The double life of the’quarantine hero’… The fall of the’New York Dynasty’ Cuomo, the sixth choice for the rich

It was difficult to imagine his fall just a year ago, when he emerged as a presidential candidate as a’corona quarantine hero’.

One of the iconic scenes was the so-called’Brothers Show’ with his younger brother Christopher Cuomo, a famous CNN anchor. The appearance of people exchanging private jokes on live broadcasts would normally have been treated as broadcast accidents. However, many Americans who knew their relationship well enjoyed it. At that time, the video also recorded more than 2 million views. It showed the recognition of the Cuomo family in the United States and the trust of the public.

(From left) Andrew Cuomo, current governor of New York, father Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York, younger brother Christopher Cuomo, CNN anchor[AP=연합뉴스]

The Cuomo family is one of the best political figures in the United States compared to the Kennedy and Bush families.

His father, Mario Cuomo, raised the estranged family of Italian immigrants. He was a political tycoon who was mentioned as a candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidency after going through the third election of New York in 1983-1994.

He confronted former President Ronald Reagan, winning support in New York, where the Democratic Party is strong. In 1984, when former President Reagan compared the United States to the biblical “shiny city on the hill,” Cuomo refuted in his speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying, “It’s more like a’two cities story’.” He criticized Charles Dickens for not seeing the poor American situation behind economic indicators.

Later, he was asked to run for Democratic presidential election twice, but he did not come forward. I even got the nickname’Hamlet by the Hudson River’ because I was only thinking about whether or not to run for the presidential challenge. He then retired after losing his fourth governor election in 1994.

A family photo posted by Christopher Cuomo on his social media. [크리스토퍼 쿠오모 페이스북 캡처]

Following this father, his son, Andrew Cuomo, was elected governor of New York in 2011. Following the re-election in 2014, 2018 will also be the third-choice governor. And like his father, he emerges as a’superior sleep dragon’, sharply confronting the incumbent Republican president.

President Trump watching a video of Governor Cuomo during a press conference last year. [AP=연합뉴스]

A prime example is the strong tone of criticizing the federal government, which is passive in supplying quarantine supplies. President Trump refuted that he was “helping and complaining,” but public opinion supported him.

At that time, Cuomo’s’Corona 19 Briefing’, which was held every day, was compared to the’Roadside Discourse’ of former President Roosevelt. We transparently informed the current situation and countermeasures at the beginning of the corona crisis and spread the hope of overcoming the crisis. This, too, contrasted with President Trump’s image of’disadvantageous’.

In the midst of New York State with the largest number of confirmed cases in the United States and the worst situation in the country, Cuomo said, “It’s my responsibility. Curse me.” And on social media, the hashtag’PresidentCuomo’ spread.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. [로이터=연합뉴스]

In this process, he also made good use of the family’s fame.

The executive order restricting home visits to protect the elderly was called the Matilda Law, named after his mother. At a time when protests against racism spread, they expressed support by referring to his father Cuomo’s ‘Tale of Two Cities’ speech.

His move would have been painful to President Trump. At the end of last year’s presidential election, former President Trump’s supporters protested by blocking traffic everywhere. Mario Cuomo Bridge (formerly Taepanji Bridge) on the Hudson River in New York was one of them. It was named after Governor Cuomo’s father. It was meant to protest against Governor Cuomo, who had been in conflict with former President Trump.

In November last year, supporters of President Trump launched a vehicle demonstration at the Mario Cuomo Bridge in New York, USA. [AFP=연합뉴스]

At a briefing on the 7th (local time), US Democratic Senate Representative Chuck Schumer said he supported the investigation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying, ″Sexual harassment incidents are never tolerated and should not be tolerated.” [AP=뉴시스]

However, recently, even the title of Cuomo’s’defense hero’ is under suspicion.

At the request of Cuomo Juja City, suspicions have been raised that New York State health officials have announced a drastically reduced number of deaths in nursing homes. The New York Times (NYT) reported that the governor’s aides at the time demanded that the death toll be corrected, and health officials even felt threatened of firing. At the time, when Cuomo emerged as a nationwide star through a live briefing, NYT observed that he would have been tempted to reduce the damage situation as much as possible.

Consistent explanations of the subsequent suspicion of sexual harassment encouraged the’fall without wings’. In particular, when he said, “(kissing a woman’s face) was his way of greeting his father,” criticism poured out, saying, “Does even the deceased be insulted for being in a hurry?”

With Cuomo’s refusal to resign, the New York State Legislature has entered an impeachment investigation. The only case in which the governor of New York was impeached so far was William Seolzer, who was accused of embezzling election funds in 1913, 108 years ago.

Reporter Kim Hong-beom [email protected]