While CNN Prime Time host Chris “Fredo” Cuomo continued to reject accountability for his role in his family’s COVID testing scandal, he had the nerve to complain about how his family had to live like average New Yorkers and struggle to get coronavirus vaccines for his in-laws. On top of that, he took a shot at outlets who reported on his family’s special treatment with COVID testing by calling them “tabloids.”
Last week, Fredo took a suspiciously timed vacation just as the Albany Times-Union exposed how his brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) had set aside state resources to give his family special access to the COVID tests when other New Yorkers struggled to get them.
But during the Tuesday night handoff between his show and Don Lemon’s CNN Tonight, he had the nerve to whine about how difficult it was to get his in-laws appointments for the vaccine:
In a few months when Cristina was trying to get her parents a appointment for the vaccine, it was like NASA in my house. Everybody was on a laptop, everybody was looking for a canceled appointment. Everybody was scrubbing all these different sites and stuff.
“Totally different now. Totally better,” he thankfully added.
Wednesday night saw Cuomo come the closest to admitting he was involved in screwing over his fellow New Yorkers.
During an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, he bragged about getting the vaccine and took his shot at outlets that reported on his scandal. “Got the Pfizer vaccine yesterday. Cristina and I went. You may have seen me in the tabloids,” he chided. “So, I felt fine yesterday, just a little soreness at the spot. Today, I had a little bit of a fever and felt almost a little flu-ish. Cristina, same kind of stuff, malaise.”
So, according to Fredo, the Times-Union, The Washington Post, and The New York Times were "tabloids?" Beyond parody.
At multiple points in the segment, Fredo declared as fact that people who didn’t want to wear mask had lost the “resolve” to fight the virus:
Mask mandates are being struck down in places like Wisconsin, thanks to reduced collective resolve to fight.
(…)
All right. So, let's deal with what’s making us sick. This reduce and resolve is real. I don't think you're going to get people to mask up again. I don’t think you can get governors to be more restrictive. What does this do in terms of our timetable?
It’s unclear if Fredo had lost his own resolve to fight the virus since he’s been caught several times flouting mask mandates in public spaces like his condo building and restaurants.
And in a true display of obliviousness and hypocrisy, Fredo closed by taking shots at former President Trump that could easily apply to his brother:
We’ve all learned a painful lesson about how important leadership is. And I’ll be open about it. I was worried about you at that time. You obviously know it, but the audience should also, that they would get rid of you. Because that’s all that mattered to him was fealty, not loyalty to the job or the cause. And hopefully, we do get to a better place together and soon.
Fredo may be using CNN’s conveniently timed reinstatement of a ban on him talking about his brother to hide from accountability, but NewsBusters will stay on the story.
Chris “Fredo” Cuomo’s nonsense was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Fidelity and Nutrisystem. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN Tonight
March 30, 2021
10:02:06 p.m. Eastern(…)
CHRIS CUOMO: In a few months when Cristina was trying to get her parents a appointment for the vaccine, it was like NASA in my house. Everybody was on a laptop, everybody was looking for a canceled appointment. Everybody was scrubbing all these different sites and stuff. Totally different now. Totally better.
DON LEMON: It is better. And I’m glad many people are getting it.
(…)
CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time
March 31, 2021
9:42:59 p.m. EasternCUOMO: Today, the CDC confirmed that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death last year. You had heart disease, cancer, COVID. The news comes as cases continue to spike across the United States, thanks to tougher variants, and mask mandates are being struck down in places like Wisconsin, thanks to reduced collective resolve to fight.
Let's discuss with the president's chief medical adviser himself, Dr. Tony Fauci. Always a pleasure to see you, doc.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI: Good to be with you. Thank you for having me.
CUOMO: Got the Pfizer vaccine yesterday. Cristina and I went. You may have seen me in the tabloids. So, I felt fine yesterday, just a little soreness at the spot. Today, I had a little bit of a fever and felt almost a little flu-ish. Cristina, same kind of stuff, malaise. Normal?
(…)
CUOMO: I got nervous today when I started to get those fever symptoms again because it reminded me of being sick. But's a very different deal this time. I just want people to know what I’m feeling. I'll be honest about it. And honest from you that this not that abnormal but it's better than being sick.
All right. So, let's deal with what’s making us sick. This reduce and resolve is real. I don't think you're going to get people to mask up again. I don’t think you can get governors to be more restrictive. What does this do in terms of our timetable?
(…)
9:48:10 p.m. Eastern
CUOMO: Then I'll put it on you. Do you think you should have said more, earlier on, even if it would have meant that maybe you would have been removed, do you think we would be in a different place if you would have said about the president and to the president, this guy’s lying to you?
FAUCI: Well, you know, I don't think you can just come out and say this guy’s lying. I don't know how good that would have been.
(…)
CUOMO: We’ve all learned a painful lesson about how important leadership is. And I’ll be open about it. I was worried about you at that time. You obviously know it, but the audience should also, that they would get rid of you. Because that’s all that mattered to him was fealty, not loyalty to the job or the cause. And hopefully we do get to a better place together and soon.
