General Discussion

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Sun Jun 1, 2014, 05:49 AM Jun 2014

Working Families Party Gives Cuomo Its Ballot Line

http://www.thenation.com/blog/180069/defining-moment-approaches-working-families-party

After an intense debate, the Working Families Party voted to give Governor Andrew Cuomo its ballot line on Saturday night, turning back a challenge by academic and activist Zephyr Teachout.

The final tally was 41.34 percent for Teachout, 58.66 percent for Cuomo.

The vote was framed by both sides as a referendum on the essence of the party. Cuomo partisans insisted the party needed to recognize the magnitude of the promises the governor made to secure the nod. Teachout supporters argued that Cuomo’s performance over his first term, when he often failed to deliver or even resisted progressive change, necessitated a break with the governor.

One committee member backing Teachout called out his vote after noting that “I have a conscience.” A Cuomo supporter countered a moment later, “I have a conscience and good sense.”

Cuomo agreed to work for a Democratic Senate and a list of progressive policy changes, like the DREAM Act and marijuana decriminalization. His foes argued that an energized WFP could deliver a Democratic Senate without the governor, whom they did not trust to keep his vows.

18 replies

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Working Families Party Gives Cuomo Its Ballot Line (Original Post) xchrom Jun 2014 OP

That is too bad. Squinch Jun 2014 #1

DESPITE DUSTUP, NY GOV CUOMO GETS LIBERAL BACKING xchrom Jun 2014 #2

Suckered and buying bullshit at steakhouse prices. TheKentuckian Jun 2014 #3

this is what co-option looks like. nt xchrom Jun 2014 #4

And with that, the WFP becomes officially meaningless. Ken Burch Jun 2014 #5

"Cuomo agreed to work for a Democratic Senate"...? Ken Burch Jun 2014 #6

yes -- that sort of does jump out. nt xchrom Jun 2014 #7

It means another party had to force Cuomo to campaign for his OWN party. Ken Burch Jun 2014 #8

It looks as though Zephyr Teachout (cool name, btw)may challenge Cuomo in the Dem primary; Ken Burch Jun 2014 #9

+1 xchrom Jun 2014 #10

She will face a residency challenge if she files. And the NYC Democratic msanthrope Jun 2014 #11

Bill Clinton was just a college prof when he entered politics. Ken Burch Jun 2014 #12

See this on Teachout: geek tragedy Jun 2014 #14

In that link, Kos also admits he holds a grudge against teachout. Ken Burch Jun 2014 #18

Right....'cause she has the stature of Bill Clinton. msanthrope Jun 2014 #16

She'd have had equivalent status at the point at which each stood for governor. Ken Burch Jun 2014 #17

WFP needs better alternatives. Teachout is a self-promoting geek tragedy Jun 2014 #13

They didn't have to endorse anyone. N/T Chathamization Jun 2014 #15

Squinch

(50,935 posts)

1. That is too bad.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:27 AM

Jun 2014

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

2. DESPITE DUSTUP, NY GOV CUOMO GETS LIBERAL BACKING

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:28 AM

Jun 2014

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WORKING_FAMILIES_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-06-01-01-02-04

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo beat back a challenge from the left Saturday, narrowly winning the nomination of the Working Families Party with a promise to support liberal priorities while taking on state senators who have blocked them.

Cuomo defeated a bid for the endorsement by Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout following an impassioned floor fight between his supporters and critics that gave vent to liberal frustrations with Cuomo over his support for business-friendly tax cuts and charter schools. The final vote was 59 percent for Cuomo to 41 percent for Teachout.

The governor did not appear at the convention but spoke to delegates over the phone. He promised to support liberal priorities including a minimum wage hike, the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana and public campaign financing.

"If we want to enact the progressive agenda, we need to take back the state Senate," said Cuomo, adding that his own attempts to pass liberal policies have been blocked by the Senate. "It's not that we haven't to tried, it's not that we haven't fought ... I want to do it with you, and if we come together that's exactly what will happen."

TheKentuckian

(25,023 posts)

3. Suckered and buying bullshit at steakhouse prices.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:37 AM

Jun 2014

Cuomo is as corporate as he can be.

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

4. this is what co-option looks like. nt

Reply to TheKentuckian (Reply #3)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:38 AM

Jun 2014

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

5. And with that, the WFP becomes officially meaningless.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:51 AM

Jun 2014

The WFP will never fight for actual working families again.

They can't even cite "the need to stop the Right" to justify this, since there is no chance whatsoever of a right wing candidate beating Cuomo for the governorship anyway.

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

6. "Cuomo agreed to work for a Democratic Senate"...?

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 06:58 AM

Jun 2014

In New York, the Democratic governor has to be FORCED to promise to work to get a Democratic Senate? He wouldn't automatically be committed to doing that? He wouldn't WANT that to happen on his own?

Am I missing something here?

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

7. yes -- that sort of does jump out. nt

Reply to Ken Burch (Reply #6)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:02 AM

Jun 2014

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

8. It means another party had to force Cuomo to campaign for his OWN party.

Reply to xchrom (Reply #7)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:14 AM

Jun 2014

Does that thought make anyone else's head hurt?

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

9. It looks as though Zephyr Teachout (cool name, btw)may challenge Cuomo in the Dem primary;

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:28 AM

Jun 2014

Good luck to her. Cuomo deserves a primary challenge.

Here's her website. Check it out:

http://zephyrteachout.com/

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

10. +1

Reply to Ken Burch (Reply #9)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:31 AM

Jun 2014

msanthrope

(37,549 posts)

11. She will face a residency challenge if she files. And the NYC Democratic

Reply to Ken Burch (Reply #9)

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:54 AM

Jun 2014

machine is fairly unimpressed with this candidate. She's a law school professor...and I'm not sure how that prepares you for the governorship.

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

12. Bill Clinton was just a college prof when he entered politics.

Reply to msanthrope (Reply #11)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 07:34 AM

Jun 2014

Woodrow Wilson was just a college president when he ran for governor of New Jersey.

Is there some question as to whether Teachout is actually a NY state resident?