New York Gov: Conservatives "have no place in the state of New York"

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a telephone interview on Friday that conservatives “have no place in the state of New York.”

Speaking with CBS 6, Cuomo unleashed the following tirade against right-to-life, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-traditional marriage Americans:

“Their problem is not me and democrats, their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives, who are right to life, pro assault weapon, anti-gay, is that who they are? Because if that is who they are, and if they are the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York. Because that is not who New Yorkers are.”

Now, according to the Weekly Standard, Cuomo is backtracking his comments after national outrage. Here’s the full statement:

The New York Post distorted Governor Cuomo’s words yesterday, saying that the Governor said “conservatives should leave New York.” The Governor did not say that, nor does he believe that.

If you read the transcript (below), it is clear that the Governor was making the observation that an extreme right candidate cannot win statewide because this is a politically moderate state (either moderate Republican or moderate Democratic).

In the same response, the Governor went on to say “it is fine” to be anti-gun control, and anti-choice” – as he respects both positions.

The Post can allow any person they want to publish in their paper but if they are to retain any credibility they cannot be entirely reckless with facts and the truth.

(h/t WeeklyStandard.com)