(NY AG, Democratic Gov candidate Andrew) Cuomo Accepts Millions From Interests He Assails

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, declaring his candidacy for governor of New York, could not have been clearer.

“The influence of lobbyists and their special interests must be drastically reduced with new contribution limits,” Mr. Cuomo said last month. “We will be taking on very powerful special interests which have much to lose. We must change systems and cultures long in the making.”

But as he delivered his announcement, Mr. Cuomo was sitting on millions in campaign cash from the very special interests whose influence he said he wanted to limit.

An analysis by The New York Times shows that of the estimated $7.1 million that the Cuomo campaign has received from political action committees, associations, limited liability corporations and other entities, more than half has come from the biggest players in Albany: organized labor, the real estate and related industries like construction, the health care sector and lobbying firms.

In the spirit of reform, Mr. Cuomo pledged in 2007 not to accept donations over $10,000 from most categories of contributors during an election cycle. But he did not stick to that vow and has at times received amounts five times as great.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/nyregion/24cuomo.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[truthisfreedom]

1. C'mon, why, why, why??? Christ I'm getting sick of Dems who are leaving themselves politically

Vulnerable and exposed!

[naaman fletcher]

2. That's how a shake-down works.

You don't think Cuomo would assail an industry and take it down on principle do you? Instead he assails them in order to get money out of them. Mind you I am not picking on Cuomo more than any other average politician.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Given Citizen's United ruling by SCOTUS, I see no reason

to disarm unilaterally. Democrats should lead reform on campaign fundraising/spending and pass legislation that addresses corporate spending in our elections...but they have to get elected first and have sufficient majorities to get the legislation passed. I know damn sure Republicans won't ever do this.