Former Gov. David Paterson scored a rare interview with his successor, Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his drive time radio show today and the two discussed the Occupy Wall Street protests that have been roiling much of the nation and recently visited Albany.
This morning The Post’s Fred Dicker reported that Gov. Cuomo tried to clear the Albany park where the protesters were camped out, only to be defied by Mayor Jerry Jennings.
“I have total respect for the right of the demonstrators,” Mr. Cuomo said. ” It wasn’t too long ago, David, that I was out there myself, demonstrating with Russell Simmons on the Rockefeller drug laws. We had thousands of people show up in New York City, we had Jay-Z and Fifty Cent and we had a mini concert.”
It is probably worth nothing that throughout the interview Gov. Cuomo frequently referred to Gov. Paterson as “David,” while his predecessor addressed him as “Governor.”
Gov. Cuomo pointed out that these protests “are not a new situation for us” since hundreds of people come to Albany during the regular legislative session. He noted that there were probably close to 2,000 people towards the end of the session to weigh in on both same-sex marriage and the millionaire’s tax.
“We believe in the right to demonstrate,” Mr. Cuomo said. “We also believe in the rule of law and we will enforce the law.”
Gov. Cuomo noted that if there weren’t limits placed on the freedom of speech around the statehouse that it would be impossible for the business of government to get completed.
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OWS needs to stop sleeping in tents and start marching people down to there local Board of Elections so they can Register to “VOTE”
The power of the 99% is in the “VOTE”
Before there was the “Oracle at Delphi” there was Count Vampire J. Machiavelli
VJ Machiavelli
Power to the People Who VOTE
I think Andrew Cuomo is a great supporter of OWS, but he cannot say so from his particular elected office. The Albany DA has is right — he knows the best strategy for containing ande defusing OWS is to arrest only the violent fringe — the handful of maniaics, agent provocateurs, etc., whose actions themselves marginalize the protests. Cuomo’s strategy would be an immense boost to the movement — filling the jails with peaceful protesters, enraging the 50% of Americans who already support the goals (if not the tactics) of OWS and helping to recruit many more supporters. Thank you, Gov. Cuomo, for doing what you can! We get it!