Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who is running in the September 13th Democratic primary for Attorney General, spoke at an informal town hall meeting at a beer hall in Albany Thursday evening. CREDIT KAREN DEWITT
Cuomo took on President Trump’s slogan “make America great again,” by saying there’s no need to do so because the country was “never that great.” The governor, in a speech Wednesday, went on to say that the nation has not yet reached its full potential because of inequalities that exist. A spokeswoman for Cuomo later clarified that Cuomo does believe that America “is great”. Congressman Maloney, who was in downtown Albany for a town hall meeting, says Cuomo expressed himself inelegantly.
“It was a pretty stupid thing to say,” said Maloney. “But I think we know what he meant.”
And Maloney, who is married to a same sex partner, says he gives Cuomo credit for taking steps as governor to further civil rights.
“I have watched this governor contribute to making America greater by passing marriage equality in New York ,” said Maloney. “And I give him a lot of credit for that.”
Republicans, including the GOP candidate for governor Marc Molinaro, and the Republican Senate Leader, John Flanagan, have demanded that Cuomo apologize.
Maloney says people should give the governor some slack.
“I think he misspoke,” he said.