Biden on Cuomo: “He’s Done a Helluva Job!”

CLAY: We are soon to have a new governor in New York, and Joe Biden was asked about the situation that Andrew Cuomo has resigned, and Biden said…? What did he say? Well, he said Cuomo “has done a helluva job,” and then he got called on it. Let’s listen to both of these back-to-back in yesterday’s White House press availability.

BIDEN: Well, he’s done a hell of a job! He’s done a hell of a job. And, uhhh… I mean, both on — everything from access to voting to infrastructure to a whole range of things. That’s why it’s so sad.

COLLINS: Can you really say that he has done, quote, “a helluva job,” if he’s accused of sexually harassing women on the job?

BIDEN: Now, look, you asked two different questions! You the substantive… “Should he remain as governor?” is one question. “Did he do a good job on infrastructure?” That was the question! He did!

COLLINS: No, the question was, “How did he do as a governor?”

BIDEN: No, the question was —

COLLINS: He’s accused of sexual harassment.

BIDEN: Correct me if I’m wrong.

O’KEEFE: How was he as a governor generally?

BIDEN: Well, the governor generally, obviously —

O’KEEFE: (crosstalk) Outside of his personal behavior?

BIDEN: Outside of his personal behavior? Okay.

COLLINS: But can you separate the two since he was involved —

BIDEN: No! I was asked a specific question!

COLLINS: Okay, how —

BIDEN: I’m trying to answer specifically.

BUCK: Hey, look, when journalists — alleged journalists — ask real questions, we gotta say that was what was happening there for a second. It’s kind of funny, but in Joe Biden’s defense, Clay, if you see the video of him wandering off into the bushes after being directed by the Secret Service yesterday, is it even really clear that he knows what’s going on at any point in time? If we’re gonna be fair, we gotta be fair. Does Joe Biden know where he is or what time it is? I don’t know.

CLAY: I do know, probably, in his prepping they were saying, “Hey, don’t refer to the governor who just resigned in disgrace for being accused of sexually harassing 11 different women, nine of whom worked for him — and who also, by the way, killed, probably, or is at least was partially responsible for –”

BUCK: His order was responsible for it, yes.

CLAY: “– thousands and thousands of deaths. I don’t know that I’d call that “a helluva job,” right? I think maybe that’s not accurate.

BUCK: What didn’t get any attention I think people should remember is another part of the Cuomo saga that was looming in the background: He had state troopers doing VIP covid testing, driving samples to and from Albany and doing all this stuff for friends and family, basically. This is like Third World dictator crap.

CLAY: I think that’s the question about whether or not Chris Cuomo ends up falling on his sword, too, over this entire process. Remember, Cuomo… Look, you can criticize him. Here’s Chris Cuomo at CNN was advising his brother, but he’s been on vacation right now. He still hasn’t been able to address any of this, and I think certainly his legitimacy — to the extent that CNN has any at all — is totally crushed going forward.