As Ed Koch is euologized today, there’s been a fair amount of consideration of his political record.

Needless to say, it is difficult peg down Koch’s views, which ranged from staunchly liberal to conservative. He’s endorsed Republicans and Democrats, fierecely defended Israel and backed the death penalty.

So was he a liberal?

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his radio interview this morning with Fred Dicker said the label proved meaningless with Koch, and by extension, himself.

“I think we used these labels way past their time,” Cuomo said. “They are meaningless and confusing and they’re often misused. Liberal — what is a liberal today? What was a liberal five years ago?”

Cuomo said that as a chief exeuctive, he can’t work under an economic theory. He’s got to balance a budget.

“I think the labels shifted over the years to the point where I think they are meaningless and misapplied,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo, who describes himself as a “broke progressiv” has taken issue with the perception his agenda is more liberal this year than in the first two years of his administration.

He’s repeatedly this week cited a Quinnipiac issues survey that found broad support for his agenda.

When Dicker noted that The New York Times said he had taken a left turn, Cuomo laughed and said, “Well, then it must be true.”

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