Report real bio of Cuomo
The late and revered New York Gov. Mario Cuomo is likely to be best remembered for the “Tale of Two Cities” speech he delivered at the 1984 Democratic Convention in San Francisco.
A fitting memorial, both brilliant oratory and a true picture of the man: who he was and what he stood for. A speech worth rereading any time we begin to despair about the state of American politics. He gave us a vision, the way Martin Luther King Jr. did. In many ways, the words Mario penned and spoke have been the wellspring for many of the best ideas both progressive and centrist Democrats have tried to act on ever since.
Last summer, in the middle — not the end — of New York’s brush with COVID-19, the current governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, had the stones to publish a flattering autobiography that became a best-seller: “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” It was designed as a presidential campaign launch that capitalized on his popularity at the time for his very good work in communicating governmental responses to an anxious public. He won a special Emmy Award for his daily televised briefings that were watched by an estimated 65 million worldwide. However, good to remember that Emmys are given for televised performance, that is, theater.
About the only aspect of this book that stands out is that he received more than a $5 million advance for it and the entire book deal wasn’t quite kosher. Not a lasting memorial. The Andrew he depicts himself to be in those televised news conferences is, charitably, aspirational. Perhaps someone he wishes he were or wishes he could have been, kinder, gentler, a natural father figure.
Andrew’s true and accurate biography, and regrettably his fitting memorial likely to outshine a lifetime of public service just came out. It’s a sizzler, 165 well-written pages from the desk of New York state Attorney General Letitia James that bristles with sharp detail, a compelling narrative and almost incidentally creates the most accurate portrait of the real Andrew Cuomo I’ve ever seen in print. That of an arrogant, narcissistic, vindictive bully who feels himself above the law or any accountability and also it seems a sexual predator. The title, “Report of investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Gov. Andrew Cuomo,’’ needs a little work. But the state really should consider releasing this report as a full-length, nonfiction book and recoup some of the several millions taxpayers are forking over for Cuomo’s legal defense teams. To that point, I wonder where
the many, many millions more in civil suit settlements will come from, his pocket or ours or some insurance company’s. Especially since the AG’s office, the legal arm of state government, has given full legal credibility to the accusations of sexual harassment by these 11 women. And who knows who else will step forward.
At the very least, the AG’s report should be required reading for all future executive chamber employees, of all genders. While Andrew Cuomo is clearly the star of the AG’s report, the toxic workplace he and his minions perpetuated that aided and abetted the governor is also depicted in great and damaging detail. How not to run a government. Shame on Andrew Cuomo for doing this, but shame on us if it ever happens again. Contemplating a New York political world without Andrew Cuomo becomes more and more attractive, and the solution to what comes next that had some of us anxious has become increasingly obvious. Our lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, obviously the next in line anyway, has also earned a chance at the top job. Until or unless we know better, this solid centrist Democrat from Buffalo works for me. Andrew is stealing not just a page but the entire playbook from fellow Queens pol former President Donald Trump, with the lies, the defiance, the alternative reality, the bizarre personal quirks. Republican speech writer Peggy Noonan in Friday’s Wall Street Journal concludes that Andrew comes across in the AG’s report as “nuts.” That would explain a lot, I suppose. As Andrew slides down the one-way rabbit hole of his own creation to his own personal hell, it is increasingly clear this will not end well for him. There is no good option left.
The bell cannot be unrung. How soon that bell comes clanging down on him is still anyone’s guess but, in the meantime, New York is saddled with a growing embarrassment. He doesn’t deserve to represent us anymore. Resignation is the best he can do for the state and for himself.
Steve Villano, who was in charge of Mario Cuomo’s New York City press office, points out in a commentary published Saturday and earlier on the website Medium and quoted in the New York Post, that, if Andrew doesn’t resign, he “will finally prove what he’s been struggling to show for his entire lifetime: He is not his father.”
Resignation is the best he can do for the state and for himself.