Amy Robach’s ABC News interview this week with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is an embarrassment.
It is embarrassing because reporters should not treat elected officials like celebrities, getting all giggly and chummy with people in positions of power and authority. But most of all, the interview is embarrassing because Cuomo has overseen one of the most incompetent and deadly coronavirus responses in the country, and certain members of the press continue to give him the kid-glove treatment. It is as if they think there are not big and pressing questions that the governor should be made to answer about his mishandling of the pandemic.
Why? Because he is Cuomo, apparently.
The following is a list of the 10 questions Robach asked during her interview of the New York governor (as compiled by the Washington Free Beacon’s David Rutz):
- “In one word, can you describe the past 100 days?”
- “What still keeps you up at night?”
- “You’ve been commended for your clear and your calm leadership. People from all over the country and the world have tuned into your press conferences. Your statewide approval rating, a career-high 84%. You came in second only to President Obama as the most trusted Democratic leader in America. How do you intend on spending that political capital that you’ve earned?”
- “If you had to give President Trump a grade on how he’s handled this pandemic, what would you give him?”
- “What grade would you give yourself?”
- “You’ve said that you have no political aspirations beyond the job you’re in right now. A lot of people are asking why. Why not think about something grander, bigger, presidential?”
- “Would you accept a Cabinet position in the Biden administration?”
- “That was a quick no. Why not?”
- “I know you’ve been portrayed as some sort of a homecoming king of this crisis. Headline from Jezebel: ‘Help, I think I’m in love with Andrew Cuomo.’ The New York Post dubbed you the new ‘Luv Guv.’ Chelsea Handler wrote you a love letter essay in Vogue entitled, ‘Dear Andrew Cuomo, I want to be your first lady.’ Your reaction to all that? Your daughter’s reaction to all of that?”
- “When are you going to hug your mom again?”
Robach’s ABC co-anchor Michael Strahan praised her later for her “tough questions.” If that is “tough,” I cannot even imagine what he thinks “easy” looks like.
Anyway, I would encourage you to read this exceptionally damning Wall Street Journal report or these ProPublica articles detailing Cuomo’s gross mishandling of the COVID pandemic in New York, where the virus has killed at least 30,935 people since March.
But, hey, at least we now know what the governor thinks of his adoring fans in the news and entertainment industries. Thanks, Amy Robach! It looks like you learned all the wrong lessons from having your Jeffery Epstein investigation spiked by your superiors.
