New York Gov. Kathy Hochul just revealed the depths of her political cowardice and lack of care for her constituents.
As the governor of a state with a city characterized by the most contentious and internationally recognized mayoral race in the United States, she appeared pressured to make an impossible decision: Endorse the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, endorse a weaker candidate or refrain from endorsing anyone.
For a cowardly politician, the solution to the challenging dilemma is evident: Identify the candidate with the greatest probability of victory. However, for a politician with integrity, the decision would be equally evident: Choose the candidate most capable of effectively leading the city. But Hochul is a coward. So much so that she not only endorsed Zohran Mamdani but put out an op-ed in The New York Times to justify it.
Mamdani has advocated for a socialist agenda with which Hochul has publicly disagreed with on multiple occasions. In response to Mamdani's tax proposals, she stated, "I don't want to lose any more people to Palm Beach. We've lost enough." Hochul, in her op-ed, emphasized her belief in maintaining New York as "the center of the global economy" and attracting employers to create more good-paying jobs. This is completely at odds with Mamdani's calls for new taxes and government-run services.
In October 2023, after Mamdani and his party backed a pro-Palestinian rally, Hochul publicly called the event "abhorrent and morally repugnant." She has also expressed support for the New York City Police Department, and police generally, where Mamdani was previously critical of the NYPD and has advocated for defunding the police.
And these aren't just small disagreements. Hochul stated in her Times op-ed that "Mr. Mamdani and I don't see eye to eye on everything, and I don't expect us to. I will always reserve the right to disagree honestly and to argue passionately."
It is evident that she is attempting to salvage her reputation by selecting a winner rather than a loser, regardless of how much that person destroys New York City.
Seriously, when has a governor publicly sponsored a candidate while articulating disagreement on major issues?
Hochul is afraid too. This has been obvious. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has significant sway in New York. Not that she is on the best terms with Hochul, but the power she wields among the far left caused the near ousting of veteran Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer when he compromised with Republicans to keep the government from shutting down. Not only that, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who similarly isn't near the ideological space that AOC is in, could similarly face a serious contest with a further-left progressive. The fact is, the far left has taken over the Democratic Party, and if the more moderate democrats don't fall in line, they may be on the hot seat. To save their rear ends, they're putting the people last.
But still, this could be the most significant misjudgment of Hochul's political career. Given the impending gubernatorial race next year, every action and endorsement she takes must be meticulously weighed. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is contemplating a campaign amidst a red wave in politics over recent years. In fact, Hochul's victory is not assured. She narrowly defeated former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) in 2022, earning 53% of the vote compared to his 47%. Although this may appear to be a substantial margin, in a state like New York, where Republicans have been galvanizing support, Stefanik, a contentious yet widely more recognized individual, would need an additional 3% to make it even.
Hochul has been a fervent advocate for Israel. Mamdani has pledged to instruct the NYPD to apprehend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he enter New York City, the site of the United Nations headquarters, which he frequently visits. Mamdani cannot lawfully apprehend a foreign head of state like Netanyahu due to established norms of diplomatic immunity and federal primacy in foreign affairs. Under U.S. and international law, incumbent heads of state possess extensive protection from criminal jurisdiction in foreign nations, particularly during official engagements such as visiting the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Even if Mamdani attempted it, the NYPD's legal counsel would promptly obstruct it. Mitchell Silber, former NYPD intelligence analysis director, stated: "The NYPD can't take illegal acts, even if the mayor wants them to. If it's an act that they're prohibited from doing by federal law, then they're not going to do it because it's going to get overturned immediately."
It may be Mamdani's ignorance of the law, or a deliberate attempt to disregard it in order to placate his constituents. In either scenario, it reveals either his incompetence or his true character.
But Hochul has succumbed to both. Hochul may have been reluctant to endorse a candidate who would be unsuccessful; that, politically, is understandable. Yet should incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams withdraw from the race and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, prevail, Hochul will have embraced a socialist political failure, ultimately rendering her the biggest loser of all.
Armstrong Williams is manager/sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast owner of the year. To find out more about him and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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