In Cuomo-Nixon Showdown, Black Votes Are an Early Flashpoint

While I support anyone’s right to run for elective office, Nixon’s campaign will only give Cuomo a soapbox to claim his decency and incorruptibility —- both fake news.

just what this country needs, another shallow celebrity with zero political experience running things. what have we become?

Should we expect that Hillary Clinton might enter the race, or is she holding out until she can run for NYC mayor?

Until Cynthia Nixon divests most of her $60 million net worth, she is just another elitist Hollywood actress I could never support!

Still hard to believe that this thug is our governor. Why stop at minority contracting? Reliable mass transit is an enormous equity issue. And Andy’s biggest move on that front, besides mooning over some Chuck Close paintings at 86th Street, is to deny that a public benefit corporation chartered by the state legislature, and to which he appoints a majority of board members, is a state entity. A cheap pandered and petty grifter who’s rather pick fights with our wimpy mayor and hang out with guys who refer to money as “ziti.” THIS is is the best we can do? We really think this clown is progressive?

I'm black/female but I have no idea what Cynthia Nixon's platform is. She announced a week ago and has no showing of what she would do or change from Cuomo. Earlier today she made comments about his physical perception, NYC accent and aggressive demeanor. That is just feminist dog whistling if I have heard it. Is she calling him a Guido and if so THAT is offensive to someone who isn't trying to be anyone other than himself. Cynthia, WHY do you have me here in NYTimes defending Andrew Cuomo??

Why is the New York Times ignoring Andrew Cuomo's remark that "we are not as without rhythm as our Jewish our Jewish brothers and sisters?" Why is the New York Times ignoring Cuomo's malfeasance to the MTA? Or his malfeasance regarding the Campaign for Fiscal Equity? Or the fact that Cuomo's top aide Joseph Percoco was recently convicted of corruption and bribery charges?

Seriously now, aren't we already dealing with the consequences of an unqualified candidate who is now the leader of this country? Did that go so well we need to repeat it with an unqualified candidate for NY governor? This is the best "serious" alternative to Cuomo?

Silly rich white celebrities who still don't seem to understand that the daily lived reality of black folks is not a political football - it dictates loyalty to the Party that secures what precious advancements have been made. Black folks don't have the time or the security of worrying about academic prescriptions and snazzy marketing malarky. Daily life depends on institutions and norms created by the Democratic party. Devil you know, y'know?

Compare the last two US Census maps for New York, the ones which show income growth. New York City is the wealthiest city in the world. Our previous billionaire mayor left us with a record number of billionaires. Yet look closely and you'll see that ALL of that income hovers as it did before in a few neighborhoods, you know the ones. There is no general growth in wealth, only a very specific growth among a small group of people. This is Cuomo's record, and to an extent the record of the Democrats who support him. If it's the economy stupid, as usual, and we expect Ny's Black community to vote their pocket book, they wouldn't be voting for Cuomo. People criticizing Nixon for being a non-politician need to hear her out and check their bank balance.

I'm no fan of Cuomo but I seriously thought Nixon's announcement was a joke of some kind - same way I felt when Trump announced. My first thought was "Haha - this can't be true." My next thought was "What gall! What nerve to think some celebrity qualifies one to executive leadership!" Nixon is just the Trump of the Left. I'm disgusted. But what has me even more concerned? The fact that politics has become so broken, so toxic, so banal that serious-minded, qualified people aren't AT ALL interested in running for anything. So we get the celebrity democracy we deserve. Turns out the movie "Idiocracy" was more than cautionary tale - it was documentary.

I can't believe more experienced people are not willing to take on Cuomo. He could be beaten by the right person. Cuomo is extremely vulnerable.

Seriously, dear NYT, think back on things. You treated Trump and Ms. Clinton as equals, went after Ms. Clinton constantly for a worthless email non-scandal, brought up Tony Weiner as if he mattered, and constantly acted as if Trump was saying things that were reasonable. Moronic populism is not going to help America, and it doesn't matter if that moronic populism is coming from the "right" or the "left". Nixon is Trump from a different direction, don't normalize her, don't pretend she might do a good job, ridicule and minimize her based on the facts until we stop getting these inexperienced celebrity candidates. Please, for the love of Democracy, don't court the lowest common denominator. Strive for better.

“Before she launched her campaign, Ms. Nixon gave a quick heads-up call to the Rev. Al Sharpton, the influential civil-rights leader and media figure.” This is sure to infuriate actual liberals in NYC and the area familiar with Sharpton’s rightist convict first try later approach to an infamous case. So I guess, unlike Ms Teachout, Ms Nixon will not likely be challenging Andrew Cuomo from the left.

Ms. Nixon doesn't have enough respect for New Yorkers to run for local office and show what she is made of, before she hunts for votes as governor. She is a light weight and New York deserves better.

There it is. Cuomo has never done anything in his life that wasn't to further his own political career. This explains his latest tirade about NYCHA, and his fake posturing to get a puny, already-allocated $250m for repairs.

I don't think this is terribly important. Ms. Nixon has never done anything in particular to help the black community, and her campaign is a joke, as she has no experience whatsoever in governance. "Sex in the City", her main claim to fame, was never aimed at African-Americans either, it'd be a different story if she'd had a major role in "Empire". The NYT really loves Ms. Nixon right off the bat, I can't understand why, maybe it's the 'anybody but Cuomo' thing at play. But there's nothing about her that indicates either that she could do the job of governor, or that she can win this election. Stop giving her free publicity, would be my advice.

Hopefully people will not be fooled by the Cuomo the way they were by Clinton.

Miss Nixon will do about as well among blacks as Bernie Sanders did, which is not very well at all. In fact, T In fact, that whole newer Progressive wing of the party is falling on its face among black voters. Like it or not, blacks seem to identify with traditional, mainstream Democratic candidates, such as Hillary, Cuomo, and in the old days, the Kennedys. Miss Nixon is educated, committed to her causes, and will appeal to millennials, Manhattanites, The Highly Educated, etc. But she will leave blacks, Latinos, and working-class Democrats cold. That's just how it is. Bring on Joe Biden!

Gee, white politicians glad handing and grinning at blacks folks. Already the optics are nauseating. Major challenges and hurdles faced by what must amount to a huge majority of African Americans in New York City: Affordable Housing and Police & Prosecutorial Misconduct. How many black-centric neighborhoods in Brooklyn have been gutted by apparently unstoppable waves of gentrification? How many lives have been truly derailed if not all-out destroyed by ruthless prosecutors withholding evidence and rampant police 'testi-lying'? Unless Cuomo and Nixon came knocking with ALREADY DEFINED comprehensive and exhaustive plans to fully beat back those leviathans, they are simply 'shucking and jiving' the A-A community as countless others have done for centuries. But really, we know Cuomo will do nothing even remotely progressive to address these issues. And without a full legislative house cleaning in Albany (burn it down!) what chance does somebody like Nixon have of getting anything meaningful passed?

Anyone who thinks Cynthia Nixon's primary run is a good thing should carefully read Frank Brun's column yesterday on the subject. Politics in America for sure isn't a very inspiring occupation. The tenor of comments here is a fine example. Let's not forget that in the sludge of politics in New York and America, Governor Cuomo has significant accomplishments. Frank Bruni's column yesterday shows that it takes professional experience to function in the political arena.

She is real, The Thug is also real, real bad.

Honestly, Cuomo's primary with Teachout should have been a wake up call.

Cuomo must be really desperate if he had to tell an anti-Semitic joke (as reported in the NY Post, March 25, 2018) to woo his Black audience. Has he no shame?

Of course Cuomo will get the black vote. He will buy black leaders and pay for the black vote with government funds (bribery). It's his way, it's the Albany way.

Yes, lets put another celebrity activist in with zero experience in office because that has worked so well in the past. Cuomo may not be prefect but he has: Legalized gay marriage Banned fracking state wide Extending universal pre-k statewide (based on DeBlasio's program) Banned AR15 after Newton Raised the minimum wage. That's pretty progressive legislation to pass in Albany. Does he need improvement, sure, but to even entertain Cynthia Nixon's run is irresponsible. Just because the celeb is on the left doesn't make it better. It seems we never learn....

Surely in a state with some 33 million people, there must be a viable Democratic candidate or two somewhere between a rank novice sleb and an experienced but hideously corrupt incumbent.

I guess Cuomo is playing for the black vote at the expense of the Jewish Vote by his weird statements today that Jews don't have as much rhythm as blacks and catholics -huh? I hope he fails on both counts but only if a republican would be governor. Nixon would be worse with her tax and spend and social justice warrior policies. Progressive policies don't work in the end and just result in a decimated middle class and a south American style social structure with the very rich at the top and their very poor welfare supported slaves at the bottom - see California.

Should Nixon become the Democractic candidate, we will surely end up with a Republican Governor. For reasons best not discussed here, the Republicans would easily beat her in upstate New York. That might very well end rent control.

Waiting for someone to do something about the legions of bipolar people screaming in the subways, threatening and lunging at people on the streets and in their buildings, and in general too often making traversing the city an unpleasant experience. It is only when such people push someone in front of an oncoming car or knife someone walking along the sidewalk that they are put away, and then only for a little while. Their childhood experiences and faulty DNA aside, as well the philosophical musing engendered by same, the problem is a practical one. More minor assaults than politicians know go unreported. So, the guy slugged someone. You can't lock him up for that.

Beware Cuomo's campaign promises. He won't even lead the Democratic Party to power in the State Senate, preferring to collude with obstructionist Democrats who keep the Republican MINORITY in charge there to block the broad progressive agenda. He would not even call a special election this year to fill a State Senate seat that might have tipped power to his own party. And this is why good things can't get done in Albany. I remember when Mario Cuomo, who I otherwise liked, had the opportunity when the Lt. Gov. resigned six months into his term to pick a replacement. Instead of opening a door and picking a person of color and/or sexual minority, he picked a white-bread mayor from upstate. Andrew was then and always was his father's chief political adviser. Andrew Cuomo has had four years to show us what he values. Yes, he has gotten marriage equality and gun control through. But he resists the really big things--infrastructure including subways, universal health care, quality public education, progressive taxation--that would put New York in the league of California in terms of progress. Cynthia Nixon's challenge will at least get these issues debated this year and for that we should be grateful to her. If we give her the support she needs to win, we can have a governor who has been working to improve the lives of average people for decades.

Mr. Cuomo is in for a rude surprise if he thinks he can waltz right in and claim the Black vote just because he's only just recently exhibited some interest in the problems with the New York City Housing Authority, and the problems here in New York City in general. This has nothing to do with Cynthia Nixon or his ongoing ego-fueled tiffs with Bill DeBlasio -- this is all about Cuomo essentially being M.I.A. until there's an election or a photo-op. And like every other politician to come along making big promises to a community they've by-and-large forgotten, he'll find out that African-American voters have not only seen this all before -- but yes, they do remember.

All Cuomo’s promises on housing should be taken with this gigantic block of salt: he supports the “Independent” Democratic Coalition which makes it impossible to restrain the power of the real estate industry in Albany. He’s only willing to shift money from one taxpayer to another but not endanger the big boys power and wealth.

Mr. Green "praised the governor for providing money to public housing." Huh? Is that the $200 million passed in the 2017 Budget and still withheld? or the $50 million from 2015 not yet available to NYCHA? The governor said that he learned from his brother Chris Cuomo, "that it is the photos that matter:" and explained that it is why he keeps going back to NYCHA locations now even though he failed to do so for the past 8 years. Wake up, NYC.

A vote for Cuomo is a vote for continued corruption and graft style politics in Albany. The Porcoro verdict showed up the truth of that fact. A vote for Nixon is a vote for more special interest politics, where taxpayer money will go to every LBGTQ organization and Al Sharpton cause under the sun, and your life will be regulated by Albany until you scream bloody murder. Some choice. This is what one party politics has sown in New York. A depression style economy north of Orange County, controlled by a Democrat party which is constantly trying to convince us that we just don't pay enough taxes to make everything right.

Pure pandering. He will not get the Black votes he thinks he's going to get.

Cuomo isn’t suddenly waking up and doing things for New Yorkers because he cares about them. He’s acting this way because he cares about himself and his presidential prospects, no matter how delusional that may be. So African-Americans and others might as well get on the bandwagon to obtain as much from him as they can . . . while they can. Ms. Nixon may not win, but she does offer another choice for many disaffected Democrats who’ve voted for Cuomo only because the alternatives have been much worse. This Democrat would vote for her because she seems to be an intelligent, honest, sincere and empathetic person, something Cuomo is decidedly not. And, for once in a long while, I wouldn’t have to hold my nose at the ballot box.