U.S. Rep. Pete King slammed New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday for saying America "was never that great," calling the governor's statement "shameful and indefensible."
Cuomo made the statement on Wednesday while trying to address gender equality and women achieving full potential in the workplace, CNN reported.
"We're not going to make America great again. It was never that great," Cuomo, a Democrat running for re-election, said at a bill signing event in New York City. "We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged.”
"We will reach greatness when discrimination and stereotyping of women, 51 percent of our population, is gone, and every woman's full potential is realized and unleashed and every woman is making her full contribution."
King, from New York, joined other Republicans in denouncing Cuomo's comments.
"America may not be perfect but it is the greatest nation in the history of the world," King said in a statement released Thursday. "What country is better Andrew? What country has done more for more people, given so much opportunity to more people or shed more of its own blood liberating more people and more countries?
"Why did so many immigrants so desperately want to come to America? And, I ask, what has happened to the Democratic Party of Harry Truman and John Kennedy? God Bless America."
Cuomo is facing a Democratic primary fight from his left in an attempt to keep his seat. Actress Cynthia Nixon, best known for co-starring in "Sex in the City," is on the ballot against Cuomo, CNN noted.
Marc Molinaro, Cuomo's likely Republican challenger, said the governor "owes the nation an apology. He should be ashamed of himself."
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