New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week was given the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for Inspired Leadership for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cuomo, whose state has seen more coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths than any other state, claimed his policies — including his disastrous nursing home policy, which forced nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients — were not “popular,” but were necessary.
“You try the best you can with communication, and then you have to set — you know, leadership is sometimes doing what’s unpopular and setting restrictions for society that you know are in their best interest even though they are not popular,” Cuomo said while accepting the leadership award. “And they are not popular right now. You know, people want to be able to go to a restaurant, want to be able to go to a bar, and this is the season. But leadership is doing what’s hard when it’s right, and that’s part of the function also.”
The institute also gave the award to Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, whose state also has a high number of coronavirus cases compared to most other states.
I am honored to receive the 2020 Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for Inspired Leadership.
I learned about humanity, leadership and putting people first from the great Senator Ted Kennedy.
Congratulations to my fellow recipient Gov. Charlie Baker.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) December 10, 2020
Critics blasted Cuomo, who also won an Emmy Award earlier this year for his response to the virus, and the leftists who elevated him.
Forgive me but seeing the governor of New York accept awards for his leadership that helped kill thousands of seniors has me a bit cranky this morning.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) December 10, 2020
Everyone is upset about this, but I assume, given who it’s named after, that this is an award for killing people and getting away with it. https://t.co/Ij1ItXgefI
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 10, 2020
It’s only fitting for Andrew Cuomo to win the Ted Kennedy award.
He left people gasping for air as they died while media sycophants looked the other way so to not hinder a future presidential run. https://t.co/xIqeyObpvx
— Giancarlo Sopo (@GiancarloSopo) December 10, 2020
