Maloney, Gibson at Odds at Forum

Congressmen Chris Gibson, left, and Sean Maloney at Across the Aisle 2016. (Times Herald-Record)

TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE — Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney said Wednesday that he doesn’t think Rep. Chris Gibson can beat Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he runs for governor.

The usual bipartisan kumbaya between Gibson, R-Kinderhook, and Maloney, D-Cold Spring, hit a brief sour note Wednesday when Maloney criticized Gibson over his criticism of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

For the fourth year in a row the two sat down with Pattern for Progress’s CEO and president Jonathan Drapkin for the annual “Across the Aisle” breakfast. It was held this year at Marist College’s Student Center Cabaret to an audience of about 150 people.

The event has been a forum for the men to highlight their ability to reach across the aisle, speak on the progress of bills winding through Congress and the region’s needs.

The two said they’ve been working together on several initiatives, including infrastructure, farms, Lyme disease and benefits for Blue Water Navy veterans.

But Wednesday’s event began with sharper criticism than usual.

Gibson criticized Cuomo, a Democrat, for “being a bully, leading by fear and intimidation” and for keeping a reported $700,000 book advance while calling for state lawmakers to limit outside income. Gibson isn’t running for congress this year but is exploring a run for governor in 2018.

“Where I grew up, professionally and in the military, you lead by example,” Gibson said.

Maloney, who’s running for re-election, defended Cuomo. He said he didn’t think Cuomo got enough credit for policies on economic growth and praised him on issues like the state property tax cap and marriage equality.

“I can’t sit here as a supporter of the governor and let all that go by,” Maloney said. “I do not believe you will win that race and I do not believe you could win that race. I don’t believe a lot of the things you said are a fair assessment of the governor’s record.”

Though the conversation remained respectful, Maloney went further, criticizing Gibson’s party and its presidential front-runner.

“I think it’s funny when you talk about the governor being a bully when the Republican party is being defined by the biggest bully in American politics in my lifetime, Donald Trump,” Maloney said.