Putting his irresponsible public doubts about the success of coronavirus vaccines aside, which he has now walked back, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s leadership in handling the coronavirus pandemic in his state has been a disaster. From his infamous nursing home policy that killed thousands of seniors, to what appears to be an intentional manipulation of the data to downplay its tragic impact, to lying that it ever happened at all—few if any governors can be said to have managed the pandemic worse than Cuomo. But to top it all off, the governor then had the audacity to write about his leadership during the crisis.
It is in this context that his comments over the weekend have infuriated so many. In a speech at the Riverside Church in Morningside Heights in Manhattan on Sunday, Cuomo said true leaders shouldn’t be defensive when mistakes get made.
"The key is to be strong and secure enough to admit your mistakes and admit your shortcomings," he said, "don't get defensive."
Fox News's Janice Dean, who lost both her in-laws to COVID, shared video of his speech, commenting: "This guy is a real piece of work."
This guy is a real piece of work. https://t.co/FvYHl1P5Fo
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) November 16, 2020
“Admit your mistakes” pic.twitter.com/Q5GITOQVT0
— Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) November 16, 2020
Like putting COVID positive patients in nursing homes that killed thousands of senior citizens which he conveniently left out of his book? https://t.co/BsYpueJ9Hl
— Alex Plitsas ???? (@alexplitsas) November 16, 2020
“… also, a strong sense of self-awareness” https://t.co/psX6CwQCOp
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 16, 2020
Several thousand grandmas and grandpas, killed as a result of Cuo's senicide order, couldn't be reached for comment. https://t.co/MxibYtPDyF
— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) November 16, 2020