect Bloomberg), have never been publicly criticized by members of their own party.
I will not be silenced for trying to elect the best qualified Democratic candidate for governor. This is only the beginning of an honest exchange that could be resolved if Andrew Cuomo challenges Carl McCall on the basis of experience and ability to perform as governor of the state of New York.
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