by Frank Holmes, reporter
The Buffalo Bills will go to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, and they have a major good luck charm—New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo, an “admitted Bills fan,” wants to watch his favorite football team so much that—even though he’s ordered a lockdown for his state’s restaurants and gyms to fight the coronavirus—he’s decided thousands of fans can watch the Bills live and in person. And the governor intended to be right there in the stands with them.
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It’s another example of how New York Democrats like Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have increasingly bent their overbearingly strict shutdown orders to carve out exceptions for themselves.
Breaking their own rules is part of the Democratic playbook.
The Bills beat the New England Patriots to win the AFC East title and head to the playoffs for the first time in a quarter of a century. Their last home playoff game was December 28, 1996.
That’s too long for Cuomo to deny himself the chance to watch them in the stands—so he passed an order that 6,700 people can attend the game inside the stadium. They have to test negative for COVID-19 and maintain contact tracing afterwards.
“Bills fans have waited decades in order to attend a home playoff game,” Governor Cuomo said, announcing the exception. “All season long, the Bills’ stellar play has captured a certain energy and charisma that is undoubtedly infectious.”
“This is a time for excitement and celebration,” Gov. Cuomo, the brother of CNN’s Chris Cuomo, said. “Go Bills!”
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New York lawmakers were alarmed. State Sen. Sue Serino, a Republican, said she couldn’t believe football fans could party down when “I’ve received countless calls from family members desperate to see their loved ones in nursing homes who couldn’t find timely access to rapid tests.”
Truly speechless. I’ve received countless calls from family members desperate to see their loved ones in nursing homes who couldn’t find timely access to rapid tests & NHs who haven’t been able to get timely results back for employees. Once again, NY has its priorities backwards https://t.co/72RWtanWyH
— Sue Serino (@Sueserino4ny) December 23, 2020
“Cuomo wags a finger at the Island for its positivity rate every time he addresses the media these days, but he’s ready to let a jacked-up fanbase attend an NFL playoff game in Buffalo?” asked Staten Island columnist Tom Wrobleski. “That’s not following the science and the facts.”
Cuomo originally said he planned to attend the game himself—until the Bills’ fans circulated a petition to ban Cuomo from the game. “He thinks he has more right to a seat in that stadium over people who have waited over 20 years for this opportunity,” it said. “We don’t want you here.”
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After the blowback, Cuomo backed down and gave his ticket away as a publicity stunt.
Cuomo isn’t the only one taking a dance on his own law. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio shut down the Big Apple’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square for the first time in 114 years…he even had police officers barricade the area to outsiders.
Then, he and his wife danced around the square at midnight.
To rub people’s nose in it, de Blasio’s official mayoral Twitter account posted a video of them pair dancing.
Happy #NewYear from the greatest city in the world. pic.twitter.com/47CmOAanxD
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 1, 2021
Mayor de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, drew immediate criticism.
When CNN’s Anderson Cooper gagged on whatever alcohol he was drinking, co-host Andy Cohen said, “That’s how I felt when I saw Mayor de Blasio dancing just now. I just don’t need to see that at the beginning of 2021.”
Then he yelled to the mayor, “Do something with this city! Honestly, get it together!”
Others piled on.
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“You’ve always been basically the worst political in modern history – but shutting down the NYC [and] having your own private party in Times Square is really *chefs kiss* the most tone deaf thing I may have ever seen a Mayor do. Everyone hates you DeBlasio,” tweeted Meghan McCain, co-host of The View.
These two Empire State shenanigans, plus the growing list of Democratic politicians who broke their own COVID-19 lockdown orders, exposes the Democrats’ double standard: Rules for thee but not for me.
Frank Holmes is a veteran journalist and an outspoken conservative that talks about the news that was in his weekly article, “On The Holmes Front.”