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Open Letter: “Is this Nate?”

It’s sizzling in my chest, so here it is. I don’t want to hurt the poor guy who called me—probably forced to call me—but it needs to be said. Yesterday, at about 11:00 at night, I got a call from a representative of the Governor’s office.

 A nice guy. But last night, this guy wasn't so nice. He told me, with profanity and threatening piñache, that he’s, “not f##cking happy” about a tweet that I sent out. I didn't even know what Tweet he was talking about. But it turns out, he was mad that I criticized the . . .
Governor’s plan to go to the Bills game because only 6.500 people were allowed to go and I felt it reinforced the belief—incorrectly or correctly—that the #COVID restrictions do not apply to elites. Pretty mild, but I’m a team player. If this man had just called me . . .
and told me that I misunderstood the facts, got it wrong, I would have taken the Tweet down. But again, he called me at 11:00 at night. Swearing. Keep in mind, at this point, I’m just a taxpayer. I’m not running for office. I have no more connection to the Governor than you ...
Please put yourself in my shoes. An emissary for one of the most powerful politicians in America called me, late on a holiday evening, looking to take my head off. Disturbing. This isn’t the first time some elite Democrat called me—either directly or indirectly—over the past...
few years to let me have it. Chuck Schumer’s staff tried to kill me for simply saying the obvious—it was crazy for Chuck Schumer to come here and praise my Trump loving opponent in the middle of our election. Why couldn’t I say that?
Maybe I took it too far, calling Chuck’s actions “gag” worthy. But the threatening calls and refusal to retract his comments reinforced my opinion. In fact, most powerful New York State Democrats refused to say anything about the Jacobs negatively despite the million...
the Jacobs raised for Trump. It is appropriate for me to question the general reluctance of senior Democrats to criticize the Jacobs—despite Chris Jacobs’ devoted loyalty to the Trump Crime Family—especially given the amount of money the billionaire Jacobs family spreads...
to elite Democrats and how they employ elite Democrats —play both sides. I’m sorry if that’s uncomfortable to hear. But the questions are valid. Do I ask these questions just for sport or attention? No. I hate it. Some of these folks I loved and respected before I got...
into politics. All I want to do is hold hands and help them solve the world’s problems. It’s hard to stand up, to say a word. But I’m not a puppet, and respect goes both ways. I could list dozens of other examples where I was sworn at, threatened, or just flat out bullied...
over personal slights by powerful politicians who claim to share my values. We could pretend that this is the work of rogue agents, and not the politicians themselves. Which begs the question, “Why so many rogue agents?” Further, it’s not like some of these politicians...
haven't called me directly. There have been far too many “Yikes” moments. You might contend that I share a fighting edge myself that is not unhelpful. Yes. I have yelled back. Fiercely. But who wouldn't yell back when they are getting “F-bombed” at 11:00 at night over a...
holiday? Over a Tweet with seven total likes? How many people died in Erie County last week? And they are still freaking out about my Tweets? Further, what power do I wield? And with whatever power that I have, do I not more often punch up—when it is difficult—than...
mercilessly punch down? In my defense, I have always worked to find common ground with the Governor, even when he tried to throw me out of the NY27 race in 2018. Even when he was AWOL for NY27 in 2020. Yes, I wanted to lash out—on behalf of myself and the people of NY27...
when in 2020 Trump and his family were relentlessly attacking and the powerful Democrats were so silent. But I limited my criticism given the gravity of the overall threat from Trumpism. I was only vocal when my silence would have been complicit. Not even in cut...
throat business have I seen the type of high level coercion that is common in New York State politics. It is a wide problem. There is a culture of fear and intimidation that should be confronted. That’s the purpose of this letter. I seek no further drama.
I want the drama gone. For real though. This is America. I’m allowed to have a viewpoint that’s different than yours. It doesn’t mean I hate you or want to take your spot. I’m allowed to share a Tweet with seven likes. It’s not going to destroy the party...
or destroy you. If anything, it might make us stronger. We can’t be afraid of dissent. It is our strength, not our weakness. We, as Democrats, need to be open to debate. If Chuck Schumer says something wrong, say it. Who cares? If the Governor wants to act like he saved...
the BIlls and pretend he’s Josh Allen in the middle of a pandemic, say it. Who cares? Our strength comes not from some version of the Trump loyalty oaths (“Blue MAGA”). It comes form our ability to discuss complex ideas, be self critical, fair minded, and objective. We are...
not the mindless drones of Trumpism. This is not a cult. The hardest thing about yesterday is I had just posted the Governor’s father’s legendary speech from the 1984 Democratic Convention on Twitter. It’s one of the speeches that inspired me to run for Congress...
If you’re still reading this, please understand how desperately I want, have always wanted, to fight for the values enshrined in Governor Mario Cuomo’s words, be unified in spirit and purpose for the greater good. I’m proud to say that I am the only Democrat in Upstate...
New York—indeed the only politician!—who defended the Governor when he needed ventilators. It hurt politically. Badly. The Buffalo News attacked me. Trumpers shredded me. But I knew what the Governor was doing the right thing, and I was proud to stand by him.
He has done so much good, especially in comparison to the failures of Trump. When I offer that praise, my comments are so much stronger because I have challenged him previously, because I am not a drone. If, as a private citizen, my comment about something as small...
as the Bills game causes such great consternation, I sadly fear that his resolve is much thinner than I hope for, thinner than my own. There’s a New Year upon us. I look forward to our country overcoming this virus, finding a new way forward for myself and my family...
and seizing new opportunites. I may run for office again, but not soon. In the meantime, I made some resolutions. Helping others run is part of it. Keeping my voice strong—even if it loses some of its timber and reach—is part of it too.
Staying true to myself is always high on the list. We need to change this culture, on both sides of the political divide, bring new voices, challenging voices, forward. If you really want to unify America, you do it with openness and transparency, not late night calls and threats
Best wishes to the Governor, to the Bills, and to all of you, Happy New Year. Be kind. Don’t play hockey during a pandemic. And please don’t call me at 11:00 at night swearing. I tend to yell back.

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