Joseph Spector

ROC

Bill Samuels, a liberal activist and son of 1974 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Howard Samuels, ripped Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a news release today, saying the Democratic governor has been "an embarrassment" and should run as a Republican.

Bill Samuels, whose father invented the trash bag that became Hefty, was among protestors today arrested at the Capitol over criticism of the state budget. He has been a Cuomo critic and briefly ran for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Samuel's father, Howard, who lived in Canandaigua, Ontario County, ran for governor with Mario Cuomo as his running mate. The pair lost the primary to Hugh Carey, who served two terms.

"I strongly supported Andrew Cuomo in 2010 and believed in his commitment to reforming Albany and making New York work for all of us. But he has betrayed me and all of his supporters. I have had it with Andrew, and so have many Democrats in the state," Samuels statement said.

Here's the rest of his statement:

"I had hoped that Andrew would live up to the ideals and vision of Mario Cuomo. He hasn't and won't. His father was a great Democratic governor. Andrew has been a disappointment and an embarrassment.

“It’s unfortunate that we needed to stage civil disobedience against Andrew, and get arrested, to make our point, but we did. It’s come to that. Andrew has failed not just progressive activists but all Democrats and all New Yorkers. He must be held accountable for these failures.

“Andrew has sided with Republicans more often than Democrats on a range of issues. When he came into office, he had a big opportunity to build a strong progressive Democratic majority in the State Senate. Instead, he willingly helped Republicans gain control and has advanced the interests of the wealthy elite at the expense of regular citizens.

"He has refused to campaign for Democrats in competitive races and is actively courting the Republican establishment and hiring Republican operatives to do his bidding. Enough already. Andrew acts and functions like a Republican governor, so he should just own it and stop playing games with us. He should run for re-election as a Republican."

“Rising poverty and inequality are the biggest economic issues in our state, and Andrew ignores them with diabolical delight. He neglects the suffering in low-income and middle class households that has grown on his watch. He is desensitized to the struggles of New Yorkers, and offers property tax gimmicks and empty promises instead of real solutions.

“Andrew doesn’t think he needs to earn the respect or the votes of Democrats. Big, big mistake. If a serious Democratic challenger emerges to Andrew’s left, watch out. He will be in real trouble,”