If you’re a Christian conservative and you’ve ever gotten the feeling that you’re unwelcome in the state of New York, you have good reason to feel that way.
In 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo memorably stated that “extreme conservatives”—in other words, anyone who supports the right to life or the right to bear arms—had “no place in the state of New York.”
Gov. Cuomo is no longer in office. Unfortunately, Gov. Kathy Hochul has followed in his footsteps.
Back in June, Gov. Hochul described pro-lifers as “‘Neanderthals.’” Recently, Gov. Hochul demonstrated that her comments in June were not a slip of the tongue. At an August 22 rally for Democratic U.S. Rep.-elect Pat Ryan, Gov. Hochul made the following remarks: “‘We’re here to say the era of Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro — just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong, OK? Get out of town.’” The Governor added, “‘You are not New Yorkers. We come from a long line of people who fought for women’s rights [and] fought for LGBTQ rights…’”
Gov. Hochul’s remarks attracted a good deal of negative attention. Columnist Chris Churchill of the Albany Times Union commented, “Hochul later said that she was only speaking about the three men she named. But…her implication was clear: [Zeldin and Molinaro] are not New Yorkers because of the way they think and the views they hold. Which means, of course, that the many others who hold those views must also not be New Yorkers, no matter where they were born or where they live…” Churchill is right. Clearly, Gov. Hochul doesn’t believe that New Yorkers who disagree with her views on abortion, gender, and sexuality belong here.
Dutchess County Executive and Republican congressional candidate Marc Molinaro noted the similarity between Gov. Hochul’s rhetoric and the rhetoric of her predecessor: “‘Disagree with their policies, disagree with them and you have no place here. This is yet another example of how arrogant Kathy Hochul, Pat Ryan and liberals have become. Let me be very clear: Everyone who lives here regardless of your party or beliefs is a New Yorker.’”
Tim Hoefer of the Empire Center stated that New York has lost 1.5 million residents over the past decade, and opined that Gov. Hochul should focus on keeping New Yorkers here—not driving them away.
At New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, we have this to say: Gov. Hochul, some of your constituents are Christians. Some are pro-life. Some hold traditional Christian views on marriage, family, and sexuality. We were here before you held office. We were here when you ascended to the office of lieutenant governor by riding on Gov. Cuomo’s coattails. We are here now, and we will be here after you leave office. We are going absolutely nowhere, and we will continue to pray for you and to strongly oppose the vast majority of your policy agenda. You, on the other hand, are under no compulsion to continue representing us. If you do not wish to govern a diverse state that includes people like us, do the right thing and step down. And if you cannot stand to even live in the same state with us, you should be the one getting on the bus to go elsewhere.