Latest news with #BasilSmikle
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Another politician who demanded Cuomo resign as governor now endorses him for NYC mayor
A growing number of Democrats who called on Andrew Cuomo to resign as governor amid sexual harassment allegations are now backing his comeback bid for New York City mayor -- including one of his opponents in the race. On Friday, state Sen. Jessica Ramos became the latest to flip-flop on Cuomo and endorse him, casting the former governor as the candidate best suited to run the city. 'We need results, we need experience and someone who knows how to deliver under pressure,' she said at a press conference held by the Cuomo campaign in Manhattan. Though she is backing Cuomo, Ramos said she will remain in the race to advocate for 'higher wages, more housing, and a stronger voice for working people.' The reversal from Ramos, who had called on Cuomo to resign in 2021, came just months after she described him a 'corrupt bully' who 'brings nothing to this race but baggage" when he entered the race. With her endorsement, Ramos joined lawmakers such as Rep. Adriano Espaillat, state Assembly member and Brooklyn Democratic Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, along with others who have changed positions on Cuomo and now welcome his leadership ahead of the city's Democratic primary later this month. 'There are a lot of elected officials that have decided they want to look past any bad behavior because they want to look at more immediate needs,' said Basil Smikle, a Democratic political strategist and professor at Columbia University. 'They seem him as a strong person. They probably think he's the only one that can push back against Donald Trump.' Cuomo left office after the state attorney general released a report that determined he sexually harassed at least 11 women. He has said he did not intentionally mistreat the women but had instead fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct, while at the same criticizing the pressure for his ouster politically motivated. For Cuomo, securing the endorsements of those who once castigated him could ease voter concerns about his past scandals and bolster his long-held thesis that he was wrongfully forced to resign. In a statement, Cuomo said he was proud to have Ramos' support and looked forward to working with her to "put this city back on the right track and make this a stronger and more affordable place for all working men and women.' 'We're both proud Queens kids and with it comes a 'Queens attitude' that is both tough and protective of our families and our neighbors and by extension all New Yorkers,' he said. Ramos' endorsement came a day after U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her weight behind mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who has surged in the months leading up to the primary. Ramos has grown critical of Mamdani as the left flank of the Democratic Party has coalesced behind him. She jabbed at the social media-savvy Mamdani during a debate this week, saying she wished she'd run for mayor sooner but 'I thought I needed more experience but turns out you just need to make good videos."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Exactly Why We're Not Winning': Dem Strategist Nails 1 Of Party's Biggest Problems
Democratic strategist Basil Smikle called out his party on Monday for failing to reach voters with a message they can relate to even as President Donald Trump's approval rating plunges. Appearing on MSNBC, Smikle was asked about a New York Times report that party insiders were spending millions on meetings in luxury hotels and programs on how to reach young men, including studying the 'syntax, language and content' of viral media. 'I really have no understanding what that is because honestly, if somebody needed to come talk to me, just come talk to me. Actually go find me and come and talk to me. Don't do it in a hotel. Don't study me like this is some academic exercise,' he said. 'That is exactly why we're not winning: because we Democrats have been accused of looking and sounding too elitist. That's a problem.' MSNBC's Chris Jansing said focus groups show many voters souring on Trump ― but those same voters don't like anything about the Democrats, either. Smikle said the party's current fixation on former President Joe Biden and his reported declining health during his term in office are a perfect case in point of why they aren't connecting with those voters. 'There's been a lot of conversation about what people knew about Joe Biden and when did they know,' he said. 'If you actually go into communities and talk to voters, they're not asking about Joe Biden. They're asking what do we do now. And if Democrats don't have an answer for that question, they're going to continue to lose support.' He urged Democratic insiders to get out of the hotels and into the communities instead. See more of his conversation with Jansing and Meghan Hays, a former special assistant to Biden, below:
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Exactly Why We're Not Winning': Dem Strategist Nails 1 Of Party's Biggest Problems
Democratic strategist Basil Smikle called out his party on Monday for failing to reach voters with a message they can relate to even as President Donald Trump's approval rating plunges. Appearing on MSNBC, Smikle was asked about a New York Times report that party insiders were spending millions on meetings in luxury hotels and programs on how to reach young men, including studying the 'syntax, language and content' of viral media. 'I really have no understanding what that is because honestly, if somebody needed to come talk to me, just come talk to me. Actually go find me and come and talk to me. Don't do it in a hotel. Don't study me like this is some academic exercise,' he said. 'That is exactly why we're not winning: because we Democrats have been accused of looking and sounding too elitist. That's a problem.' MSNBC's Chris Jansing said focus groups show many voters souring on Trump ― but those same voters don't like anything about the Democrats, either. Smikle said the party's current fixation on former President Joe Biden and his reported declining health during his term in office are a perfect case in point of why they aren't connecting with those voters. 'There's been a lot of conversation about what people knew about Joe Biden and when did they know,' he said. 'If you actually go into communities and talk to voters, they're not asking about Joe Biden. They're asking what do we do now. And if Democrats don't have an answer for that question, they're going to continue to lose support.' He urged Democratic insiders to get out of the hotels and into the communities instead. See more of his conversation with Jansing and Meghan Hays, a former special assistant to Biden, below:
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo the latest to be targeted by Trump's Justice Department
Basil Smikle, Columbia University Professor and Andrew Weissmann, former top prosecutor at the Justice Department join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to the latest episode of the weaponization of the Trump Justice Department with the DOJ opening an investigation into former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, just months after the same department dismissed federal charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is a political opponent of Cuomo in the next NYC mayoral election.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fmr Repubican aid: ‘We can't pretend what happened with Biden didn't happen'
Basil Smikle and Brendan Buck join The Weekend hosts for a roundtable discussion on the latest developments in the House spending bill, and how the Democratic party can reclaim its future in light of Former Secretary Pete Buttigieg's comments about Biden's political viability during the campaign.
