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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWorking Families Party Gives Cuomo Its Ballot Line
http://www.thenation.com/blog/180069/defining-moment-approaches-working-families-partyAfter 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 Cuomos 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.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)xchrom
(108,903 posts)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
(25,035 posts)Cuomo is as corporate as he can be.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)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)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)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Does that thought make anyone else's head hurt?
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Good luck to her. Cuomo deserves a primary challenge.
Here's her website. Check it out:
http://zephyrteachout.com/
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)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)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?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)FWIW, I agree that Ravitch would be a great candidate, but she didn't run. It's not like the WFP rejected Ravitch.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)She couldn't even carry her own party.
Yes she has a residency problem... she doesn't have five years of residency in New York.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)When Clinton first did THAT, all he was was a law professor. OK?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)flake--ask any of the bloggers who did work for Howard Dean.
Cuomo SUCKS.