Gibson Says Cuomo Is Vulnerable, Lukewarm On Bush

Hudson Valley Congressman Chris Gibson, a Republican who is retiring from the House after this term and could seek statewide office in 2018, stopped by WAMC to record a Congressional Corner interview with Dr. Alan Chartock on Monday. In the following excerpt, the two discuss the GOP presidential primary and the 2018 gubernatorial race.

Gibson: "So, look, I’m looking forward to a very robust debate over the next year or so, maybe even more, before we arrive at who our candidate is. And I do think that will be in the best interest of the American people ultimately," Gibson said.

Chartock: Well, it’s clearly going to be Hillary versus Jeb Bush, isn’t it?

No, I wouldn’t say that at all. Because, you know what, I think we could replay talk radio back in 2007 everybody thought Hillary was a shoo-in then.  She wasn’t the candidate. Well, you could give examples over the span of history that, sometimes, being the frontrunner earlier on is not [a guarantee], look at Howard Dean.  I mean, he went through a period where he was the frontrunner and he didn’t become the nominee. So, I know Republicans tend to have this, well, if you were second place last time then you’re the person this time. Well, we went through that with Mitt Romney, I guess. I think it’s pretty wide open. I’m all over our district and in fact, since January I’ve been in about half the counties in New York state, and I think there’s a real earthiness about the situation right now and the GOP. People are looking for fresh ideas, fresh faces. They want to see us bring forward solutions to the problems of our time. I actually think that works against Jeb Bush being the nominee.

Well, let me put it this way. You’re a much smarter man than I am and I know that. However, it ain’t going to be Carly Fiorina and it ain’t going to be Dr. Carson. It’s going to be somebody much better known to the rank and file, in my opinion and if the Republicans have a brain in their heads it’s going to be Jeb Bush simply because he’s the most moderate. But that doesn’t mean he could win primaries. 

Well, look, I think his position on Common Core is problematical. I have been opposed to that, I think you know that Alan, from the very start. I’m for empowerment, not control in school; I’m for local accountability. And it is really very concerning to me that Jeb Bush has embraced this and seems unrepentant on that score. I think we have seen in our own state that over the last several years that it does not lead to more excellence.  I have been encouraged by the fact that there seems to be a pretty wide solidarity now, certainly across [the] political spectrum and the ideological spectrum that that approach of top-down control has not been helpful and I want to see us in power. I think teachers are special. They already know that they’re not going to be rich but they get to be rich at heart. Inspiring, inculcating and yes, educating. The best type of accountability is local accountability and so having a presidential candidate who wants to double down on Common Core is certainly going to have a challenge getting someone like [me to support them].

Okay, well, I guess I’ve saved the best for last. There’s an awful lot of talk about you running for governor of New York. I recently interviewed Ed Cox, the chairman of the Republican Party in the state and your name was certainly right on the edge of his lips when he was talking about who might be a candidate for governor. The rumors are coming out fast and furious that you’re looking for [it] and you just said to me that you’ve been to half the counties. That shows you may be looking at it strongly yourself. So, I’m wondering, how goes that?

Well, it is possible and I am looking at it. But I’m not going to make a decision on it anytime soon. First and foremost because the priorities that I’m most responsible for, at the moment, for the next 18 month is being the very best representative for the 19th congressional district. We plan on finishing strong. We are having our best legislative session to date. We’ve talked about some of those bills that we’ve authored and brought forward already in our conversations here today and last time. That’s the first priority; the second priority is helping our team get stronger. We are following through. That is to say the GOP team to get stronger and I know there may be a fair number of folks listening today who are registered Democrats. But I would think that anyone in the state, including Democrats, would want to see a situation where you’d have a viable two-party system. [In] the history of mankind, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that we would have a check and have a viable two-party system and allow for the debate of ideas to come forward and we would select our governance.

Very well said, Chris, but I do want to ask you about Andrew Cuomo, is he vulnerable?

Oh, I think so. I would think so whether you’re talking to Republicans or Democrats or independents. I think that folks are very disturbed by the approach that he’s taken to governance and some of his policy choices. For example, there is a real concern right now in the state of education; how we’re going to proceed. It appears that the governor is not listening and he’s looking to double down on that approach. As a consequence you are seeing civil disobedience. I mean, that’s what you’re seeing, classic civil disobedience across the state. They want our government to be as it was initially designed and that is of the people, by the people, for the people.

We’ve only got a minute left but where’s the civil disobedience now?

Well, opting out of the tests.  I mean, folks want to be heard. We are meant to be a self-governing people. The people get a voice in our policies. So, look, as I was saying I believe I am following through, I said I was going to help strengthen our team. I’ve done two candidate academies to date, where we have helped bring a daylong session where we will help our candidates with competence in terms of issue education, media training, debate preparation, organizing a campaign to connect with voters; we’ve done that. I said I was going to help the state party raise money, I’ve done that. We’ve been helping the New York state GOP raise money. I’ve been traveling the state to rally our folks and to really get them oriented on the hard work that’s necessary. Our eyes are wide open; it’s a two-to-one Democratic state.

Okay, Chris, now I want to interrupt because now I really do only have a minute. How do you get to people in New York City, who don’t know much about upstate, they don’t know much about Albany, they don’t know much about state politics to recognize who you are. Everybody up here knows who you are.

Well, for our candidates, whoever they may be, I think the key thing is integrity, first and foremost.

Yeah, but if the tree falls in the woods and no one sees it or hears it, does it happen?

Working at the grassroots level and getting advocates at the grassroots level and, in this day and age, with the ability to organize with social media and to advertise at very low dollar level on the internet; there is a real opportunity to connect. What I’ve noticed and I’ve been in the city too, by the way, when I say half the state. I’ve been to all the boroughs in New York City and both counties on Long Island and there’s a real feeling that this current leadership is not getting it done. That doesn’t mean Republicans are going to win, that means there is an opportunity. If we can translate that into connecting with voters to show that we have solutions to the problems of our time; that’s the work before us.