Andrew Cuomo - Showing a Scary Brand Consistency

There was an incredible article that was at once innocent, insightful, and scary. I appeared in the New York Times this weekend [Sunday, June 20, 2010] about Andrew Cuomo. Well, not about him, per se, but about his choice in partners and their ability to cook. It also speaks to the truth behind the Cuomo brand and to what we could expect from him if he assumes office in the future. Now, I know politicians are famouse for their ability to spin facts. But this article adds a new way to uncover the truth - I call it the lasagna factor.

To some, my take on this article may seem a throwback to another era of housewives dutifully putting a hot meal on a table. But to me, nothing speaks about character as honestly as food does. And this one speaks to Mr. Cuomo's character. Now, I don't mind that he chose a "perfect housewife" to round out his reputation for a harsh personality. After all, he was called the dark prince" when he first joined politics on his father's campaign at the young age of 24 for a reason. I do wonder what he must have done to be called the "dark prince" while working for dad's campaign at the tender age of 24. But that is neither here nor there.

The article innocently enough deals with the lasagna recipe his girlfriend, significant other, or whatever he wants us to call her, had included in her cookbook. Simply put, it was disgusting, and something that does not bode well for the food channel [condensed Cambell's tomatoe soup instead of a sauce? cottage chese?]. Now, I can't speak for all people, but I think the levels of disgust that come in the form of 144+ comments [at the time of writing] on his choice of mates and their recipes from around the country are consistent enough to add credence to a Lasagna test for all candidates.

Andrew Cuomo's own mother refers to the recipe in question by noting "that is not how you make a lasagna." It is as if readers from every walk of life can ascertain the true nature of a person by the food they make. And they are disgusted that Sandra Lee's "recipe from a sponsor jar" approach tells us exactly what he is peddling - a badly wrought image that will crumble faster than a highschool cafeteria lasagna.

To me, Sandra's lasagna brings to mind a larger question. If this is they way his significant partner cooks and acts [i.e., badly and as a bought and paid for pitch person], if this demonstrates her belief in the integrity of a family meal, then what does this say about the way he will manage the State of New York?

Perhaps it says nothing at all. Or perhaps it says that if he will compromise on one of the most basic of needs for himself - the food he eats and the company he keeps - what will he do for the State of New York?


In my opinion, something as simple as lasagna speaks to the very essence of who anyone is. It is a family meal that centers on the love of simple food, of real ingredients, and on putting in the time to make it right. Is this who Andrew Cuomo is? Because this recipe speaks of a person who couldn't care less about the food they eat, or the people they dine with. It speaks more to a person willing to sell out his own integrity to build an image he wants to portray, rather than to be himself. It speaks to a person who is trying hard to create a brand for himself that is diametrically opposed to the real him. We saw what this approach led to when Elliot Spitzer became Governor. We also saw what happened when the "green petroleum" company BP failed to live up to their brand.

So for me, the humble dish of lasagna says it all. It says I do not like where Mr. Cuomo is going. And yes, I can say that, after reading Ms. Lee's recipe, all of this can be tied to something as simple as a lasagna recipe and the way a person cooks.

http://alturl.com/tjdx

Just take a look at the recipe yourself. The lasagna tells all!

Jeff Cannon

Think Cannon

http://www.thinkcannon.com/