An Open Letter To Governor Andrew Cuomo – (Conservatives Please Read Before You Leave The State)

Earlier I wrote "An open letter to Richard Sherman" of the Seattle Seahawks in regard to his post game antics last night, and the many other occurrences of bad sportsmanship that he has shown. I wrote it with love and tried very hard to understand where he comes from and tried to help him to learn some things that life has taught me the hard way. In the end though, that is football, one man and in the end will not really effect me or you.

Our politicians however, effect all of us tremendously. That is why it is with a little bit less "understanding" that I write this "Open Letter  To Governor Andrew Cuomo". I should also note that this letter could and should be directed at all of these so called leaders we have running our towns, states and country.

Dear Governor Cuomo,

I am a democrat and I have been all of my life. I am and have always been a big fan of yours. I voted for you, and I probably will again though I can not do so without first telling you how disappointed I am in something you recently said and I can only hope that you will soon apologize for.

This past Friday you said,

"You have a schism within the Republican Party. … They’re searching to define their soul, that’s what’s going on. Is the Republican party in this state a moderate party or is it an extreme conservative party? That’s what they’re trying to figure out. It’s a mirror of what’s going on in Washington. The gridlock in Washington is less about Democrats and Republicans. It’s more about extreme Republicans versus moderate Republicans. 

… You’re seeing that play out in New York. … The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act — it was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate! Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are."

You said that the gridlock in Washington is less about Democrats and Republicans? That is exactly what it is about. It isn't the things they disagree on that cause the gridlock, it is the one thing both parties do agree on, the fact that the other party is always the enemy and can not be allowed to win.

Sir, I believe that you, and your counterparts in Washington have  forgotten one very important factor about elections in this country, that is that once you are elected you serve ALL of the people you represent not just those of your party or those who are smart enough to agree with you. You are all so very sure that you and your respective parties are right, that you have forgotten what it means to compromise.

How dare you say that you know who New Yorkers are? Yes, there are a great many New Yorkers who are right-to-choose, anti-assault-weapon, pro-gay rights, I am one of them. However there are a great many New Yorkers who feel the opposite and they not only have a right to believe in what they believe they have a right to do it in this great State of ours.

Rather than wishing they would just wake up and understand that New York is a liberal state and will always be that way and inferring that if they do not like it they can just get out, why not include them in the process, listen to their viewpoint and educate them on your beliefs rather than force them upon them. Why not reach out in a spirit of communication, respect and compromise.  At the very least make those people who did not vote for you , or do not agree with you feel like they are at least being heard and represented?

Andrew I am a big fan of your Father Mario, and one of the things that always impressed me were his beliefs about immigration and slavery. Your father was a proponent of inclusion, he said that everyone who came to this country had something to offer, that it was the great melting pot of ideas, cultures and people that made this State and this Country great. He was right.

No one man is always right Andrew. There should never be talk of "steam rollers" in politics, there should be no talk of parties winning and losing, there should in fact, be a whole lot more listening. We have lost too many great citizens of New York because of high taxes, poor schooling, bureaucracy and bad government, can we really afford to now kick out those who disagree with us too?

I think that an apology to those whom you represent is in order, all of the people not just the one who agree with your party. the fact of the matter is, if you can not be the Governor to all of the people in this great state of New York, than I can no longer let you be mine.