"Their problem is themselves. Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Because if that's who they are and they're the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the State of New York, because that's not who New Yorkers are."
Andrew Cuomo decried extremist conservatives in a recent statement and all hell on the Right broke loose.
Sean Hannity Responded:
"I want you to know that and I can't wait to get out of here," he said. "I really can't. I don't want to pay their 10 percent state tax anymore. I live in the second-highest property-taxed county in the entire country in Nassau County. I can't wait to sell my house to somebody who wants it. I can't wait to pay no state income tax down in Florida or Texas."
So did Glenn Beck and Ted Cruz:
Of course, Hannity's friends far and wide, decried Cuomo's "vile" statement.
"State GOP chairman Ed Cox demanded Tuesday that Cuomo, a Democrat, apologize. Cox accused Cuomo of "poisoning New York's politics with divisive rhetoric at a time when New York needs to be united to address its continuing economic problems."
"Divisive rhetoric" is, of course, something the GOP knows
wholeheartedly, since they have enabled Right Wing extremists (aka the
Christian Taliban) for years. In fact, after Beck became dismayed at the
comments, he said that he might expatriate to another country. Thereafter he
had on John Hagee, the pastor who told atheists to take the first plane out of
the country. Right Wing Watch: Hypocrisy,
Thy Name Is Glenn Beck.
There's a twisted irony here: as if Andrew Cuomo is a Queen Isabella expelling the Jews (right wing extremists) from New York and suddenly Texas has become the new Amsterdam.
New York's Sigh of Relief
New Yorkers, both City and State, deal with bombast in their own way: while
tsk-tsking Cuomo for being so intolerant of narrow minded conservatives, they
are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The reaction to Rush Limbaugh's
exodus was one of "Thank goodness, now maybe someone with taste will redo
his godawful apartment!" so the reaction to Hannity's possible departure
was "Let's help you pack, Sean!" Of course, Hannity is not quite as
big as FOX News (an admirable target for emigration), but his absence will
quiet the skies over the empire state, giving the people a rest from the
righteous arrogance they distrust: their conservatism has always been more
quiet and moderate, giving them the feel of dignity ... and honesty.
"The governor was making the point that he makes often: New York is a politically moderate state and an extremist agenda is not politically viable statewide," said Cuomo's counsel, Mylan Denerstein. "New York has a long history of electing Democrats and Republicans statewide who are moderate rather than on the extreme ends of the political spectrum. That is an unarguable fact."
Which One?
It's doubtful that Hannity will follow through with his threat, however, seeing
that his $20 million-a-year at FOX can't be matched and for that amount, anyone
would deal with high state income taxes. After all, $2 million in taxes can't
mean much to someone who lives in this:
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